Top, L-R: U.S. Marines engaged in street fighting during the
Korean War, circa late September 1950; The first polio vaccine is developed by
Jonas Salk. Centre, L-R: US tests its first thermonuclear bomb with code name Ivy Mike in 1952. A 1954 thermonuclear test, code named Castle Romeo, is shown here; In 1959,
Fidel Castro overthrows
Fulgencio Batista in the
Cuban Revolution, resulting in the creation of the first communist government in the Western hemisphere;
Elvis Presley becomes the leading figure of rock and roll in the mid-1950s. Bottom, L-R: Smoke rises from oil tanks on Port Said following the invasion of
Egypt as part of the
Suez Crisis in late 1956; French paratroopers march in
Algiers in the beginning of the
Algerian War, 1957; The
Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth, in October 1957.
The 1950s (pronounced nineteen-fifties; commonly abbreviated as the "Fifties" or the "'50s") (among other variants) was a
decade that began on January 1, 1950, and ended on December 31, 1959.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (
Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States)82–414, 66
Stat.163, enacted June 27, 1952), also known as the McCarran–Walter Act, codified under
Title 8 of the United States Code (
8 U.S.C.ch. 12), governs immigration to and citizenship in the United States. It came into effect on June 27, 1952. Before the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, various
statutes governed
immigration law but were not organized within one body of text. According to its own text, the Act is officially entitled as just the Immigration and Nationality Act, but it is frequently specified with
1952 at the end in order to differentiate it from the 1965 law. (Full article...)
... that construction of the Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Memorial Interchange in Los Angeles in the 1950s displaced an entire neighborhood primarily inhabited by people of color?
These are
Good articles, which meet a core set of high editorial standards.
Image 1
Night of the Blood Beast is a 1958 American
science-fictionhorror film about a team of scientists who are stalked by an alien creature, which implants its embryos in an astronaut's body during a space flight. Produced by exploitation filmmaker
Roger Corman and his brother
Gene, it was one of the first films directed by
Bernard L. Kowalski and was written by first-time screenwriter Martin Varno, who was 21 years old. It starred several actors who had regularly worked with Roger Corman, including Michael Emmet, Ed Nelson, Steve Dunlap, Georgianna Carter and Tyler McVey. The film was theatrically released in December 1958 as a
double feature with She Gods of Shark Reef.
Ben-Hur had the largest budget ($15.175 million), as well as the largest sets built, of any film produced at the time.
Costume designerElizabeth Haffenden oversaw a staff of 100 wardrobe fabricators to make the costumes, and a workshop employing 200 artists and workmen provided the hundreds of
friezes and statues needed in the film. Filming commenced on May 18, 1958, and
wrapped on January 7, 1959, with shooting lasting for 12 to 14 hours a day and six days a week.
Pre-production began in Italy at
Cinecittà around October 1957, and
post-production took six months. Under cinematographer
Robert L. Surtees, executives at
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer made the decision to produce the film in a
widescreen format. Over 200 camels and 2,500 horses were used in the shooting of the film, with some 10,000 extras. The sea battle was filmed using miniatures in a huge tank on the back lot at the
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in
Culver City, California. The nine-minute chariot race has become one of cinema's most famous
action sequences, and the score, composed and conducted by
Miklós Rózsa, was at the time the longest ever composed for a film, and was highly influential on cinema for over 15 years. (Full article...)
The film tells the story of powerful and sleazy newspaper columnist J.J. Hunsecker (portrayed by Lancaster and based on
Walter Winchell) who uses his connections to ruin his sister's relationship with a man he deems unworthy of her. (Full article...)
Godzilla entered production after a Japanese-Indonesian co-production collapsed. Tsuburaya originally proposed for a giant
octopus before the filmmakers decided on a
dinosaur-inspired creature. Godzilla pioneered a form of special effects called
suitmation in which a stunt performer wearing a suit interacts with miniature sets. Principal photography ran 51 days, and special effects photography ran 71 days. (Full article...)
Fellini described La Strada as "a complete catalogue of my entire mythological world, a dangerous representation of my identity that was undertaken with no precedent whatsoever". As a result, the film demanded more time and effort than any of his other works, before or later. The development process was long and tortuous; there were problems during production, including insecure financial backing, problematic casting, and numerous delays. Finally, just before the production completed shooting, Fellini suffered a nervous breakdown that required medical treatment so that he could complete principal photography. Initial critical reaction was harsh, and the film's screening at the
Venice Film Festival was the occasion of a bitter controversy that escalated into a public brawl between Fellini's supporters and detractors. (Full article...)
Image 8
The Hideous Sun Demon (sometimes billed as The Sun Demon, or in the UK as Blood on His Lips) is a 1958 American
science fictionhorror film produced, directed, and cowritten by
Robert Clarke, who also starred in the title role. It also stars Patricia Manning, Nan Peterson, Patrick Whyte, and Fred La Porta. The film focuses on a scientist (portrayed by Clarke) who is exposed to a
radioactive isotope and soon finds out that it comes with horrifying consequences.
The film was inspired by the financial success of The Astounding She-Monster, in which Clarke had starred earlier that year. The crew was made up of
University of Southern California film students, while the cast consisted of unknowns in addition to Clarke's family and friends. Shooting took place under three different cinematographers over 12 consecutive weekends. Originally budgeted at $10,000, the film ended up costing $50,000. Distributed by Clarke's own Pacific International Pictures, The Hideous Sun Demon premiered on August 29, 1958 as part of a
double bill with
Roger Corman's Attack of the Crab Monsters. The film received mostly negative reviews upon its release, but has since become a
cult film and has been referenced and parodied many times. An unauthorized sequel, the 1965
short filmWrath of the Sun Demon, was produced by
Donald F. Glut. Two
redubbed versions of the original film have been released: the comedic Hideous Sun Demon: Special Edition and What's Up, Hideous Sun Demon (also known as Revenge of the Sun Demon), the latter of which was produced with Clarke's permission. (Full article...)
Image 9
Mallishwari is a 1951 Indian
Telugu-language
historical romance film produced and directed by
B. N. Reddy under his banner
Vauhini Studios.
P. Bhanumathi and
N. T. Rama Rao star as a couple – Nagaraju and Mallishwari – who are separated by Mallishwari's greedy mother. Mallishwari is sent to the king's palace according to the custom of "Rani Vasam", a tradition during the
Vijayanagara Empire wherein young women were fetched to the palace with an offering of gold and jewellery to their parents. The rest of the film focuses on the consequences faced by Nagaraju when he, against all rules, surreptitiously enters the palace to meet Mallishwari.
Reddy wanted to make a film based on Krishnadevaraya's character ever since his visit to
Hampi for the filming of his debut film Vandemataram (1939). He employed
Devulapalli Krishnasastri to write the film's script and took inspiration from
Buchibabu's play "Rayalavari Karunakruthyamu" and Devan Sharar's short story "The Emperor and the Slave Girl". He also incorporated into the script a few incidents from his childhood for the pranks between Nagaraju and Mallishwari.
S. Rajeswara Rao composed the film's music, Adi M. Irani and B. N. Konda Reddy provided the cinematography, H. R. Narayana and Vasu edited the film, and A. K. Shekhar was the film's production designer. (Full article...)
Image 10
Rififi (
French: Du rififi chez les hommes) is a 1955 French
crime film adaptation of
Auguste Le Breton's novel of the same name. Directed by American
blacklisted filmmaker
Jules Dassin, the film stars
Jean Servais as the aging gangster Tony "le Stéphanois",
Carl Möhner as Jo "le Suédois",
Robert Manuel as Mario Farrati, and Jules Dassin as César "le Milanais". The foursome band together to commit an almost impossible theft, the burglary of an exclusive jewelry shop in the
Rue de la Paix. The centerpiece of the film is an intricate half-hour heist scene depicting the crime in detail, shot in near silence, without dialogue or music. The fictional burglary has been mimicked by criminals in actual crimes around the world.
After he was
blacklisted from
Hollywood, Dassin found work in France where he was asked to direct Rififi. Despite his distaste for parts of the original novel, Dassin agreed to direct the film. He shot Rififi while working with a low budget, without a star cast, and with the production staff working for low wages. (Full article...)
The Incredible Shrinking Man is a 1957 American
science fiction film directed by
Jack Arnold based on
Richard Matheson's 1956 novel The Shrinking Man. The film stars
Grant Williams as Scott and
Randy Stuart as Scott's wife Louise. While relaxing on a boat, Scott is enveloped by a strange fog. Months later, he discovers that he appears to be shrinking. By the time Scott has reached the height of a small boy, his condition becomes known to the public. When he learns there is no cure for his condition, he lashes out at his wife. As Scott shrinks to the point he can fit into a doll house, he has a battle with his family cat, which leaves him lost and alone in his basement, where he is now smaller than the average insect.
The film's storyline was expanded by Matheson after he had sold the story to
Universal-International Pictures Co., Inc. He also completed the novel upon which the film is based while production was under way. Matheson's script was written in flashbacks, and
Richard Alan Simmons rewrote it using a more conventional narrative structure. Director Jack Arnold initially wanted
Dan O'Herlihy to play Scott. O'Herlihy turned down the role, leading Universal to sign Williams to star in the lead. Filming began on May 31, 1956. Scenes involving special effects were shot throughout production, while others used the large sets of Universal's back lot. Production went over budget, and filming had to be extended; certain special effects shots required reshooting. Williams was constantly being injured on set. (Full article...)
Executive producer Iwao Mori instructed producer
Tomoyuki Tanaka to immediately commence production on a second Godzilla film, fearing to lose the momentum of the
first film's success. Oda was chosen to direct the film as
Ishirō Honda was busy directing Lovetide. (Full article...)
Image 14
Theatrical release poster
Warning from Space (
Japanese: 宇宙人東京に現わる,
Hepburn: Uchūjin Tōkyō ni arawaru,
lit.'Spacemen Appear in Tokyo') is a Japanese tokusatsuscience fiction film directed by
Koji Shima. Produced and distributed by
Daiei Film, it was the first Japanese science fiction film to be produced in color. In the film's plot,
starfish-like
aliens disguised as humans travel to Earth to warn of the imminent collision of a
rogue planet and Earth. As the planet rapidly accelerates toward Earth, a
nuclear device is created at the last minute and destroys the approaching world.
The film was one of many early Japanese monster films quickly produced after the success of
Toho's Godzilla in 1954. After release, the film was met with negative reviews, with critics calling it "bizarre" and accusing it of using science fiction
clichés. Warning from Space influenced many other Japanese science fiction films, such as Gorath. The film, along with other 1950s tokusatsu science fiction films, influenced director
Stanley Kubrick, who would later direct 2001: A Space Odyssey. (Full article...)
Image 15
Missamma (
transl. Miss Madam) is a 1955 Indian
Telugu-language
romantic comedy film directed by
L. V. Prasad. It was produced by
Nagi Reddi and
Chakrapani on Vijaya Productions banner. The film stars
N. T. Rama Rao,
Savitri,
Akkineni Nageswara Rao and
Jamuna. The script was adapted by Chakrapani from Rabindranath Maitra's
Bengali play Manmoyee Girls School. It revolves around two unemployed people — M. T. Rao and Mary — who pose as a married couple to obtain employment in a high school founded by Gopalam, a
zamindar. As Rao and Mary fall in love, Gopalam's nephew A. K. Raju learns that Mary is Gopalam's missing elder daughter Mahalakshmi; she is unaware of her true identity.
Production began in early 1954 with
P. Bhanumathi cast as the female lead, though she would eventually be replaced by Savitri. The film was
simultaneously shot in
Tamil as Missiamma, with an altered cast.
Principal photography ended that December; filming was delayed because of Bhanumathi's exit after filming a few reels, and the difficulty of managing two casts simultaneously. C. P. Jambulingam and Kalyanam edited the film;
Marcus Bartley was the cinematographer, and
S. Rajeswara Rao composed the music. Missamma focused on social issues such as
unemployment,
corruption, and
freedom of worship. (Full article...)
Batista initially rose to power as part of the
1933 Revolt of the Sergeants, which overthrew the provisional government of
Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y Quesada. Batista then appointed himself chief of the armed forces, with the rank of colonel, and effectively controlled the
five-member "pentarchy" that functioned as the collective head of state. He maintained control through a string of
puppet presidents until 1940, when he was elected president on a
populist platform. He then instated the
1940 Constitution of Cuba and served until 1944. After finishing his term, Batista moved to Florida, returning to Cuba to run for president in 1952. Facing certain electoral defeat, he led a
military coup against President
Carlos Prío Socarrás that pre-empted the election. (Full article...)
Image 2In the 1950s lengthy
poodle skirts were popular with women, as were
leather jackets with men. Pictured is a 1950s leather jacket label. (from 1950s)
Image 4Top, L-R: U.S. Marines engaged in street fighting during the
Korean War,
c. late September 1950; The first
polio vaccine is developed by
Jonas Salk. Centre, L-R: US tests its first
thermonuclear bomb with code name Ivy Mike in 1952. A 1954 thermonuclear test, code named Castle Romeo; In 1959,
Fidel Castro overthrows
Fulgencio Batista in the
Cuban Revolution, which results in the creation of the first and only communist government in the Western hemisphere;
Elvis Presley becomes the leading figure of the newly popular music genre of
rock and roll in the mid-1950s. Bottom, L-R: Smoke rises from oil tanks on Port Said following the invasion of Egypt by Israel, United Kingdom and France as part of the
Suez Crisis in late 1956; The
Hungarian Revolution of 1956; The
Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the
Earth, in October 1957. This starts the
Space Race between the Soviet Union and the
United States. (from 1950s)
Image 12Elvis Presley was the best-selling musical artist of the decade. He is considered as the leading figure of the
rock and roll and
rockabilly movement of the 1950s. (from 1950s)
Image 19Leading figures of the Nepali Congress and King Tribhuvan (from 1950s)
Image 20The 1950s was the beginning period of rapid television ownership. In their infancy, television screens existed in many forms, including round. (from 1950s)
Image 21Castle Bravo: A 15 megaton hydrogen bomb experiment conducted by the United States in 1954. Photographed 78 miles (125 kilometers) from the explosion epicenter. (from 1950s)
Image 22Harry Belafonte in 1954, whose breakthrough album Calypso (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single artist. (from 1950s)
Image 23The
jukebox was particularly popular in the 1950s, and was used as entertainment in public establishments such as diners and
malt/soda shops. (from 1950s)
Image 24Motorcycle clubs became more prominent in the 1950s. Pictured is a vintage 1950s motorcycle toy. (from 1950s)
Image 25Israeli troops preparing for combat in the Sinai peninsula during the
Suez Crisis. (from 1950s)
Image 30In 1957, the Soviet Union launches to space
Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite (from 1950s)
Image 31The creation and expansion of many multinational restaurant chains still in existence today, including the likes of
McDonald's (as a franchise),
IHOP,
Pizza Hut and
Burger King, all occurred in the 1950s. (from 1950s)
More Did you know (auto generated)
... that the 1944 SCR-720radar system was used only briefly by the
USAAF, but was a primary
RAF system into the late 1950s?
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