Now it’s time to move on to the 1950’s and the great pieces of cinematic work the decade brought us. Lets take a look at the 5 most iconic films of the 50’s. Remember, these movies are ranked by the impact they had, whether on box office level, award acknowledgement or simply by being a great film.
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Number 1: Vertigo, Alfred Hitchcock (1958)
What is considered to be Hitchcock’s masterpiece, Vertigo is the story about a San Francisco detective who suffers from acrophobia (fear of heights) that starts investigating a friends’ wife who’s been acting weird, whilst becoming dangerously in love with her.
In the 1959 Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Art Direction- Set Decoration and Best Sound, but won neither. Other than that, the film was nominated for 12 other awards and won 8 of them.
Total Lifetime Domestic Gross Revenue for the film was $7.3 million.
Number 2: Sunset Boulevard, Billy Wilder (1950)
This is the story about a screenwriter that has been hired to work on a faded silent film star’s script then to only realize that he’s been working on a relationship.
The film starred William Holden, Gloria Swanson and Erich von Stroheim.
The film was nominated for an impressive 36 awards total, having won half of them. These 18 awards won include 3 Academy Awards, for Best Writing Story and Screenplay, Best Art Direction- Set Decoration and Best Music. The film was also nominated for another 8 Oscars, the 4 categories in acting, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing and Best Picture.
Box Office wise, total revenue for the film was north of $5 million.
Number 3: Rear Window, Alfred Hitchcock (1954)
This is the story of a photographer that is in his home in a wheel-chair, and he spends time spying on his neighbors, being convinced that one of them has committed murder.
This Hitchcock classic had an impressive cast, which included James Stewart, Grace Kelly and Wendell Corey.
Nominated for a total of 18 awards and wining 6, this film was nominated for 4 Oscars in the 1955 Academy Awards. These nominations include ones for Best Director, Best Writing Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Music Recording.
Lifetime Domestic Gross Sales for the movie were an impressive $36.8 million.
Number 4: All About Eve, Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1950)
This is the story about how a girl insinuates and “infiltrates” herself into the life of an aging stage actress and the stars’ circle of star friends.
The movie counted with the collaboration of Bette Davis, Anne Baxter and George Sanders.
The film has an amazing run during award season, having won 6 Oscars, for Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Writing Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Sound and the ultimate one, Best Picture. The film dominated the 1951 Oscars.
Total Lifetime Gross Sales for the movie was $8.5 million.
Number 5: The Bridge on the River Kwai, David Lean (1957)
Another huge movies from the 50’s, this movie tells the story of how a British Colonel , after setting his differences with a Japanese Commander, co-operates to oversee his men building a bridge for their captors, whilst oblivious of the Allies plan to destroy it.
The movie totally DOMINATED the 1958 Academy Awards, having won a total of 7 Oscars out of the 8 it was nominated for. The only one it didn’t win was for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Victories in the ceremony include Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Writing, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Music.
In total, the film was nominated for 37 awards and won 30 of them. Amazing right?
Total Domestic Lifetime Gross Sales are a cool $27.2 million and $30.6 million worldwide.
There you have it.
What movies did we forget to mention? Let us know!
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