List of American films of 1953

The following is a list of American films released in 1953.

Donald O'Connor and Fredric March co-hosted the 26th Academy Awards ceremony on March 25, 1954, held at the RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. This was the ceremony's second year of being telecast, with viewership at an estimated 43,000,000.

The winner of the Best Motion Picture category was Columbia Pictures's From Here to Eternity. All of the big winners that year were black-and-white films.

The 11th Golden Globe Awards also honored the best films of 1953. That year, no award was given for Best Picture: Musical or Comedy.

Spencer Tracy won the Golden Globe for Best Actor - Motion Picture - Drama, for The Actress, while David Niven won Best Actor - Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for The Moon Is Blue. Audrey Hpeburn won Best Actress - Motion Picture - Drama for Roman Holiday, while Ethel Merman won for Best Actress - Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for Call Me Madam. The Robe won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture.

A-B

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
99 River Street	Phil Karlson	John Payne, Evelyn Keyes	Film noir
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T	Roy Rowland	Tommy Rettig, Mary Healy	Musical Fantasy	Written by Dr. Seuss
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars	Charles Lamont	Abbott and Costello, Horace McMahon, Martha Hyer	Comedy
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde	Charles Lamont	Abbott and Costello, Boris Karloff	Comedy
Act of Love	Anatole Litvak	Kirk Douglas, Dany Robin	Drama
The Actress	George Cukor	Jean Simmons, Spencer Tracy, Teresa Wright	Drama	Based on Ruth Gordon
The All American	Jesse Hibbs	Tony Curtis, Lori Nelson, Mamie Van Doren	Sports drama
All I Desire	Douglas Sirk	Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Carlson, Lyle Bettger	Drama
All My Babies	George C. Stoney		Educational
All the Brothers Were Valiant	Richard Thorpe	Robert Taylor, Stewart Granger	Adventure	Remake of 1923 film
Appointment in Honduras	Jacques Tourneur	Glenn Ford, Ann Sheridan, Zachary Scott	Adventure
Arrowhead	Charles Marquis Warren	Charlton Heston, Jack Palance, Katy Jurado	Adventure
Baby Butch			Animated
The Band Wagon	Vincente Minnelli	Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, Jack Buchanan	Musical	5 Oscar nominations
Battle Circus	John Huston	Humphrey Bogart, June Allyson, Keenan Wynn	Drama
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms	Eugène Lourié	Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway	Science fiction
Beat the Devil	John Huston	Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Peter Lorre	Comedy	Written by Truman Capote
Ben and Me	Hamilton Luske		Animation
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef	Robert D. Webb	Robert Wagner, Terry Moore, Gilbert Roland	Adventure
The Big Heat	Fritz Lang	Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Lee Marvin	Film noir
Big Leaguer	Robert Aldrich	Edward G. Robinson, Vera-Ellen	Comedy
The Bigamist	Ida Lupino	Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, Edmond O'Brien	Drama
The Blue Gardenia	Fritz Lang	Ann Baxter, Richard Conte, Ann Sothern, Raymond Burr	Film noir
A Blueprint for Murder	Andrew L. Stone	Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, Gary Merrill	Thriller
Bully for Bugs	Chuck Jones	Looney Tunes	Animation
By the Light of the Silvery Moon	David Butler	Doris Day, Gordon MacRae	Musical	On Moonlight Bay sequel

C

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
The Caddy	Norman Taurog	Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Donna Reed	Comedy	Debut of song That's Amore
Calamity Jane	David Butler	Doris Day, Howard Keel	Musical
Call Me Madam	Walter Lang	Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Vera-Ellen, Billy de Wolfe	Musical
Canadian Mounties vs Atomic Invaders	Franklin Adreon	Bill Henry	Western
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas	Lew Landers	Anthony Dexter, Jody Lawrance	Historical
Cat-Women of the Moon	Arthur Hilton	Sonny Tufts, Victor Jory	Science fiction
Cat-Tails for Two	Robert McKimson	Looney Tunes	Animation
Catty Cornered			Animation
Cease Fire!	Owen Crump		War
The Charge at Feather River	Gordon Douglas	Guy Madison, Vera Miles	Western
City Beneath the Sea	Budd Boetticher	Robert Ryan, Anthony Quinn, Mala Powers	Adventure
City That Never Sleeps	John H. Auer	Gig Young, William Talman, Mala Powers, Chill Wills	Thriller
The Clown	Robert Z. Leonard	Red Skelton, Jane Greer, Tim Considine	Drama
Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe			Serial
Confidentially Connie	Edward Buzzell	Van Johnson, Janet Leigh, Louis Calhern	Comedy
Cry of the Hunted	Joseph H. Lewis	Vittorio Gassman, Barry Sullivan, Polly Bergen	Crime thriller

D-G

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
Dance Hall Racket	Phil Tucker	Lenny Bruce	Drama
Dangerous Crossing	Joseph M. Newman	Jeanne Crain, Michael Rennie, Carl Betz	Mystery	Based on the play Cabin B-13
Dangerous When Wet	Charles Walters	Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas, Jack Carson	Musical
The Desert Rats	Robert Wise	Richard Burton, James Mason, Robert Newton	War
The Desert Song	H. Bruce Humberstone	Kathryn Grayson, Gordon MacRae	Musical	Based on the operetta
Designs on Jerry	Hanna-Barbera	Tom and Jerry	Animation
Destination Gobi	Robert Wise	Richard Widmark, Don Taylor	War drama
Don's Fountain of Youth	Jack Hannah		Animation
Donovan's Brain	Felix E. Feist	Lew Ayres, Nancy Davis	Horror	Davis later became Nancy Reagan
Down Among the Sheltering Palms	Edmund Goulding	Mitzi Gaynor, William Lundigan, David Wayne	Musical
Dream Wife	Sidney Sheldon	Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Walter Pidgeon	Comedy
Duck Dodgers		Looney Tunes	Animation
Duck! Rabbit, Duck!		Looney Tunes	Animation
East of Sumatra	Budd Boetticher	Jeff Chandler, Anthony Quinn, Marilyn Maxwell	Adventure
Easy to Love	Charles Walters	Esther Williams, Van Johnson, Tony Martin	Musical
The Eddie Cantor Story	Alfred E. Green	Keefe Brasselle, Marilyn Erskine, Aline MacMahon	Biography
Escape from Fort Bravo	John Sturges	William Holden, Eleanor Parker, John Forsythe	Western
Fair Wind to Java	Joseph Kane	Fred MacMurray, Vera Ralston, Victor McLaglen	Adventure
The Farmer Takes a Wife	Henry Levin	Betty Grable	Musical comedy	Remake of 1934 play, 1935 film
Fast Company	John Sturges	Howard Keel, Polly Bergen	Comedy
Fear and Desire	Stanley Kubrick	Frank Silvera, Paul Mazursky	Drama
From Here to Eternity	Fred Zinnemann	Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Donna Reed, Ernest Borgnine	War, Drama	based on the novel by James Jones; won 8 Academy Awards
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes	Howard Hawks	Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell	Musical comedy	Based on 1949 Broadway show
The Girl Next Door	Richard Sale	Dan Dailey, June Haver	Musical
The Girl Who Had Everything	Richard Thorpe	Elizabeth Taylor, Fernando Lamas, William Powell	Drama
The Girls of Pleasure Island	F. Hugh Herbert	Don Taylor, Elsa Lanchester	Comedy
Give a Girl a Break	Stanley Donen	Debbie Reynolds, Marge Champion, Gower Champion	Musical comedy
The Glass Wall	Maxwell Shane	Vittorio Gassman, Gloria Grahame	Drama
Glen or Glenda	Ed Wood	Dolores Fuller	Drama
The Golden Blade	Nathan Juran	Rock Hudson, Piper Laurie, Gene Evans	Adventure
The Great Sioux Uprising	Lloyd Bacon	Jeff Chandler, Faith Domergue, Lyle Bettger	Western
Gun Fury	Raoul Walsh	Rock Hudson, Donna Reed, Philip Carey	Western

H-K

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
The Hitch-Hiker	Ida Lupino	Edmond O'Brien, William Talman, Frank Lovejoy	Film noir
Hondo	John Farrow	John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, James Arness	Western
Houdini	George Marshall	Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh	Biographical	story of Harry Houdini
House of Wax	André de Toth	Vincent Price, Carolyn Jones, Phyllis Kirk	Horror
How to Marry a Millionaire	Jean Negulesco	Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, William Powell	Comedy
I Confess	Alfred Hitchcock	Montgomery Clift	Drama
I Love Lucy	Edward Sedgwick	Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz	Comedy	Feature-length version of TV show
I, the Jury	Harry Essex	Biff Elliot	Drama	Based on book by Mickey Spillane
Inferno	Roy Ward Baker	Robert Ryan, Rhonda Fleming	Thriller
Invaders from Mars	William Cameron Menzies	Helena Carter	Science fiction
Island in the Sky	William Wellman	John Wayne, Lloyd Nolan, James Arness	Drama
It Came from Outer Space	Jack Arnold	Richard Carlson, Barbara Rush	Science fiction
Jennifer	Joel Newton	Ida Lupino, Howard Duff	Thriller
Jeopardy	John Sturges	Barbara Stanwyck, Barry Sullivan, Ralph Meeker	Thriller
Johann Mouse			Animation
Julius Caesar	Joseph L. Mankiewicz	Marlon Brando, James Mason, John Gielgud, Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr, Louis Calhern, Edmond O'Brien	Drama	based on William Shakespeare play; 5 Oscar nominations
Jungle Drums of Africa	Fred C. Brannon	Phyllis Coates	Adventure	12-part serial
Kansas Pacific	Ray Nazarro	Sterling Hayden	Western
King of the Khyber Rifles	Henry King	Tyrone Power, Terry Moore, Michael Rennie	Historical
Kiss Me, Kate	George Sidney	Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller	Musical	Based on 1948 Broadway show
Knights of the Round Table	Richard Thorpe	Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Mel Ferrer	Adventure

L-N

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
Latin Lovers	Mervyn LeRoy	Lana Turner, Ricardo Montalbán, John Lund
Law and Order	Nathan Juran	Ronald Reagan, Dorothy Malone	Western
The Lawless Breed	Raoul Walsh	Rock Hudson, Julie Adams, Hugh O'Brian	Western
Let's All Go to the Lobby			Animation
Let's Do It Again	Alexander Hall	Jane Wyman, Ray Milland, Aldo Ray	Musical comedy
Life with Tom	Hanna-Barbera	Tom and Jerry	Animated
Lili	Charles Walters	Leslie Caron, Mel Ferrer, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Zsa Zsa Gabor	Musical	5 Oscar nominations
A Lion Is in the Streets	Raoul Walsh	James Cagney, Barbara Hale	Drama
Little Boy Lost	George Seaton	Bing Crosby, Claude Dauphin	Drama
Little Fugitive	3 directors	Richie Andrusco	Drama
The Living Desert			Documentary	Academy Award: Best Documentary
The Lost Planet	Spencer Bennet	Judd Holdren	Science fiction
The Magnetic Monster	Curt Siodmak	Richard Carlson, King Donovan	Science fiction
Man in the Attic	Hugo Fregonese	Jack Palance	Drama
Man in the Dark	Lew Landers	Edmund O'Brien, Audrey Totter	Thriller	Remake of 1936 film
Man on a Tightrope	Elia Kazan	Fredric March, Terry Moore, Gloria Grahame	Thriller
Martin Luther	Irving Pichel	Niall MacGinnis, Pierre Lefevre	Biography
Meet Me at the Fair	Douglas Sirk	Dan Dailey, Diana Lynn, Hugh O'Brien	Drama
Mesa of Lost Women	Ron Ormond, Herb Tevis	Jackie Coogan, Richard Travis	Science fiction
Miss Sadie Thompson	Curtis Bernhardt	Rita Hayworth, José Ferrer, Aldo Ray	Musical
The Missing Mouse	Hanna-Barbera	Tom and Jerry	Animated
The Mississippi Gambler	Rudolph Maté	Tyrone Power, Piper Laurie, Julie Adams	Adventure
Mogambo	John Ford	Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly	Adventure
Money from Home	George Marshall	Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis	Comedy	10th Martin and Lewis film
The Moon Is Blue	Otto Preminger	William Holden, David Niven, Maggie McNamara	Romantic comedy
The Moonlighter	Roy Rowland	Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Ward Bond	Western
Mouse for Sale			Animation
The Naked Spur	Anthony Mann	James Stewart, Janet Leigh, Robert Ryan	Western
The Neanderthal Man	Ewald Andre Dupont	Robert Shayne, Beverly Garland	Science fiction
Neapolitan Mouse
Never Let Me Go	Delmer Daves	Clark Gable, Gene Tierney	Adventure
Niagara	Henry Hathaway	Marilyn Monroe, Jean Peters, Joseph Cotten	Suspense

O-S

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
One Girl's Confession	Hugo Haas	Cleo Moore	Drama
Pardon My Backfire		Three Stooges	Comedy
Peter Pan	Clyde Geronimi	voices of Hans Conried, Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont	Animated	from J. M. Barrie story
Pickup on South Street	Samuel Fuller	Richard Widmark, Jean Peters, Thelma Ritter	Thriller
Plunder of the Sun	John Farrow	Glenn Ford, Diana Lynn, Francis L. Sullivan	Adventure
Pony Express	Jerry Hopper	Charlton Heston, Rhonda Fleming, Forrest Tucker	Western
The President's Lady	Henry Levin	Susan Hayward, Charlton Heston, John McIntire	Biography	story of Andrew Jackson
Project Moonbase	Richard Talmadge	Ross Ford	Science fiction
Pup on a Picnic			Animation
Puppy Tale			Animation
The Redhead from Wyoming	Lee Sholem	Maureen O'Hara, Alex Nicol, Dennis Weaver	Western
Return to Paradise	Mark Robson	Gary Cooper, Barry Jones, Roberta Haynes	Adventure
Ride, Vaquero!	John Farrow	Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Howard Keel, Anthony Quinn	Western
Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue	Harold French	Richard Todd	Adventure
The Robe	Henry Koster	Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Richard Boone	Drama	5 Oscar nominations
Robot Monster	Phil Tucker	George Nader, Selena Royle	Science fiction
Roman Holiday	William Wyler	Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck	Romantic comedy	Academy Award for Hepburn
Salome	William Dieterle	Rita Hayworth, Stewart Granger, Judith Anderson, Charles Laughton	Drama
Scared Stiff	George Marshall	Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Carmen Miranda	Comedy	8th Martin and Lewis film
Sea Devils	Raoul Walsh	Rock Hudson, Yvonne De Carlo, Maxwell Reed	Adventure
The Seafarers	Stanley Kubrick			30-minute short
Second Chance	Rudolph Mate	Robert Mitchum, Jack Palance, Linda Darnell	Thriller
Seminole	Budd Boetticher	Rock Hudson, Anthony Quinn, Barbara Hale	Western
Serpent of the Nile	William Castle	Rhonda Fleming, Raymond Burr, William Lundigan	Adventure
Shane	George Stevens	Alan Ladd, Van Heflin, Jean Arthur, Brandon De Wilde, Jack Palance	Western
The Simple Things		Mickey Mouse	Animation
Small Town Girl	László Kardos	Jane Powell, Farley Granger, Ann Miller	Musical
So Big!	Robert Wise	Jane Wyman, Sterling Hayden, Steve Forrest, Nancy Olson	Drama
So This Is Love	Gordon Douglas	Kathryn Grayson, Merv Griffin, Walter Abel	Musical
South Sea Woman	Arthur Lubin	Burt Lancaster, Virginia Mayo, Chuck Connors	Adventure
Southern Fried Rabbit			Animation
Spaceways	Terence Fisher	Howard Duff, Eva Bartók	Science fiction
Split Second	Dick Powell	Stephen McNally, Alexis Smith, Jan Sterling	Thriller
Spooks!		The Three Stooges	Comedy short
Stalag 17	Billy Wilder	William Holden, Don Taylor, Otto Preminger	P.O.W.
The Steel Lady	Ewald André Dupont	Rod Cameron, Tab Hunter, John Dehner	Drama
The Story of Three Loves	Vincente Minnelli	Pier Angeli, Kirk Douglas, Leslie Caron, Ethel Barrymore	Romance
The Sun Shines Bright	John Ford	Charles Winninger, Arleen Whelan, Stepin Fetchit	Comedy
The Sword and the Rose	Ken Annakin	Glynis Johns, Richard Todd, James Robertson Justice	Adventure

T-Z

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
Take Me to Town	Douglas Sirk	Sterling Hayden, Ann Sheridan	Comedy western
Take the High Ground!	Richard Brooks	Richard Widmark, Karl Malden, Russ Tamblyn	War
The Tell-Tale Heart	Ted Parmelee		Animation	Based on Poe story
Terminal Station	Vittorio De Sica	Jennifer Jones, Montgomery Clift	Drama
Thunder Bay	Anthony Mann	James Stewart, Dan Duryea, Joanne Dru	Drama
Thunder Over the Plains	André de Toth	Randolph Scott, Lex Barker, Phyllis Kirk	Western
Titanic	Jean Negulesco	Barbara Stanwyck, Clifton Webb, Robert Wagner	Biography
Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom			Animated short	Disney educational film
Torch Song	Charles Walters	Joan Crawford, Michael Wilding, Gig Young	Drama
Treasure of the Golden Condor	Delmer Daves	Cornel Wilde, Constance Smith, Finlay Currie	Adventure
Trouble Along the Way	Michael Curtiz	John Wayne, Donna Reed	Comedy
The Twonky	Arch Oboler	Hans Conreid, Gloria Blondell	Comedy
The Veils of Bagdad	George Sherman	Victor Mature, Mari Blanchard	Action drama
Vicki	Harry Horner	Jeanne Crain, Jean Peters, Richard Boone	Crime drama	I Wake Up Screaming remake
War Arrow	George Sherman	Jeff Chandler, Maureen O'Hara, John McIntire	Western
The War of the Worlds	Byron Haskin	Gene Barry, Ann Robinson	Science fiction	Based on H.G. Wells novel
White Lightning	Edward Bernds	Stanley Clements, Barbara Bestar, Steve Brodie	Sports drama
White Witch Doctor	Henry Hathaway	Robert Mitchum, Susan Hayward	Adventure
The Wild One	Laszlo Benedek	Marlon Brando, Lee Marvin	Drama
Working for Peanuts	Jack Hannah		Animated	Chip and Dale cartoon
Young Bess	George Sidney	Jean Simmons, Deborah Kerr, Charles Laughton	Biography	story of Elizabeth I

External links

American films of 1953 at the Internet Movie Database