I have now watched 102 films released in 1956. The complete list is here. My new randomized viewing schedule worked in keeping me interested. 1956 is not noted as a “great” year in film history but I ended it with too many films I rated 9/10 or above to fit on my list of personal favorites. I had a hard time selecting among them or ranking them. Also rans were: Attack; Patterns; Somebody Up There Likes Me; Street of Shame; Le mystere Picasso; Early Spring; A Town Like Alice; and Secrets of Life. Note: I am saving my review of Moby Dick for the upcoming Animals in Film blogathon. Totals include that film. I will revise this post if necessary.
10. Baby Doll – directed by Elia Kazan
9. The King and I – directed by Walter Lang
8. Bigger Than Life – directed by Nicholas Ray
7. The Killing – directed by Stanley Kubrick
6. Invasion of the Body Snatchers – directed by Don Siegel
5. Aparajito – directed by Satyajit Ray
4. The Bad Seed – directed by Mervyn LeRoy
3. The Burmese Harp – directed by Kon Ichikawa
2. The Red Balloon – directed by Albert Lamorisse
- The Searchers – directed by John Ford
In a rare moment…I’ve actually seen nine of these. I’m not sure that my order would be the same, but a lot of these would be on my top-10 from this year, too.
I have long held that The Searchers is one of the five best Western films ever made, and I think I’ll say it’s top-3. Hell of a great movie from start to finish, and a fantastic top pick.
Heck, while I’m watching The Searchers I can’t think of any other movie so it’s number one. The 1956 favorites list turned out to be heavy on 1001 Movies and Academy Award nominees. We’ll see what happens in 1957. I think that is going to be a particularly tough list to sort out.
Hmm…Once Upon a Time in the West, Unforgiven, and High Noon might give The Searchers a run for its money. Honestly, I think I could argue any of those for the title of Greatest Western.
Well, for sheer beauty I think The Searchers has all of them topped but I can’t argue with your other contenders.
The shot for pick 1 is very iconic, magic.
Monument Valley and the whole Southwest U.S. is magic. I’ve been to the place but not seen it from that angle.
……LOL just found it’s origin, what a sneaky bea!
Again you are catching up with me. Now we can watch movies together.
The Red Balloon sounds like a movie I have to see.
I will get back to watching movies as soon as I come back home.
You should definitely watch The Red Balloon, preferably with your little boy! It’s only half an hour and on YouTube right now.