Movies-p4

Kelsey

=American Movies In the 1950's=

During the time World War II was raging, Americans were required to ration and cut down on the money they spent. After the war was over, however, the American economy began to boom and suddenly the people of the U.S.A. found themselves with money for luxeries. Although television had cut down the number of movie-goers, the cinema was still a major form of entertainment. With rising stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando, movie theatres became a big attraction for Americans living in the suburbs.

With children's fairy-tale films that inspired the future generation, the dark dramas that are still remembered today for their sentiments and comedies that remain gut-burstingly hilarious, the fifties had a remarkable amount of films that remain in the top-notch of any critic's top movies. When Marilyn Monroe first stood underneath the New York City vent, when Marlon Brando stepped on screen in his smoldering intrepretation of Stanley Kowalski, the culture of America was changed forever. Films had been becoming more and more controversial, sexuality being portrayed in films as never before.

[|Disney] [|Comedies] [|Dramas] [|Movie Stars] [|Bibliography]

=Disney Movies=

Although the Walt Disney company started in the 1930's, they released some of their greatest films in the 1950's. The films usually take their ideas from another published work, such as Cinderella by the Brothers Grimm or Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. The animated films were popular with children at the time and are considered to be classics today.

The first classic Disney film of the decade was //Cinderella//. Made in 1950, the film used the work of the Brothers Grimm to create a fairy tale about a young cinder sweeper who is transformed into a beautiful princess by her fairy godmother. She eventually wins Prince Charming's heart and the two live happily ever after.

Another story of a woman becoming a princess was //Sleeping Beauty//, made in 1959. This time, however, she was a princess by birth, but taken away for fear of eternal sleep by the prick of a spinning wheel. This was prophesied by Maleficent, an evil witch, who continues to try and locate the Sleeping Beauty throughout the rest of the film. Although her parents tried to protect her, she pricks the needle and falls into a deep sleep. Only when Prince Phillip comes along and kisses her is the sleep broken, and she also lives happily ever after. The backgrounds for this film were painstakingly painted, the average for each cell to be created was 8 1/2 days. The typical background only took one. (To left, Sleeping Beauty.)

= Comedies=

Throughout the fifties, several different comedy genres had emerged, from slapstick to subtle, yet each achieved its own fame. One certain studio, Ealing, had a knack of releasing dry, hilarious films that later became known as the Ealing Comedies. Such films include //The Ladykillers// and //The Lavender Hill Mob//. The latter is about a man who has worked as a banker for 20 years and dreams of becoming rich. After meeting a scheming workmate, he begins to realize there's an easy way to get wealthy... The dry humor and sarcastic replies are the foundation of such Ealing comedies, as demonstrated in this small line of dialog from //The Lavender Hill Mob// when Holland, the banker, is returning home.

Henry Holland: I sincerely trust so.
Another type of humor was prevalent during the decade, and that was slapstick. One of the most famous examples of this is //Some Like It Hot//, still considered to be one of the funniest films today. The plot revolves around two men having to join an all women's band (and dress accordingly) to escape a mob. Throughout the whole movie they are unable to discard their disguise, even as one falls in love with a fellow band member. With Marilyn Monroe's talent and Jack Lemmon's and Tony Curtis's comic timing, the movie was a smash hit.

=Dramas=

With the movie-goers numbers shrinking, Hollywood realized they would have to lure potential customers another way. By releasing grandoise films with a cast that numbered over a thousand, they successful brought more consumers eager to see such a spectacle on the big screen. One of the most famous of these is //Ben-Hur//, the film that is tied with //Titantic// as the film that won the most Academy Awards. The Biblical epic was well received and considered a classic instantly.

Another popular drama, though not an epic, was //Rebel Without a Cause//, starring James Dean as a brooding teenager. He seemed to be disappointed with the adult world and blamed his parents for the confusion and pressure he was feeling. Teenagers of the time identified with Dean because of the character he presented and the things he was feeling. The film, not surprisingly, was a bit hit. (To the right, James Dean in //Rebels Without a Cause//.)

=Movie Stars=

Perhaps more than the movie itself, people flocked to see the stars in them. Revolutionizing the industry was Marilyn Monroe. Born Norma Jean Baker, she soon rose to fame as a model. With her platinum blonde hair and allure, she was completely original, and because of this, people came to see her films. Yet, in spite of her fame and fortune, Monroe was still unhappy and went through two unsuccessful marriages. She died of an overdose in 1962.

Another woman star, though not so blatantly sexual as Monroe, was Elizabeth Taylor. With her dark features and the violet eyes that would become her trademark, she exhibited a completely different personality from what her contemporary had. Starring in such films as //Cleopatra// and //Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf,// she is considered a classic Hollywood star from the fifties. Her cool and elegant portrayals still draw praise from the critics and people alike.

A man that epitomized the brooding teenager like James Dean above, was Marlon Brando. His first major film was //A Streetcar Named Desire//, also starring the famed Vivien Leigh. Playing the rough Stanley, Brando portrayed him as a dark, sensual character; admiring hordes of actors imitated his performance. With //The Wild One// in 1953, he played a teenage leather clad motorcyclist. Teenagers at the time connected with the character, as they did later with James Dean, yet Brando had created the style of acting that Dean copied as many actors had in the 50's. Another popular film from the 50's that Brando utilized this type of character was //On the Waterfront//, made in 1954. The most famous line, "I coulda been a contender," still remains in popular useage today. Brando later achieved higher fame as the godfather in //The Godfather,// but his first wave of popularity came in this time, as well as originating the rough, sexual way of style of acting that was to remain prevalent throughout the fifties. (On left, Brando.)

=Bibliography=

"Marlon Brando". imdb. February 9. 2007. <[|www.imdb.com/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000008/]> Stoddard, Samuel. "At-A-Glance Film Reviews: 1950-1959." //Rinkworks.// February 8. 2007. 2006. <[|www.rinkworks.com/movies/i/1950s.shtml]> Wikipedia. "Marilyn Monroe". //Wikipedia.// February 10. 2007.  Feinstein, Stephen. //1950's: From Korean War to Elvis.// Enslow Publishers, 2000. Berkeley Heights, NJ.

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Sleeping Beauty. <[|http://www.disney-vacation-time.com>.] Some Like It Hot. <[|http://www.metroactive.com>.] James Dean. . Marlon Brando. <[|www.smh.com.au].>