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
-30- Jack Webb Jack Webb, William Conrad Drama Warner Bros.
4D Man Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether Science fiction Universal
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock Sidney Miller Lou Costello, Dorothy Provine Comedy Columbia; released after Costello's death
Alaska Passage Edward Bernds Lyn Thomas, Bill Williams Drama 20th Century Fox
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 Comedy United Artists
The Alligator People Roy Del Ruth Beverly Garland, Bruce Bennett Horror 20th Century Fox
Anatomy of a Murder Otto Preminger James Stewart, Lee Remick, George C. Scott Crime 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
Arson for Hire Thor L. Brooks Steve Brodie, Lyn Osborn Crime Allied Artists
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 Allied Artists. Hood's final screen appearance
Battle Flame R. G. Springsteen Scott Brady, Elaine Edwards War Allied Artists
Battle of the Coral Sea Paul Wendkos Cliff Robertson, Gia Scala War 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 20th Century Fox; life of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ben-Hur William Wyler Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins Drama 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 Drama 20th Century Fox; 2 Oscar nominations
The Big Circus Joseph M. Newman Victor Mature, Red Buttons, Rhonda Fleming 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 MGM
The Black Orchid Martin Ritt Sophia Loren, Anthony Quinn Drama Paramount
Blood and Steel Bernard L. Kowalski John Lupton, Ziva Rodann War 20th Century Fox
The Blue Angel Edward Dmytryk May Britt, Curt Jurgens Drama 20th Century Fox; remake of 1930 film
Blue Denim Philip Dunne Carol Lynley, Macdonald Carey, Brandon deWilde Drama 20th Century Fox
Born to Be Loved Hugo Haas Carol Morris, Dick Kallman Comedy Universal
A Bucket of Blood Roger Corman Dick Miller, Ed Nelson Horror A.I.P.
But Not for Me Walter Lang Clark Gable, Carroll Baker, Lilli Palmer, Lee J. Cobb 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
Cast a Long Shadow Thomas Carr Audie Murphy, Terry Moore Western United Artists
City of Fear Irving Lerner Vince Edwards, Lyle Talbot Film noir Columbia
Compulsion Richard Fleischer Bradford Dillman, Dean Stockwell, Diane Varsi, Orson Welles Crime drama 20th Century Fox. Based on Leopold and Loeb
The Cosmic Man Herbert S. Greene John Carradine, Bruce Bennett Science fiction Allied Artists
Count Your Blessings Jean Negulesco Deborah Kerr, Rossano Brazzi Drama MGM
Counterplot Kurt Neumann Forrest Tucker, Allison Hayes Crime United Artists
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
Cry Tough Paul Stanley John Saxon, Linda Cristal Crime United Artists
Cuban Rebel Girls Barry Mahon Errol Flynn, Beverly Aadland Drama
Curse of the Undead Edward Dein Eric Fleming, Kathleen Crowley Horror/Western Universal
Darby O'Gill and the Little People Robert Stevenson Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, Sean Connery Adventure Walt Disney
Harold Daniels Gerald Mohr, Liz Renay Crime Miller-Consolidated Pictures
Day of the Outlaw André de Toth Robert Ryan, Burl Ives, Tina Louise Western United Artists
Desert Desperadoes Steve Sekely Ruth Roman, Akim Tamiroff Drama RKO
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 Biography 20th Century Fox; won 3 Academy Awards
A Dog of Flanders James B. Clark David Ladd, Donald Crisp Drama 20th Century Fox
A Dog's Best Friend Edward Cahn Bill Williams, Marcia Henderson Drama United Artists
Don't Give Up the Ship Norman Taurog Jerry Lewis, Dina Merrill, Gale Gordon Comedy Paramount

E–H[]

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
Edge of Eternity Don Siegel Cornel Wilde, Victoria Shaw Crime Drama Columbia
Escort West Francis D. Lyon Victor Mature, Elaine Stewart Western United Artists
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
Face of Fire Albert Band Cameron Mitchell, Bettye Ackerman Drama Allied Artists
First Man into Space Robert Day Marshall Thompson, Marla Landi Science fiction MGM
Five Gates to Hell James Clavell Patricia Owens, Dolores Michaels Drama 20th Century Fox
The Five Pennies Melville Shavelson Danny Kaye, Louis Armstrong Musical Paramount. Story of musician Red Nichols; 4 Oscar nominations
The Flying Fontaines George Sherman Michael Callan, Joan Evans Drama Columbia
For the First Time Rudolph Mate Mario Lanza, Johanna von Koczian, Zsa Zsa Gabor Musical MGM
Forbidden Island Charles B. Griffith Jon Hall Adventure Columbia
The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake Edward L. Cahn Eduard Franz, Valerie French Science fiction United Artists
Frontier Rangers Jacques Tourneur Keith Larsen, Buddy Ebsen Adventure
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 Comedy MGM; based on the play
The Gene Krupa Story Don Weis Sal Mineo, Susan Oliver, James Darren Biography Columbia. 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 Columbia. 4 film sequels; 2 TV series
Girls Town Charles F. Haas Mamie van Doren, Mel Torme, Paul Anka Drama MGM. Anka sings Lonely Boy
Good Day for a Hanging Nathan H. Juran Fred MacMurray, Margaret Hayes, Robert Vaughn Western Columbia
The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery Charles Guggenheim Steve McQueen, Crahan Denton Drama United Artists
Green Mansions Mel Ferrer Audrey Hepburn, Anthony Perkins Drama MGM. Based on W. H. Hudson novel
The Gunfight at Dodge City Joseph M. Newman Joel McCrea, Julie Adams, John McIntire Western United Artists
Gunmen from Laredo Wallace MacDonald Robert Knapp, Maureen Hingert Western Columbia
Guns, Girls and Gangsters Edward L. Cahn Mamie Van Doren, Lee Van Cleef Drama United Artists
The Hanging Tree Delmer Daves Gary Cooper, Maria Schell, Karl Malden, George C. Scott Western Warner Bros.; 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
Here Come the Jets Gene Fowler Jr. Steve Brodie, Lyn Thomas Drama 20th Century Fox
Hey Boy! Hey Girl! David Lowell Rich Louis Prima, Keely Smith Musical Columbia
A Hole in the Head Frank Capra Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker 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
Hound-Dog Man Don Siegel Fabian, Carol Lynley Musical 20th Century Fox
House on Haunted Hill William Castle Vincent Price, Elisha Cook Jr. Horror Allied Artists. 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 Universal. 2 Oscar nominations; Sirk's final film
The Immoral Mr. Teas Russ Meyer Sex comedy
Inside the Mafia Edward L. Cahn Cameron Mitchell, Grant Richards Crime United Artists
Invisible Invaders Edward L. Cahn John Agar, Jean Byron Science fiction United Artists
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
The Jayhawkers! Melvin Frank Jeff Chandler, Nicole Maurey Western Paramount
Jazz on a Summer's Day Bert Stern Documentary Newport Jazz Festival concert film
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
Juke Box Rhythm Arthur Dreifuss Jo Morrow, Jack Jones, Brian Donlevy Romantic comedy Columbia
The Killer Shrews Ray Kellogg Ken Curtis, James Best Science fiction
King of the Wild Stallions R. G. Springsteen George Montgomery, Diane Brewster, Edgar Buchanan Western Allied Artists
The Last Angry Man Daniel Mann Paul Muni, David Wayne Drama Columbia. 2 Oscar nominations
The Last Blitzkrieg Arthur Dreifuss Van Johnson, Dick York War Columbia
The Last Mile Howard W. Koch Mickey Rooney Crime drama United Artists
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 Columbia
Li'l Abner Melvin Frank Peter Palmer, Leslie Parrish, Stella Stevens, Howard St. John, Stubby Kaye, Julie Newmar Musical comedy Paramount. Based on Al Capp comic strip and stage musical
The Little Savage Byron Haskin Pedro Armendáriz, Christiane Martel Adventure 20th Century Fox
Lone Texan Paul Landres Willard Parker, Audrey Dalton Western 20th Century Fox
The Man in the Net Michael Curtiz Alan Ladd, Carolyn Jones, Diane Brewster Film noir United Artists
The Man Who Understood Women Nunnally Johnson Henry Fonda, Leslie Caron Drama 20th Century Fox
The Mating Game George Marshall Debbie Reynolds, Tony Randall Comedy MGM
Middle of the Night Delbert Mann Fredric March, Kim Novak Drama Columbia
The Miracle Irving Rapper Carroll Baker, Roger Moore Drama Warner Bros.
The Miracle of the Hills Paul Landres Rex Reason, Betty Lou Gerson Western 20th Century Fox
Never So Few John Sturges Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, Peter Lawford, Gina Lollobrigida War MGM
Never Steal Anything Small Charles Lederer James Cagney, Shirley Jones Drama Universal
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, Charles Drake, 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, Colleen Dewhurst, 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 Science fiction United Artists; 2 Oscar nominations; BAFTA award for Kramer
Operation Dames Louis Clyde Stoumen Eve Meyer War A.I.P.
Operation Petticoat Blake Edwards Cary Grant, Tony Curtis Comedy Universal
The Oregon Trail Gene Fowler Jr. Fred MacMurray, Nina Shipman Western 20th Century Fox; became TV series
Paratroop Command William Witney Richard Bakalyan War A.I.P.
Pier 5, Havana Edward L. Cahn Cameron Mitchell, Allison Hayes Drama United Artists
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 Referenced in Ed Wood
Plunderers of Painted Flats Albert Gannaway Corinne Calvet, John Carroll Western Republic
Porgy and Bess Otto Preminger Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis, Jr., Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll Musical Columbia. Music by George Gershwin
Pork Chop Hill Lewis Milestone Gregory Peck, Woody Strode, Rip Torn, Harry Guardino War United Artists
Prisoner of the Volga Victor Tourjansky John Derek, Elsa Martinelli, Dawn Addams Drama Paramount
A Private's Affair Raoul Walsh Sal Mineo, Barbara Eden Musical 20th Century Fox
The Rabbit Trap Philip Leacock Ernest Borgnine, Bethel Leslie Drama United Artists
The Rebel Set Gene Fowler Jr. Kathleen Crowley, John Lupton Drama Allied Artists
The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker Henry Levin Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire, Charles Coburn, Jill St. John Comedy 20th Century Fox
Return of the Fly Edward Bernds Vincent Price, Brett Halsey Science fiction 20th Century Fox; sequel to The Fly
Ride Lonesome Budd Boetticher Randolph Scott, Karen Steele Western Columbia
Rio Bravo Howard Hawks John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson Western Warner Bros.
Riot in Juvenile Prison Edward L. Cahn Scott Marlowe, Dorothy Provine Drama United Artists
The Rookie George O'Hanlon Tommy Noonan, Julie Newmar, Peter Marshall Comedy 20th Century Fox
The Sad Horse James Clark Rex Reason, Patrice Wymore, David Ladd Drama 20th Century Fox
Say One for Me Frank Tashlin Bing Crosby, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Wagner Musical 20th Century Fox
The Scapegoat Robert Hamer Alec Guinness, Bette Davis Drama MGM
Shadows John Cassavetes Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni Drama Independent
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 Animation 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 Comedy United Artists; won 3 Golden Globes; nominated for 6 Oscars; remake of 1939 film
The Sound and the Fury Martin Ritt Yul Brynner, Joanne Woodward, Margaret Leighton Drama 20th Century Fox; from book by William Faulkner
Space Invasion of Lapland Virgil W. Vogel , Science fiction
Speed Crazy William J. Hole Jr. Brett Halsey, Yvonne Lime Crime Allied Artists
A Stranger in My Arms Helmut Käutner Jeff Chandler, June Allyson, Mary Astor 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 Warner Bros.; based on the novel
Surrender - Hell! John Barnwell Keith Andes, Susan Cabot War Allied Artists

T–Z[]

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
Take a Giant Step Philip Leacock Johnny Nash, Estelle Hemsley, Ruby Dee Drama United Artists
Tarzan's Greatest Adventure John Guillermin 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 Warner Bros.
Ten Seconds to Hell Robert Aldrich Jack Palance, Jeff Chandler War United Artists
Terror Is a Man Gerardo de León 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
This Earth Is Mine Henry King Rock Hudson, Jean Simmons, Dorothy McGuire Drama Universal
This Happy Feeling Blake Edwards Debbie Reynolds, Curd Jürgens, John Saxon Comedy Universal
Thunder in the Sun Russell Rouse Susan Hayward, Jeff Chandler Western Paramount
Timbuktu Jacques Tourneur Victor Mature, Yvonne De Carlo Adventure United Artists
The Tingler William Castle Vincent Price, Judith Evelyn Science fiction Columbia
Tokyo After Dark Richard Long, Lawrence Dobkin Drama Paramount
The Trap Norman Panama Richard Widmark, Lee J. Cobb, Earl Holliman, Tina Louise Crime Paramount Pictures
Up Periscope Gordon Douglas James Garner, Edmond O'Brien, Andra Martin, Alan Hale Jr. War Warner Bros.
Verboten! Samuel Fuller Susan Cummings, James Best Drama Columbia
Warlock Edward Dmytryk Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, Dorothy Malone Western 20th Century Fox
Watusi Kurt Neumann George Montgomery, Taina Elg Adventure MGM
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, Sandra Dee Western Universal
Window Water Baby Moving Stan Brakhage Experimental
Woman Obsessed Henry Hathaway Susan Hayward, Stephen Boyd Drama 20th Century Fox
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 Paramount
The Young Land Ted Tetzlaff Dennis Hopper, Patrick Wayne Western Columbia
The Young Philadelphians Vincent Sherman Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, Robert Vaughn, Brian Keith, Alexis Smith Drama Warner Bros.

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

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