Iconic Films From The 1950s That Will Take You Back To The Good Old Days

The 1950s was a decade for timeless films that have made a lasting impact on the film industry. If you were lucky enough to be alive in the 50s, you'll probably remember these classic films.

All About Eve - 1950

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Twentieth Century Fox/MovieStillsDB
Twentieth Century Fox/MovieStillsDB

All About Eve is based on the 1946 short story "The Wisdom of Eve" by Mary Orr. It follows an older but successful Broadway star (Bette Davis) whose fan finds a way into her life and threatens her career.

All About Eve is the only film in history to receive four female acting nominations at the Oscars.

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Rebel Without A Cause - 1955

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Warner Bros./MovieStillsDB
Warner Bros./MovieStillsDB
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The 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause follows the lives of middle-class teenagers in a way that other movies of the time had yet to achieve.

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The film is arguably James Dean's most celebrated work. He died just one month before the film's release and was established as a cultural icon.

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Singin' In The Rain - 1952

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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/MovieStillsDB
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/MovieStillsDB
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Singin' in the Rain follows the story of three performers transitioning from silent film to "talkies" in the 1920s.

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Although it didn't make a major impact when it was first released, it has been beloved by fans in the decades since.

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To Catch A Thief - 1955

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Paramount Pictures/MovieStillsDB
Paramount Pictures/MovieStillsDB
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To Catch a Thief is based on the novel by David Dodge. It stars Cary Grant as a burglar searching for someone posing as him and stealing from wealthy tourists in France.

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The film initially received mixed reviews, with some critics praising the acting and the movie's setting, while some were disappointed by the lack of suspense from a Hitchcock film.

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From Here To Eternity - 1953

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Columbia Pictures/MovieStillsDB
Columbia Pictures/MovieStillsDB
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Based on the 1951 novel by James Jones, From Here to Eternity is a romantic war drama about three U.S. soldiers stationed in Hawaii during the months before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

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The film won eight Academy Awards. It went on to be described by the Southern California Motion Picture Council as "so great in its starkly realistic and appealing drama that mere words cannot justly describe it."

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On The Waterfront - 1954

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Columbia Pictures/MovieStillsDB
Columbia Pictures/MovieStillsDB
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On the Waterfront depicts the union violence and corruption among longshoremen on the waterfronts of Hoboken, New Jersey. The film took home eight Academy Awards.

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It was one of the first films to be selected for preservation by the United States National Film Registry.

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A Streetcar Named Desire - 1951

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Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
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An adaptation of Tennessee Williams' award-winning 1947 play of the same name, A Streetcar Named Desire follows a young girl who leaves her privileged life behind to live with her sister and brother-in-law in a run-down New Orleans apartment building.

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The film starred Marlon Brando, Kim Hunter, and Karl Malden in their original Broadway roles, with the addition of Vivien Leigh, and was the film that launched Brando into stardom. Making more than $4 million, A Streetcar Named Desire was a major success, taking home Academy Awards for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Art Direction.

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Vertigo - 1958

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Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
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Released in 1958, Vertigo is a psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock and based on the French novel From Among the Dead. The film tells the story of a detective who is forced into early retirement. He's then hired to be a private investigator and part of an unfolding mystery.

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Although initially the film had mixed reviews, today, it is considered one of Hitchcock's greatest works, even being hailed as the greatest film ever made by some critics.

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High Noon - 1952

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United Artists
United Artists
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Directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper, High Noon is a 1952 Western film about a town marshal who has to make the decision to defend the town from a gang by himself or abandon it to save his and his wife's lives.

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Although there was some controversy surrounding the film regarding its political commentary, in the end, it was nominated for seven Academy Awards and four Golden Globes. Since its release, elements of the film have been copied in countless other works.

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Some Like It Hot - 1959

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United Artists
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Starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon, Some Like it Hot is a romantic comedy film about two musicians who dress as women to escape mafia gangsters after witnessing a crime. The film saw almost immediate success and was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning Best Costume Design.

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Despite its success, the film was produced without approval from the Motion Picture Production Code (Hays Code) due to some of its content and because it showed cross-dressing. However, it helped prove that the Hays Code wasn't very effective because the film did so well by not following it.

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The Ten Commandments - 1956

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Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
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Produced, directed, and narrated by Cecil B. DeMille, The Ten Commandments is a religious epic film based on the Book of Exodus from the Bible, as well as a number of other religious novels. It tells a fictionalized tale of the life of Moses from his time in Egypt to receiving the Ten Commandments from God.

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At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film ever made, the second highest-grossing film of the decade, and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

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The Bridge On The River Kwai - 1957

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Columbia Pictures
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Based on the 1952 novel by Pierre Boulle, The Bridge on the River Kwai is a war film about British POW soldiers who are forced to build a bridge for their Japanese captors while completely unaware that the Allies have plans to destroy it.

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The movie would go on to win seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and was also the highest-grossing film of 1957.

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Ben-Hur - 1959

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Warner Bros.
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A religious epic, Ben-Hur was directed by William Wyler and stars Charleton Heston as a Jewish prince and his journey for revenge after he is enslaved. The film was given the biggest budget ever of $15.175 million and had one of the largest sets and productions ever created for a movie.

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Upon its release, the film was the highest-grossing and fastest-grossing film of 1959 and won a record-breaking 11 Academy Awards. At the time, it was also the second highest-grossing film in history behind Gone with the Wind.

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The Searchers - 1956

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Directed by John Ford, The Searchers is a Western film starring John Wayne as a Civil War veteran on the search for his abducted niece alongside his adoptive nephew. After its release, the film proved to be a success and has since been regarded as one of the most influential films ever made.

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In 2008 it was named the greatest American Western film by the American Film Institute. Over the years, The Searchers has influenced a number of other notable films such as Lawrence of Arabia and even Star Wars.

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Godzilla - 1954

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Toho
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Directed by Ishirō Honda, Godzilla is a Japanese kaiju film and the first of the Godzilla franchise. It follows the Japanese authorities as they deal with a giant monster attacking the city, potentially leading to a nuclear holocaust.

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Considered one of the greatest monster movies ever made, Godzilla is known for its progressive special effects and has even been recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-running film franchise in history that doesn't show signs of stopping anytime soon.

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Paths Of Glory - 1957

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United Artists
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Directed by Stanley Kubrick. Paths of Glory is an anti-war film based on the novel by Humphrey Cobb. Starring Kirk Douglas, the film takes place during World War I and follows a commanding officer whose soldiers refuse to partake in a suicide mission, which he then defends when they are court-martialed for cowardice.

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Although the film did just okay at the box office, it helped to earn Stanley Kubrick some respect in the film industry. It was also considered controversial due to its anti-military themes.

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Sunset Boulevard - 1950

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Paramount Pictures
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A 1950 comedy noir film starring William Holden and Gloria Swanson, Sunset Boulevard follows a screenwriter who becomes involved with a former silent film actress who dreams of becoming a star once again.

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Hailed as one of the greatest movies ever made, Sunset Boulevard went on to be nominated for 11 Academy Awards, winning three. It was also included in the first group of films to be selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.

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The Robe - 1953

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20th Century Fox
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A Biblical epic, The Robe is a fictional depiction of the Roman military officer who commanded the unit responsible for the death of Jesus Christ. The film is of particular note for being the first film released on widescreen, which would become common practice in the following years.

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It was also nominated for five Academy Awards, winning Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.

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Rashomon - 1950

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Daiei Film
Daiei Film
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Rashomon is a Japanese psychological thriller directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyō, Masayuki Mori, and Takashi Shimura. The film follows the assault of a woman and the death of her samurai husband. It's told from the perspectives of a woodcutter, the samurai's ghost, the woman, and the attacker.

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This was the first Japanese film to be an international success, winning an Academy Honorary Award at the 24th Academy Awards.

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Seven Samurai - 1954

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Seven Samurai is a Japanese epic samurai film directed by Akira Kurosawa and set in the 16th century during the Sengoku period of Japan. It follows a group of village farmers who hire seven samurai to protect their crop from bandits once it is time to harvest.

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It was the second-highest-grossing domestic film in Japan, despite being the most expensive Japanese film ever made. Today, Seven Samurai is one of the most remade and reworked films in terms of theme.