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.

Contents

A-B

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
4D Man Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr. Robert Lansing, Lee Meriwether Sci-Fi 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
Alias Jesse James Norman Z. McLeod Bob Hope, Rhonda Fleming Western United Artists
The Alligator People Roy Del Ruth Beverly Garland, Bruce Bennett Horror
Anatomy of a Murder Otto Preminger James Stewart, Lee Remick, George C. Scott, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden, 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
The Angry Red Planet Ib Melchior Gerald Mohr, Naura Hayden Sci-fi
The Atomic Submarine Spencer Gordon Bennet Arthur Franz, Dick Foran Sci-fi
Attack of the Giant Leeches Bernard L. Kowalski Ken Clarke, Yvette Vickers Sci-fi
The Bat Crane Wilbur Vincent Price, Agnes Moorehead, Darla Hood Sci-fi Hood's final screen appearance
Beast from Haunted Cave Monte Hellman Michael Forest, Frank Wolff Sci-fi
The Beat Generation Charles F. Haas Mamie Van Doren, Ray Danton, Fay Spain Drama
Behemoth, the Sea Monster Eugène Lourié Gene Evans, André Morell Sci-fi Allied Artists
Beloved Infidel Henry King Gregory Peck, Deborah Kerr Biopic Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Ben-Hur William Wyler Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins Drama a record 11 Academy Awards
The Best of Everything Jean Negulesco Diane Baker, Stephen Boyd, Hope Lange Drama
The Big Fisherman Frank Borzage Howard Keel, Susan Kohner, John Saxon Drama
Blue Denim Philip Dunne Carol Lynley, Macdonald Carey, Brandon de Wilde Drama
Bonanza Bunny Bugs Bunny Animated
Born to Be Loved Hugo Haas Carol Morris Drama
A Bucket of Blood Roger Corman Dick Miller, Ed Nelson Horror

C-D

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
Career Joseph Anthony Dean Martin, Tony Franciosa, Shirley MacLaine Drama written by Dalton Trumbo
Compulsion Richard Fleischer Bradford Dillman, Dean Stockwell, Orson Welles Crime drama based on Leopold and Loeb
Count Your Blessings Jean Negulesco Deborah Kerr, Rossano Brazzi Drama
The Crimson Kimono Samuel Fuller Victoria Shaw, Glenn Corbett, James Shigeta Film noir
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
Day of the Outlaw Andre De Toth Robert Ryan, Burl Ives, Tina Louise Western
The Devil's Disciple Guy Hamilton Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier Drama 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 Biopic Won 3 Academy Awards
A Doll's House George Schaefer Julie Harris, Christopher Plummer, Jason Robards Drama based on Henrik Ibsen play
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
The FBI Story Mervyn LeRoy James Stewart Drama
Face of a Fugitive Paul Wendkos Fred MacMurray, Myrna Fahey, James Coburn Western
First Man into Space Robert Day Marshall Thompson Sci-Fi
The Five Pennies Melville Shavelson Danny Kaye, Louis Armstrong Biopic, Musical 4 Oscar nominations
The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake Edward L. Cahn Eduard Franz, Valerie French Sci-Fi
The Fugitive Kind Sidney Lumet Marlon Brando, Joanne Woodward, Anna Magnani Drama
The Gazebo George Marshall Glenn Ford, Debbie Reynolds, Carl Reiner Black comedy
The Gene Krupa Story Don Weis Sal Mineo, Susan Oliver, James Darren Biopic story of drummer Gene Krupa
The Giant Gila Monster Ray Kellogg Don Sullivan, Fred Graham Sci-Fi
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 his #1 hit 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 Hanging Tree Delmer Daves Gary Cooper, Maria Schell, Karl Malden, George C. Scott Drama Scott's first film
Happy Anniversary David Miller David Niven, Mitzi Gaynor Comedy
Have Rocket, Will Travel David Lowell Rich Three Stooges Science Fiction Columbia Pictures
A Hole in the Head Frank Capra Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Carolyn Jones, Keenan Wynn, Eddie Hodges Drama Sinatra sings High Hopes
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 Drama Universal International Pictures
The Immoral Mr. Teas Russ Meyer Sex comedy
Island of Lost Women Frank Tuttle Jeff Richards, Venetia Stevenson Sci-Fi
It Happened to Jane Richard Quine Doris Day, Jack Lemmon, Ernie Kovacs Comedy
It Started with a Kiss George Marshall Glenn Ford, Debbie Reynolds Romantic comedy
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
John Paul Jones John Farrow Robert Stack, Bette Davis, Marisa Pavan Biopic
Journey to the Center of the Earth Henry Levin James Mason, Pat Boone, Diane Baker Sci-Fi 20th Century Fox
The Killer Shrews Ray Kellogg Ken Curtis, James Best Science Fiction
The Last Angry Man Daniel Mann Paul Muni, David Wayne Drama
Last Train from Gun Hill John Sturges Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Carolyn Jones Western
The Legend of Tom Dooley Ted Post Michael Landon, Jo Morrow Western
Li'l Abner Melvin Frank Peter Palmer, Julie Newmar, Stella Stevens Musical
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 War
Night of the Ghouls Ed Wood Kenne Duncan, Duke Moore Horror
No Name on the Bullet Jack Arnold Audie Murphy Western
North by Northwest Alfred Hitchcock Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Martin Landau, Leo G. Carroll, Jessie Royce Landis Suspense
The Nun's Story Fred Zinnemann Audrey Hepburn, Peter Finch, Edith Evans Drama

O-S

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
Odds Against Tomorrow Robert Wise Harry Belafonte, Shelley Winters Film noir
On the Beach Stanley Kramer Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins Science Fiction
Operation Petticoat Blake Edwards Cary Grant, Tony Curtis Comedy
Pillow Talk Michael Gordon Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Tony Randall Comedy
Plan 9 from Outer Space Edward D. Wood, Jr. Bela Lugosi, Vampira, Tor Johnson Science Fiction
Porgy and Bess Otto Preminger Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis, Jr., Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, Brock Peters Musical
Pork Chop Hill Lewis Milestone Gregory Peck, Woody Strode, George Peppard Drama, War
Pull My Daisy Short subject
Return of the Fly Edward Bernds Vincent Price, Brett Halsey Science Fiction
Ride Lonesome Budd Boetticher Randolph Scott Western
Rio Bravo Howard Hawks John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond Western Warner Bros.
Shadows John Cassavetes Ben Carruthers, Lelia Goldoni Drama
The Shaggy Dog Charles Barton Fred MacMurray, Tommy Kirk Comedy Walt Disney
Shake Hands with the Devil Michael Anderson James Cagney, Don Murray, Dana Wynter Drama
The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw Raoul Walsh Jayne Mansfield Comedy
Sleeping Beauty Clyde Geronimi Eleanor Audley, Mary Costa Animated film Walt Disney Productions
Solomon and Sheba King Vidor Yul Brynner, Gina Lollobrigida Drama
Some Like It Hot Billy Wilder Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown Comedy United Artists
Space Invasion of Lapland Virgil W. Vogel Barbara Wilson, Robert Burton Science Fiction
Suddenly, Last Summer Joseph L. Mankiewicz Katharine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift Drama
A Summer Place Delmer Daves Richard Egan, Sandra Dee Drama Based on the novel

T-Z

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
Tarzan's Greatest Adventure John Guillerman Gordon Scott, Sean Connery Adventure
Tarzan, the Ape Man Joseph M. Newman Denny Miller, Joanna Barnes Adventure
Teenage Zombies Jerry Warren Don Sullivan, Katherine Victor Horror
Teenagers from Outer Space Tom Graeff Dawn Bender, Bryan Grant Science Fiction
Terror Is a Man Gerardo de Leon Francis Lederer, Greta Thyssen Horror U.S./Philippines production
They Came to Cordura Robert Rossen Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin, Dick York War
Third Man on the Mountain Ken Annakin Michael Rennie, James MacArthur, Janet Munro Family
Thunder in the Sun Russell Rouse Susan Hayward, Jeff Chandler Western
The Tingler William Castle Vincent Price Sci-Fi
The Trap Norman Panama Richard Widmark, Lee J. Cobb Crime 20th Century Fox
Up Periscope Gordon Douglas James Garner, Edmund O'Brien, Alan Hale, Jr. War
Warlock Edward Dmytryk Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn Western
Window Water Baby Moving Stan Brakhage Experimental
Woman Obsessed Henry Hathaway Susan Hayward, Stephen Boyd Drama
The World, the Flesh and the Devil Ranald MacDougall Harry Belafonte, Inger Stevens Sci-Fi
The Wreck of the Mary Deare Michael Anderson Gary Cooper, Charlton Heston, Michael Redgrave Thriller
The Young Captives Irvin Kershner Steven Marlo, Luana Patten Drama
The Young Philadelphians Vincent Sherman Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, Robert Vaughn Drama

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