koja+page

__**Films of the 1950's**__ The 50's decade was known for many things. Music, inventions, restaurants and new technologies. The rise of outdoor drive in movie theatres reached a the number of 4,000 by the late 1950's. These were popular to teens because they could enjoy films while also enjoy the privacy of their own cars. Older viewers tended to stay at home and watched films on their tv sets. Over 10.5 million households had tv's by the end of the 1950's era. After WWII, films began to portray situations, or events involving different parts of the war. They idealized men and women, and showed the more rebellious side of teenage life. In the 1950's, the rise of the anti-hero was popular among many. There were many actors and actresses that took over the roles of past famous actors. These stars included James Dean, Paul Newman, and Marlon Brando, replacing more proper actors like Tyrone Power, Van Johnson, and Robert Taylor. Anti-heroines included Ava Gardner, Kim Novak, and Marilyn Monroe. One of the decades most popular comedies was **Harvey.** The story in this movie was about a drunken man who had an imaginary rabbit for a best friend. Another popular film in the 1950's was **An Affair to Remember.** A young couples romance that was ill fated by a car accident and delayed a rendezvous on top of the Empire State Building was the story in this movie.It was a remake of the directors **Love Affair**, and later inspired the making of **Sleepless in Seattle.**

__**The Teenage Centered Film Market**__

In the 1950's, teenagers helped introduce Rock and Roll. The younger generations disliked the popular movies that adults enjoyed because they were too "nostalgic". Many films were created including music, however it wasn't until the late 1950's that they were completely devoted to Rock and Roll. These films that were created argued that Rock and Roll was good, wholesome music. However, the adult generations were opposed to it and felt fearful and skeptic towards teens. Many Rock and Roll artists became famous through movies. Many songs were used throughout movies and artists were used as actors while the directors created a story to follow their careers. American Bandstand was a channel created for teens with the host of Dick Clark. It was a show that housed and displayed "the battle of the bands". In order to appeal to the younger generation, actors were cast for parts that did not fit them properly. Juvenille delinquents were the protagonists in the films. A tragedy struck America in 1959 when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P Richardson were killed in a plane crash.

Another film, that was introduced later in the decade was Jack Arnold's exploitative juvenile delinquent film, titled **High School Confidential.** Arnold's film featured drugs, and lots of slang words. Russ Tamblyn starred as an undercover cop posing as a student. Knife fights, and drag races take place throughout this 1950's film. The two main teenage influences duing the 1950's were Marlon Brando and James Dean. Brando symbolized rebellion and adolecence while Dean was known as the "First American Teenager". Elvis "The Pelvis" Presley was also an influence in the movie industry, while also in the music world. He was "the king" of Rock and Roll. He cut his first record in 1954, and starred in several movies that included his music. He starred in four different movies throughout the 1950's. **Love Me Tender,** **Jailhouse Rock,** **Loving You, and** **King Creole.**


 * Not of This Earth,** **Attack of the Crab Monsters,** **Attack of the Crab Monsters, The Blob, A Bucket of Blood and** **The Wasp Woman** all were horror films created during the 1950's to be short, scary, sci-fi horror films that entertained the teenage crowds. Many teens attended these outdoor movie showing because they were cheap and thrilling.

Top 10 Sci Fi Movies__ 1.)  // Forbidden Planet //  2.)   // The Invasion of the Body Snatchers // 3.)  // The Thing //  4.)   // It Came From Outer Space // 5.)  // Invaders From Mars //  6.)   // The Day the Earth Stood // 7.)  // The Creature From the Black Lagoon //  8.)   // Them // 9.)  // The Blob //  10.)   // Earth vs the Flying Saucers // media type="custom" key="3774717" [|William (Bud) Abbott] and [|Lou Costello] (born Louis Francis Cristillo) performed together as **Abbott and Costello**, an [|American] [|comedy duo] whose work in [|radio], [|film] and [|television] made them the most popular comedy team during the 1940s and 50's. media type="custom" key="3774759"

Bibliography: [] [] [] []