The Best '50s Cop Movies, Ranked
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Vote up your favorite police films that were released in the 1950s
- 1
Dragnet
Jack Webb, Ben Alexander, Richard BooneSgt. Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Officer Frank Smith (Ben Alexander) are Los Angeles Police Department detectives, and they need every bit of skill they have to solve their latest case: the shooting death of low-end bookie Miller Starkie. While initial evidence points to gangster Max Troy (Stacy Harris) and his trigger-man, Chester Davitt, Friday and Smith have trouble getting an indictment. Only through their own tenaciousness can they make sure justice is served. - 2Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, Janet LeighWhen a car bomb explodes on the American side of the U.S./Mexico border, Mexican drug enforcement agent Miguel Vargas (Charlton Heston) begins his investigation, along with American police captain Hank Quinlan (Orson Welles). When Vargas begins to suspect that Quinlan and his shady partner, Menzies (Joseph Calleia), are planting evidence to frame an innocent man, his investigations into their possible corruption quickly put himself and his new bride, Susie (Janet Leigh), in jeopardy.More Touch of Evil
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- 3James Stewart, Vera Miles, Murray HamiltonRecounting his storied FBI career, veteran agent Chip Hardesty (James Stewart) narrates events occurring from the 1920s to the 1940s. After marrying Lucy Ann (Vera Miles), a local librarian, Hardesty is supposed to resign from the agency. But when he hears J. Edgar Hoover speak, he has a change of heart, fully embracing the agency. As he travels from one investigation to another with his partner, Sam Crandall (Murray Hamilton), Hardesty faces down famous mobsters, Klansmen and spies.
- 4Ida Lupino, Robert Ryan, Ward BondJim Wilson (Robert Ryan) is New York police detective on the edge. Hardened and embittered by his years of dealing with the lowest forms of criminal the city has to offer, Wilson becomes increasingly violent with suspects. For his own good, Wilson's police captain (Ed Begley) assigns him to a murder investigation in the countryside for a change of scenery. While searching for the killer, Wilson meets the suspect's sister, Mary Malden (Ida Lupino), a blind woman who might turn his life around.
- 5Glenn Ford, Gloria Grahame, Jocelyn BrandoA police officer seems to have committed suicide, but Detective Dave Bannion (Glenn Ford) thinks there's more to the story. After talking to the man's mob-connected mistress, Bannion discovers far-reaching corruption that leads all the way from the police station to kingpin Mike Lagana (Alexander Scourby). But when the policeman's lover is killed, it becomes clear that crossing Lagana is a dangerous thing to do. Soon Bannion finds himself marked for death and his family in mortal danger.More The Big Heat
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- 6Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William BendixJames McLeod (Kirk Douglas) is a stern police detective who has no tolerance for crime. At home, however, he is a loving husband to his wife, Mary (Eleanor Parker). The police are ready to conclude the case of abortionist Karl Schneider (George Macready), who is responsible for the death of at least one patient, but McLeod's hatred for the doctor prolongs the investigation. The detective soon uncovers a dark secret that threatens to destroy his sanity and ruin his life.
- 7Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Lizabeth ScottAs one of the only honest cops left in the city, Capt. Thomas McQuigg (Robert Mitchum) has his back against the wall when a large crime syndicate makes its way to his doorstep. After bringing aboard local mobster Nick Scanlon (Robert Ryan), the illegal organization intends to help place corrupt attorney Mortimer X. Welsh (Ray Collins) in a prominent government position. But, if McQuigg can stay alive long enough, he just might be able to bring down the crooks with a key witness (Lizabeth Scott).
- 8Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney, Gary MerrillAshamed that his father lived a life of crime, hard-boiled New York City cop Mark Dixon (Dana Andrews) has a reputation for being too tough on criminals. So when Dixon unintentionally kills a murder suspect during a routine questioning, he hides the fact from the department and tries to pin the killing on his nemesis, notorious gangster Scalise (Gary Merrill). The snag in the cop's plan comes when his boss wrongly accuses the father of Dixon's love interest, Morgan (Gene Tierney), of the murder.
- 9Jack Warner, Dirk Bogarde, Jimmy HanleyWatch for Free with Amazon Prime Free TrialNewbie London police officer Andy Mitchell (Jimmy Hanley) is paired with seasoned cop George Dixon (Jack Warner) to work the night shift. When criminals Tom Riley (Dirk Bogarde) and Spud (Patric Doonan) are caught robbing a local movie theater, George meets Tom in a face-off. While trying to coax the thief into making a peaceful surrender, George is wounded and taken to the hospital. It then becomes Andy's task to track down the crooks and restore honor to his partner.
- 10Ricardo Montalban, Sally Forrest, Bruce BennettWhen bargirl Vivian (Jan Sterling) discovers that her married boyfriend has refused to leave his wife, she steals a car and drives to Cape Cod to confront him. Several months later her skeleton washes ashore, and local police officer Peter Morales (Ricardo Montalban) must work with Harvard forensics expert Dr. McAdoo (Bruce Bennett) in order to piece together the twisted tale and discover who the murderer is before an innocent suspect pays the ultimate price.
- 11Robert Taylor, Janet Leigh, George RaftCrooked cop Christopher Kelvaney (Robert Taylor) has been on the take for so long that all the backstreet thugs and shady politicians in town know they can buy their way out of trouble any time. Then Kelvaney's straight-arrow little brother, Eddie (Steve Forrest), joins the force, but refuses to get paid off in return for keeping quiet after he witnesses a mob shootout. When crime boss Dan Beaumont (George Raft) orders a retaliatory hit, Kelvaney must clean up the mess.
- 12Edmond O'Brien, Joanne Dru, Otto KrugerMal Granger (Edmond O'Brien) is a telephone repairman with a passion for horse betting. He puts his electronics expertise to work assisting gangster Vince Walters (Barry Kelly) in expanding his illegal racing wire, and, when Walters is murdered, Granger takes over the operation. However, Granger's growing success is soon threatened by both Larry Mason (Donald Porter), an East Coast mobster who wants in on the action, and Lieutenant Pete Wright (Howard St. John), who's after Granger for murder.
- 13Broderick Crawford, Betty Buehler, Richard KileyAfter witnessing what appears to be a police officer shooting a man in cold blood, detective Johnny Damico (Broderick Crawford) decides to go undercover. Tracing the murder victim to a waterfront crime ring, Damico poses as longshoreman Tim Flynn, and infiltrates the corrupt New York dockworkers union. There he meets union toughs Joe Castro (Ernest Borgnine) and Gunner (Neville Brand), who eventually lead him to crime kingpin Blackie Clegg (Matt Crowley).
- 14Joseph Cotten, Rhonda Fleming, Wendell CoreyWatch for Free with Amazon Prime Free TrialHumble bank teller Leon Poole (Wendell Corey) participates in a heist that doesn't go as planned. When police surround his apartment, there's a shoot-out, during which Detective Sam Wagner (Joseph Cotten) unwittingly kills Poole's wife. Poole is subsequently captured and jailed, but three years later he's back out on the street and hell-bent on revenge. Wanting the punishment to fit the crime, he vows that he won't kill Wagner -- just his wife (Rhonda Fleming).
- 15Charles McGraw, Marie Windsor, Jacqueline WhiteTense story of a tough cop attempting to transport the widow of a gangster to the trial in which she'll testify. They undertake a rail journey from Chicago to Los Angeles with their lives constantly under threat from hit men on the train, who will stop at nothing to prevent her from testifying.
- 16
The Tattooed Stranger
Jack Lord, Jim Boles, Patricia BarryThe Tattooed Stranger is a 1950 American crime film noir shot on location in New York City, directed by Edward Montagne, and starring John Miles, Patricia Barry, Walter Kinsella and Frank Tweddell. The picture was one of the first movies featuring Jack Lord, who went on to star in the television series Hawaii Five-O. The film was John Miles' last film. - 17Gig Young, Mala Powers, William TalmanCity That Never Sleeps is a 1953 film noir produced and directed by John H. Auer with cinematography by John L. Russell.
- 18Lee Van Cleef, Brian Donlevy, Earl HollimanWatch for Free with Amazon Prime Free TrialThe Big Combo is a 1955 American film noir directed by Joseph H. Lewis and photographed by cinematographer John Alton, with music by David Raksin.
- 19
Gideon's Day
Jack Hawkins, Cyril Cusack, James HayterGideon's Day is a 1958 police procedural crime film starring Jack Hawkins, Dianne Foster and Cyril Cusack. The film, which was directed by John Ford, was adaptated from John Creasey's novel of the same name. It was released in the United States as Gideon of Scotland Yard. Although this is the first film to feature the named character of George Gideon, Jack Hawkins had already played a very similar role in the British film The Long Arm two years earlier. - 20Adolphe Menjou, Arthur Franz, Gerald MohrIn San Francisco, Eddie Miller (Arthur Franz) is a severely disturbed professional driver who fantasizes about killing beautiful women. He sends out several warning signs about his deteriorating mental state, but they're ignored by those around him. When he begins killing beautiful women and leaving clues for the authorities, the hardened Lt. Kafka (Adolphe Menjou) and police psychiatrist Dr. James G. Kent (Richard Kiley) must help track him down.
- 21Martha Hyer, Gail Davis, John DoucetteYukon Manhunt is a 1951 adventure film written by William Raynor and directed by Frank McDonald.
- 22Edward G. Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, Connie RussellStan Grayson (Kevin McCarthy) dreams that he stabs an unknown man to death, but when he awakens, he is disturbed to find that he has bruises that he doesn't remember getting and a key in his room that doesn't belong to him. Confused, Stan explains his situation to his police officer brother-in-law, Rene (Edward G. Robinson), who initially believes that Stan is simply suffering from anxiety. As the evidence continues to mount, however, it seems to point to something more sinister.
- 23Ralph Meeker, Sally Forrest, Keenan WynnAmbitious Chuck O'Flair (Ralph Meeker), married man Russ Hardley (Robert Horton) and shy-with-women Harry Whenlon (Jeff Richards) meet while cadets at the police academy of Los Angeles, and graduate together. A chance encounter with a motor squad cop entices the trio to transfer to duty as motorcycle patrolmen, which displeases Russ' wife, Mary (Sally Forrest). When Chuck and Harry pursue a speeding truck, it sets off a dangerous battle of wits with a gang of modern-day cattle rustlers.
- 24Orson Welles, Jeff Chandler, James GleasonMan in the Shadow is a CinemaScope crime film starring Jeff Chandler, Orson Welles, Colleen Miller, Ben Alexander, and John Larch.
- 25Charles McGraw, Adele Jergens, William TalmanWhile executing an armored car heist in Los Angeles, icy crook Dave Purvis (William Talman) shoots policeman Lt. Phillips (James Flavin) before he and his cronies make off with the loot. Thinking he got away scot-free, Purvis collects his money-crazy mistress, Yvonne (Adele Jergens), then disposes of his partners and heads out of town. What Purvis doesn't know is that Phillips' partner, tough-as-nails Lt. Cordell (Charles McGraw), is wise to the criminal's plans and is closing in on his prey.
- 26Tris Coffin, John Crawford, Don C. HarveyNorthwest Territory is a 1951 adventure western film written by James Oliver Curwood and William Raynor and directed by Frank McDonald.
- 27Anna Lee, Gloria Pall, James ShigetaThe Crimson Kimono is a 1959 film noir directed by Samuel Fuller. The film stars James Shigeta, Glenn Corbett and Victoria Shaw. It featured several ahead-of-its-time ideas about race and society's perception of race, a thematic and stylistic trademark of Fuller.
- 28
Grand National Night
Michael Hordern, Moira Lister, Colin GordonGrand National Night is a 1953 British thriller brought to the screen by George Minter under the production of Phil C. Samuel from a play by Campbell and Dorothy Christie. It was directed by Bob McNaught and starred Nigel Patrick, Moira Lister and Beatrice Campbell with support from Michael Hordern, Noel Purcell and a cameo role from Colin Gordon. Cinematography was by Jack Asher. Previous to this film version Grand National Night had been presented as a BBC Radio serial as well as a stage play. - 29
Dial Red O
Keith LarsenDial Red O is a film directed by Daniel B. Ullman released on Mar 13, 1955. - 30Coleen Gray, Richard Conte, Richard TaberThe Sleeping City is a 1950 film noir, shot in semidocumentary style set in and shot at New York's Bellevue Hospital. It was directed by George Sherman and features Richard Conte, Coleen Gray and Richard Taber. The film is notable for its dark and evocative photography, above-par performances by featured players and taut script by Jo Eisinger, best known for his script of Night and the City. It was one of the few motion pictures of the era to be shot entirely on location. The Sleeping City is viewed by critics as one of the best examples of the use of betrayal -- in this instance, several layers of betrayal -- as a noir plot device. However, as is typical in this genre/style, the film is simply plotted and economical in its characterizations. The movie begins with an unusual prologue, featuring Conte, to assure the audience that the story is "completely fictional" and did not take place at Bellevue or New York City. The prologue was inserted at the insistence of New York mayor William O'Dwyer, who had objected to the script as besmirching the reputation of the city-run hospital.
