Quote:
We manage as best we can when begging in Paris. For lack of a metro, the air vents are often welcome, even when the Salvation Army barge is closed. Doing the garbage in the morning, before the collection trucks pass by, or playing the sandwich man for a drink, a tuxedo rental, allow us to earn some money…Read More »
1950s
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Alain Jessua – Léon la lune (1956)
1951-1960Alain JessuaFranceShort Film -
Arthur Ripley – Thunder Road (1958)
1951-1960Arthur RipleyCrimeCultUSAQuote:
The preeminent moonshine movie, the 1958 Thunder Road stars Robert Mitchum as a backwoods bootlegger in Tennessee, getting squeezed by both the federal government and organized crime. Mitchum had a big hand in creating this cult favorite (which reportedly played in drive-ins around America for years), writing the script, producing the movie, and even composing and singing the movie’s theme song, which became a radio hit. Directed by longtime cinematographer Arthur Ripley, the film is strong on characters and action, the latter fulfilled by a memorable chase scene at the end. Mitchum was at an artistic peak at this point in his career, and this is really an indispensable movie for his fans.Read More » -
Ralph Habib – La rage au corps (1954)
Ralph Habib1951-1960DramaFranceA dam is under construction in the Pyrénées mountains. All the workers only have eyes for pretty, sensual Clara, the canteen waitress. And what she exchanges with many of them is more than just looks, this is for sure. Nevertheless, despite her frivolity, Clara falls truly in love with Tonio Borelli, the site foreman. The latter takes her to Paris and they marry. But Clara soon realizes that the call of the flesh still consumes her…Read More »
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Richard Pottier – Ouvert contre X… AKA The Case Against X (1952)
Drama1951-1960CrimeFranceRichard PottierA wealthy financier is murdered in his desirable mansion. Two lieutenants,a tough guy and a rookie, investigate.Read More »
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Astrid Henning-Jensen – Paw AKA Boy of Two Worlds (1959)
1951-1960Astrid Henning-JensenDenmarkDramaQuote:
The orphaned Paw (Sterman), ‘a Boy of Two Worlds,’ is imported to Denmark from the West Indies to live with his aunt. His natural inclination for the Great Outdoors is bolstered by the bullying and misunderstanding he meets in his new rural community, and after an apprenticeship with the local poacher, he goes to ground like a fox. Partly a plea for innocence, tolerance and reconciliation, the film is determined to find common ground for its various village factions, but its ambivalence about the natural order of hunter and prey makes intriguing drama, and the director’s nature documentary approach, constantly cutting away to local animal life, adds a certain contemplative depth.Read More » -
Ferdinand Khittl – Eine Stadt feiert Geburtstag AKA A City’s Birthday Celebrations (1959)
1951-1960ArchitectureDocumentaryFerdinand KhittlGermanyShort FilmA documentary short film by Ferdinand Khittl on Munich’s 800th anniversary.
Ferdinand Khittl was born on the 20th of January, 1924, in Frantikovy Lázně, Czechoslovakia. As a ship’s boy he signed on for a training vessel and for six years until 1945 he was a sailor with the merchant marine. After his release from two years as a POW in Italy he tried his hand at various professions (labourer, bricklayer, poultry-breeder, barman and baker) and first came in contact with the film business in 1951, when a friendship with a cinema owner led to a job as the representative of a film rental agency. Between 1952 and 1955 he worked as a trainee in Robert Sandner’s Olympia-Film company and became a cutter for Luis Trenker.Read More »
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Michael Carreras – The Steel Bayonet (1957)
1951-1960DramaMichael CarrerasUnited KingdomWar -
Jack Arnold – The Glass Web (1953)
1951-1960Film NoirJack ArnoldThrillerUSAPlot Synopsis
from IMDBEdward G. Robinson, John Forsythe and Richard Denning are involved in the weekly production of realism crime TV show called “Crime of the Week”. Kathleen Hughes plays an actress who “uses” men to achieve her goals. Both Forsythe and Robinson, unbeknownst to each other are involved with her…..Read More »
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Bernhard Dörries, Edgar Reitz & Stefan Meuschel – Schicksal einer Oper aka Story of an Opera House (1958)
1951-1960Bernhard DörriesDocumentaryEdgar ReitzGermanyShort FilmStefan MeuschelQuote:
Oberhausen Manifesto 1962:
28.2.1962The collapse of conventional German film has finally removed the economic basis for a mentality that we reject. This gives the new kind of film the chance to come to life.
German short films by young filmmakers, directors and producers have in recent years received a large number of prizes at international festivals and gained the recognition of international critics. These works and their successes show that the future of German film lies with those who have proven that they speak a new film language.Read More »









