We continue our journey over the decades of the XX century. The 50s saw the release of the masterpieces from Alfred Hitchcock, Akira Kurosawa, Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini. Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elvis Presley, Brigitte Bardot became the most recognizable and adored idols.

1. A Place in the Sun, 1951


Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift as Angela Vickers and George Eastman in George Stevens's "A Place in the Sun", based on Theodore Dreiser's novel "American Tragedy".

The film has received six Oscars and is considered one the best adaptation of the famous novel about the inevitability of a tragic ending for a man who has committed a crime for the sake of love, a career, and the fulfillment of the American dream.

2. The Asphalt Jungle, 1950


The Asphalt Jungle is a 1950 classic noir heist film directed by John Huston. Based on the 1949 novel of the same name by W. R. Burnett, it tells the story of a jewel robbery in a Midwestern city

3 Strangers on a Train, 1951


One of the best and classic Hitchcock thrillers.

Adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's debut novel (Strangers on a Train, 1950).

Two complete strangers meet on the train and agree on a mutually beneficial "criss-cross murder": to get rid of an unloved wife and kill the hated father. No motive, which means no suspicion, perfect crime itself.

But everything is not going according to plan. Hitchcock reshaped the plot of the novel in his own way, significantly changing some of its twists. However, the tension of history only benefited from this.

4. Roman Holiday, 1953


Audrey Hepburn's first major role in William Wyler's "Roman Holiday" with Gregory Peck himself as a partner on the set brought the talented actress an Oscar. In total, "Roman Holiday" has been nominated in 10 categories, including Best Film of the Year, which is unusual for a rom-com.

The adventures of a European princess in the eternal city resulted in an affair with an American newsmaker and made Hepburn a new icon and a sex symbol.

5. 12 Angry Men, 1957


The film tells the story of a jurydeliberation on capital murder case.

The whole action of this conversational story takes place within the walls of an ascetic room, where twelve jurors must decide if the boy accused of murdering his father is guilty or not. Eleven jurors are ready to sign a guilty verdict, but the twelfth begins to elaborate "reasonable doubt". And the heroes start a long and very difficult argument.

6. Dial M for Murder, 1954


Probably the best crime mystery thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) wants to have his wealthy wife, Margot (Grace Kelly), killed to inherit her fortune.

Hitchcock deliberately focuses the audience's attention on small details and objects (for example, a telephone), and Kelly is gorgeous in the role of a quiet desperately scared, and unsecured wife in her own house near her own spouse.