ACADEMY AWARD WINNER: BEST PICTURE A heroic few stand alone against the corrupt bosses of a powerful union. [ On the Waterfront credits: Dir: Elia Kazan/ Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint/ 108 min/ Drama/ Unions & Monopolies] “Eight Academy Awards (including Best Picture) were heaped on this film and for good reasons, including: tight direction, inspired … [Read more...]
Executive Suite (1954)
Following the death of a company president, the remaining members of management struggle over who will succeed him. [ Executive Suite credits: Dir: Robert Wise/ William Holden, June Allyson, Barbara Stanwyck/ 105 min/ Drama/ Creator as Hero, Pro-Capitalism] “A refreshingly true, even instructive, picture of business.” Like the well-known classic libertarian film Cash … [Read more...]
Ikiru (1952)
A Japanese municipal bureaucrat diagnosed with cancer tries to put meaning into his heretofore meaningless life. [ Ikiru credits: Dir: Akira Kurosawa/ Takashi Shimura, Miki Odagiri, Nobuo Kaneko/ 143 min/ Drama, Foreign Language/ Japanese/ In Japanese with English subtitles/ Creator as Hero, Working for Government] “What a heart-rending story of eleventh-hour redemption! … [Read more...]
Harvey (1950)
WINNER: TOP 25 LIBERTARIAN FILMS A woman tries to have her eccentric brother institutionalized. [ Harvey credits: Dir: Henry Koster/ James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Peggy Dow, Charles Drake/ 104 min/ Comedy/ Psychiatry & Force, Social Tolerance] “James Stewart plays his leading role to the hilt and is supported by many wonderful performances in smaller roles, including … [Read more...]
Guilty of Treason (1950)
Cardinal Mindszenty of Hungary is tried for treason by Soviet authorities after speaking out against the socialist takeover of his country. Story inspired by actual events. [ Guilty of Treason credits: Dir: Felix Feist/ Charles Bickford, Bonita Granville, Paul Kelly/ 86 min/ Drama, Biography/ Anti-Socialism, Government as Torturer] No trailer available. “The Left now … [Read more...]
The Fountainhead (1949)
A brilliant and original architect, with a noble vision of life’s potential, struggles against a sea of mediocrity and cynicism to achieve greatness in his art. [ The Fountainhead credits: Dir: King Vidor/ Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal, Raymond Massey, Robert Douglas/ 114 min/ Drama/ Ayn Rand, Creator as Hero, Individualism] “This is one of the most focused screen … [Read more...]
All the King’s Men (1949)
ACADEMY AWARD WINNER: BEST PICTURE A political reformer, hungry for power to do “good,” becomes thoroughly corrupt on his way to the top. [ All the King's Men credits: Dir: Robert Rossen/Broderick Crawford, John Ireland, Mercedes McCambridge/ 109 min/ Drama/ Power Corrupts, Corrupt Government] “All the King's Men has a fine script, said to be inspired by the rise and fall … [Read more...]
Call Northside 777 (1948)
A reporter who investigates a curious classified ad ends up clearing a man erroneously convicted of murder. Based on a true story. [ Call Northside 777 credits: Dir: Henry Hathaway/ James Stewart, Richard Conte, Lee J. Cobb/ 111 min/ Drama/ Free Press as Hero] Note: the full film can typically be found online via YouTube or Google search. “This is a heartwarming story … [Read more...]
Passport to Pimlico (1949)
A London borough declares its independence from Britain. [ Passport to Pimlico credits: Dir: Henry Cornelius/ Stanley Holloway, Margaret Rutherford, Hermione Baddeley/ 84 min/ Comedy/ Britain/ Right to Secede] The full film is available online at the Internet Archive. “This is a wonderful gem of a film. The script is hilarious and the direction makes effective use of … [Read more...]
Whiskey Galore (1949)
When the people of a small British island recover whiskey from a sinking ship, an uptight government official attempts to ruin their fun. [ Whiskey Galore credits: Dir: Alexander Mackendrick/ Basil Radford, Joan Greenwood, James Robertson Justice/ 80 min/ Comedy/ Britain/ Anti-Taxation] “This is classic British cinema, with an antiauthoritarian edge.” Wife: “If the … [Read more...]