1957

There seems to be a year every now and then that is rife with "important" films. Usually these films are not so much 'important' as they are simply great dramatic stories told extremely well, sometimes with unhappy endings. 1957 feels like such a year to me (see 2007 for a recent example). My list does not even include the classic dramas An Affair to Remember, Wild Strawberries, Nights of Cabria, A Face in the Crowd, Sayonara, and The Cranes Are Flying. Did no one want to laugh this year? :)

The Top Three
12 Angry Men, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Sweet Smell of Success


This is one of those films that is universally recognized as great. It's a great high concept film for the time. 12 jurors, one case, one room, no names, all talking...and it's riveting! As the hours where on, you really get a sense of each character's motivations and their moral compass, not just in terms of the case but in terms of life. This is also one of the great collections of acting talent ever on screen. I won't list off the names, suffice to say that everyone brings their A game. The moment when Fonda produces his duplicate evidence is one of the classic "gotcha" moments in cinema. There are many other moments in the film and almost all of them showcasing a different character so everyone has room to stretch their acting muscles. Truly on of the greatest pure dramas ever.

The Bridge on the River Kwai is another film which has a strange fascination over me. It could be the stubbornness of the British pitted against the equal stubbornness of the Japanese compared with the common sense survivalism of the Americans. It could be the epicness of the film, as it was David Lean's first really big (in terms of scale) movie. It might just be the amazing scene of that bridge blowing up and the train diving headlong into the shallow river below. Whatever the reason, it is an amazing film with an equally amazing performance from Alec Guiness. His battle of wills against Col. Saito is so damned entertaining even though virtually no action takes place. It's a staring contest and when Saito has to blink first, it's a great moment of triumph. Amidst all this is the undercurrent of the absurdity of war itself and the actions taken by individuals which make no sense, even in times of conflict. Truly "madness".

Sweet Smell of Success is the film that made me realize Burt Lancaster is a great actor.Up until this film I had seen him in strictly lead protagonist roles where he played the morally strong hero. This film turned that completely upside down as he schemes and connives and twists Tony Curtis until there's nothing left. Not to say that Curtis himself is all shiny in this film because he most certainly is not. When I heard the line, "The cat's in the bag" and Curtis responds with "and the bag's in the river", I knew exactly what kind of character I would be getting the rest of the film. The dialogue exchanges between the two stars are the highlight of the film for me and each scene feels like a fight with words. This is one of those films that bears fruit upon repeated viewings because the nuances in each performance really add to the lines once you hear them a second time. A real boiler of a picture.

The Best of the Rest
Throne of Blood, Witness for the Prosecution, Night of the Demon, The Seventh Seal

Two amazing foreign dramas, one of the best courtroom classics ever and an underrated horror gem round out the best of this dramatic year. When it comes to Kurosawa films Throne of Blood would not probably be on the top of anyone's list...but it would almost always be in the top five. It is a true piece of cinematic art. Likewise The Seventh Seal holds a similar position among Bergman fans, though this one might be more likely to top a few lists. I love Charles Laughton in Witness for the Prosecution. He just perfectly exudes the arrogance necessary to his character and his curmudgeonly attitude only helps to endear him to the audience. Night of the Demon is perhaps the film I will always recommend as an underrated classic. It's not perfect but what it does almost as well as any film I have seen is set atmosphere and mood. I don't know if I've been more on the edge of my seat than when Dana Andrews is creeping around the forest in the fog. Also, the creature/demon is pretty terrifying as well for a 50's film. 

Other Films of Note
The Enemy Below, 20 Million Miles to Earth, The Spirit of St. Louis, Paths of Glory, Old Yeller

Overall, this year was the year of the drama. No matter what form it took, be it war, courtroom, show business, biography, submarine, Shakespearean samurai or playing chess with Death itself, this was a serious year for serious films.