 Back
to the Future (1985) 
Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd & Lea
Thompson
A teenager (Michael J. Fox) gets zapped back to 1955 by his scientist friend
(Christopher Lloyd). There he meets his parents when they were teens. A
nice job is done with the clothing and sets. In my opinion, Pleasantville got
a lot of its ideas from this film. |
 Chocolat (2000)
Starring Juliette Binoche & Johnny Depp
This beautiful film takes place in 1959 in a gorgeous French village. The
reason for its low rating here is that the only true giveaway of its era
is the fabulously authentic clothing of the female characters. However,
this doesn't take away from the fact that this is a great film. |
 Cry
Baby (1990)
Starring Johnny Depp & Amy Locane
Johnny Depp stars in this John Waters film set in the '50s about a "delinquent" boy
called Crybaby and a square named Allison (Amy Locane). The two fall in
love despite their differences. A must see for Traci Lords as sexy Wanda
Woodward and her amazing clothes (not to mention Johnny!). |
 Deuces
Wild (2002)
Starring Stephen Dorff & Brad Renfro
A tale set in '50s Brooklyn about guys who think they're in a gang. The
plot of the film is fairly thin and as far as the '50s vibe goes, there
isn't an air of the past in it as there could have been. It's still good
to watch though. |
 Forrest
Gump (1994)
Starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright Penn & Gary
Sinise
Forrest Gump is a modern classic. The film spans over three decades
and every one of them is portrayed wonderfully. The sets and fashion and
everything is really perfect. It failed to achieve a higher rating because
it didn't spend as much time in the '50s as others. |
 Going
All the Way (1997) 
Starring Jeremy Davies & Ben Affleck
Going All the Way is one of the strangest
films reviewed here. Jeremy Davies is pretty insane,
and parts of the film become very surreal. The
fifties-aspect is present, but not showcased as
it could have been. Beauties Rachel Weisz, Rose
McGowan and Amy Locane help the film along, Ben
Affleck does one of his best acting jobs, and Lesley
Ann Warren is funny and well-dressed. |
 Grease (1978)
Starring John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
Grease makes use of every '50s cliche, but it
works perfectly. This film is so much fun, it can get
away with anything. A Grease-warped vision of
the '50s, with too-cool clothes, cars, and of course,
attitudes is pretty darn cool, as I've always thought.
After all, obsessively repeated viewings of said film
since my early youth probably implanted permanent images
and thoughts in my brain. A wonderful movie! |
 Hello
Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987)
Starring Michael Ironside, Wendy Lyon & Lisa
Schrage
This very cheesy '80s horror flick is so campy it's good. It actually held
my attention the entire film. The plot is about a "loose" prom
queen of 1957 who is killed by her jealous boyfriend. In 1987, she returns!
The shock, the horror! As far as '50s references, clothing, etc., there
really isn't much because only the very beginning of the film takes place
in the '50s, and even then, it's pretty much only a prom scene. Plus, the
song "Hello, Mary Lou" was released in April of '61, not '57,
but we'll get over that! |
 Inventing
the Abbotts (1997)
Starring Liv Tyler, Joaquin Phoenix & Billy Crudup
Inventing the Abbotts is a serious drama
set in 1957 Illinois. It centers around two sets
of siblings: the poor Holt brothers and rich Abbott
sisters who are kept apart by a family scandal,
but nevertheless always attracted to one another.
The film later moves ahead to 1960. The sets, cars,
and most of all the clothing are absolutely impeccable. |
 Just
Looking (1999)
Starring Ryan Merriman & Gretchen Mol
Just Looking takes place in 1955 and revolves
around a 14 year-old boy (Ryan Merriman) whose
goal is to watch people "in the act" before
the summer ends. His parents ship him off to an
aunt and uncle in the country, where he meets Hedy
(Gretchen Mol), a former bra model who is twice
his age. Hedy is just about the only character
whose '50s fashions are worth mentioning, because
her character is in her twenties and she's not
a preteen or older person. |
 Liberty
Heights (1999)
Starring Ben Foster, Adrien Brody & Joe Mantegna
A wonderfully stylish and sleek film that takes place from 1954 to 1955
in Baltimore. The clothing and sets are immaculate, reasons alone to view
the film. |
 The
Locusts (1997)
Starring Vince Vaughn, Kate Capshaw & Jeremy
Davies
This film takes place in a small Kansas town in about 1960. A big focus
is on the characters themselves, instead of their surroundings, so no bonus
points there. Great acting and a good drama. |
 The
Long Walk Home (1990)
Starring Whoopi Goldberg & Sissy Spacek
The Long Walk Home is about the Montgomery,
Alabama bus boycotts of 1955-56, and how they particularly
affected two women: a maid (Whoopi Goldberg) and
the well-to-do wife (Sissy Spacek) of the family
she works for. This film includes an outstanding
performance by Goldberg, who won the Oscar the
same year for Ghost. A wonderful job is
also done on costuming, hair, settings, etc. |
 The
Lords of Flatbush (1974)
Starring Sylvestor Stallone & Perry King
This is a dark and low quality film that takes place in the '50s. I didn't
enjoy it, as my attention simply couldn't get stimulated while watching
it. |
 The
Man in the Moon (1991)
Starring Reese Witherspoon & Sam Waterston
Reese Witherspoon completely steals this film, which takes place in '57.
This fact is mostly evidenced by Reese's character being a huge Elvis fan
at the beginning of the film. The majority of the film, however, makes
little use of the time period and is not worthy of a look if you want to
see a "period" film. Otherwise, it's a nice film and it's worth
noting that this film shares similarities to 1955's Picnic, with
two sisters (one pretty and mature, the other young and naive) vying for
the same man. |
 Pleasantville (1998)
Starring Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon & Joan
Allen
Pleasantville is a fantasy film about two teenage
siblings who are transported into the world of the boy's
favourite '50s sitcom. They are suddenly the son and
daughter of the show's featured family and discover a
strange town where everything is beyond imagination.
I won't give anymore away, but I must say I really loved
the first half of Pleasantville, but the last
parts seemed strange to me and detached from the rest
of the film. The '50s fashions, hair and settings are
very much approved by my picky eyes! |
 Porky's (1982)
Starring Dan Monahan & Mark Herrier
Porky's takes place in 1954. It is similar to American Graffitti and Grease,
only it's a much racier version! This one does contain nudity and foul
language, but I can't imagine watching an edited version of it (what could
they leave?). For those with a sense of humor, it's a classic! As for its
Fiftiesability, I really didn't see anything that looked out of place.
The girls' hairstyles were off, but other than that, it was pretty good. |
 School
Ties (1992)
Starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon & Chris O'Donnell
School Ties is about a young man (Brendan
Fraser) going to a prep school for boys who hides
the fact that he's Jewish from his classmates.
A pretty good movie, but the Fiftiesability could
have been improved. It takes place in 1955 (since Rebel
Without a Cause is playing at the theatre),
but a lot isn't made of the time period. This is
mostly because the school boys wear uniforms and
apart from Amy Locane, there isn't a lot of females
in the film. Note that Ms. Locane appears in three
films listed here-- is she a '50s fan? |
 Shout (1991)
Starring John Travolta, Jamie Walters & Heather Graham
This film takes place in 1955 and revolves around a music teacher (John
Travolta) at a strict boys school who introduces his students to rock 'n'
roll (actually more like R&B). I found this film to be fairly boring,
and the '50s look is not really present here. Jamie Walters plays the token
James Dean-type character. |
 Stand
By Me (1986)
Starring River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton & Corey Feldman
The ultimate "coming of age" movie, Stand By Me is a
must. It takes place in 1959 and follows a group of pre-teen boys on an
unforgettable adventure. The fifties-aspect aren't so important in this
film, but they're certainly present. |
Telling
Lies in America (1997)
 Starring
Brad Renfro, Kevin Bacon & Calista Flockhart
Brad Renfro stars as Karchy, a teen in 1960 who admires local dee-jay Billy
Magic (Kevin Bacon), a too cool, cocky guy who drives a beautiful red '59
Cadillac convertible (which luckily gets its fair share of screen time).
Karchy has a tendency to stretch the truth and make himself out to be better
and more experienced than he is. Billy Magic comes under the scrutiny of
the Payola scandals that rocked real life Alan Freed right out of his dee-jay
booth. A good job is done making the film take place in '60. All in all,
it's a very watchable and enjoyable film. And "dat's da truf," as
Karchy would say. |
 This
Boy's Life (1993)
Starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Robert De Niro & Ellen
Barkin
This Boy's Life revolves around a teenage
boy named Toby (Leonardo Dicaprio) and his mother
(Ellen Barkin), who decide to make a new life for
themselves in Seattle in 1957. Unfortunately, she
ends up getting married to an extremely abusive
man (Robert De Niro) named Dwight. Dwight makes
Toby's life a living hell, and though it seems
dreary, it's a great story and movie. Filled with
good, authentic '50s touches. After all, it was
named after the magazine Boy's Life. |
| More
'50s-Era Films (Reviews are Coming Soon): |
61*
(2001)
84 Charing Cross Road (1987)
Absolute Beginners (1986)
All the King's Men (2006)
American Hot Wax (1978)
An American Rhapsody (2001)
Angel Heart (1987)
Anything But Love (2004)
The Audrey Hepburn Story (2000)
Badlands (1973)
A
Beautiful Mind (2001)
Bettie Page: Dark Angel (2004)
Beyond the Sea (2004)
Big Fish (2003)
Big Night (1996)
The Big Town (1987)
Book of Love (1990)
Born Free (1966)
Boycott (2001)
Braindead (1992)
The Buddy Holly Story (1978)
Capote (2005)
Century Hotel (2001)
Clue (1985)
Corrina, Corrina (1994)
Crazy (2007)
Dance with a Stranger (1985)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Desert Bloom (1986)
Diner (1982)
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
Dreaming of Julia (2003)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Ed Wood (1994)
El Benny (2006)
Elvis (1979; 1990; 2001; 2005; 2006)
Elvis and Me (1988)
The Ernest Green Story (1993)
Evelyn (2002)
Evening (2007)
Fall Time (1995)
Far from Heaven (2002)
Fido (2006)
The Front (1976)
Fur (2006)
The Girl Next Door (2007)
The Godfather I & II (1972, 1974)
Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
Goodbye, Norma Jean (1976)
Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn (1989)
Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
The Heavenly Kid (1985)
Hollywoodland (2006)
A Home of Our Own (1993)
Honeydripper (2007)
Hoosiers (1986)
Hounddog (2008)
The Hours (2002)
The House on Carroll Street (1988)
The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)
Imaginary Crimes (1994)
Indiana Jones (2008)
Infamous
(2006)
Introducing
Dorothy Dandridge (1999)
James Dean (1976 and 2001)
James Dean: Race with Destiny (1997)
|
Keep the Faith, Baby (2002)
The King and Me (1999)
A
King in New York (1973)
L.A.
Confidential (1997)
La Bamba (1987)
La Vie en rose (2007)
The Last Emperor (1987)
Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
Lenny (1974)
Let Him Have It (1991)
Little Richard (2000)
A Love Divided (1999)
The Majestic (2001)
The Mambo Kings (1992)
The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
Marilyn: The Untold Story (1980)
Marilyn and Me (1991)
Mischief (1985)
Mulholland Falls (1996)
My Favorite Year (1982)
My Little Assassin (1999)
My Louisiana Sky (2001)
The Mystery of Natalie Wood (2004)
Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996)
Northfork (2003)
The Notorious Bettie Page (2005)
October Sky (1999)
The Other Side of Heaven (2001)
Perfect Harmony (1991)
Pollock (2000)
Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio (05)
The Quiet American (2002)
Quiz Show (1994)
A
Rage in Harlem (1991)
A Raisin in the Sun (2008)
The Rat Pack (1998)
Ray
(2004)
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Ricky Nelson (1999)
Rocky Marciano (1999)
'Round Midnight (1986)
The Rosa Parks Story (2002)
Rumble Fish (1983)
Scattered Dreams (1993)
Shadowlands (1985)
Shake, Rattle & Rock (1994)
Slumber Party '57 (1976)
The Snow Walker (2003)
Snowy (1993)
Some Things That Stay (2004)
Sparkle (1976)
Sugartime (1995)
Suzie Q (1996)
Sweater Girls (1978)
Sweet Dreams (1985)
Swimming Upstream (2003)
Sylvia (2003)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
This Is Elvis (1981)
This Year's Blonde (1980)
Tune in Tomorrow (1990)
Under Suspicion (1992)
Vera Drake (2004)
Walk the Line (2005)
The Way We Were (1973)
Wish You Were Here (1987) |
|
