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Ranking 1951 Best Picture Nominees

1951 was a very good year for cinema and the Academy’s slate mostly reflected on that, though they expectedly snubbed the best genre fare released this year. The eventual list includes one immortal classic, two excellent pictures and the other two that are solid and weak respectively. A war film, an epic, a musical and two strong dramas comprise this eclectic list, and even though the winning movie wasn’t the best one, it was at least the second best.

My Ranking of the Nominees:

5. Decision Before Dawn

Decision Before Dawn is a war movie that depicted regular German people in a very sympathetic light, which was quite groundbreaking for the early fifties. The casting was also authentic and the film was overall grounded in reality. With that being said, it’s too slow in pace and lacking in energy or intensity, which this type of spy story really needed. The characterization is weak, the plot is serviceable, and the movie is just too tedious and forgettable overall. It was the obvious fifth slot to be included, so it gets the same spot here.

4. Quo Vadis

Quo Vadis is an epic movie that was pretty good, but it undeniably could have been stronger overall. It’s far from a classic, but it wasn’t a flop either. The production design, costumes and score are all mesmerizing while the ideological conflict at the center of the picture was deftly dealt with. It was certainly overly reliant on dialogue and it was in serious need of more spectacle scenes, but for the most part the film is engaging despite its staggering length. The highlight is its superb ensemble with Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov and Leo Genn all delivering splendid work.

3. A Place in the Sun

A Place in the Sun greatly benefits from beautiful naturalistic cinematography and powerhouse performances from the whole cast, especially Montgomery Clift. It is also a powerful critique of rich people’s snobbism and the story is very involving with superb courtroom sequences in the third act. It may have a weak beginning and Shelley Winters is not great, but this is still a very good, underappreciated drama featuring fantastic cinematography, excellent score, wonderful characterization and a very moving ending. It was a terrific adaptation of its venerable source material.

2. An American in Paris

Yes, it is crazy to think about today, but a fun and colorful musical ended up beating the undisputed dramatic masterpiece that I will talk about soon. And I honestly have no big issues with this choice as sometimes people preferred light entertainment and surely An American in Paris is a minor classic in its own right. Gene Kelly is so charismatic and likable in his role and Leslie Caron is quite endearing. The film is very romantic and exceedingly charming in almost every scene with a nice dose of excellent humor, but the highlights are its technical aspects – the costumes are some of the best ever put on film, the choreography is amazing, the dancing is phenomenal to behold and the film is beautifully shot and such a great feast for the eyes. This is a dazzling movie that won the Oscar due to the evidently amazing craftsmanship on display here. It’s a work of art, though it is definitely not the best movie of the year.

1. A Streetcar Named Desire

Yes, the number one has to be this undisputed masterpiece of chamber dramas and stage adaptations. Superbly performed by its incredible cast, A Streetcar Named Desire is an acting showcase from start to finish. Karl Malden was fantastic in such a strong role and Kim Hunter was also quite memorable. Marlon Brando delivered a very grounded and physically charged performance that is still iconic to this day while Vivien Leigh rightfully won an Oscar for her deeply emotional and complicated turn as the tragic Blanche. This movie has that typically outstanding Tennessee Williams dialogue, but it was elevated beyond its stagey origins to a very cinematic film thanks to its incredible cinematography, a superb score, and beautiful sets and costumes. But the main reason why this classic has stood the test of time lies in its raw depiction of characters’ emotions and in its groundbreaking for the time, honest treatment of very mature themes and situations. It’s a true classic and it’s a shame that it failed to win.

Films That Should Have Been Nominated:

The Day the Earth Stood Still – The Academy has obviously always held aversion to the science fiction genre, so of course they would ignore this classic. The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of the best SF films ever made, featuring a powerful story that still resonates and excellent themes and dialogue employed. It’s a masterpiece that is even a bit underrated how great it is.

Alice in Wonderland – Disney released Alice in Wonderland in 1951 and it remains one of my favorite movies from the studio. This is such an underappreciated gem of artistry, imagination and storytelling. The animation is gorgeous, the soundtrack is phenomenal and its creativity and strangeness are unparalleled.

Strangers on a Train – Strangers on a Train is one of the best Alfred Hitchcock movies from the fifties, which says a lot as this was a big decade for him. Not only did it feature a suspenseful and intriguing storyline, but it also included a surprisingly spicy and homoerotic dynamic between the main characters. It’s such a fun and competent thriller.