This is a list of avant-garde and experimental films released in the 1950s. Unless noted, all films had sound and were in black and white.
Title Director Cast Nation Notes 1950The Adventures of JimmyJames BroughtonJames BroughtonUnited StatesMusic by Weldon Kees.Un chant d'amourJean GenetJava, André ReybazFranceGenet's only film as a directorEaten HorizonsWilhelm Freddie, Jørgen RoosFranceSurrealist filmOrphéeJean CocteauJean MaraisFranceRabbit's MoonKenneth AngerAndré Soubeyron, Claude RevenantFranceColorSwainGregory Markopoulos, Robert C. Freeman, Jr.Gregory Markopoulos, Mary Zelles United States Based on Hawthorne's novel Fanshawe. Only a drastically shortened version exists; 24 minutes of 50Markopoulos filmographyTłum (The Crowd)Walerian Borowczyk Poland 1951Divertissement RococoHy Hirsh United StatesAbstract animationEnsemble for SomnambulistsMaya Deren CanadaImages pour DebussyJean Mitry FranceVisualization of music, semi-abstract water film.Letterboxd entryLe film est déja commence?Maurice LemaîtreFranceLettrist filmLe mort du cerfDimitri KirsanoffFranceA Treatise on Venom and EternityIsidore IsouIsidore IsouFranceLettrist film 1952L'anti-conceptGil J. WolmanFranceLettrist filmApproaches and LeavetakingsWeldon Kees, Jurgen Ruesch United StatesBells of AtlantisIan HugoAnaïs NinUnited StatesColor. Semi-abstract images and electronic music by Bebe and Louis Barron accompany a reading by Nin from her 1936 novella House of Incest.Open Culture pageForm Phases IRobert Breer United StatesColor, silent abstract animation.Hand-Mouth CoordinationWeldon Kees, Gregory Bateson United StatesHotel ApexWeldon Kees United StatesStudy of the demolition of an old hotelHurlements en faveur de SadeGuy DebordFranceLettrist filmInterimStan Brakhage United StatesBrakhage's first film, scored by James Tenney 1953The Boy and the SeaStan Brakhage United StatesSilent, listed by Camper as "not available"Color CryLen Lye United StatesColor, Drawn-on-film animation, music by Sonny TerryCome CloserHy Hirsh United StatesColor, abstract animation in 3-DEaux d'ArtificeKenneth AngerCarmilla Salvatorelli ItalyColor, added to the National Film Registry in 1993The EndChristopher Maclaine United StatesEarly Beat generation filmEneriHy Hirsh United StatesAbstract animation, color.Form Phases IIRobert Breer United StatesColor, silent abstract animation. MandalaJordan Belson United StatesAbstract animation, colorThe Pleasure GardenJames BroughtonLindsay Anderson, Hattie Jacques, John Le MesurierUnited KingdomStatues Also DieChris Marker, Alain ResnaisFranceUnglassed Windows Cast a Terrible ReflectionStan Brakhage United StatesSilent, listed by Camper as "not available" 1954DesistfilmStan Brakhage United StatesThe Extraordinary ChildStan Brakhage United StatesListed by Camper as "not available"Form Phases IVRobert Breer United StatesColor, silent abstract animation.GyromorphosisHy Hirsh NetherlandsAbstract animationInauguration of the Pleasure DomeKenneth AngerSamson de Brier, Anaïs NinUnited StatesColor, edited into at least three distinct versionsUn MiracleRobert Breer, Pontus Hultén United StatesColor, collage animation.The Way to Shadow GardenStan Brakhage United States 1955Atelier de Fernand LégerWalerian Borowczyk PolandFilmed at Fernand Léger's studio in ParisAviaryJoseph Cornell United StatesSilentThe BridgeWilliam HeickWeldon Kees United StatesPoetic study, based on Hart CraneClosed VisionMarc'O.FranceLettrist filmDementia, aka Daughter of HorrorJohn ParkerAdrienne Barrett, Bruno VeSota United StatesEssentially silent psychological horror film, music by George AntheilUne femme coquetteJean-Luc GodardMaria Lysandre, Roland TolmaFranceHaitian Film FootageMaya Deren HaitiBegun in 1947; later posthumously edited into The Divine HorsemenIn BetweenStan Brakhage United StatesColor, music by John CageJesień (Autumn)Walerian Borowczyk PolandAnimationJoanne, Union SquareJoseph Cornell United StatesSilentJoanne, XmasJoseph Cornell United StatesSilentMosaik im Vertrauen (Mosaic in Confidence)Peter Kubelka AustriaWritten by Ferry RadaxRotterdam Film Festival entryA Portrait of GaMargaret TaitUnited KingdomOrchard StreetKen Jacobs United StatesColor, silentReflectionsMadeline Tourtelot United StatesColor, two distinct versionsReflections on BlackStan Brakhage United StatesSunday in PekingChris MarkerFranceUntitled film of Geoffrey Holder’s WeddingStan Brakhage, Larry Jordan United StatesThe Very Eye of NightMaya Deren United StatesDance film, choreographed by Antony TudorThe Wonder RingStan Brakhage United StatesColor, silentŻywe fotografie (Photographies Vivantes)Walerian Borowczyk PolandAnimation 1956Centuries of JuneStan Brakhage, Joseph Cornell United StatesColor, silentFlesh of MorningStan Brakhage United StatesRevised in 1986Little Cobra DanceKen Jacobs Jack Smith United StatesNightcatsStan Brakhage United StatesColor, silentRecreationRobert BreerNoël Burch United StatesColor, semi-abstract animation with narration.Saturday Afternoon Blood SacrificeKen JacobsJack Smith United StatesTogetherLorenza Mazzetti, Denis HorneEduardo Paolozzi, Michael Andrews Experimental semi-documentaryZone MomentStan Brakhage United StatesColor, silent 19578 x 8: A Chess Sonata in 8 MovementsJean Cocteau, Marcel Duchamp, Hans RichterUnited StatesA to ZMichael Snow Canada"Blue and white" color, silentAdebarPeter Kubelka AustriaEarly structural — or in Kubelka's terms, "metric" — filmKontraste Festival entry Adventures of *John Hubley, Faith Hubley United StatesColor, music score by Benny Carter. Semi-abstract animation. AngelJoseph Cornell United StatesColorBył sobie raz (Once Upon a Time)Jan Lenica, Walerian Borowczyk PolandCut-out animationBoy's GamesJoseph Cornell United StatesSilentCappuccinoJoseph Cornell United StatesChildrenJoseph Cornell United StatesSilentCloche a Travers les Feuilles/Claude DebussyJoseph Cornell United StatesRevised version of NymphlightDaybreak and WhiteyeStan Brakhage United StatesDni Oświaty (Education Days)Jan Lenica, Walerian Borowczyk PolandAnimationA Fable for FountainsJoseph Cornell, Rudolph Buckhardt United StatesBegun in 1955; revised as "A Legend for Fountains" in 1965Glimpse of the GardenMarie Menken United StatesSelected for addition to the National Film Registry in 2007Nagrodzone uczucia (Requited Sentiments)Jan Lenica, Walerian Borowczyk PolandAnimationJamestown BaloosRobert Breer United StatesColor, semi-abstract combination of animation and live action.LovingStan BrakhageCarolee Schneemann, James TenneyUnited StatesColor, silentStrep-tease (Striptease)Jan Lenica, Walerian Borowczyk PolandAnimationA Man and His Dog Out for AirRobert Breer United StatesAbstract animation, shown with Last Year at Marienbad in its first New York run.The Man Who Invented GoldChristopher Maclaine United StatesPartly filmed by Jordan BelsonNymphlightJoseph Cornell United StatesColor 1958Anticipation of the NightStan Brakhage United StatesBeatChristopher Maclaine United StatesBroadway by LightWilliam Klein France, United StatesDéfense d'afficherHy Hirsh FranceColorDom (House)Jan Lenica, Walerian Borowczyk PolandAnimation; Winner of 1958 Belgium International Experimental Film CompetitionFree RadicalsLen LyeUnited States/New ZealandUne histoire d'eauJean-Luc Godard, François TruffautCaroline Dim, Jean-Claude Brialy FranceSemi-improvised, proto-Nouvelle vague shortA MovieBruce Conner United StatesIconic collage film.SchwechaterPeter Kubelka Austria"Metric" beer commercialSzkoła (School)Jan Lenica, Walerian Borowczyk PolandAnimated photographsSpatiodynamismeTinto Brass, Nicolas Schöffer FranceColor, silent. A visual document of Schöffer's CYSP-1, the first cybernetic sculpture.Sztandar młodych (Banner of Youth)Jan Lenica, Walerian Borowczyk PolandAnimationThe Very Eye of NightMaya Deren United States 1959Les astronautesWalerian Borowczyk, Chris Marker FranceAnimatedChasse des TouchesHy Hirsh FranceAbstract animationCat's CradleStan Brakhage United StatesColor, silentThe Diary of an Unknown SoldierPeter WatkinsUnited KingdomEyewashRobert Breer United StatesColor, silent mixture of abstract animation and live action; exists in two versions.Hiroshima mon amourAlain ResnaisEiji Okada, Emmanuelle RivaFranceWritten by Marguerite DurasMonsieur TêteJan Lenica FranceAnimationOdds and EndsJane Conger Shimane BelsonUnited StatesPull My DaisyRobert Frank, Alfred LeslieAllen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso United StatesBeat Generation film, written by Jack KerouacThe Running Jumping & Standing Still FilmRichard LesterUnited KingdomScotch HopChristopher Maclaine United StatesSeason of StrangersMaya Deren United StatesUnfinished; made as part of Haiku Film Project at WoodstockShadowsJohn CassavetesBen Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni, Hugh HurdUnited StatesSirius RememberedStan Brakhage United StatesColor, silentWedlock House: An IntercourseStan Brakhage United StatesSilentWindow Water Baby MovingStan Brakhage United StatesColor, silent
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