List of American films of 1959

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The American films of 1959 are listed in a table of the films which were made in the United States and released in 1959. The film Ben-Hur won the Academy Award for Best Picture, among winning a record-setting eleven Oscars.

A-B

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
4D Man	Irvin S. Yeaworth, Jr.	Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether	Science fiction	Produced, written by Jack H. Harris
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock	Sidney Miller	Lou Costello, Dorothy Provine	Comedy	Released after Costello's death
Al Capone	Richard Wilson	Rod Steiger, Nehemiah Persoff, James Gregory, Fay Spain	Biography	Allied Artists
Alias Jesse James	Norman Z. McLeod	Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming	Western comedy	United Artists
The Alligator People	Roy Del Ruth	Beverly Garland, Bruce Bennett	Horror	Fox
Anatomy of a Murder	Otto Preminger	James Stewart, Lee Remick, George C. Scott, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden, Joseph N. Welch, Kathryn Grant	Crime drama	Columbia Pictures; based on a book by Robert Traver; 7 Oscar nominations
The Angry Hills	Robert Aldrich	Robert Mitchum, Stanley Baker, Gia Scala	War	MGM
The Angry Red Planet	Ib Melchior	Gerald Mohr, Naura Hayden	Science fiction	American-International
The Atomic Submarine	Spencer Gordon Bennet	Arthur Franz, Dick Foran	Science fiction	Allied Artists
Ask Any Girl	Charles Walters	David Niven, Shirley MacLaine, Gig Young, Rod Taylor	Comedy	MGM
Attack of the Giant Leeches	Bernard L. Kowalski	Ken Clarke, Yvette Vickers	Science fiction	American-International
The Bat	Crane Wilbur	Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Darla Hood	Science fiction	Hood's final screen appearance
Battle of the Coral Sea	Paul Wendkos	Cliff Robertson, Gia Scala	Adventure	Columbia
Beast from Haunted Cave	Monte Hellman	Michael Forest, Frank Wolff	Science fiction
The Beat Generation	Charles F. Haas	Mamie Van Doren, Ray Danton, Fay Spain	Drama	MGM
Behemoth, the Sea Monster	Eugène Lourié	Gene Evans, André Morell	Science fiction	Allied Artists
Beloved Infidel	Henry King	Gregory Peck, Deborah Kerr	Biography	Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ben-Hur	William Wyler	Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins, Martha Scott, Hugh Griffith, Cathy O'Donnell, Sam Jaffe	Drama, Epic	MGM; won a record 11 Academy Awards; remake of 1925 silent film
The Best of Everything	Jean Negulesco	Diane Baker, Stephen Boyd, Hope Lange, Louis Jourdan, Suzy Parker	Drama	20th Century Fox; 2 Oscar nominations
The Big Circus	Joseph M. Newman	Victor Mature, Red Buttons, Rhonda Fleming, David Nelson, Kathryn Grant	Drama	Allied Artists
The Big Fisherman	Frank Borzage	Howard Keel, Susan Kohner, John Saxon	Drama	Buena Vista
The Big Operator	Charles F. Haas	Mickey Rooney, Steve Cochran, Mamie Van Doren	Crime drama	MGM
Blue Denim	Philip Dunne	Carol Lynley, Macdonald Carey, Brandon deWilde	Drama	20th Century Fox
Bonanza Bunny		Bugs Bunny	Animated
Born to Be Loved	Hugo Haas	Carol Morris, Dick Kallman	Drama
A Bucket of Blood	Roger Corman	Dick Miller, Ed Nelson	Horror
But Not for Me	Walter Lang	Clark Gable, Carroll Baker, Lilli Palmer, Lee J. Cobb	Romantic comedy	Paramount

C-D

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
Career	Joseph Anthony	Dean Martin, Tony Franciosa, Carolyn Jones, Shirley MacLaine	Drama	Paramount; written by Dalton Trumbo; 3 Oscar nominations
Compulsion	Richard Fleischer	Bradford Dillman, Dean Stockwell, Diane Varsi, Orson Welles	Crime drama	based on Leopold and Loeb
Count Your Blessings	Jean Negulesco	Deborah Kerr, Rossano Brazzi	Drama	MGM
Crime and Punishment U.S.A.	Denis Sanders	George Hamilton, Mary Murphy, Marian Seldes	Crime	Allied Artists
The Crimson Kimono	Samuel Fuller	Victoria Shaw, Glenn Corbett, James Shigeta	Film noir	Columbia
Cuban Rebel Girls	Barry Mahon	Errol Flynn, Beverly Aadland	Drama
Darby O'Gill and the Little People	Robert Stevenson	Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, Sean Connery	Fantasy	Walt Disney
Date with Death	Harold Daniels	Gerald Mohr, Liz Renay	Crime
Day of the Outlaw	André de Toth	Robert Ryan, Burl Ives, Tina Louise	Western	United Artists
The Devil's Disciple	Guy Hamilton	Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier	Drama	United Artists; based on George Bernard Shaw play
The Diary of Anne Frank	George Stevens	Joseph Schildkraut, Ed Wynn, Shelley Winters, Millie Perkins, Richard Beymer, Diane Baker	Biography	20th Century Fox; won 3 Academy Awards
Don't Give Up the Ship	Norman Taurog	Jerry Lewis, Dina Merrill, Gale Gordon	Comedy	Paramount
Donald in Mathmagic Land		Clarence Nash	Animation

E-H

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
Edge of Eternity	Don Siegel	Cornel Wilde, Victoria Shaw	Drama	Columbia
The FBI Story	Mervyn LeRoy	James Stewart, Vera Miles	Drama	Warner Bros.
Face of a Fugitive	Paul Wendkos	Fred MacMurray, Myrna Fahey, James Coburn	Western	Columbia
First Man into Space	Robert Day	Marshall Thompson	Science fiction	MGM
The Five Pennies	Melville Shavelson	Danny Kaye, Louis Armstrong	Biography, Musical	story of musician Red Nichols; 4 Oscar nominations
For the First Time	Rudolph Mate	Mario Lanza, Johanna von Koczian, Zsa Zsa Gabor	Musical	MGM
The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake	Edward L. Cahn	Eduard Franz, Valerie French	Science fiction	United Artists
The Fugitive Kind	Sidney Lumet	Marlon Brando, Joanne Woodward, Anna Magnani	Drama	United Artists
Gangster Story	Walter Matthau	Walter Matthau, Carol Grace	Crime drama
The Gazebo	George Marshall	Glenn Ford, Debbie Reynolds, Carl Reiner	Black comedy	MGM; based on the play
The Gene Krupa Story	Don Weis	Sal Mineo, Susan Oliver, James Darren	Biography	story of drummer Gene Krupa
The Giant Gila Monster	Ray Kellogg	Don Sullivan, Fred Graham	Science fiction
Gidget	Paul Wendkos	Sandra Dee, Cliff Robertson, James Darren	Comedy	4 film sequels; 2 TV series
Girls Town	Charles F. Haas	Mamie van Doren, Paul Anka	Drama	Anka sings Lonely Boy
The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery	Charles Guggenheim	Steve McQueen	Drama	United Artists
Green Mansions	Mel Ferrer	Audrey Hepburn, Anthony Perkins	Drama	Based on W. H. Hudson novel
The Gunfight at Dodge City	Joseph M. Newman	Joel McCrea, Julie Adams, John McIntire	Western	United Artists
The Hanging Tree	Delmer Daves	Gary Cooper, Maria Schell, Karl Malden, George C. Scott	Drama	Scott's first film
The Hangman	Michael Curtiz	Robert Taylor, Tina Louise, Fess Parker	Western	Paramount
Happy Anniversary	David Miller	David Niven, Mitzi Gaynor	Comedy	United Artists
Have Rocket, Will Travel	David Lowell Rich	Three Stooges	Science fiction	Columbia
A Hole in the Head	Frank Capra	Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Carolyn Jones, Eddie Hodges	Drama	United Artists; Oscar for song High Hopes
Holiday for Lovers	Henry Levin	Clifton Webb, Jane Wyman, Jill St. John	Comedy	20th Century Fox
The Horse Soldiers	John Ford	John Wayne, William Holden	Western	United Artists
House on Haunted Hill	William Castle	Vincent Price, Elisha Cook, Jr.	Horror	remade in 1999

I-N

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
Imitation of Life	Douglas Sirk	Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee, Juanita Moore, Susan Kohner	Drama	2 Oscar nominations; Sirk's final film
The Immoral Mr. Teas	Russ Meyer		Sex comedy
Invisible Invaders	Edward L. Cahn	John Agar	Science fiction
Island of Lost Women	Frank Tuttle	Jeff Richards, Venetia Stevenson	Science fiction	Warner Bros.
It Happened to Jane	Richard Quine	Doris Day, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs	Comedy	Columbia
It Started with a Kiss	George Marshall	Glenn Ford, Debbie Reynolds	Romantic comedy	MGM
Jazz on a Summer's Day	Bert Stern		Documentary	Newport jazz festival
The Jazz Singer	Ralph Nelson	Jerry Lewis, Anna Maria Alberghetti	Drama	TV film
Jet Over the Atlantic	Byron Haskin	Guy Madison, Virginia Mayo, George Raft	Drama	Inter-Continent Films
Jet Storm	Cy Endfield	Richard Attenborough, Stanley Baker	Drama
John Paul Jones	John Farrow	Robert Stack, Bette Davis, Marisa Pavan	Biography	Warner Bros.
The Journey	Anatole Litvak	Yul Brynner, Deborah Kerr, Robert Morley	Drama	MGM
Journey to the Center of the Earth	Henry Levin	James Mason, Pat Boone, Diane Baker	Science fiction	20th Century Fox; from novel by Jules Verne
The Killer Shrews	Ray Kellogg	Ken Curtis, James Best	Science fiction
The Last Angry Man	Daniel Mann	Paul Muni, David Wayne	Drama	2 Oscar nominations
Last Train from Gun Hill	John Sturges	Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Carolyn Jones	Western	Paramount
The Legend of Tom Dooley	Ted Post	Michael Landon, Jo Morrow	Western
Li'l Abner	Melvin Frank	Peter Palmer, Leslie Parrish, Stella Stevens, Howard St. John, Stubby Kaye, Julie Newmar	Musical comedy	based on Al Capp comic strip and stage musical
The Man in the Net	Michael Curtiz	Alan Ladd, Carolyn Jones, Diane Brewster	Film noir	United Artists
The Mating Game	George Marshall	Debbie Reynolds, Tony Randall	Comedy	MGM
The Miracle	Irving Rapper	Carroll Baker, Roger Moore	Drama
Miracle on 34th Street		Ed Wynn, Orson Bean	Fantasy	Made for TV
Muscle Up a Little Closer	Jules White	Three Stooges	Short subject
Never So Few	John Sturges	Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, Peter Lawford, Gina Lollobrigida	War drama	MGM
Night of the Ghouls	Ed Wood	Kenne Duncan, Duke Moore	Horror
Night of the Quarter Moon	Hugo Haas	Julie London, Dean Jones	Drama	MGM
No Name on the Bullet	Jack Arnold	Audie Murphy, Joan Evans	Western	Universal
North by Northwest	Alfred Hitchcock	Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Martin Landau, Leo G. Carroll, Jessie Royce Landis	Suspense	MGM; 3 Oscar nominations
The Nun's Story	Fred Zinnemann	Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Edith Evans, Peggy Ashcroft	Drama	Warner Bros.; 8 Oscar nominations

O-S

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
Odds Against Tomorrow	Robert Wise	Harry Belafonte, Shelley Winters	Film noir	United Artists
On the Beach	Stanley Kramer	Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins	Science fiction	2 Oscar nominations; BAFTA award for Kramer
Operation Petticoat	Blake Edwards	Cary Grant, Tony Curtis	Comedy	Universal
Pillow Talk	Michael Gordon	Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Tony Randall	Comedy	Universal; Oscar for screenplay, 5 nominations
Plan 9 from Outer Space	Ed Wood	Bela Lugosi, Vampira, Tor Johnson	Science fiction	influenced film Ed Wood
Porgy and Bess	Otto Preminger	Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis, Jr., Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, Brock Peters	Musical	music by George Gershwin
Pork Chop Hill	Lewis Milestone	Gregory Peck, Woody Strode, Rip Torn, George Peppard	War	United Artists
Prisoner of the Volga	Victor Tourjansky	John Derek, Elsa Martinelli	Drama
Pull My Daisy			Short subject
Return of the Fly	Edward Bernds	Vincent Price, Brett Halsey	Science fiction	sequel to The Fly
Ride Lonesome	Budd Boetticher	Randolph Scott	Western	Columbia
Rio Bravo	Howard Hawks	John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond	Western	Warner Bros.
The Rookie	George O'Hanlon	Tommy Noonan, Julie Newmar, Peter Marshall	Comedy	20th Century Fox
Say One for Me	Frank Tashlin	Bing Crosby, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Wagner, Ray Walston	Musical	20th Century Fox
The Scapegoat	Robert Hamer	Alec Guinness, Bette Davis	Drama	MGM
Shadows	John Cassavetes	Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni	Drama
The Shaggy Dog	Charles Barton	Fred MacMurray, Tommy Kirk	Comedy	Disney
Shake Hands with the Devil	Michael Anderson	James Cagney, Don Murray, Dana Wynter	Drama	United Artists; filmed in Ireland
Sleeping Beauty	Clyde Geronimi	Eleanor Audley, Mary Costa	Animated film	Disney
Solomon and Sheba	King Vidor	Yul Brynner, Gina Lollobrigida	Drama	United Artists
Some Like It Hot	Billy Wilder	Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown	Comedy	won 3 Golden Globes; nominated for 6 Oscars
The Sound and the Fury	Martin Ritt	Yul Brynner, Joanne Woodward, Margaret Leighton, Stuart Whitman, Jack Warden	Drama	20th Century Fox; from book by William Faulkner
Space Invasion of Lapland	Virgil W. Vogel	Barbara Wilson, Robert Burton	Science fiction
A Stranger in My Arms	Helmut Käutner	Jeff Chandler, June Allyson, Mary Astor	War drama	Universal
Suddenly, Last Summer	Joseph L. Mankiewicz	Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift	Drama	Columbia; written by Tennessee Williams; Golden Globe for Taylor
A Summer Place	Delmer Daves	Richard Egan, Sandra Dee, Troy Donahue	Drama	based on the novel

T-Z

Title	Director	Cast	Genre	Notes
Tarzan's Greatest Adventure	John Guillerman	Gordon Scott, Sean Connery	Adventure	Paramount
Tarzan, the Ape Man	Joseph M. Newman	Denny Miller, Joanna Barnes	Adventure	MGM
Teenage Zombies	Jerry Warren	Don Sullivan, Katherine Victor	Horror
Teenagers from Outer Space	Tom Graeff	Dawn Bender, Bryan Grant	Science fiction
Ten Seconds to Hell	Robert Aldrich	Jack Palance, Jeff Chandler	War	United Artists
Terror Is a Man	Gerardo de Leon	Francis Lederer, Greta Thyssen	Horror	U.S./Philippines production
That Kind of Woman	Sidney Lumet	Sophia Loren, Tab Hunter, Jack Warden	Drama	Paramount
These Thousand Hills	Richard Fleischer	Don Murray, Richard Egan, Lee Remick, Patricia Owens	Western	20th Century Fox
They Came to Cordura	Robert Rossen	Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin, Richard Conte, Dick York, Tab Hunter	Western	Columbia
Third Man on the Mountain	Ken Annakin	Michael Rennie, James MacArthur, Janet Munro	Family	Disney
Thunder in the Sun	Russell Rouse	Susan Hayward, Jeff Chandler	Western	Paramount
The Tingler	William Castle	Vincent Price, Judith Evelyn	Science fiction	Columbia
The Trap	Norman Panama	Richard Widmark, Lee J. Cobb, Earl Holliman, Tina Louise	Crime	20th Century Fox
Up Periscope	Gordon Douglas	James Garner, Edmund O'Brien, Andra Martin, Alan Hale, Jr.	War	Warner Bros.
Warlock	Edward Dmytryk	Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, Dorothy Malone	Western	20th Century Fox
The Wasp Woman	Roger Corman	Susan Cabot, Anthony Eisley	Horror
Westbound	Budd Boetticher	Randolph Scott, Virginia Mayo, Karen Steele	Western	Warner Bros.
The Wild and the Innocent	Jack Sher	Audie Murphy, Joanne Dru, Gilbert Roland	Western
Window Water Baby Moving	Stan Brakhage		Experimental
Woman Obsessed	Henry Hathaway	Susan Hayward, Stephen Boyd	Drama
The Wonderful Country	Robert Parrish	Robert Mitchum, Julie London, Pedro Armendáriz, Albert Dekker, Satchel Paige	Western	United Artists
The World, the Flesh and the Devil	Ranald MacDougall	Harry Belafonte, Inger Stevens	Science fiction	MGM
The Wreck of the Mary Deare	Michael Anderson	Gary Cooper, Charlton Heston, Michael Redgrave	Thriller	MGM
Yellowstone Kelly	Gordon Douglas	Clint Walker, Edd Byrnes, Ray Danton	Western	Warner Bros.
The Young Captives	Irvin Kershner	Steven Marlo, Luana Patten	Drama
The Young Land	Ted Tetzlaff	Dennis Hopper, Patrick Wayne	Western
The Young Philadelphians	Vincent Sherman	Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, Robert Vaughn, Brian Keith, Alexis Smith	Drama	Warner Bros.

External links

• 1959 films at the Internet Movie Database