1950s Movies

Movies released during the 1950s are a great source for your 1950s costumes and also gives some variety to the costumes that everyone wears.

When searching for fifties costumes on the Internet, you may find the selection dominated by Grease outfits. Although this highly popular film was made in the 1970s, it is set in a High School of 1950s America and there are a number of official costumes, wigs and accessories on the market.

For obvious reasons during the 1950s, war films (except Bridge over the River Kwai) were out. Westerns were popular, but double features and Sci-fi movies captured the public imagination. There was also Horror, some in 3D (House of Wax). Rising stars included Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Unfortunately James Dean’s promising career was ended by his untimely death in a car accident.

Looking through our list of 1950s films should give you some inspiration and allow you to dress up in a great costume. follow the links through to various section sof our site to see some of the products that we stock.

1950s MOVIE GENRES CARTOON & ANIMATION
Sleeping Beauty (1959) – Disneys retelling of the classic fairy-tale featuring Princess Aurora who falls foul of the wicked sorceress Maleficent.

Tom & Jerry – Commonly associated with TV these days, this cat and mouse duo entertained cinema audiences during the 1950s. Even after MGM shut its cartoon studios, they continued to do so, thanks to artists Hanna & Barbera who would create other memorable characters, such as the Flintstones and Yogi Bear in the 1960s.

1950s MOVIE GENRES CHICK FLICKS/ROMANCE
Roman Holiday (1953) A bored princess escapes for some fun with a journalist. Starring Gregory Peck with a first role for Audrey Hepburn.

1950s MOVIE GENRES COMEDY
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe as singers, with Monroe doing the famous Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend number in the pink gown.

Harvey (1950) James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, a man with a six-foot invisible rabbit, as a friend.

(The) Man in the White Suit (1951) Alec Guinness as the man in the white suit, who invents a fabric, which never wears out.

(The) Seven Year Itch (1955) Monroe film featuring the classic white pleated dress over the air-vent scene.

Some Like It Hot (1959) – Two men, witnesses to the St Valentines massacre, hide in a female music group. Classic comedy starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe

1950s MOVIE GENRES DRAMA
(The) Greatest Show on Earth (1951) Circus-based spectacular featuring Tony Curtis.

Moulin Rouge (1952) A film about the venues patron, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, than the venue itself.

Sunset Boulevard (1950) A star of the silent movies seeks to make a comeback.

1950s MOVIE GENRES FANTASY
Alice in Wonderland (1951) Walt Disney brought a highly colourful cartoon version of the popular Lewis Carroll story to the movie screen.

Forbidden Planet (1956) Interplanetary adventure based on Shakespeares The Tempest. Notable for Leslie Nielsen in a straight role and Robbie the Robot, later to be seen in 1960s TV series Lost in Space.

(The) Seventh Seal (1957) Enigmatic Swedish movie of morals featuring a chess-match with Death.

1950s MOVIE GENRES HEROES OF 1950s MOVIES
Marlon Brando Before he became associated with the Godfather series of films from the 1970s, Marlon Brando had a number of classic films from the 1950s onwards. The era included Julius Caesar (Roman outfit), The Wild One (Classic Motorbike outfit,) Guys and Dolls and On the Waterfront.

James Dean – Classic films were East of Eden, Giant and Rebel without a Cause. Jeans, white t-shirt and brown bomber jacket.

1950s MOVIE GENRES HORROR
Dracula (1958) – A pre-Hammer-Horror telling of the classic legend. A Dracula outfit is so easy to put together if you do not want to purchase, or hire, a complete costume

1950s MOVIE GENRES MUSICALS
Guys and Dolls (1955) Movie of the major stage musical about the gambler and the missionary, starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmonds and Frank Sinatra.

The King and I (1956) Film of the successful stage musical about an Englishwoman becoming governess to the children of the King of Siam.Wear one of our lovely ladies Victorian gowns, but this will be from our large hire range.

Singin in the Rain (1952) Musical starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds.

1950s MOVIE GENRES WESTERNS, we stock a wide range of men’s western costumes, or take a look at our cowboy & indian accessories to make up your own costume at home

High Noon (1952) A lone sheriff stands up to outlaws terrorizing his town.

The Wild One (1953) Two motorcycle gangs terrorize a town. One of Marlon Brando’s major films.