AWARDS 1954

1954 and a total of 371 movies

* On the Waterfront starring actor winner Marlon Brando. PLOT: The classic story of loyalty and betrayal on the New Jersey docks, a washed-up boxer and dock worker (Marlon Brando) keeps his mouth shut about a murder orchestrated by his union boss. But when he falls for the dead man's grieving sister, he decides to take a stand. Eva St. Marie wins award for best actress in a supporting role.


Audrey Hepburn is nominated for Sabrina. PLOT: A playboy becomes interested in the daughter of his family's chauffeur. But it's his more serious brother who would be the better man for her. The players in the 1954 movie were Alan Ladd and Humphrey Bogart. The film was remade in 1995 starring Harrison Ford.


Another movie from this era was White Christmas starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney. A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act with lots of Irving Berlin music. It is said to be a sequel to Holiday Inn.


Other movies:
The Caine Mutiny. Humphrey Bogart, nominated. When a US Naval captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardizes the ship, the first officer relieves him of command and faces court martial for mutiny.

Country Girl. Bing Crosby, nominated. Grace Kelly wins best actress. William Holden plays. Washed up singer/actor Frank Elgin has a chance to make a come-back when director Bernie Dodd offers him the leading role in his new musical. Frank however is very insecure, turns to alcohol and shuns even the smallest of responsibilities, leaving everything up to his wife Georgie who finds it harder and harder to cope with her husband's lack of spirit. Bernie tries to help Frank regain his self-confidence, believing that it is Georgie who's the cause of his insecurity.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Adam Pontipee comes into a small mountain town after the winter to get some corn, farming equipment and a wife. He is searching for a woman who is pretty, young, strong, loving and a good cook. Whether he actually loves her doesn't matter, he wants a full time maid more than a wife. Milly works at a local bar where the men of the town come in droves to eat her tasty grub and ask her to marry them, but she always refuses with a smile and another helping of food. But she falls in love with Adam the moment he walks through the door, and is soon on her way. it’s a great musical starring Jane Powell and Howard Keel. Saw this in Minneapolis and sang the music all the way home.

Three Coins in the Fountain, best song, “Three Coins in the Fountain,” In this romantic comedy, three American roommates working in Italy wish for the man of their dreams after throwing coins into Rome's magnificent Trevi Fountain. A secretary at a government agency sets out to win the heart of her employer, a smooth-talking novelist, while her co-worker defies office regulations by romancing an Italian who works at the agency. Finally, office newcomer Maria meets a real Italian Prince Charming and falls madly in love. Now the only thing the three hopeful ladies need to do is seal their fate. Stars Clifton Webb and Dorothy McGuire.

A Star is Born. James Mason, nominated, Judy Garland Stars. This is the second of three of this movie. First one in 1932 and the last in 1976. Norman Maine, a movie star whose career is on the wane, meets showgirl Esther Blodgett when he drunkenly stumbles into her act one night. A friendship develops, then blossoms into romance before tensions increase as Esther's career takes off while Norman's continues to plummet. In the 1976 movie, it stars Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.



Missed from 1953, but not forgotten is the mad cap movie,
The Long, Long, Trailer. Nicky and Tracy are going to be married. Nicky wants to save up money for a house, but Tracy dreams of starting off with their own home on wheels--a trailer. After the two are hitched, they hitch up their trailer and begin their honeymoon. The humor comes from several disastrous adventures the couple has while traveling including Tracy's awkward attempt to cook dinner in a moving trailer, and a cliff hanging ride through the mountains that nearly destroys their marriage. My Favorite line was: "Turn left right here" and they wind up on a switch back road tapping the martini glasses to the table. Saw this film with parents in Minneapolis on a BIG screen! Starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.


The Magnificent Obsession. Jane Wyman, nominated, Rock Hudson also stars. This movie is a remake from the mid thirties. When churlish, spoiled rich man Bob Merrick foolishly wrecks his speed boat, the rescue team resuscitates him with equipment that's therefore unavailable to aid a local hero, Dr. Wayne Phillips, who dies as a result. Phillips had helped many people, and when Merrick learns Phillips' secret, to give selflessly and in secret, he tries it in a ham-handed way. The result further alienates Phillips' widow, Helen, with whom Merrick has fallen in love. Merrick's persistence causes another tragedy, and he must remake his life, including going back to medical school, in an attempt to make amends and win her love.

Wuthering Heights, 1939. 1954, 1970, and 1992

Elephant Walk, Including Elizabeth Taylor, Peter Finch, and Dana Andrews. The young bride of a rich planter finds herself the only white woman at Elephant Walk tea plantation, British Ceylon.


There’s No Business Like Show Business. There's no musical like this grand salute to the songs of Irving Berlin. Classic Berlin tunes like the title song, "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" and "You'd Be Surprised" are woven around the story of a close-knit vaudeville family. Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, and Marilyn Monroe star.

It was a great year for musicals!!!

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