201 of 1001 Movies: Carmen Jones (1954)

Suspense? Court room drama? How about a musical? Otto Preminger shows he can direct anything and make it good. While Carmen Jones might not be as strong as Angel Eyes or Anatomy of a Murder (for sure), it does still have some progressive and unique features that make it a stand out for 1954. Would this have worked as well now? No. Dorothy Dandridge is a name that rings familiar as well, but I had never seen her in anything. She is by far what makes this movie great. She received the first nomination for an African American actress at the Oscars for this role. She owns the role.

Summary: This take on the Bizet Opera, Carmen, uses an all African American cast, and sets itself in an army camp. Carmen is a civilian parachute maker, and the one who all the men have their eyes on, and she knows it. The man she has her eyes on though already has a fiancee, but she will stop at nothing to win over Joe. He doesn't want to mess up the perfect life he seems to have which includes his engagement to Cindy Lou, and his future in pilot training for the Korean War. Carmen Jones must be bad luck for Joe though, because she causes him to land in the stockade with further chaos following.

165 of 1001 Movies: Rebel Without a Cause (1954)

Bigger Than Life was the other Nicholas Ray movie I had watched, and so I knew that I should expect very stereotyped 1950's families, and lots of colors. The stereotypes he deal with though then are what make his films so good at analyzing the culture of the 50's though. He seems to be one of the few directors then trying to make movies about people then, and just what did drive them and the next generation. There is just something about the movies that show the 50's how we imagine them, and then a bit more into the harshness of being a teen at the time with all the levels of expectations. It does build the bridge I think though in helping the younger crowd understand that previous generations have through the same battles for responsibility and acceptance they have.

Summary: Jim's parents have moved once again to a new neighborhood in order to help their son try to find a group of people he can fit in with better, since he has had such a hard time with making friends before. He instantly finds trouble though with a new crowd who begins challenging him to switchblades fights and dangerous car games. He does find some positives though in this place though including a growing interest in a girl, Judy, and the very desperate friendship of a boy who feels abandon by all others, Plato.

104 of 1001 Movies: On the Waterfront (1954)

On the Waterfront shows the Marlon Brando is one of his strongest roles that could have possibly went to Frank Sinatra. Elia Kazan though had to struggle with a lot more though than just which actor to play the lead though including get cast members to stay on set during the cold season it was filmed in. Kazan though has made a pretty good drama that realistically does portray the problem of corruption and crime among the longshormen that was happening and portrayed in a series of articles in the New York sun called, "Crime on the Waterfront"

After unknowingly helping in the murder of his friend, Terry, feels it's time for him to step up against the corrupt union boss that dictates the waterfront. This motivation to step up against the mob is also encouraged by the new love interest he has found in his deceased friend's sister, Edie. With the increased pressure to expose, John Friendly, especially after his life becomes threatened, it is only a matter of time he has to decide what he must do.