Five Steps To Danger (1957)

Sterling Hayden stars as John Emmett in this cold war drama based on the book "The Steel Mirror" written by Donald Hamilton of Matt Helm fame. Emmett has the misfortune of having his car break down on the way to his month-long fishing vacation. Fortunately for him Mrs. Ann Nicholson (Ruth Roman) offers him a ride as far as Santa Fe, as long as he shares in the driving. She is in a rush to get to the city and meet up with a Dr. Reinhart Kissel. It seems that Ann is a native of Berlin and has the secret plans for an Intercontinental Missile that she must deliver to Kissel. However, some baddies have gotten word that she is carrying the plans and try to stop her. But luckily for the couple, the FBI are also in the know and try to prevent the Communists from getting to them and the blueprints.

Available: Netflix, iOffer

Caged (1950)

Eleanor Parker stars as Marie Allen, an innocent young woman who has ended up in prison on the charge of Armed Robbery after helping her now-deceased husband rob $40. Confused and scared, she befriends many of the seasoned inmates including Kitty Stark (Betty Garde), Smoochie (Jan Sterling), and Georgia Harrison (Gertrude Michael). Unfortunately, life is hard at the prison thanks to the evil matron Evelyn Harper (Hope Emerson) who makes life hell for anyone who cannot afford to pay her protection money. Even the kindly administrator Ruth Benton (Agnes Moorehead) has no power to stop the ruthless Evelyn. Marie is desperate to make parole as soon as possible before she turns into a cold criminal like everyone else.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Stage Fright (1950)

This Hitchcock film starts off with a flashback told by Jonathan Cooper (Richard Todd) to his friend Eve (Jane Wyman). It seems that he is being pursued by the cops because they believe that he killed the husband of his lover, actress Charlotte Inwood (Marlene Dietrich). Eve is very much in love with Jonathan and helps him to hide. She brings him to her father's (Alastair Sim) fishing hut. Although her dad advises her against it, Eve goes back to town and starts to investigate the crime herself. She tries to get Detective Inspector Smith (Michael Wilding) to suspect Charlotte, hoping that he will see who the true murderer is. But could she is wrong in her suspicions?

Available: Netflix, Amazon

...And God Created Woman (1956)

This film directed by Roger Vadim is credited with launching Brigitte Bardot into the international spotlight and creating her sex kitten persona. In it she stars as Juliette, a teenage orphan who basically does as she pleases. She doesn't hide her sexuality and openly flirts with men, including wealthy Eric Carradine (Curd Jurgens). When her foster mother plans to send her back to the orphanage, Carradine plans to get her married off so that she can stay. She ends up marrying naive Michel Tardieu (Jean-Louis Trintignant), the brother of Antoine (Christian Marquand) the man she is really in love with. Everything is fine until Antoine comes back home to run the docks for Carradine.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Guys And Dolls (1955)

Spectacular and colorful musical based on stories by Damon Runyon. Originally a broadway play, it was produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. This was Mankiewicz's first and last musical.

It stars Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit, a well-respected gangster who has been staging the oldest floating crap game in the city. The only problem is that the law is on his tail and no one is willing to risk hosting the game. His only option is to pay $1000 up front for a place, except he doesn't have the money. He decides to make a wager with gambler Sky Masterson (Marlon Brando) to get the money. Detroit bets Masterson that he won't be able to convince wholesome mission leader Jean Simmons to go with him to Havana. It is a 1950s musical, so it's easy to figure out what happens...they all do live Happily Ever After.

Available: Amazon, Netflix

The Defiant Ones (1958)

A white racist convict (Tony Curtis) and a black convict (Sidney Poitier) are chained together in the back of a police wagon when it gets into an accident one night. They manage to escape but must work together if they are to survive. They encounter a group of company men who are ready to lynch them and a lonely woman who wants to run away with Curtis. The posse is led by the sensible sheriff (Theodore Bikel) who must keep the reins on a group of men who want to take justice into their own hands (which includes transistor radio-toting Carl Alfalfa Switzer)

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Les Enfants Terribles (1950)

Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and taken from Jean Cocteau's 1929 novel of the same name. There is much debate as to whose film it actually is: Melville or Cocteau. This is only Melville's second feature film and a lot of film scholars give credit to Cocteau as the true director.

The story is simply about the relationship between a teenage brother and sister who are orphaned shortly after the story begins. The older sister seems to be the authority, making the decisions for the family. The relationship between the two siblings seems combative at times, but it is obvious that they are two halves of the same personality.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Gigi (1958)

This musical by Vincente Minnelli takes place in turn-of-the-century Paris. Louis Jourdan plays Gaston, a rich playboy who is tired of the conventions of the high society of which he is a part. He finds refuge visiting the residence of Madame Alvarez (Hermione Gingold), the grandmother of Gigi (Leslie Caron). In their welcoming home, Gaston and Gigi can just be silly playing card games or singing songs. However, Gigi's Aunt Alicia (Isabel Jeans) is grooming her to be a lady. And soon both Gigi and Gaston realize that she is turning out to be quite a beauty.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Jupiter's Darling

Jupiter's Darling is one of Hollywood's Technicolor musical extravaganzas filled with singing and dancing (and in this case, swimming). It stars Esther Williams as the betrothed of Emperor Fabius Maximus (George Sanders). However, Hannibal (Howard Keel) and his elephants are coming to conquer Rome and she finds him a bit more exciting.

To plot a movie like this around a serious historical event is a bit odd, to say the least. Hannibal is the only one who takes the whole mission of wiping out an entire city serious. Everyone else is too busy having fun swimming with underwater statues or dancing with elephants (as Marge and Gower Champion do). It has songs with lines like "If this what it's like being a slave, I don't want to be free". And this exchange between two Roman slaves: "Don't you have any manners?" "No, I'm a barbarian". But all is forgiven because the movie is a lot fun. Esther Williams is beautiful and charming, Howard Keel has an incredible voice, and the Champions are fascinating dancers.

Angels In The Outfield

Thanks to TCM and a rainy Saturday afternoon, I was able to see the sweet film Angels In The Outfield. Take note, this is not the goofy 1994 remake with visible angels raising baseball players into the air to catch fly balls. This original film is more concerned with the main characters than the celestial beings.

"Guffy" McGovern (played by Paul Douglas) is the fouth-mouthed, bad-tempered coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates who are quickly on their way to being the last place team on the league. One day he suddenly hears a voice, the voice of angel. This angel informs Guffy that someone has been praying very hard for him and his team. All he has to do is reform his terrible ways and the Pirates will become more successful. Convinced by a "miracle" in the third inning the next day, Guffy does try hard to be a better man.

The film also features Janet Leigh as a woman reporter who has been assigned to cover the games from a female point of view, and Donna Corcoran as the little orphan girl who is the only one who can see the angels since she is one who initially prayed so hard for Guffy and the Pirates.

Like I said earlier, there is no ridiculous angels interfering with the baseball players. The team plays better by following hunches to go left instead of right or to anticipate a bunt. The sweet (but not saccharine) narrative is mostly about Guffy and the orphan girl and the happy life they both hope to have.

The Man With The Golden Arm (1955)

This past month Turner Classic Movies has been paying tribute to Frank Sinatra by showing a wide scope of his many films. During this fest I finally got to see Ocean's Eleven, which showcased the entire Rat Pack and was quite fun. I also saw Sergeants 3 (Gunga Din as western? I don't accept that.) which wasn't quite as good as I had hoped. However the best of the bunch has to be The Man With The Golden Arm, the story of heroine addict who has a chance at better life through his talent as a drummer.

Directed by Otto Preminger, it starred not only Sinatra but Kim Novak & Eleanor Parker. Parker's performance was so incredible that I don't understand how she was not awarded anything for her work. She didn't even have to say anything to convey everything. Of course Sinatra is excellent in this. Lots of people highlight the heroine withdrawal scene, but to me it's the bulk of his performance as a lost and, unfortunately, weak man that really shows what a top-notch actor Frank Sinatra is.

The excellence continues not only in every other actor's performance, but also to the stunning cinematography of Sam Leavitt and phenomenal jazz soundtrack of Elmer Bernstein, both which highlight the gritty setting of this tragic story.

Available: Netflix, Amazon