AWARDS 1956

1956
* Around the World in 80 Days won for best picture. By now, us mid-forty babies were going to the movies by ourselves. Our theaters may not have gotten the film first run, yet we were willing to wait for them to arrive. PLOT: This adaptation of the famous Jules Verne novel has Jackie Chan playing a thief in 1872 who becomes the traveling companion and martial arts bodyguard of a man betting that he can circumnavigate the world in a set time. The pair use various means to accomplish that, stopping in Paris, Turkey, India, China and the United States.

Friendly Persuasion, Gary Cooper plays Jess Birdwell, patriarch of a Quaker family which does not believe in warfare. Birdwell's son Josh (Tony Perkins) wishes to adhere to his family's pacifism, but is afraid that if he doesn't sign up for military service, he'll prove to be a coward. Josh joins the Home Guard, which disturbs his mother Eliza (Dorothy McGuire). But Jess Birdwell realizes that his son must follow the dictates of his own conscience. Josh proves his courage to himself when he is wounded during a Rebel raid, while the elder Birdwell is able to stay faithful to his religious calling by not killing a Southern soldier when given both a chance and a good reason to do so. Do you remember the goose being whacked with the broom?

Giant, in which both James Dean and Rock Hudson were nominated. Texan rancher Bick Benedict visits a Maryland farm to buy a prize horse. Whilst there he meets and falls in love with the owner's daughter Leslie, they are married immediately and return to his ranch. The story of their family and its rivalry with cowboy and (later oil tycoon) Jett Rink unfolds across two generations. Elizabeth Taylor plays Leslie.

The King and I starring Yul Brynner, who one the best actor and Deborah Kerr was nominated is about Mrs. Anna Leonowens and her son Louis arrive in Bangkok, where she has contracted to teach English to the children of the royal household. She threatens to leave when the house she had been promised is not available, but falls in love with the children. A new slave, a gift of a vassal king, translates "Uncle Tom's Cabin" into a Siamese ballet, expressing her unhappiness at being with the King. She attempts to escape with her lover. Anna and the King fall in love, but her British upbringing inhibits her from joining his harem. She is just about to leave Siam when she hears of the King's imminent death, and returns to help his son, her favorite pupil, rule his people.

The Ten Commandments To escape the edict of Egypt's Pharaoh, Ramses’ I, condemning all first-born Hebrew males, the infant Moses is set adrift on the Nile in a reed basket. Saved by the Pharaoh's daughter Bithiah, he is adopted by her and brought up in the court of her brother, Pharaoh Seti. Moses gains Seti's favor and the love of the throne princess Nefertiri, as well as the hatred of Seti's son, Rameses. When his Hebrew heritage is revealed, Moses is cast out of Egypt, and makes his way across the desert where he marries, has a son and is commanded by God to return to Egypt to free the Hebrews from slavery. Cast includes Charles Heston as Moses.

The Bad Seed played at the Avalon Theater on the night of Sandy Christianson's birthday party. The idea was for her mother to give us the money and we would sneak over to the theater once her mom was out of sight. We wanted to see the Bad Seed. But, she paid for our tickets and we didn't get to see it! PLOT: Christine Penmark seems to have it all: a lovely home, a loving husband and the most "perfect" daughter in the world. But since childhood, Christine has suffered from the most terrible recurring nightmare. And her "perfect" daughter's accomplishments include lying, theft and possibly much, much worse. Only Christine knows the truth about her daughter and only Christine's father knows the truth about her nightmare.


And what was Baby Doll all about? It was considered to be the dirtiest American-made motion picture and was banned in Sweden and the Catholic Legion succeeded in having the film withdrawn from release in most US theaters. It was about a childlike bride of a Mississippi cotton gin owner and she becomes a pawn in the battle between husband and his enemy.

Bus Stop stars Don Murray and Marilyn Monroe. He is on his way to Phoenix and while at a cafe stop, he hears Cherie sing and decides to marry her and take her back to Montana. Marilyn sings, "Old Black Magic".

Ingrid Bergman won best actress for Anastasia, Russian exiles in Paris plot to collect ten million pounds from the Bank of England by grooming a destitute, suicidal girl to pose as heir to the Russian throne. While Bounin is coaching her he comes to believe she is really Anastasia.


Of the 414 movies made one of them, Love Me Tender starring Elvis Presley started a new movie craze to include Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets. It was the beginning of a new era. Westerns still rode, including Randolph Scott, and Burt Lancaster made two movies; Trapeze and The Rainmaker.

Eddy Duchin Story Starred Tyrone Power and Kim Novak. The life story of the famous pianist and band-leader of the 1930s and 1940s

Lady Chatterley’s Lover. She was beautiful and sensual, trapped in a loveless marriage. He was her husband's servant. Born into worlds as far apart, they found a passionate world of their own. 1956 and 1981. We weren’t allowed to see this movie either, but the book went from desk to desk in high school with some of the pages marked!

Tea House of the August Moon, Starred Marlon Brando
A satire on America's very own drive of a world changer: One year after world war ii, Captain Fisby is sent to the village Tobiki in Okinawa to teach the people democracy. First step is to build a school - but the witty folks know what they really want. They tell him about their culture and traditions - and persuade him to build something they really want: a tea house

The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit, Starred Gregory Peck.
Money is a bit tight and when the opportunity arises, he applies for a public relations job with a major television network. During his long commute to work everyday, Tom reminisces about the war. Although 10 years have gone by, he is still haunted by the violence and the men he killed. He also thinks of Maria, an Italian girl with whom he had an affair while stationed in Rome. At his new job, the head of the network Ralph Hopkins takes an immediate liking to him. Tom soon realizes that he will have to choose between becoming a wholly dedicated company man or maintaining a healthy work-life balance. When he learns that Maria gave birth to his son after he left Italy, he decides to let his wife know and ensure that the boy is cared for

The Man Who Knew Too Much. Starred James Stewart Bob and Jill Lawrence are on a winter sports holiday with their teenage daughter Betty. When their friend Louis Bernard is shot whilst dancing with Jill, he tells Bob of an assassination about to take place in London. Fearing that their plot will be revealed, the assassins kidnap Betty in order to keep the Lawrence's quiet. Bob and Jill return to London and take matters into their own hands. Remade from the 1930’s film by the same name.

It appears there is either a Biblical picture or a Shakespeare play each year. This year was no different, was it?