It’s a love story filled with music by George and Ira Gershwin and dance choreographed by Gene Kelly. Along with five other Academy Awards, it won Best Picture of 1951. This is my look at An American in Paris starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron.
All About Eve hits a number of landmarks. It’s the first Best Picture winner to be primarily about women, it received an unprecedented 14 Oscar nominations, and well, watch my review to find out the rest. It stars Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, Celeste Holm, and George Sanders. It’s directed and written by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. It’s the Best Picture winner of 1950. It’s a tale of the theater like no other. It’s All About Eve.
It took a while, but we finally reached the end of the 1940s. I’m thankful to say the decade is ending on a good, I might even say fantastic, note. It’s a political drama directed and written by Robert Rossen and starring Broderick Crawford in a role that won him an Oscar for Best Actor. Supposedly based on the life of Louisiana politician Huey Long, All the King’s Men (1949) tells the story of Willie Stark, an idealistic man turned corrupt when he becomes Governor of an unnamed U.S. state. It’s a harsh, hard hitting story that still hits all the right notes, remaining just as relevant as ever. Also nominated for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor for John Ireland, Best Supporting Actress for radio veteran but film newcomer Mercedes McCambridge (who ended up taking home the award), and Best Editing for Robert Parrish and Al Clark, this is the Best Picture of 1949.
