1960 - Ben Hur, Won That!

Hey Oscar fans! Today we’re looking back at the 1960 Oscars for the films of 1959! In the end, just like with the famous chariot race, Ben Hur demolished his opponents — but what made it a glorious victory was the sheer quality of his competition. From devastating historical dramas to scandalous courtroom battles, from one of the all-time greatest comedy films not even securing a nomination to foreign classics from some of cinema’s masters, this was a year when Hollywood was beginning to head in a new direction. Add in a few lesser-remembered hidden gems and genre pics and you’ve got a year that not only stands the test of time — it aces it. Join Bruce Vilanch and “Tex” as they take a deep dive into swords, sandals, attics and cannibals! As always, thanks for listening!

FILMS DISCUSSED

Ben Hur

The Diary of Anne Frank

The Nun’s Story

Anatomy of a Murder

Room at the Top

Some Like it Hot

Pillow Talk

Porgy and Bess

North by Northwest

Suddenly Last Summer

The Young Philadelphians

Imitation of Life

The Last Angry Man

The Apartment

Compulsion

Carmen Jones

Rio Bravo

The 400 Blows

Wild Strawberries

Pickpocket

Hiroshima Mon Amour

Mrs. Miniver

The Best Years of Our Lives

The Lost Weekend 

The Apartment

Double Indemnity

Sunset Boulevard

Stalag 17

Sabrina

Witness for the Prosecution

Giant

Shane

A Place in the Sun
The Ten Commandments

The Story of Louis Pasteur

Operation Petticoat

Ship of Fools

Black Orpheus

Dr. Strangelove

The Poseidon Adventure

Imitation of Life (1934)

Lolita

On the Beach

Sleeping Beauty

Stay One for Me

Lil’ bAner

The Five Pennies

A Hole in the Head

(The Apu Trilogy)

The World of Apu

Pather Panchali

Aparajito

(The Human Condition Trilogy)

The Human Condition Part 1:  No Greater Love

Last Year at Marienbad

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