1950s Movies | Payson Library

Description

Comedy about a good-natured fellow whose constant companion is a six-foot tall invisible rabbit. His sister is determined to marry her daughter off and decides to commit her brother to a mental hospital to get him out of the way. Due to a mix-up the sister is committed instead, and it is up to the kindly brother and his imaginary friend to straighten things out!

2) The lemon drop kid

Description

A small-time con artist, nicknamed for his favorite candy, gets in over his head when he swindles a tough gangster out of some gambling profits. The Kid concocts a scheme to pay back the money by Christmas, by tricking his pals into dressing up as Santas and collecting money for a made-up charity.

3) Imitation of life

Description

1934 version: Two single mothers join together to form a successful business, but find that material success does nothing to stabilize their personal lives. 1959 version: Two single mothers, a down-on-her-luck actress and a homeless woman, attempt to find happiness for themselves and their daughters.

4) Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet the creature from the Black Lagoon

Series

Abbott and Costello

Description

Abbott and Costello visit the Universal Pictures prop shop and get involved with Frankenstein's monster and the creature from the Black Lagoon.

5) Bud Abbott & Lou Costello meet the mummy

Series

Universal Studios comedy legends

Description

When Abbott and Costello learn that an archaeologist has found a legendary mummy in Cairo, they decide to apply to guard the corpse as it's sent to the United States. Finding the archaeologist murdered and the mummy gone, they become owners of a medallion that holds the key to ancient buried treasure that they must keep from falling into the wrong hands.

Description

"Vincent Price stars as an obsessed doctor who discovers that fear manifests itself as a parasitic creature, which grows on the spinal cords of terrified people. If they scream, The Tingler can be destroyed. If they don't, it will sever the spinal column and kill them. He successfully isolates and removes The Tingler from a deaf-mute (Judith Evelyn) who has been scared to death by her devious husband. Once captured, the Tingler escapes and runs amok...

7) another mans poison

This entry no longer exists in the catalog

8) The court jester

Description

In 12th century England, the infant king is usurped by the wicked King Roderick. Black Fox and his band attempt to restore the rightful king to the throne by having a member of their group infiltrate the court by posing as the jester.

9) River of no return

Series

Cinema classics collection

Description

After his wife dies, Matt Calder and his young son begin a new life in the breathtaking, rugged Northwest wilderness, where Calder is robbed and beaten by ruthless gambler Harry Weston. When Weston's beautiful fiancée then decides to nurse Calder back to health, the insanely jealous Weston risks their lives by taking them all on a ride down a treacherous river in this spectacular looking western.

Description

Shows Cary Grant as a government attorney, living in a houseboat, widowed and left with three unruly kids. He hires Sophia Loren as a governess and ends up falling in love with her.

11) Some like it hot

Description

Two unemployed musicians accidentally witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and flee to Miami disguised as female musicians in an all-girl band.

12) Call me madam

Description

Sally Adams has made it her business to know everyone worth knowing in Washington, D.C., and her penchant for parties pays off when she's appointed U.S. Ambassador to Lichtenburg. Once she is installed in her new position, shes falls in love with the sauve Foreign Minister Cosmo Constantine, while Princess Maria has her head turned by Sally's press attachae, Kenneth.

13) Million dollar mermaid

Description

The story of Annette Kellerman's swimming career, including the scandal revolving around the 'one piece bathing suit' that almost landed her in jail.

14) Damn Yankees

Series

Archive collection

Description

What if you could help your favorite team win the pennant? And what if you got to be the star of that team? For lifelong Washington Senators fan Joe Boyd that dream comes true when after seeing his team lose yet again, he rashly declares that he would sell his soul to the devil to see his team beat the Yankees. The Devil goes by Mr. Applegate now, and he agrees that Joe--a one-time baseball standout--will play for the Senators and help them reach...

15) The pajama game

Series

Archive collection

Description

Labor and management at the Sleeptite Pajama Factory aren't sleeping much lately: A proposed 7.5-cent hourly wage increase is why, and a strike may result.

16) The old man and the sea

Description

An aging Cuban fisherman, alone in a small skiff, catches a magnificent marlin and must defy the sea, marauding sharks, and his own flagging strength to bring his great catch home.

17) Friendly Persuasion

Description

A devout Southern Indiana Quaker family attempts to resist the call to arms during the Civil War, but their pacifism is sorely tested by the events that engulf them in this classic film.

18) This island Earth

Description

Dr. Meacham is chosen, along with others, to do research that will help save the dying planet Metaluna. However, an evil scheme is uncovered by the suspecting Dr. Meacham when he discovers the Metalunan's plan to take over Earth.

19) 12 angry men

Description

Courtroom drama revolving around the trial of a boy accused of killing his father, where one man stands between him and capital punishment.

20) A streetcar named Desire

Description

An uncensored version of the story of a repressed widow who visits her sister in New Orleans and is abused and eventually driven mad by her brother-in-law.