The Greatest Years in Film History: 1959

Newyorkgoomba on 03/09/2009

There are memorable films, there are film eras that evoke heights for particular genres, and rarely, there are single years that elicit an amazing body of work in themselves and stand out to lovers of film of all ages.

1959 was one of those years, coming as it did at the end of the decade that marked the American return to post-war normalcy, amidst the restrictions of both anticommunism and censorship. Despite a growing consumerism, producers saw challenges in the weakening of the Hollywood studio system and competition from television. Outside the U.S., a new international cinema was reaching maturity, and influence.

This series, which will highlight years such as 1939, 1942, 1951, 1969, 1976 and more recent years, will include global cinema and not just the work of US filmmakers.

So, get your organic popcorn and low-fat butter, grab an iced green tea and snuggle next to your significant other, we're going to the movies!

NOTE: This is a reading quiz, not a fast one --for all you speed demon quiz takers.

Sources include Wikipedia, IMDB, Filmsite.org, and other web sites; publications such as Premiere, JumpCut, Radical America and Cineaste. Special thanks to Peter Biskind (Seeing is Believing: How Hollywood Taught Us to Stop Worrying and Love the Fifties,1983) and J. Hoberman (Village Voice) for their critical writings and reviews and the insights of my colleagues in the Angry Arts Film Collective.

If you enjoy this quiz, please try my other film quizzes some of which are listed at the right.

12 Questions

Rating:	(7.15/9)
Difficulty:	Very Difficult
Taken:	78 times

Quiz Leaderboard

Player:		Level:	% Correct:	Time to Complete:
1	Anitlion	12	91.67%	2496.40 seconds
2	Lcflcf	21	66.67%	219.75 seconds
3	Spookylady	104	58.33%	137.12 seconds
4	Ricky0101	84	58.33%	288.12 seconds
5	Tommycycle	25	58.33%	502.96 seconds
6	Susannah	53	50.00%	109.34 seconds
7	Sallymutant	22	50.00%	245.43 seconds
8	Michu	105	50.00%	252.51 seconds
9	Koufax	45	50.00%	254.47 seconds
10	Michellynerd	65	50.00%	266.73 seconds