Tag Archives: 1950s

Montana Belle (1952) Allan Dwan, Jane Russell, George Brent, Scott Brady, Western

Montana Belle (1952)
In a fictionalized biography, Oklahoma outlaw Belle Starr meets the Dalton gang when rescued from lynching by Bob Dalton, who falls for her. So do gang member Mac and wealthy saloon owner Tom Bradfield, who’s enlisted in a bankers’ scheme to trap the Daltons. Dissension among the gang and Bradfield’s ambivalence complicate the plot, as Belle demonstrates her prowess with shootin’ irons, horses, and as a surprisingly racy saloon entertainer.
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Doto no taiketsu / Showdown at the Great Tone River (1959) Yasushi Sasaki, Utaemon Ichikawa, Chiezô Kataoka, Action, Drama

Doto no taiketsu AKA Showdown at the Great Tone River (1959)
One of the great stories from Japan’s rich history comes to life in this true tale of the bloody showdown between two rival yakuza gangs in the 1840’s. The battle between Boss Sukegoro of Iioka and Boss Shigezo of Sasagawa has been portrayed many times, most notably in the first Zatoichi film, where the blind man befriends the tubercular ronin Hirate Miki, before cutting him down in one of the great duels in cinema history. This all-star extravaganza pulls out all the stops, with appearances by virtually all of the great actors and actresses from Toei’s studio at the time. Ichikawa Utaemon’s portrayal of the kind-hearted, noble yakuza boss Shigezo of Sasagawa contrasts sharply with the devious Sukegoro of Iioka. Corrupt as he may have been, his men were all willing to give up their lives for him.
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Left Right and Centre (1959) Sidney Gilliat, Ian Carmichael, Alastair Sim, Patricia Bredin, Comedy, Romance

Left Right and Centre (1959)
At the Earndale by-election natural history expert and TV personality Bob Wilcot for the Conservatives finds himself up against Billingsgate girl Stella Stoker for the socialists. Amateur politician against committed activist. But could it become boy-who-fancies-girl against girl-who-fancies-boy? The party agents are soon colluding against such a disaster.
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Pagan Love Song (1950) Robert Alton, Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Minna Gombell, Musical, Romance

Pagan Love Song (1950)
The bronzed and be-flowered Mimi, a half-American, half-Tahitian girl, was raised on the island but longs for the good old U.S. of A. “All my life’s been one long vacation,” she sighs, “and I’m bored.” Luckily, Hap Endicott arrives on the scene. He’s an Ohio schoolteacher who has come to manage his late uncle’s coconut plantation. The two meet cute, and love and singing ensue. Includes songs at the drop of the hat, some terrific Tahitian dancing, and a lovely moment when a lovelorn Hap looks up and sees Mimi swimming gracefully among the clouds.
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The Spoilers (1955) Jesse Hibbs, Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler, Rory Calhoun, Western

The Spoilers (1955)
During the 1898 gold rush in Nome,Alaska, many miners are faced with claim jumpers bent on stealing their legitimate gold claims.The new gold commissioner, Alex McNamara, assures the miners that judge Stillman is on his way to Nome to review all legal matters concerning the mines. However, the miners grow impatient and want to settle matters the old fashioned way:with a gun.Finally, a ship arrives bringing judge Stillman and his daughter to Nome. On the same boat,local mine owner,Roy Glennister,returns to Nome and is greeted by girlfriend Cherry Malotte who’s the owner of the local saloon and gambling house.But Roy is full of gallantry toward fellow boat passenger, Helen Chester,which causes a jealousy scene between Roy and girlfriend Cherry.Following their lovers’ quarrel Roy and Cherry discover that judge Stillman and his legal team are phony,the gold commissioner, Alex McNamara, is corrupt and that Roy and his mining partner, Dextry, are about to lose their mine to phony claimants.
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It Started with a Kiss (1959) George Marshall, Glenn Ford, Debbie Reynolds, Eva Gabor, Comedy, Romance

It Started with a Kiss (1959)
Air Force Sgt. Joe Fitzpatrick meets and marries a beautiful model, Maggie Putnam, on the eve of being shipped off to Spain. When the new Mrs. Fitzpatrick waits to join her husband, she promises him in a letter “the most wonderful surprise that could happen to two people.” Joe naturally assumes that she’s pregnant, but the surprise turns out to be a fabulous new car that he won in a raffle. His new bride and car win him the scorn and jealousy of Spain’s most famous toreador, not to mention the suspicions of his commanding officer.
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Arrow in the Dust (1954) Lesley Selander, Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Keith Larsen, Western

Arrow in the Dust (1954)
Army deserter Bart Laish decides that the best way for him to get away is to join a wagon train headed for Oregon. They’re about a week ahead of him and on the trail Bart comes across an old friend, Major Andy Pepperis who is dying from wounds received in an Indian attack. He warns Bart that the Indians will next attack the wagon train and afterward finds the army station, Camp Taylor, destroyed. He assumes Pepperis’ identity and catches up to the wagon train taking command of the soldiers escorting it. He proves to be a capable leader and quickly gains everyone’s respect. As they get closer to their destination, Bart is closer to being caught and has to decide if and when he will leave them.
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The Girl He Left Behind (1956) David Butler, Tab Hunter, Natalie Wood, Jessie Royce Landis, Comedy, Drama

The Girl He Left Behind (1956)
College students Andy Shaeffer and Susan Daniels are pinned. While Susan works hard to put herself through college, Andy sponges off his parents, his mother, Madeline Shaeffer, who in particular will give him whatever he wants. In other words, Andy is a mama’s boy, which he doesn’t really realize. Andy and Susan have used the word love to describe their relationship, but Susan isn’t sure if that’s what they are really feeling for each other or if it is solely a loveless passion. And if it is love, she isn’t sure their relationship can survive without Andy taking some ownership of his life. The near end of their relationship, initiated by Susan, leads to Andy starting to flunk out of college, which in turn makes Andy a prime candidate to be drafted. During basic training at Camp Ord, California, Andy makes it clear to his superiors and his fellow privates that he doesn’t want to be there and will do only what is requested of him without any extra effort. His superiors and fellow …
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Donatella (1956) Mario Monicelli, Elsa Martinelli, Gabriele Ferzetti, Walter Chiari, Comedy

Donatella (1956)
Donatella è una ragazza romana di estrazione semplice, schietta e di sani principi, figlia di un rilegatore di libri e fidanzata con il benzinaio Guido. Un giorno le capita di trovare una borsetta da donna contenente valori e documenti, e non esita a restituirla alla proprietaria. Questa è una ricchissima signora americana che per ricompensa offre a Donatella un posto di segretaria: la sua mansione, gestire la villa romana della signora durante le assenze di questa, non richiede particolare impegno e permette alla ragazza di vivere per un po’ negli agi di un’alta società a lei sconosciuta. Donatella incontra casualmente Maurizio, giovane ricco, elegante e ben educato, e finisce per innamorarsene, preferendolo in cuor suo al frivolo e donnaiolo Guido. Quando Maurizio scopre le umili origini di Donatella, tende a credere che lei l’abbia ingannato; ma poi si convince della buona fede della ragazza, e grazie anche all’onestà di Guido, che riconosce di non essere l’uomo adatto a Donatella e accetta di lasciarla libera, i due finiscono per sposarsi.
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Mein Vater, der Schauspieler (1956) Robert Siodmak, O.W. Fischer, Hilde Krahl, Oliver Grimm, Drama

Mein Vater, der Schauspieler (1956)
Eine bescheidene Provinz Schauspieler, fast unbekannt, steigt schnell auf die Höhen der Popularität dank seiner Heirat mit einer berühmten Schauspielerin. Sie leben ein glückliches Jahr, bis die physikalischen Eigenschaften zu verlieren, seine Frau aus dem künstlerischen Leben zurückzuziehen hat, während ihr Mann berühmter als je zuvor, Art und Weise der Schauspieler im Film ist. Dieser Abstand Ehe ihm eine schreckliche Reaktion von Reue und Verzweiflung verursachen, die ihm Verzicht auf den Beruf zu vervollständigen geführt, bis schließlich die Krise dank der Anwesenheit seines Sohnes zu überwinden verwaltet.
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