They don't make movies like they use to, a statement many would agree with. The fifties was an era of true movie icons and great sweeping movies that are still as popular today as they were when they were first released.
But it's the actors of the era that are forever sketched into the pages of movie history with the likes of James Dean, Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn all gracing the big screen during this time.
And while we tend to look at the stars that were the big names at the time it's the movies that we are most interested in as we take a look at some of the best pictures from the decade.
The fifties saw the uncovering of new talent with the likes of Monroe and of course Audrey Hepburn,
The 1953 romantic comedy Roman Holiday shot the unknown British actress to fame as she won an Oscar for her portrayal of a modern-day princess rebelling against her royal obligations who explores Rome on her own.
Anne is frustrated by her lack of connection to the real world, she slips away from her protective handlers and travels through the city incognito.
She meets Gregory Peck, an American newspaperman who, seeking an exclusive story, pretends ignorance of her true identity. Offering to giver her a guided tour of Rome as he photographer friend Irving follows them to try and sneak a picture.
But his plan falters as they rapidly fall in love...
Roman Holiday really is a classic in the genre of the romantic comedy as Peck and Hepburn complement each other beautifully; the character of Anne is naive and has been protected her whole life in contrast to Peck's worldly American.
Roman Holiday has stood the test of time and is still a favourite amongst fans of this genre while it may not be Hepburn's most well known role, paling beside Breakfast at Tiffany's and My Fair Lady, this movie of wish fulfillment and classic romance is a perfect example of what Hollywood specialised in during this era.
Another actress taking centre stage during this decade was of course the blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe. Although she had made big screen appearances in the forties it was the fifties when she really made a name for herself.
Released in 1959 Billy Wilder's classic comedy stars Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis as a pair of unemployed musicians who inadvertently become witnesses to the St. Valentine Day's Massacre. To escape the wrath of the gangsters, Joe (Curtis) and Jerry (Lemmon) are forced to hit the road in drag, taking the only jobs available with an all-girl band bound for Miami.
Enroute, both men fall for lead singer and blond bombshell Sugar Kane, (Marilyn Monroe), but are unable to fulfil their desires for fear of revealing their identity.
Joe tries to get around this by adopting a third identity for seduction, that of a shy millionaire who sounds strangely like Cary Grant.
Meanwhile Jerry has his own problems, fighting off the advances of Osgood E. Fielding, a real millionaire hypnotized by his/her charms
The fifties was the era of rebellion and anti-heroes as this decade gave birth to icons such as James Dean and Paul Newman.
With the age of rock and roll in full swing the movie industry tapped into the teenage market and the birth of the teen movie was here.
Leading the way was James Dean in his three films Rebel Without A Cause, East of Eden and Giant which cemented him as a cinema giant and a talent for the future until he lost his life in a driving accident.
Rebel Without A Cause is perhaps the most famous of these and his role as defiant teenager Jim Stark made him an icon as the film highlighted teenagers struggle at finding where they fit in society.
Rebel without a Cause" focuses on a teenage social outcast searching for his identity. His dysfunctional parents (a milquetoast father and a cantankerous mom) can't help him and he shuns any form of authority.
The film was designed to portray the existing decay of youth in middle America, question parental style, and expose the rift that was growing between the two generations.
Marlon Brando was another wild child of the decade and his movie A Streetcar Named Desire still remains one of the best movies of all time never mind just the decade.
The role of Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, an adaptation of the play by Tennessee Williams, announced Marlon Brando to audiences and the acting world back in 1951.
While this movie should have belonged to Vivien Leigh Brando stole every scene that he was in announcing his arrival. It remains one of his most famous and memorable performances.
And what a breakthrough it turned out to be as Brando went on to be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar, the picture also received a nod.
But what is so great about this movie is it has remained untarnished over time and still remains one of the best ensemble movies to ever grace the big screen.
Another big genre of the decade came in form of the sword and sandal movie, and there was non bigger than Ben Hur.
In the Roman province of Judea, Jews return to the city of their birth for the census. A bright star in the night over Bethlehem marks the birth of Jesus Christ.
Years later, Roman commander Messala (Stephen Boyd), who was brought up in Judea, takes command of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem. His Jewish boyhood friend Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) greets him. Messala is delighted.
But when Judah refuses to name Jewish patriots, Messala sentences him to the slave galleys and imprisons his mother, Miriam (Martha Scott), and sister, Tirzah (Cathy O'Donnell). Judah vows revenge.
The chariot race still remains one of the most exciting and spectacular action sequences ever committed to film.
Ben Hur dominated the Academy Awards winning eleven gongs, matched only by Titanic and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.
But there were other movies such as Bridge Over the River Kwai, High Noon, Vertigo, All About Eve and African Queen that remain some of the greatest ever movies.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
They don't make movies like they use to, a statement many would agree with. The fifties was an era of true movie icons and great sweeping movies that are still as popular today as they were when they were first released.
But it's the actors of the era that are forever sketched into the pages of movie history with the likes of James Dean, Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn all gracing the big screen during this time.
And while we tend to look at the stars that were the big names at the time it's the movies that we are most interested in as we take a look at some of the best pictures from the decade.
The fifties saw the uncovering of new talent with the likes of Monroe and of course Audrey Hepburn,
The 1953 romantic comedy Roman Holiday shot the unknown British actress to fame as she won an Oscar for her portrayal of a modern-day princess rebelling against her royal obligations who explores Rome on her own.
Anne is frustrated by her lack of connection to the real world, she slips away from her protective handlers and travels through the city incognito.
She meets Gregory Peck, an American newspaperman who, seeking an exclusive story, pretends ignorance of her true identity. Offering to giver her a guided tour of Rome as he photographer friend Irving follows them to try and sneak a picture.
But his plan falters as they rapidly fall in love...
Roman Holiday really is a classic in the genre of the romantic comedy as Peck and Hepburn complement each other beautifully; the character of Anne is naive and has been protected her whole life in contrast to Peck's worldly American.
Roman Holiday has stood the test of time and is still a favourite amongst fans of this genre while it may not be Hepburn's most well known role, paling beside Breakfast at Tiffany's and My Fair Lady, this movie of wish fulfillment and classic romance is a perfect example of what Hollywood specialised in during this era.
Another actress taking centre stage during this decade was of course the blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe. Although she had made big screen appearances in the forties it was the fifties when she really made a name for herself.
Released in 1959 Billy Wilder's classic comedy stars Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis as a pair of unemployed musicians who inadvertently become witnesses to the St. Valentine Day's Massacre. To escape the wrath of the gangsters, Joe (Curtis) and Jerry (Lemmon) are forced to hit the road in drag, taking the only jobs available with an all-girl band bound for Miami.
Enroute, both men fall for lead singer and blond bombshell Sugar Kane, (Marilyn Monroe), but are unable to fulfil their desires for fear of revealing their identity.
Joe tries to get around this by adopting a third identity for seduction, that of a shy millionaire who sounds strangely like Cary Grant.
Meanwhile Jerry has his own problems, fighting off the advances of Osgood E. Fielding, a real millionaire hypnotized by his/her charms
The fifties was the era of rebellion and anti-heroes as this decade gave birth to icons such as James Dean and Paul Newman.
With the age of rock and roll in full swing the movie industry tapped into the teenage market and the birth of the teen movie was here.
Leading the way was James Dean in his three films Rebel Without A Cause, East of Eden and Giant which cemented him as a cinema giant and a talent for the future until he lost his life in a driving accident.
Rebel Without A Cause is perhaps the most famous of these and his role as defiant teenager Jim Stark made him an icon as the film highlighted teenagers struggle at finding where they fit in society.
Rebel without a Cause" focuses on a teenage social outcast searching for his identity. His dysfunctional parents (a milquetoast father and a cantankerous mom) can't help him and he shuns any form of authority.
The film was designed to portray the existing decay of youth in middle America, question parental style, and expose the rift that was growing between the two generations.
Marlon Brando was another wild child of the decade and his movie A Streetcar Named Desire still remains one of the best movies of all time never mind just the decade.
The role of Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire, an adaptation of the play by Tennessee Williams, announced Marlon Brando to audiences and the acting world back in 1951.