The 1950s were a highly-influential and significant period in Hollywood that introduced audiences to some truly iconic and enduring comedy greats. The decade was a booming time for the cinema and entertainment industry, as studios were adamant in attracting viewers to theaters after television took the world by storm. The comedy genre also saw a resurgence in popularity, as revered directors like Billy Wilder, Howard Hawks, and Alexander Mackendrick helmed beloved pictures that continue delivering laughs to this day.
Some of Tinseltown’s most dazzling and dynamic stars headlined these projects, with legendary performers such as Jack Lemmon, Spencer Tracy, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn showcasing their comedic chops in the flicks. Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds danced their way across the silver screen in the critically-lauded musical romantic comedy Singin’ in the Rain, while pop culture history was made when Monroe donned her iconic white dress and stood over a subway grate in the adored Wilder comedy The Seven Year Itch. Let’s take a look at some of the best classic comedy movies of the 1950s.
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9 Some Like It Hot
United Artists
Hollywood legends Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon teamed up to star in the uproarious 1959 romantic comedy Some Like It Hot, which follows two male musicians in 1929 Chicago who witness a Mafia murder and seek refuge within an all-female jazz band in which they disguise themselves as women.
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The cheeky picture was directed by revered filmmaker Billy Wilder and premiered to both critical and commercial success, with its massive popularity being the primary factor in the replacement of the Hays Code; Some Like it Hot’s LGBTQ+ themes and inclusion of cross-dressing openly defied the controversial censorship. Some Like It Hot is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time and is a knockout comedy classic.
8 Roman Holiday
Paramount Pictures
Cinema icons Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck portray star-crossed lovers in the Oscar-winning 1953 romantic comedy Roman Holiday, with the adored flick centering on frustrated European princess Ann as she embraces a day full of freedom in Rome with the charming American reporter Joe Bradley.
The beloved Hepburn staple was the actress’ first major role and led to her becoming a household name and a highly sought after performer, with director William Wyler having commented, “She had everything I was looking for: charm, innocence, and talent. She also was very funny. She was absolutely enchanting, and we said, ‘That’s the girl!’” Roman Holiday earned Hepburn the Academy Award for Best Actress and was lauded for its playful humor and brilliant chemistry between the two talented leads.
7 The Ladykillers
The Rank Organisation
Alexander Mackendrick directed the 1955 British dark comedy crime film The Ladykillers, telling the entertaining story of five eccentric thieves who band together in order to execute a bank heist, renting rooms from a hilariously suspicious elderly lady to concoct their plan. It doesn’t take long until the inept crooks believe they must eliminate the old woman, causing the criminals to develop a mistrust of one another that naturally leads to murder and mayhem.
William Rose wrote the screenplay for the quirky comedy, having allegedly dreamt the whole premise and subsequently captured his oddball idea on paper. The Ladykillers featured wonderfully outlandish performances by stars like Alec Guiness and Peter Sellers and has since been adapted countless times in film, radio and on stage. The film was so beloved by the great Coen brothers that they created a direct remake with Tom Hanks, though the original is the masterpiece.
6 It Should Happen to You
Columbia Pictures
The delightful Jack Lemmon first displayed his leading man capabilities when he starred in the 1954 romantic comedy It Should Happen to You, appearing alongside Judy Holliday and Peter Lawford in his first major film role. The playful picture centers on the fame-hungry Gladys Glover, who finds her ultimate wish granted when she catches the eye of a successful filmmaker after investing in a billboard to gain attention, also attracting the affections of a notorious playboy. Upon its release, It Should Happen to You garnered rave reviews for its dynamite performances and infectious humor, with The New York Times calling it, “a neat piece of comic contrivance that will contribute to the joy of man” with “intelligence, compassion, and lots of gags.”
5 The Seven Year Itch
20th Century-Fox
Famous for containing one of the 20th century’s most iconic pop-culture images ever captured, Billy Wilder’s 1955 romantic comedy The Seven Year Itch notoriously featured Marilyn Monroe as the object of a middle-aged New Yorker’s fantasy when he is left alone by his wife for the summer. Tom Ewell starred opposite the blonde bombshell in the instantly recognizable flick, as his character finds himself completely enamored by his stunning next-door-neighbor that naturally leads to sidesplitting hijinks. The scene in which Monroe wore a white dress and stood above a windy subway grate helped cement the comedy’s place in cinema history, as did the actress’ spirited chemistry and playful banter with her co-star Ewell.
4 Father of the Bride
Loew's, Inc.
Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor appeared as the eponymous characters in the 1950 comedy Father of the Bride, which follows doting dad Stan as he is forced to confront his feelings regarding the impending nuptials of his beloved daughter Kay in addition to the stress of planning a wedding.
The comical picture shines in large part because of Tracy’s wonderfully balanced portrayal of the anxious father, with the famed actor delivering both tender and laughable moments as the big day grows nearer; Tracy was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance and its success led to the 1951 follow-up Father’s Little Dividend. Father of the Bride was remade multiple times, most notably with Steve Martin in 1991 and in 2022 with Andy García.
3 Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy
Universal-International
Legendary comedy dream team Abbott and Costello were revered for their sidesplitting routines and performances, with the duo once again charming audiences when they starred in the 1955 classic horror comedy Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy. In the amusing farce, the funnymen appear as two gauche Americans stranded in Egypt who stumble upon a sacred medallion that leads them to the crypt of the titular mummy Klaris.
The film marked one of the final collaborations between the comedians, whose show business partnership ended in 1957 after they headlined their final project together Dance with Me, Henry due to their waning popularity and shift in audience’s taste in comedy. Still, their excellent reign of comedy movies (especially the horror comedy goldmine of this and Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, from 1948) has left a treasure trove of classics to dive back into over the years.
2 Singin’ in the Rain
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Cinema greats Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor headlined the beloved 1952 musical romantic comedy Singin’ in the Rain, a dazzling picture that is widely regarded as the greatest musical film ever created. The charming comedy depicts Tinseltown in the 1920s, centering on silent movie star Don Lockwood as he attempts to transition to talkies while falling for the spirited chorus girl Kathy Selden.
Singin’ in the Rain is revered for its iconic musical numbers including the titular tune, “Make ‘Em Laugh” and “All I Do Is Dream of You”, as well as its spectacular cinematography and good-natured humor. The toe-tapping film is considered one of the greatest classic Hollywood movies as a result, and has been lauded by audiences and critics alike, currently holding a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
1 Monkey Business
20th Century Fox
Howard Hawks directed the 1952 black and white screwball comedy Monkey Business, enlisting Hollywood greats like Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers and Marilyn Monroe to help tell the zany story of brilliant research chemist Dr. Barnaby Fulton who finds his life completely disrupted when a chimpanzee from one of his experiments discovers the fountain of youth. It doesn’t take long until Fulton decides to test out the elixir himself, resulting in the good doctor to act like a teenager and run around town causing comical chaos. Monkey Business is a screwball classic that really showed off Grant’s willingness to be goofy and embrace a more over-the-top role, and film critic John Belton called the uproarious picture Hawks’ “most organic comedy.”
