House of Wax (1953)

House of Wax (1953)

[7] While it wasn't the first major motion picture released in 3D, House of Wax still has the distinction of being the first commercially popular one. Vincent Price became a household name after starring in this gothic spook show about…
It Came from Outer Space (1953)

It Came from Outer Space (1953)

[6] Richard Carlson (Creature from the Black Lagoon) stars as an amateur astronomer who sees a spaceship crash in the Arizona desert. He tries to tell the community about it, but no one believes him -- especially after the crater…
Jeopardy (1953)

Jeopardy (1953)

[6] Barbara Stanwyck stars in this intimate thriller from director John Sturges (The Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven) about a woman who is kidnapped by an escaped convict (Ralph Meeker) while trying to find help for her husband. While the…
Man on a Tightrope (1953)

Man on a Tightrope (1953)

[7] Fredric March plays a 1950s Czechoslovakian circus owner trying to lead his troupe in a daring escape from the Iron Curtain. The plan is to obtain a permit to perform for communist soldiers in the border territories -- then…
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

[8] If you told me I'd enjoy a movie about a unabashed gold-digger and her showgirl best friend traveling to Paris while trying to pull the wool over the eyes of a private detective attempting to catch one of them…
Peter Pan (1953)

Peter Pan (1953)

[4] The Darling children -- Wendy, Michael, and John -- take a magical trip to Neverland with a hero only children can see or believe in: Peter Pan. Once there, they meet Pan's Lost Boys, visit the mermaids, pow-wow with…
The Actress (1953)

The Actress (1953)

[6] Spencer Tracy and Jean Simmons star in this adaptation of an autobiographical stage play by writer/actress Ruth Gordon (Harold & Maude, Rosemary's Baby). The story centers around teen-aged Gordon's final year at home with her parents, when she first…
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

[5] This monster romp was the first solo effort by effects wizard Ray Harryhausen. All the stop-motion animation has the usual Harryhausen charm, including a famous scene where the dinosaur rages down Wall Street and chomps on a policeman. Unfortunately,…
Stalag 17 (1953)

Stalag 17 (1953)

[7] William Holden leads an ensemble cast in Billy Wilder's adaptation of Stalag 17. The film takes place entirely in a German prisoner-of-war barrack, where the captured Americans are beginning to suspect that Holden's pessimistic black marketeer character may be…
Julius Caesar (1953)

Julius Caesar (1953)

[5] Marlon Brando is terrific as Marc Antony in the centerpiece scene, rallying Rome to condemn Caesar's assassins. The supporting cast, sets, Miklos Rozsa's score, and the cast of thousands are impressive. But I'll be damned if this movie didn't…