Tafero's DVD Reviews of the Day - 1952 in Review

1952

These are the best films of 1952 and the ones that will qualify for my best 2000 film list. Recommended list reaches 654 with these 25 additions.

1. Above and Beyond – good A-bomb movie makes the top 2000
2. Atomic City – good thriller about A-bomb complex made to measure damage
3. The Bad and the Beautiful – well done Douglas film makes the top 2000
4. Bela Lugosi meets a Brooklyn Gorilla – the title says it all
5. The Big Sky – nice adventure yarn
6. Blackbeard the Pirate – entertaining pirate film
7. Carson City – solid Western with Scott makes the top 2000 list
8. Clash by Night – solid film noir with Stanwyck makes top 2000
9. Come Back Little Sheba – Horrendous casting; like watching a 20 car accident
10. The Crimson Pirate – great adventure yarn with Lancaster makes top 2000
11. Europa 51 – good Italian import
12. Forbidden Games – French import wins best foreign film and makes top 2000
13. High Noon – psychological Western with Cooper makes the top 2000 list
14. Kansas City Confidential – serviceable crime film
15. Les Miserables – good rendition of this film makes the top 2000
16. Moulin Rouge – Ferrer makes this original better than the remake and makes top 2000
17. The Narrow Margin – great sleeper film not only makes top 2000 but top 100 films as well
18. Outcast of the Islands – British import very amusing
19. The Prisoner of Zenda – great Colman film makes the top 2000
20. The Quiet Man – one of the better Wayne films makes the top 2000
21. Road to Bali – Hope and Crosby films almost always make the top 2000
22. The Savage – just misses even though Heston tries hard
23. Singing in the Rain – I hate musicals, but I liked this one and makes top 2000
24. Umberto D – great filmmaking by DeSica makes the top 2000
25. Viva Zapata! – rousing Brando tour de force performance makes top 2000

Nice crop of 17 winners in a good year.

Debuts
Anne Bancroft
Brigitte Bardot

Remembering the Greats Who Have Passed
John Garfield – the first rebel without a cause
Hattie McDaniel – Gone With the Wind