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