yes singer singing we rocked we rolled and these
singing we rocked we rolled and these
singing we rocked we rolled and these actors wowed us in the cinema sigh
actors wowed us in the cinema sigh
actors wowed us in the cinema sigh welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10
counting down our picks for the top 10 decade defining actors of the 1950s for
decade defining actors of the 1950s for
decade defining actors of the 1950s for our series on the top ten decade
our series on the top ten decade
our series on the top ten decade defining male actors / period we’ve made
defining male actors / period we’ve made
defining male actors / period we’ve made our choices based on a combination of
our choices based on a combination of
our choices based on a combination of their commercial success their
their commercial success their
their commercial success their box-office scores their productivity
box-office scores their productivity
box-office scores their productivity their awards and how they helped set the
their awards and how they helped set the
their awards and how they helped set the tone and raise the standard in Hollywood
tone and raise the standard in Hollywood
tone and raise the standard in Hollywood for the era bad luck number 10 Frank
for the era bad luck number 10 Frank
for the era bad luck number 10 Frank Sinatra buh-buh-buh don’t dig that kind
Sinatra buh-buh-buh don’t dig that kind
Sinatra buh-buh-buh don’t dig that kind of prune in chum you must be one of the
of prune in chum you must be one of the
of prune in chum you must be one of the newer fellas this guy isn’t just a
newer fellas this guy isn’t just a
newer fellas this guy isn’t just a decade defining actor he’s a decade
decade defining actor he’s a decade
decade defining actor he’s a decade defining person an all-round entertainer
defining person an all-round entertainer
defining person an all-round entertainer Sinatra sang swung and scripted his way
Sinatra sang swung and scripted his way
Sinatra sang swung and scripted his way into history okay I say anything they
into history okay I say anything they
into history okay I say anything they want me to say just for a shot on the
want me to say just for a shot on the
want me to say just for a shot on the big screen he experienced a rebirth in
big screen he experienced a rebirth in
big screen he experienced a rebirth in the 50s with his oscar-winning role in
the 50s with his oscar-winning role in
the 50s with his oscar-winning role in From Here to Eternity
From Here to Eternity
From Here to Eternity it likes to whack me in the gut he asked
it likes to whack me in the gut he asked
it likes to whack me in the gut he asked me if it hurts and I spit at him like
me if it hurts and I spit at him like
me if it hurts and I spit at him like always fine now he was the main man
always fine now he was the main man
always fine now he was the main man again earning another nod for the man
again earning another nod for the man
again earning another nod for the man with the Golden Arm you’re talking about
with the Golden Arm you’re talking about
with the Golden Arm you’re talking about how am I supposed to get cured after
how am I supposed to get cured after
how am I supposed to get cured after performing alongside Marlon Brando in
performing alongside Marlon Brando in
performing alongside Marlon Brando in Guys and Dolls and Grace Kelly in high
Guys and Dolls and Grace Kelly in high
Guys and Dolls and Grace Kelly in high society he appeared to be show business
society he appeared to be show business
society he appeared to be show business incarnate once more
sensational that’s all the world’s
sensational that’s all the world’s number nine Vincent Price
number nine Vincent Price
number nine Vincent Price the world
our number 9 tingles the spine
our number 9 tingles the spine exactly tingle can do a great deal more
exactly tingle can do a great deal more
exactly tingle can do a great deal more than that after starting out as a
than that after starting out as a
than that after starting out as a character actor Vincent Price progressed
character actor Vincent Price progressed
character actor Vincent Price progressed into the horror movie genre in a big way
into the horror movie genre in a big way
into the horror movie genre in a big way during this decade his role as the
during this decade his role as the
during this decade his role as the professor in House of Wax
professor in House of Wax
professor in House of Wax was the first step along a spooky road
was the first step along a spooky road
was the first step along a spooky road deep in those lines around the corner of
deep in those lines around the corner of
deep in those lines around the corner of the mouth not too much yeah yeah that’s
the mouth not too much yeah yeah that’s
the mouth not too much yeah yeah that’s better the fly followed and he thrilled
better the fly followed and he thrilled
better the fly followed and he thrilled in the 50s once more assuming the role
in the 50s once more assuming the role
in the 50s once more assuming the role of dr. Warren cheapen in the Tingler
of dr. Warren cheapen in the Tingler
of dr. Warren cheapen in the Tingler anything unusual for this movie some
anything unusual for this movie some
anything unusual for this movie some cinema seats were equipped with
cinema seats were equipped with
cinema seats were equipped with vibrating devices called percept Oh in
vibrating devices called percept Oh in
vibrating devices called percept Oh in truth price didn’t need assistance to
truth price didn’t need assistance to
truth price didn’t need assistance to scare us murder torture execution scare
scare us murder torture execution scare
scare us murder torture execution scare the living daylights out of people I
the living daylights out of people I
the living daylights out of people I don’t care for that kind of a teenager
don’t care for that kind of a teenager
don’t care for that kind of a teenager number 8 Tony Curtis I tell you Joe
number 8 Tony Curtis I tell you Joe
number 8 Tony Curtis I tell you Joe they’re onto us
they’re onto us
they’re onto us and they’re gonna line us up against the
and they’re gonna line us up against the
and they’re gonna line us up against the wall yeah you began the 50s as a lesser
wall yeah you began the 50s as a lesser
wall yeah you began the 50s as a lesser known actor and ended the decade as one
known actor and ended the decade as one
known actor and ended the decade as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars I
of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars I
of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars I beg your pardon
beg your pardon
beg your pardon a breakthrough performance as under
a breakthrough performance as under
a breakthrough performance as under pressure press agent Sidney Falco and
pressure press agent Sidney Falco and
pressure press agent Sidney Falco and sweet smell of success and an
sweet smell of success and an
sweet smell of success and an oscar-nominated effort as an escaped
oscar-nominated effort as an escaped
oscar-nominated effort as an escaped convict in the Defiant ones meant that
convict in the Defiant ones meant that
convict in the Defiant ones meant that Curtis was worth top dollar
Curtis was worth top dollar
Curtis was worth top dollar as ladies man / woman jo / Josephine in
as ladies man / woman jo / Josephine in
as ladies man / woman jo / Josephine in some like it hot
some like it hot
some like it hot Curtis was paired with Marilyn Monroe
Curtis was paired with Marilyn Monroe
Curtis was paired with Marilyn Monroe and the two really stole our hearts look
and the two really stole our hearts look
and the two really stole our hearts look if you’re interested in whether I am
if you’re interested in whether I am
if you’re interested in whether I am married or not oh I’m not interested in
married or not oh I’m not interested in
married or not oh I’m not interested in oh well I’m not that’s very unjust and
oh well I’m not that’s very unjust and
oh well I’m not that’s very unjust and he tickled our funny bones once more
he tickled our funny bones once more
he tickled our funny bones once more before decades end alongside Cary Grant
before decades end alongside Cary Grant
before decades end alongside Cary Grant in operation petticoat
in operation petticoat
in operation petticoat good morning Thank You Bonnie that’s a
good morning Thank You Bonnie that’s a
good morning Thank You Bonnie that’s a clever shower schedule you got worked
clever shower schedule you got worked
clever shower schedule you got worked out sir and serves water – you don’t
out sir and serves water – you don’t
out sir and serves water – you don’t know EQ all you know is he stole some
know EQ all you know is he stole some
know EQ all you know is he stole some cattle number seven Kirk Douglas he’s a
cattle number seven Kirk Douglas he’s a
cattle number seven Kirk Douglas he’s a killer his trial will take care of born
killer his trial will take care of born
killer his trial will take care of born into a desperately poor family it said
into a desperately poor family it said
into a desperately poor family it said that Kirk Douglas worked over 40 jobs
that Kirk Douglas worked over 40 jobs
that Kirk Douglas worked over 40 jobs before becoming an actor you really
before becoming an actor you really
before becoming an actor you really believe that sir from such modest
believe that sir from such modest
believe that sir from such modest beginnings it’s amazing that he built a
beginnings it’s amazing that he built a
beginnings it’s amazing that he built a modern
modern
modern hey Hollywood dynasty around himself
hey Hollywood dynasty around himself
hey Hollywood dynasty around himself alright mister we’ll take you up on that
alright mister we’ll take you up on that
alright mister we’ll take you up on that by the 1950s Douglas was quite the tough
by the 1950s Douglas was quite the tough
by the 1950s Douglas was quite the tough guy he starred in westerns like along
guy he starred in westerns like along
guy he starred in westerns like along the Great Divide and played soldiers in
the Great Divide and played soldiers in
the Great Divide and played soldiers in movies like paths of glory gentlemen of
movies like paths of glory gentlemen of
movies like paths of glory gentlemen of the court to find these men guilty would
the court to find these men guilty would
the court to find these men guilty would be a crime
be a crime
be a crime Oscar nominations also came in the 50s
Oscar nominations also came in the 50s
Oscar nominations also came in the 50s for the bad and the beautiful and lust
for the bad and the beautiful and lust
for the bad and the beautiful and lust for life both of which cemented his
for life both of which cemented his
for life both of which cemented his status as a wide-ranging Talent even
status as a wide-ranging Talent even
status as a wide-ranging Talent even though I’m not qualified there must be
though I’m not qualified there must be
though I’m not qualified there must be some way I can serve isn’t there any
some way I can serve isn’t there any
some way I can serve isn’t there any place for me somewhere no one else wants
place for me somewhere no one else wants
place for me somewhere no one else wants to go I’ll do anything only use me
to go I’ll do anything only use me
to go I’ll do anything only use me number six
number six
number six Anthony Quinn often cast as an ethnic
Anthony Quinn often cast as an ethnic
Anthony Quinn often cast as an ethnic villain Quinn was a prolific actor but
villain Quinn was a prolific actor but
villain Quinn was a prolific actor but it took some years for him to achieve
it took some years for him to achieve
it took some years for him to achieve mainstream success I think kind of the
mainstream success I think kind of the
mainstream success I think kind of the best judges his breakthrough came when
best judges his breakthrough came when
best judges his breakthrough came when he starred opposite Marlon Brando in
he starred opposite Marlon Brando in
he starred opposite Marlon Brando in Viva Zapata a movie for which he won the
Viva Zapata a movie for which he won the
Viva Zapata a movie for which he won the Academy Award for Supporting Actor and
Academy Award for Supporting Actor and
Academy Award for Supporting Actor and the first Oscar awarded to a Mexican
the first Oscar awarded to a Mexican
the first Oscar awarded to a Mexican American I think you falling foot on a
American I think you falling foot on a
American I think you falling foot on a general oh well here’s my play a little
general oh well here’s my play a little
general oh well here’s my play a little dust I can’t even buy a banach appear he
dust I can’t even buy a banach appear he
dust I can’t even buy a banach appear he won the same award four years later for
won the same award four years later for
won the same award four years later for his portrayal of the painter Paul
his portrayal of the painter Paul
his portrayal of the painter Paul Gauguin in lust for life how much is
Gauguin in lust for life how much is
Gauguin in lust for life how much is enough the second Oscar was quite
enough the second Oscar was quite
enough the second Oscar was quite incredible as Quinn was only on screen
incredible as Quinn was only on screen
incredible as Quinn was only on screen for eight minutes whatever you do from
for eight minutes whatever you do from
for eight minutes whatever you do from now on wherever you go promise me make
now on wherever you go promise me make
now on wherever you go promise me make me part of it
me part of it
me part of it don’t ever cut yourself off from me
don’t ever cut yourself off from me
don’t ever cut yourself off from me again I’m singing in the land yes
again I’m singing in the land yes
again I’m singing in the land yes singing in the rain number five
singing in the rain number five
singing in the rain number five Gene Kelly glorious feel and I’m happy
Gene Kelly glorious feel and I’m happy
Gene Kelly glorious feel and I’m happy singing and dancing his way into the top
singing and dancing his way into the top
singing and dancing his way into the top half of our countdown is musical maestro
half of our countdown is musical maestro
half of our countdown is musical maestro Gene Kelly a man credited with carrying
Gene Kelly a man credited with carrying
Gene Kelly a man credited with carrying the musical form from the mid 1940s
the musical form from the mid 1940s
the musical form from the mid 1940s until the end of the 50s there are few
until the end of the 50s there are few
until the end of the 50s there are few that define a genre better than Kelly
that define a genre better than Kelly
that define a genre better than Kelly does well it certainly is a roundabout
does well it certainly is a roundabout
does well it certainly is a roundabout way to do it
way to do it
way to do it known for his charm good looks energy
known for his charm good looks energy
known for his charm good looks energy and likeability his performances in an
and likeability his performances in an
and likeability his performances in an American in Paris and singing in the
American in Paris and singing in the
American in Paris and singing in the rain are what he’s most remembered for a
rain are what he’s most remembered for a
rain are what he’s most remembered for a walk door three lady window flowers
walk door three lady window flowers
walk door three lady window flowers he was an all-round entertainer the
he was an all-round entertainer the
he was an all-round entertainer the likes of which was rare then and is yet
likes of which was rare then and is yet
likes of which was rare then and is yet rarer today
let’s talk a little business number for
let’s talk a little business number for John Wayne hello Burdette
John Wayne hello Burdette
John Wayne hello Burdette been expecting you an all-out icon John
been expecting you an all-out icon John
been expecting you an all-out icon John Wayne reigned supreme for many a decade
Wayne reigned supreme for many a decade
Wayne reigned supreme for many a decade but in the 50s he produced some of his
but in the 50s he produced some of his
but in the 50s he produced some of his most notable work thank you
most notable work thank you
most notable work thank you he starred in 142 movies throughout his
he starred in 142 movies throughout his
he starred in 142 movies throughout his career
career
career most of them westerns and set the
most of them westerns and set the
most of them westerns and set the archetype for masculinity at the time
archetype for masculinity at the time
archetype for masculinity at the time you get it Reverend come on blanket head
you get it Reverend come on blanket head
you get it Reverend come on blanket head the quiet man the high and the mighty
the quiet man the high and the mighty
the quiet man the high and the mighty The Searchers
The Searchers
The Searchers and Rio Bravo were particulars excessive
and Rio Bravo were particulars excessive
and Rio Bravo were particulars excessive sir will you join me
sir will you join me
sir will you join me matter of fact I’d like to buy everybody
matter of fact I’d like to buy everybody
matter of fact I’d like to buy everybody three he was undeniably typecast but he
three he was undeniably typecast but he
three he was undeniably typecast but he was also undeniably good at what he did
was also undeniably good at what he did
was also undeniably good at what he did Wayne exude charisma and cinema-goers
Wayne exude charisma and cinema-goers
Wayne exude charisma and cinema-goers just couldn’t get enough I’m giving the
just couldn’t get enough I’m giving the
just couldn’t get enough I’m giving the orders here I’m giving the orders and
orders here I’m giving the orders and
orders here I’m giving the orders and you’ll follow him are were splitting up
you’ll follow him are were splitting up
you’ll follow him are were splitting up right here and now
right here and now
right here and now number three Charlton Heston
another prolific performer Charlton
another prolific performer Charlton Heston starred in 100 Hollywood movies
Heston starred in 100 Hollywood movies
Heston starred in 100 Hollywood movies over 60 years in the industry I’m
over 60 years in the industry I’m
over 60 years in the industry I’m against violence those statistics are
against violence those statistics are
against violence those statistics are hard to beat and he is quite rightly a
hard to beat and he is quite rightly a
hard to beat and he is quite rightly a legend of his trade not while I’m around
legend of his trade not while I’m around
legend of his trade not while I’m around you in the 50s after breaking through in
you in the 50s after breaking through in
you in the 50s after breaking through in the greatest show on earth he became
the greatest show on earth he became
the greatest show on earth he became synonymous with epic roles and was
synonymous with epic roles and was
synonymous with epic roles and was particularly effective playing Biblical
particularly effective playing Biblical
particularly effective playing Biblical parts
a tall athletic man he portrayed Moses
a tall athletic man he portrayed Moses in the Ten Commandments and the title
in the Ten Commandments and the title
in the Ten Commandments and the title role in ben-hur a film that still holds
role in ben-hur a film that still holds
role in ben-hur a film that still holds a joint record for the most Oscar wins
a joint record for the most Oscar wins
a joint record for the most Oscar wins for a single picture
for a single picture
for a single picture may God grant me vengeance I will pray
may God grant me vengeance I will pray
may God grant me vengeance I will pray that you live till I return
number 2 James Dean hey hey that’s
number 2 James Dean hey hey that’s enough static out of you while some
enough static out of you while some
enough static out of you while some actors on our list have enjoyed long
actors on our list have enjoyed long
actors on our list have enjoyed long careers on either side of this decade
careers on either side of this decade
careers on either side of this decade James Dean’s was tragically confined to
James Dean’s was tragically confined to
James Dean’s was tragically confined to a few short years within it know they
a few short years within it know they
a few short years within it know they think they can protect me by moving
think they can protect me by moving
think they can protect me by moving around all the time
around all the time
around all the time he had only three major roles but earned
he had only three major roles but earned
he had only three major roles but earned two Oscar nominations and two BAFTA
two Oscar nominations and two BAFTA
two Oscar nominations and two BAFTA nominations with them East of Eden was
nominations with them East of Eden was
nominations with them East of Eden was his breakthrough was trying to help him
well my kid and I tried to kill him and
well my kid and I tried to kill him and rebel without a cause his most
rebel without a cause his most
rebel without a cause his most remembered film mom I just once I want
remembered film mom I just once I want
remembered film mom I just once I want to do something right and I don’t want
to do something right and I don’t want
to do something right and I don’t want you to run away from me again
you to run away from me again
you to run away from me again he did everything with pace and passion
he did everything with pace and passion
he did everything with pace and passion but was horribly caught out on a
but was horribly caught out on a
but was horribly caught out on a California Highway where he suffered a
California Highway where he suffered a
California Highway where he suffered a fatal car crash leaving the film giant
fatal car crash leaving the film giant
fatal car crash leaving the film giant as his legacy
as his legacy
as his legacy well no but they don’t like me
well no but they don’t like me
well no but they don’t like me quite enough to kind of divvy up what
quite enough to kind of divvy up what
quite enough to kind of divvy up what they got the way too much uh before we
they got the way too much uh before we
they got the way too much uh before we unveil our pick for a decade defining
unveil our pick for a decade defining
unveil our pick for a decade defining actor of the 1950’s here are a few
actor of the 1950’s here are a few
actor of the 1950’s here are a few honorable mentions look sweetie be
honorable mentions look sweetie be
honorable mentions look sweetie be practical I’ve got a good deal here a
practical I’ve got a good deal here a
practical I’ve got a good deal here a long-term contract with no options I
long-term contract with no options I
long-term contract with no options I like it that way maybe it’s not very
like it that way maybe it’s not very
like it that way maybe it’s not very admirable well I went to see him at the
admirable well I went to see him at the
admirable well I went to see him at the hospital a couple of times and finally I
hospital a couple of times and finally I
hospital a couple of times and finally I just couldn’t go back the last time you
just couldn’t go back the last time you
just couldn’t go back the last time you know start talking about fighting and he
know start talking about fighting and he
know start talking about fighting and he started to cry now that you have
started to cry now that you have
started to cry now that you have successfully thwarted me and placed in
successfully thwarted me and placed in
successfully thwarted me and placed in my path
my path
my path the only obstacle for which I was unable
the only obstacle for which I was unable
the only obstacle for which I was unable to make position I feel that I can tell
to make position I feel that I can tell
to make position I feel that I can tell you I have never really enjoyed your
you I have never really enjoyed your
you I have never really enjoyed your company very much and furthermore you
company very much and furthermore you
company very much and furthermore you play a vulnerable game of whist isn’t
play a vulnerable game of whist isn’t
play a vulnerable game of whist isn’t the thing that’s dead supposed to be
the thing that’s dead supposed to be
the thing that’s dead supposed to be dead for all time and we brought it back
dead for all time and we brought it back
dead for all time and we brought it back to life we hold in the palms of our
to life we hold in the palms of our
to life we hold in the palms of our hands such secrets that have never been
hands such secrets that have never been
hands such secrets that have never been dreamed of I need to put up a tone
dreamed of I need to put up a tone
dreamed of I need to put up a tone barriers to confine the scope of man
barriers to confine the scope of man
barriers to confine the scope of man we’ve broken through those barriers mrs.
we’ve broken through those barriers mrs.
we’ve broken through those barriers mrs. Phillips I wonder would it be all right
Phillips I wonder would it be all right
Phillips I wonder would it be all right if I came by occasionally just for
if I came by occasionally just for
if I came by occasionally just for launching out boards general Brown
launching out boards general Brown
launching out boards general Brown purposes number one Marlon Brando rock
purposes number one Marlon Brando rock
purposes number one Marlon Brando rock and roll was bursting through our radios
and roll was bursting through our radios
and roll was bursting through our radios and our chart topper was personifying it
and our chart topper was personifying it
and our chart topper was personifying it on the movie screen you think you’re too
on the movie screen you think you’re too
on the movie screen you think you’re too good for me nobody’s too good for me
good for me nobody’s too good for me
good for me nobody’s too good for me anybody thinks they’re too good for me I
anybody thinks they’re too good for me I
anybody thinks they’re too good for me I make sure I’m not come over sometime
make sure I’m not come over sometime
make sure I’m not come over sometime Marlon Brando was one of the coolest
Marlon Brando was one of the coolest
Marlon Brando was one of the coolest trendiest most desirable guys on the
trendiest most desirable guys on the
trendiest most desirable guys on the planet he was also a fine actor picking
planet he was also a fine actor picking
planet he was also a fine actor picking up an Oscar for his role in on the
up an Oscar for his role in on the
up an Oscar for his role in on the waterfront
waterfront
waterfront Brando also starred in a streetcar named
Brando also starred in a streetcar named
Brando also starred in a streetcar named desire Viva Zapata Julius Caesar and the
desire Viva Zapata Julius Caesar and the
desire Viva Zapata Julius Caesar and the wild one to name but a few
wild one to name but a few
wild one to name but a few they’re asking me to put the thing on my
they’re asking me to put the thing on my
they’re asking me to put the thing on my own brother he had magnetism masculinity
own brother he had magnetism masculinity
own brother he had magnetism masculinity and an attitude that established him as
and an attitude that established him as
and an attitude that established him as the 50s male sex symbol and as our
the 50s male sex symbol and as our
the 50s male sex symbol and as our number one decade definer you don’t
number one decade definer you don’t
number one decade definer you don’t understand
understand
understand at class I could have been a contender I
at class I could have been a contender I
at class I could have been a contender I could have been somebody instead of a
could have been somebody instead of a
could have been somebody instead of a bum do you agree with our list
bum do you agree with our list
bum do you agree with our list I never thought I’d come to the point
I never thought I’d come to the point
I never thought I’d come to the point where that would be an issue which 1950s
where that would be an issue which 1950s
where that would be an issue which 1950s actor do you think is the most iconic
actor do you think is the most iconic
actor do you think is the most iconic have any more questions for more classic
have any more questions for more classic
have any more questions for more classic top 10s published every day be sure to
top 10s published every day be sure to
top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com Oh got a loan
subscribe to watchmojo.com Oh got a loan
subscribe to watchmojo.com Oh got a loan see you kids later
”
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