1950's

Directed by the legendary Carol Reed and based on the novel by Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana (1959) is a sly, stylish espionage comedy that mixes light-hearted farce with deeper undercurrents of cynicism and existential unease.

David Lean’s Hobson’s Choice (1954) is a rare and delightful masterpiece that blends comedy, drama, and social commentary with effortless grace.

Tony Richardson’s 1959 adaptation of John Osborne’s landmark play, Look Back in Anger, stands as a critical artifact of post-war British cinema.

In the heyday of the historical epic—when widescreen spectacles like Ben-Hur, Spartacus, and The Ten Commandments drew vast audiences into cinemas—Hannibal (1959) offered a somewhat lesser-known, though no less ambitious, contribution to the genre

Released in 1953 and set against the tense backdrop of Hawaii just before the attack on Pearl Harbour, this Oscar-winning film offers a compelling blend of romantic drama, social commentary, and psychological portraiture, anchored by a legendary cast.

At a time when post-war America sought spectacle, sentimentality, and stars, few directors understood audience appetite better than Cecil B. DeMille.

Alexander the Great (1956) aspired to be a sweeping chronicle of one of the most extraordinary lives in antiquity.

A review of "The Robe". Directed by Henry Koster and based on the best-selling novel by Lloyd C. Douglas. Starring Richard Burton, Victor Mature and Jean Simmons.

A review of the direct sequel to The Robe (1953) and starring Victor Mature, Susan Hayward, Jay Robinson and Debra Paget.

A review of the 1953 film adaptation of Julius Caesar, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy and released by MGM in 1951, this lavish adaptation of Henryk Sienkiewicz’s 1896 novel blends religious devotion, imperial decadence, and human drama against the backdrop of ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero.

Review of the 1955 Howard Hawks epic film starring Jack Hawkins and Joan Collins.

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing is both a product of its time and a film that attempted, however cautiously, to transcend it.

The Square Peg is a lovingly absurd, cleverly structured wartime comedy that captures the genius of Norman Wisdom while also poking fun at the serious world of war films.

The Man in the White Suit is a brilliant, deceptively simple film that manages to be laugh-out-loud funny, intellectually provocative, and deeply humane all at once.

Review of the Lawrence Olivier tour de force "Richard III".

Review of the classic British comedy "The Ladykillers" starring Alec Guiness and Peter Sellers.

Review of the classic 1950's British comedy starring Alec Guinness and Stanley Holloway "The Lavender Hill Mob".

Review of the British Christmas Classic from 1951. " A Christmas Carol" Starring Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Review of the 1950's wartime drama "The Malta Story".