Tafero's DVD Reviews of the Day - 1951 in Review

1951

These are the best films of 1951 and the ones that will qualify for my best 2000 film list. Recommended list from 1951-2011 grows to 629.

1. Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man – one of the best in the series makes the top 2000
2. Ace in the Hole – dramatic Douglas film makes the top 2000
3. The African Queen – makes the top 2000 and the top 100
4. Captain Horatio Hornblower – film much better than title and makes top 2000
5. Cry, the Beloved Country – classic Pointier from Britain and makes the top 2000
6. David and Bathsheba – just misses the mark
7. The Day the Earth Stood Still – great sci-fi classic makes top 2000 and the top 100
8. Death of a Salesman – the best rendition of this play makes top 2000
9. The Desert Fox – nice WW 2 tale told from the opposition’s view makes top 2000
10. Detective Story – gritty cops and robbers film makes the top 2000
11. Flying Leathernecks – Jingoistic ww2 flick just misses the mark
12. Fort Worth – great Scott Western makes the top 2000
13. The Fighting Seventh – Custer yarn just misses the mark
14. The Lost Continent – interesting sci-fi not quite good enough
15. Miracle in Milan – great post-war Italian film makes the top 2000
16. A Place in the Sun – creepy film almost makes the list; I’d drown Winters, too.
17. Quo Vadis – nice sword and sandal tale makes the top 2000
18. The Racket – not quite loud enough
19. The Red Badge of Courage – very good rendition of this classic makes top 2000
20. Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) – makes the top 2000 and top 100 list
21. The Thing – sci-fi classic makes the top 2000 film list
22. When Worlds Collide – nice sci-fi tale makes the top 2000 list

Decent year for film makes 16 winners.

Debuts
Audrey Hepburn
Grace Kelly
Leonard Nimoy
Peter Sellers
William Shatner
Rod Steiger