Favorite Decade In Film Is...
Posted: April 17th, 2023, 10:03 am
The 1950s, for me. When I was about 14 or 15 I got a book called The Films Of The Fifties by Douglas Brode. It got me into older films and most of my favorite films are from that decade. What is your favorite decade in film? Here are some of my reasons for the 1950s-
A new breed of film acting with Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and (briefly) James Dean took Hollywood by storm. But older veterans like Gary Cooper (High Noon), Spencer Tracy (Bad Day At Black Rock ) and James Stewart (Vertigo) were turning in some of the best work of their careers. New actresses turning out great performances were Joanne Woodward, Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine. Older actresses still had chances to show their greatness like Bette Davis (All About Eve), Barbara Stanwyck with Witness To Murder and Joan Crawford Sudden Fear
Director Stanley Kubrick got his start in this decade with two great films- The Killing and Paths Of Glory. Old school directors like John Ford, William Wyler and especially Alfred Hitchcock were turning out masterpieces.
Westerns were becoming more adult and realistic with The Gunfighter, The Searchers and The Naked Spur.
Science fiction was suddenly more thoughtful and literate with The Day The Earth Stood Still, Forbidden Planet and Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, England helped horror make a more classy comeback with Curse Of The Demon and Horror Of Dracula. Even trashy exploitation like I Was A Teenage Werewolf and Blood Of Dracula showed us the teen angst of the decade.
Musicals were better than ever with An America In Paris, Singin In The Rain and Funny Face.
Dramas were well represented by adapting Broadway and literature to the screen with A Streetcar Name Desire, The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit and Peyton Place. Great comedies were Pillow Talk and Some Like It Hot
There were small B&W films like Marty and Night Of The Hunter as well as big budget, Technicolor wide screen like The Robe, The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur.
And half of my top ten of all time were from this decade-
Detective Story
From Here To Eternity
On The Waterfront
Marty
Night Of The Hunter
A new breed of film acting with Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift and (briefly) James Dean took Hollywood by storm. But older veterans like Gary Cooper (High Noon), Spencer Tracy (Bad Day At Black Rock ) and James Stewart (Vertigo) were turning in some of the best work of their careers. New actresses turning out great performances were Joanne Woodward, Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine. Older actresses still had chances to show their greatness like Bette Davis (All About Eve), Barbara Stanwyck with Witness To Murder and Joan Crawford Sudden Fear
Director Stanley Kubrick got his start in this decade with two great films- The Killing and Paths Of Glory. Old school directors like John Ford, William Wyler and especially Alfred Hitchcock were turning out masterpieces.
Westerns were becoming more adult and realistic with The Gunfighter, The Searchers and The Naked Spur.
Science fiction was suddenly more thoughtful and literate with The Day The Earth Stood Still, Forbidden Planet and Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, England helped horror make a more classy comeback with Curse Of The Demon and Horror Of Dracula. Even trashy exploitation like I Was A Teenage Werewolf and Blood Of Dracula showed us the teen angst of the decade.
Musicals were better than ever with An America In Paris, Singin In The Rain and Funny Face.
Dramas were well represented by adapting Broadway and literature to the screen with A Streetcar Name Desire, The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit and Peyton Place. Great comedies were Pillow Talk and Some Like It Hot
There were small B&W films like Marty and Night Of The Hunter as well as big budget, Technicolor wide screen like The Robe, The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur.
And half of my top ten of all time were from this decade-
Detective Story
From Here To Eternity
On The Waterfront
Marty
Night Of The Hunter