Tu me tues... tu me fais du bien

My favorite '50's romance is the wonderful, breath-taking Hiroshima Mon Amour. Beautiful in every aspect and very moving, it's a mix of dreamy fiction and frightening reality. An evocatively romantic analysis of a world still aching with the atomic bomb, Hiroshima Mon Amour is absolute cinematic perfection, and truly heartbreaking in every possible way.

A less-than-cheerful decade, I for one identify the '50's more with blunt passion than with actual romance. After all, it's the decade of the closet feelings, of the inner demons, of the secret affections, of the underground sexual revolutions. And I'll mention the two Pulitzer prize-winning Tennesse Williams plays that were later adapted for the screen as the example of this whole 50's feeling: Elia Kazan's A Streetcar Named Desire and Richard Brooks' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.


Since, in more ways than one, it was indeed James Dean's decade (even if he only was a big name for two years of it - he truly owned it) might just add my favorite of the bunch: Rebel Without a Cause. While probably outdated, it's still effective and reaches its purpose, and it's some of the best work by both Dean and the god-like creature that was Natalie Wood.



For a sexual revolution to be underground, necessarily there must be something covering up for it. That way, the magical era of downright adorable MGM musicals saw its greatest days, with the ever so gorgeous Gene Kelly leading the way. And so two of the best musicals in history were born: Vicente Minnelli's An American in Paris and the Gene Kelly/Stanley Donen wonderful, wonderful Singin' in the Rain (quite possibly the best musical ever made - or, at the very least, the most representative of the genre)


Oh, but there's so much to say for this wonderful, wonderful decade, in just about every possible aspect. As there were passion-driven stories, there were some of the old stories of undying love at first sight. Another fantastic film from this decade is that exactly, but with the characteristic "twist" into a darker theme; George Stevens' A Place in the Sun, with the ever gorgeous pair of Elizabeth and Montgomery Clift.


Also, as far as the classic love story with a twist, Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece and most definitely the one truly strong love story of his filmography, Vertigo. Acted wonderfully by both James Stewart and Kim Novak (specially the latter), it's a story of love, betrayal and deceit, adding some espionage and an "out of this world" spice - and you get Hitchcock perfection.

Now, for the downright sappy, the stand-out "tearjerker" of the decade, An Affair to Remember (possibly most known for being referenced in Sleepless in Seattle as the "chick flick" of choice). Now, while it does venture into cheese in its entirety, the movie doesn't truly lose any points over it - however corny it might be, it's impossible not to adore it... at least if you're female.



A bit about my three favorite romantic comedies of this decade: the first, lovely beyond reason, features the first big role by one of the true goddesses of cinema... Audrey Hepburn in her adorable portrayal of princess Anya in Roman Holiday, one of so many movies that Hollywood has produced to prove, for the millionth time, that there's just something about iconic European cities in summer time...

The wild, silly, and tremendously funny comedy of sex change (no, not Ed Wood's Glen or Glenda) by the amazing Billy Wilder, Some Like It Hot, simply cannot go unmentioned. Most definitely not the same old "boy meets girl" affair, this "girl meets... girl/boy meets... boy" story, while seemingly simple, ends up simply exploding in its own ridicule, and every single second of it is to die for.

Now, for the most fabulous of the Rock Hudson/Doris Day comedies: Pillow Talk. A messy, hilarious story of the best "showy" screwball type. The music, the costumes, the performances - the whole thing, almost 50 years later, remains, still, absolutely fresh and downright cute. And damn, Rock Hudson was a babe.


And, a pic from An American in Paris, because the damn thing wouldn't fit where it was supposed to...