More than 390 American feature films were released in 1951.Bahn & Andrus (1952) Industry Statistics 1952 Year Book of Motion Pictures The Film Daily p125Features 1952 Year Book of Motion Pictures The Film Daily p190–251
Danny Kaye hosted the 24th Academy Awards ceremony on held at the RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. The winner of the Best Motion Picture category was Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's An American in Paris.
The other four nominated pictures were Decision Before Dawn, A Place in the Sun, Quo Vadis, and A Streetcar Named Desire.
Vivien Leigh won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. Leigh had also played Blanche in the London stage production that had been directed by her then-husband Laurence Olivier. Other Best Actress nominees that year were Katharine Hepburn for The African Queen (Hepburn's 5th Best Actress Nomination), Eleanor Parker for Detective Story, Shelley Winters for A Place in the Sun, and Jane Wyman for The Blue Veil.
Humphrey Bogart won his only Oscar for his portrayal of Charlie Allnut in The African Queen. Other Best Actor nominees for that year were Marlon Brando for A Streetcar Named Desire, Montgomery Clift for A Place in the Sun, Arthur Kennedy for Bright Victory, and Fredric March for Death of a Salesman.
The 9th Golden Globe Awards also honored the best films of 1951. That year's Golden Globes also marked the first time that the Best Picture category was split into Musical or Comedy, or Drama. A Place in the Sun won Best Motion Picture - Drama, while An American in Paris won Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. Fredric March won Best Actor, Drama, for Death of a Salesman, while Danny Kaye won Best Actor, Musical or Comedy, for On the Riviera. Jane Wyman won Best Actress, Drama, for her role in The Blue Veil, while June Allyson won Best Actress, Musical or Comedy, for Too Young to Kiss.
1951 also saw the film debut of Grace Kelly and Carroll Baker.
A Title Director Cast Genre NotesThe 13th Letter Otto Preminger Linda Darnell, Charles Boyer, Constance Smith Film noir 20th Century FoxAbbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man Charles Lamont Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Adele Jergens Comedy–Horror UniversalAbilene Trail Lewis D. Collins Whip Wilson, Noel Neill, Andy Clyde Western MonogramAccording to Mrs. Hoyle Jean Yarbrough Spring Byington, Anthony Caruso, Tanis Chandler Comedy crime MonogramAce in the Hole Billy Wilder Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur Drama ParamountAcross the Wide Missouri William A. Wellman Clark Gable, Ricardo Montalbán, Adolphe Menjou Western MGMAdventures of Captain Fabian William Marshall Errol Flynn, Micheline Presle, Vincent Price Adventure Republic. Co-production with FranceThe African Queen John Huston Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley Adventure Academy Award for BogartAir Cadet Joseph Pevney Gail Russell, Stephen McNally, Alex Nicol Drama UniversalAl Jennings of Oklahoma Ray Nazarro Dan Duryea, Gale Storm, Gloria Henry Western ColumbiaAlice in Wonderland Clyde Geronimi Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Sterling Holloway Animation Walt DisneyAlong the Great Divide Raoul Walsh Kirk Douglas, Virginia Mayo, Walter Brennan Western Warner Bros.An American in Paris Vincente Minnelli Leslie Caron, Gene Kelly, Oscar Levant Musical MGM. Academy Award for Best PictureAngels in the Outfield Clarence Brown Paul Douglas, Janet Leigh Keenan Wynn Sports, Comedy MGMAnne of the Indies Jacques Tourneur Louis Jourdan, Jean Peters, Debra Paget Adventure 20th Century FoxApache Drums Hugo Fregonese Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, Arthur Shields Western UniversalAppointment with Danger Lewis Allen Alan Ladd, Phyllis Calvert, Jan Sterling Film Noir ParamountArizona Manhunt Fred C. Brannon Michael Chapin, Eilene Janssen, Lucille Barkley Western RepublicAs Young as You Feel Harmon Jones Constance Bennett, Monty Woolley, Jean Peters Comedy 20th Century Fox. Cameo by Marilyn MonroeAs You Were Bernard Girard William Tracy, Joe Sawyer, Sondra Rodgers Comedy Lippert Pictures
B Title Director Cast Genre NotesBadman's Gold Robert Emmett Tansey Johnny Carpenter, Kenne Duncan, Emmett Lynn Western Eagle-LionBannerline Don Weis Keefe Brasselle, Sally Forrest, Lionel Barrymore Drama MGMThe Barefoot Mailman Earl McEvoy Robert Cummings, Terry Moore, Jerome Courtland Comedy ColumbiaThe Basketball FixFelix E. FeistJohn Ireland, Marshall Thompson, Vanessa Brown Drama RealartBedtime for Bonzo Frederick de Cordova Ronald Reagan, Diana Lynn, Walter Slezak Comedy UniversalBehave Yourself! George Beck Farley Granger, Shelley Winters, Francis L. Sullivan Comedy RKOBelle Le Grand Allan Dwan Vera Ralston, John Carroll, Grant Withers Western RepublicBest of the Badmen William D. Russell Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor, Robert Preston Western RKOThe Big Gusher Lew Landers Wayne Morris, Preston Foster, Dorothy Patrick Adventure ColumbiaThe Big Night Joseph Losey John Drew Barrymore, Joan Lorring, Preston Foster Film noir United ArtistsBird of Paradise Delmer Daves Debra Paget, Louis Jourdan, Jeff Chandler Drama 20th Century FoxBlazing Bullets Wallace Fox Johnny Mack Brown, Lois Hall, Stanley Price Western MonogramBlue Blood Lew Landers Bill Williams, Jane Nigh, Audrey Long Sports MonogramThe Blue Veil Joseph Losey Jane Wyman, Charles Laughton, Joan Blondell Drama RKOBonanza Town Fred F. Sears Charles Starrett, Myron Healey, Fred F. Sears Western ColumbiaBowery Battalion William Beaudine Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Donald MacBride Comedy MonogramThe Brave Bulls Robert Rossen Mel Ferrer, Anthony Quinn, Miroslava Stern Drama Columbia. Based on the 1949 novelBride of the Gorilla Curt Siodmak Raymond Burr, Lon Chaney Jr., Barbara Payton Horror IndependentBright Victory Mark Robson Arthur Kennedy, Peggy Dow, Julie Adams Drama Universal. Based on Lights Out by Baynard KendrickBuckaroo Sheriff of Texas Philip Ford Michael Chapin, Eilene Janssen, Hugh O'Brian Western RepublicBullfighter and the Lady Budd Boetticher Robert Stack, Joy Page, Gilbert Roland Drama Republic
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Title Director Cast Genre NotesCallaway Went Thataway Melvin Frank, Norman Panama Fred MacMurray, Dorothy McGuire, Howard Keel Comedy MGMCall Me Mister Lloyd Bacon Betty Grable, Dan Dailey, Danny Thomas Musical 20th Century Fox. Based on the Broadway showCanyon Raiders Lewis D. Collins Whip Wilson, Phyllis Coates, Fuzzy Knight Western MonogramCasa Manana Jean Yarbrough Virginia Welles, Robert Clarke, Robert Karnes Musical MonogramCattle Drive Kurt Neumann Joel McCrea, Dean Stockwell, Leon Ames Western UniversalCattle Queen Robert Emmett Tansey Maria Hart, William Fawcett, Johnny Carpenter Western Eagle-LionCause for Alarm! Tay Garnett Loretta Young, Barry Sullivan, Bruce Cowling Film noir MGMCavalry Scout Lesley Selander Rod Cameron, Audrey Long, Jim Davis Western MonogramCave of Outlaws William Castle Macdonald Carey, Alexis Smith, Edgar Buchanan Western UniversalChain of Circumstance Will Jason Margaret Field, Connie Gilchrist, Lawrence Dobkin Drama ColumbiaChained for Life Harry L. Fraser Hilton Twins, Allen Jenkins, Patricia Wright Crime IndependentChicago Calling John Reinhardt Dan Duryea, Mary Anderson, Ross Elliott Film noir United ArtistsChina Corsair Ray Nazarro Jon Hall, Lisa Ferraday, Ron Randell Adventure ColumbiaClose to My Heart William Keighley Gene Tierney, Ray Milland, Mary Beth Hughes Drama Warner Bros.Colorado Ambush Lewis D. Collins Johnny Mack Brown, Lois Hall, Myron Healey Western MonogramCome Fill the Cup Gordon Douglas James Cagney, Gig Young, Phyllis Thaxter Drama Warner Bros. Oscar nomination for YoungComin' Round the Mountain Charles Lamont Abbott and Costello, Dorothy Shay, Kirby Grant Comedy UniversalThe Company She Keeps John Cromwell Lizabeth Scott, Jane Greer, Dennis O'Keefe Drama RKOCorky of Gasoline Alley Edward Bernds Scotty Beckett, Jimmy Lydon, Susan Morrow Comedy ColumbiaCrazy Over Horses William Beaudine Bowery Boys, Gloria Saunders, Allen Jenkins Comedy MonogramCriminal Lawyer Seymour Friedman Pat O'Brien, Jane Wyatt, Mary Castle Film noir ColumbiaCrosswinds Lewis R. Foster Rhonda Fleming, John Payne, Forrest Tucker Adventure ParamountCry Danger Robert Parrish Dick Powell, Rhonda Fleming, William Conrad Film noir RKOCuban FireballWilliam BeaudineEstelita Rodriguez, Warren Douglas, Leon BelascoMusicalRepublicCyclone Fury Ray Nazarro Charles Starrett, Clayton Moore, Smiley Burnette Western ColumbiaThe Dakota Kid Philip Ford Michael Chapin, Eilene Janssen, Margaret Field Western RepublicDanger Zone William Berke Hugh Beaumont, Edward Brophy, Pamela Blake Film noir LippertDarling, How Could You! Mitchell Leisen Joan Fontaine, John Lund, Mona Freeman Comedy Paramount. Based on a play by James BarrieDavid and Bathsheba Henry King Gregory Peck, Susan Hayward, Kieron Moore Historical 20th Century Fox. From 2nd Old Testament book of SamuelThe Day the Earth Stood Still Robert Wise Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe Science Fiction 20th Century Fox. Remade in 2008Dear Brat William A. Seiter Mona Freeman, Billy De Wolfe, Edward Arnold Comedy ParamountDeath of a Salesman László Benedek Fredric March, Mildred Dunnock, Cameron Mitchell Drama Columbia. Based on Arthur Miller playDecision Before Dawn Anatole Litvak Richard Basehart, Gary Merrill, Hildegard Knef War 20th Century Fox. From the novel Call It TreasonThe Desert Fox Henry Hathaway James Mason, Cedric Hardwicke, Jessica Tandy Biographical 20th Century Fox. Based on the book RommelDesert of Lost Men Harry Keller Allan Lane, Mary Ellen Kay, Roy Barcroft Western RepublicDetective Story William Wyler Kirk Douglas, William Bendix, Eleanor Parker Film noir ParamountDick Turpin's Ride Ralph Murphy Louis Hayward, Patricia Medina, Suzanne Dalbert Adventure Disc Jockey Will Jason Ginny Simms, Tom Drake, Jane Nigh Musical Allied ArtistsDistant Drums Raoul Walsh Gary Cooper, Richard Webb, Mari Aldon Western Warner Bros.Double Crossbones Charles Barton Donald O'Connor, Helena Carter, John Emery Adventure UniversalDouble Dynamite Irving Cummings Frank Sinatra, Jane Russell, Groucho Marx Musical Comedy RKODrums in the Deep South William Cameron Menzies James Craig, Barbara Payton, Guy Madison Western RKO
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