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Summary
The action movie landscape of the 1950s was much different from what has dominated the industry in late years , but that did not lay off this era from producing some ofthe greatest action mechanism starsever . natural action movies of this era consist of genres like risky venture films , epic hothead , and , of track , Western movies . Out of this came many marvelous maven who master the box office , deliver several feature films a year , and have often remained family name among film partizan to this very day .
Thebiggest action picture show starsof the fifties had to juggle unbelievable feats of heroism with the romantic expectations of a run adult male as the narratives delivered high - stakes thrills , romantic subplots , and different musical style tropes and cliches . This was the era of the star - driven Hollywood system , and becoming an action Hero of Alexandria think of being versatile and able to deliver consistently heavy performances on cue stick . The 1950s was a metre in cinema account before franchises and sequels predominate the industry , andstar recognition was one of the primary ways audiences were drawn to retard out a new discharge .
10Robert Taylor
August 5, 1911 – June 8, 1969
The American actorRobert Taylor was among the most democratic flick ace of the 1950s , and his action - zep status was raise by his experience in the United States Naval Air Forces during World War II . Taylor built up his reputation as a film whiz throughout the thirties and 1940s in drama , such as his breakout purpose inMagnificent Obsession , and war movies likeBaatan . With an already impressive filmography behind him , Taylor spent much of the 1950s focused on adventure and Western motion picture .
With an power to excel in comedies like the WesternMany Rivers to Cross , where he co - asterisk with Eleonor Parker , to more subversive works likeThe Law and Jake Wade , Taylor had a knock-down bearing as an military action star . A consistent unvoiced worker , Taylor starred in several pic per year throughout much of the 1950s in whole kit and caboodle likeThe Adventures of Quentin DurwardandD - Day the Sixth of June . Taylor continued wreak prolifically into the 1960s before he sadly died of lung cancer in 1969 .
9Stewart Granger
6 May 1913 – 16 August 1993
Stewart Granger was a popular British leading man primarily associated with heroical and romantic roles that do him aside as one of the prominent action heroes of the 1950s . After build up a name for himself in Gainsborough melodramas throughout the forties , Granger transitioned into Hollywood movies in the 1950s , beginning with the action comedySolider Threein 1951 . Granger rapidly startle to earn parts that other heroes like Cary Grant and Errol Flynn were in the running play for and soon became a major name in the American film landscape .
With a huge and varied filmography that included swashbuckler dangerous undertaking likeScaramoucheor biblical epics such asSalome , Granger was not afraid of take on epic and hard roles . A major success came in 1953 with the adventure filmAll the Brothers Were Valiant , in which Granger asterisk opposite fellow action hero Robert Taylor . While Granger ’s calling sharpen off throughout the 1960s and he had turn in by the seventies , he still left his mark on action movie history .
8Errol Flynn
20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959
As one of the mostsignificant names of the Golden Age of Hollywood , Errol Flynn was an Australian star whose movies were beloved by audiences worldwide . Often associated with madcap roles and his frequent co - star Olivia de Havilland , Flynn ’s womanizing lifestyle and hedonist personal life intend his behind - the - scenes disceptation were often as illustrious as his performing . Flynn first start to achieve acknowledgement in the 1930s and was a notable name right up until his expiry in 1959 .
Flynn ’s report as a wild-eyed lead humankind was maculate during the 1940s when he was charged with two tally of statutory rape ( viaHR ) , although the trial was comport , this go to him relocating to Europe , where he continued to asterisk in hothead and dangerous undertaking films throughout the fifties . Flynn returned to Hollywood movies in 1957 and soon gained a major role in the Hemingway adaptationThe Sun Also Rises . With a vocation set upon by argument , Flynn would not be the last action star whose personal life cast a dark shadow over his pretend achievements .
7Robert Mitchum
August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997
Unlike most activity Hero of Alexandria of the 1950s , Robert Mitchum has been mostly assort with antihero part with much darker undertones , which he has limn in several acclaimed film noirs . While Mitchum in effect played an outright villain as a in series killer in the unquestioned classicThe Night of the Hunter , this was far from his only achievement , as he worked consistently throughout the fifties . With a versatility that adjust him asunder from many other actors of this era , Mitchum always land something unique to every office he pursue .
The westerly dangerous undertaking musicalRiver of No Return , where Mitchum co - star with none other than Marilyn Monroe , was a prime example of his 1950s action - paladin certificate . This , along with other Westerns likeBandido , the John Huston state of war dramaHeaven Knows , Mr. Allison , and the crime film he co - wrote , Thunder Road , showcased Mitchum as a meaning gift . With a reputation as one of the corking actors of Hollywood ’s Golden Age , Mitchum in effect drop off himself in his role and captured countless mood and feelings .
Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson is set to adapt the classical 1955 thriller motion-picture show , which star Robert Mitchum as a terrifying villain .
6Charlton Heston
October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008
AlthoughCharlton Heston remained a significant flesh right into the 21st C , it was during the 1950s that he first made a name for himself as a straight action mechanism torpedo . From getting his get-go in criminal offence noirs likeDark Cityor notable Westerns such asThe Savage , Heston had serious star mogul that date him advance progressively magnanimous persona throughout the 1950s . Heston ’s magnanimous break came with his persona as Moses inThe Ten Commandments , a vast scriptural epic that took home the Best Picture Oscar and signaled Heston as a true star .
Heston would expend this acclaimed role as a jumping - off dot to even liberal and better things when he make the deed part in the 1957 Hellenic spiritual epicBen - Hur . More so than almost any other actor , Heston ’s lead carry on to rise throughout the 1950s , climax in him being one of Hollywood ’s magnanimous names . This led to late roles in the sixties , such as inThe Planet of the Apes , and Heston keep on to maintain his notoriety throughout the decades as he worked with everyone from Michael Bay to James Cameron .
5Burt Lancaster
November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994
As a four - clock time Academy Award nominee , Burt Lancaster first gained recognition playing touch guy rope with tender hearts and systematically rank among the great of Hollywood ’s leading men . Having serve in World War II , Lancaster truly lived his action - hero reputationand achieve mega - winner with the 1953 hit hitFrom Here to infinity , whichwon eight out of its 11 Oscar nomination , including Best Picture . An crucial figure throughout the fifties , Lancaster ’s filmography was vast and varied .
Notable Lancaster roles included turns opposite some of the biggest names of that epoch , such as inGunfight at the O.K. Corralwith Kirk Douglas and in the WWII sub dramaRun Silent , Run Deepopposite Clark Gable . Lancaster was a genius who did not waitress around for success to find him ; he actively pursued his own roles with the product company Hecht - Hill - Lancaster , which he co - found with his agent , Harold Hecht , and producer James Hill . Lancaster continued his string of success into the sixties with many more acclaimed role .
4Steve Reeves
January 21, 1926 – May 1, 2000
Most of the natural action heroes of the 1950s did not have the professional skill to back up their bombastic and strongman use , although this by all odds can not be said about bodybuilder - turned - actor Steve Reeves . As Mr. American of 1947 , Mr. World of 1948 , and Mr. Universe of 1950 , Reeves was primed for Hollywood winner in the fifties . With the bod to play sincerely heroical roles , Reeves impersonate characters such as Hercules , Goliath , and Sandokan throughout the 1950s .
As a sword - and - sandals film star , Reeves was primarily known for asterisk inHercules , Pietro Francisci ’s Italian low - budget film , and its sequel , Hercules Unchained . This opened the door for Reeves to subsequently star in other blade - and - sandal feature likeGoliath and the BarbariansandSign of the Gladiator . A genuine strongman star , Reeves ’s acting vocation was comparatively dead - go but extremely influential , as he pretend as a precursor to late bodybuilders turned legal action stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger .
With Hercules place to come along in not one , but two films in 2014 , we seem back at the tilt of actors who have played the character in TV and movie over the long time .
3Randolph Scott
January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987
Randolph Scott was known as one of Hollywood ’s most pop Western star and among the biggest box office draws of the fifties . With a marvelous and mesomorphic appearance , a key signature Southern drawl , and versatility that he utilize in action , clowning , drama , phantasy , musical theater , and war motion-picture show , just to name a few , Randolph was truly a squat of all trades in Hollywood . As a First World War old hand who entertained the troops in the Second World War , Scott had more than earned his action hero credentials by the time the 1950s rolled around .
From acclaimed Westerns likeSeven Men from Nowopposite Lee Marvin to epic movies arrange around the Battle of Big Little Horn like7th Cavalry , Scott always gave his all to his performance . With several releases per year , including five pic in 1951 alone , Scott was a fertile actor who audiences consistently turned out to see . A film wizard through and through , Scott was a significant action hero for the 1950s .
2Kirk Douglas
December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020
After make his film unveiling in 1946 with the absorbing featureThe Stranger Love of Martha Ivers , Kirk Douglas quickly became one of the biggest maven of the fifties as he appeared in natural process , adventure , war , and Westerns . Douglas was among the not bad stars of classic Hollywood cinema , whose name was readily associated with iconic films throughout his total life before his death at the grand old long time of 103 in 2020 . While Douglas preserve his success throughout the decades , the fifties were truly when his star shine the undimmed .
This decade included the Disney adventure20,000 Leagues Under the Sea , Stanley Kubrick ’s war classicPaths of Glory , and Westerns such asThe Gunfight at the fine Corral . Thebest Kirk Douglas moviesof the fifties offer a singular insight into why he remained such an eternal figure of speech in Hollywood throughout his life-time . With a reputation that has truly remain firm the test of time , it ’s clear that Douglas ’ talent was genetic , and his bequest has been continued by his son , Michael Douglas , who has had an equally impressive vocation .
1John Wayne
May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979
When it come to action mechanism virtuoso in the 1950s , one man endure above the relief in terms of his repute as a genuine ikon of popular refinement , and that was John Wayne . With a reputation as one of the greatest state of war and Western doer who ever lived , Wayne made a name for himself in the still era of the 1920s and , by the 1950s , was already an older statesman and an inspiration for up - and - coming action hero . However , this did not think of he slowed down , as some of Wayne ’s best roles hail during the 1950s .
AlthoughWayne had already starred in several John Ford movies in previous decennary , their greatest collaboration fall withThe Searchersin 1957 , which has consistently rank among the greatest film of all clip . With acclaimed war motion picture likeThe Wings of Eagles , the adventureLegend of the Lost , and the Howard Hawks classicRio Bravo , Wayne pack a lot of natural process into the 1950s . There ’s a reason that John Wayne ’s name instantly come to mind when thinking of action heroes , and that ’s because he was really one of the greatest of them all .
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Custom image by Yailin Chacon.
