More than 344 American feature films were released in 1953.Andrus, Winfield (1953) Industry Statistics 1955 Year Book of Motion Pictures The Film Daily p139
Donald O'Connor and Fredric March cohosted the 26th Academy Awards ceremony on March 25, 1954, held at the RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. This was the second year in which the ceremony was telecast, with viewership at an estimated 43,000,000.
The winner in the Best Motion Picture category was Columbia's From Here to Eternity. All of the major-category winners were black-and-white films.
The 11th Golden Globe Awards also honored the best films of 1953. There was no award for Best Picture in either the Musical or Comedy categories.
Spencer Tracy won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a drama film for The Actress, while David Niven won Best Actor in the Musical or Comedy genre for The Moon Is Blue. Audrey Hepburn won Best Actress for Roman Holiday, and Ethel Merman won for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy film for her role in Call Me Madam. The Robe won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture.
A-B Title Director Cast Genre NotesThe 49th Man Fred F. Sears Richard Denning, John Ireland, Suzanne Dalbert Film noir Columbia99 River Street Phil Karlson John Payne, Evelyn Keyes Film noir United ArtistsThe 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. Roy Rowland Tommy Rettig, Mary Healy Musical fantasy ColumbiaAbbott and Costello Go to Mars Charles Lamont Abbott and Costello, Horace McMahon, Martha Hyer, Mari Blanchard Comedy UniversalAbbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Charles Lamont Abbott and Costello, Boris Karloff Comedy UniversalAct of Love Anatole Litvak Kirk Douglas, Dany Robin Drama United Artists. Co-production with FranceThe Actress George Cukor Jean Simmons, Spencer Tracy, Teresa Wright Drama MGM; based on Ruth GordonThe Affairs of Dobie Gillis Don Weis Debbie Reynolds, Bob Fosse Musical comedy MGM; became TV seriesAffair with a Stranger Roy Rowland Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Monica Lewis Drama RKOThe All American Jesse Hibbs Tony Curtis, Lori Nelson, Mamie Van Doren Sports drama UniversalAll Ashore Richard Quine Mickey Rooney, Dick Haymes, Peggy Ryan, Ray McDonald Comedy, Musical ColumbiaAll I Desire Douglas Sirk Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Carlson, Lyle Bettger, Lori Nelson Drama UniversalAll the Brothers Were Valiant Richard Thorpe Robert Taylor, Stewart Granger, Ann Blyth Adventure MGM; remake of 1923 film Ambush at Tomahawk Gap Fred F. Sears John Hodiak, John Derek Western ColumbiaAngel Face Otto Preminger Robert Mitchum, Jean Simmons, Mona Freeman Film noir RKOAppointment in Honduras Jacques Tourneur Glenn Ford, Ann Sheridan, Zachary Scott Adventure RKOArena Richard Fleischer Gig Young, Jean Hagen, Polly Bergen Drama MGMArrowhead Charles Warren Charlton Heston, Jack Palance, Katy Jurado Adventure ParamountBack to God's Country Joseph Pevney Rock Hudson, Marcia Henderson, Steve Cochran Adventure, Western UniversalBad for Each Other Irving Rapper Charlton Heston, Lizabeth Scott Film noir ColumbiaThe Bandits of Corsica Ray Nazarro Paula Raymond, Richard Greene, Raymond Burr Adventure United ArtistsBandits of the West Harry Keller Allan Lane, Cathy Downs Western RepublicThe Band WagonVincente Minnelli Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray Musical MGM; 5 Oscar nominationsBattle CircusJohn Huston Humphrey Bogart, June Allyson, Robert Keith, Keenan Wynn Drama MGMThe Beast from 20,000 Fathoms Eugène Lourié Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway Science fiction Warner Bros.Beat the DevilJohn Huston Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Peter Lorre Comedy United ArtistsBeneath the 12-Mile Reef Robert D. Webb Robert Wagner, Terry Moore, Gilbert Roland Adventure 20th Century FoxThe Bigamist Ida Lupino Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, Edmond O'Brien Drama IndependentThe Big Heat Fritz Lang Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame Jocelyn Brando Film noir ColumbiaBig Leaguer Robert Aldrich Edward G. Robinson, Vera-Ellen Comedy MGMBlowing Wild Hugo Fregonese Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Ruth Roman Drama Warner Bros.The Blue Gardenia Fritz Lang Anne Baxter, Richard Conte, Ann Sothern, Raymond Burr Film noir Warner Bros.A Blueprint for Murder Andrew L. Stone Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, Gary Merrill Thriller 20th Century FoxBorn to the Saddle William Beaudine Chuck Courtney, Donald Woods Western Astor PicturesBotany Bay John Farrow Alan Ladd, James Mason, Patricia Medina Adventure ParamountBright Road Gerald Mayer Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte Drama MGMBy the Light of the Silvery Moon David Butler Doris Day, Gordon MacRae Musical Warner Bros.; On Moonlight Bay sequel
C Title Director Cast Genre NotesThe Caddy Norman Taurog Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Donna Reed Comedy Paramount; debut of song "That's Amore"Calamity JaneDavid Butler Doris Day, Howard Keel Musical Warner Bros.; Oscar for Best SongCall Me Madam Walter Lang Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Vera-Ellen, Billy De Wolfe Musical 20th Century Fox. Based on play; Golden Globe for MermanCaptain John Smith and PocahontasLew LandersAnthony Dexter, Jody LawranceHistorical United ArtistsCaptain Scarlett Thomas Carr Richard Greene, Leonora Amar Adventure United ArtistsCat-Women of the Moon Arthur Hilton Sonny Tufts, Victor Jory Science Fiction AstorCease Fire!Owen Crump War ParamountChamp for a Day William A. Seiter Alex Nicol, Audrey Totter, Charles Winninger Crime drama RepublicCharade Roy Kellino James Mason, Pamela Mason Drama IndependentThe Charge at Feather RiverGordon Douglas Guy Madison, Vera Miles Western Warner Bros.China Venture Don Siegel Edmond O'Brien, Barry Sullivan, Jocelyn Brando War ColumbiaCity Beneath the Sea Budd Boetticher Robert Ryan, Mala Powers, Anthony Quinn, Suzan Ball Adventure UniversalCity of Bad Men Harmon Jones Dale Robertson, Jeanne Crain, Richard Boone Western 20th Century FoxCity That Never Sleeps John H. Auer Gig Young, William Talman, Mala Powers, Paula Raymond, Chill Wills Film noir RepublicClipped Wings Edward Bernds Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, June Vincent Comedy Allied ArtistsThe Clown Robert Z. Leonard Red Skelton, Jane Greer, Tim Considine Drama MGMCode Two Fred M. Wilcox Ralph Meeker, Sally Forrest Film noir MGMColumn South Frederick de Cordova Audie Murphy, Joan Evans Western UniversalCombat Squad Cy Roth John Ireland, Lon McCallister War ColumbiaConfidentially Connie Edward Buzzell Van Johnson, Janet Leigh, Louis Calhern Comedy MGMConquest of Cochise William Castle Robert Stack, John Hodiak, Joy Page Western ColumbiaCount the Hours Don Siegel Teresa Wright, Macdonald Carey Crime RKOCow Country Lesley Selander Edmond O'Brien, Helen Westcott Western Allied ArtistsCrazylegs Francis D. Lyon Lloyd Nolan, Joan Vohs Sports RepublicCruisin' Down the River Richard Quine Dick Haymes, Audrey Totter Musical ColumbiaCry of the Hunted Joseph H. Lewis Vittorio Gassman, Barry Sullivan, Polly Bergen Film noir MGM
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