All Films

The Big Red Flower

1956 • 10 min • China

The oriole sang on the branch. As soon as the song ended, there was applause. It happily picked a big red flower, and took it to thank the two little bears who applauded it——Little Black and Little Brown. But the two little bears are vying to say that they clapped first. There is only one safflower, and the oriole does not know whom to give it to.

Sunshine in Soho

1956 • 32 min • United Kingdom

1950s Soho beats with far more energy than its 21st century counterpart in this vivid time capsule.

Paper Run

1956 • 10 min • Australia

A panorama of scenic beauty unfolds as the newspaper delivery man works his run along Sydney's northern beaches of Newport and the Palm Beach area.

The Little Haverman

1956 • 18 min • East Germany

A mother tells her demanding little boy a story to make him fall asleep.

Case of a Young Lord 1

1956 • 52 min • Japan

As a result of illness and unemployment, Yamaoka Tatewaki, a "Hatamoto" (or direct vassal of the Shogun), pawned his family heirloom, a valuable Gosu plate for 100 ryo. When, of all occasions, Yokogawa Dewa came to visit and asked to see the Gosu plate on May 5th, Boy's Festival. Yamaoka then sent his steward to borrow the plate back, but the pawnbroker coldheartedly refused. He died soon thereafter of an unknown cause. Soon after that, two warehouses were broken into, but nothing was taken. When Detective Shokichi seeks the help of Young lord samurai, in solving these mysterious crimes that plague the town he takes the case and immediately surmises that the thief was looking for something special. Could the answer be hidden in the coffin of a deceased merchant who had his most valuable things buried with him. The tension mounts and the mystery deepens. Can Young lord solve the case?

Le Psychodrame

1956 • 53 min • France

Roberto Rossellini shot the film Psycodrame in 1956 for the Center d'études de radiotélévision. The staging of three "psychodramas" - organized by Professor Jacob Levi Moreno with Anne Ancelin Schutzemberger - gives Rossellini the opportunity to reflect on what can become a particularly congenial acting technique, and, in general, on the potential of didactic tv. Director of photography a very young Claude Lelouche. Digital restoration by the Archivio Nazionale Cinema Impresa - CSC and Institut National of l'Audiovisuel in collaboration with Museo Moreno.

Blue Buds

1956 • 35 min • Japan

Outspoken student Noriko stands up to bullies and befriends pitcher Mitsuo. As their bond deepens, she impulsively declares she wants to marry him—then reconsiders, realizing both still have growing to do before love can truly begin.

New Sensations in Sound by RCA Victor

1956 • 3 min

"Bute’s most compact abstract film energizes a jazzy ad jingle to promote RCA’s new stereo recordings! The barrage of visuals features a panoply of animated techniques among which eloquent oscilloscope patterns dance in complex synchronization to the music." — Bruce Posner

The Dragon Slayer

1956 • 19 min • United States of America

The Dragon Slayer is an animated cartoon in Technicolor., and is the first film of Peanuts director Bill Melendez. It was commissione by Du Pont to explain its security plan to company employees. The story revolves around Sir Evans, a knight of old, who goes forth to battle the menacing dragons. Only through the protection of armor made for him by his trusty squire, D.I.R.P. can he slay the dragons without being singed by their fiery blasts. But knights in legends aren't the only ones to fear dragons. Most of us, like Ed Blevins, hero of this tale, have the modern-day dragons of insecurity to reckon with. But Ed, like Sir Evans, also has the protection of D.I.R.P., in this case the Du Pont Industrial Relations Plans, which are outstanding examples of how a company helps its employees help themselves.

The Patty

1956 • 10 min • Soviet Union

Triumphant Song of Youth

1956 • 46 min • Japan

Swimmers Akio and Natsuko train hard for national competition while Natsuko struggles with family chaos — her father’s affair and her mother’s push for an arranged marriage. Pretending to date teammate Akio to escape pressure, Natsuko soon realizes her feelings are real.

Basin Street Revue

1956 • 58 min

A one-hour variety show performed live at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, featuring a who’s-who of vocal and big band jazz and comedy acts of the 1950s.

Modesta

1956 • 35 min • Puerto Rico

The DivEdCo’s most important attempt to depict women’s rights in the context of modernization processes in Puerto Rico. Modesta leads a group of women in Barrio Sonadora, Guaynabo, in a strike against their husbands to demand their rights in a domestic context.

Gure Sor Lekua

1956 • 29 min • France

The first film to be shot in Basque language, produced in 1956 by general André Madré. It was discovered by the filmmaker and researcher Josu Martinez, without its soundtrack.

Mr. Rzepka and His Shadow

1956 • 7 min • Poland

Kind-hearted Mr. Rzepka has a weakness for alcohol. Under the influence of strong drinks, he experiences a duality in his shape and shadow. This shadow is prone to risk and exposes it to various dangers. As a result, Mr. Rzepka begins to fear his own shadow.

No. 10: Mirror Animations

1956 • 10 min • United States of America

Study for Film No. 11: Mirror Animations (1957). Harry Smith described the film as, “An exposition of Buddhism and the Kaballah in the form of a collage. The final scene shows Agaric mushrooms growing on the moon while the Hero and Heroine row by on a cerebrum”.

Sunday in the Park

1956 • 15 min • United Kingdom

Schlesinger’s short captures Londoners enjoying their day of rest

Pilgrim's Way

1956 • 33 min • United Kingdom

An epic ramble from Winchester to Canterbury, through Hampshire, Surrey and Kent with picnics, pints and much prettiness on the way.

The Christmas Spirit

1956 • 29 min • United States of America

Story about two boys who want ponies for Christmas but their family can only afford one. The horse owner, who is bitter about the loss of his son in the war, is softened by the boys' sacrifice for each other.

A Child is Born: A Christmas Story Presented by Ronald Reagan

1956 • 30 min

This special is a wonderful retelling of the Nativity story from the point of view of the Innkeeper's wife, her husband, and their servants.

April in Portugal

1956 • 20 min • Portugal, United Kingdom

Beautiful Jocelyn Lane goes sightseeing in Portugal accompanied by bandleader George Melachrino and his orchestra. Featuring Portugal's top singing star Amália Rodrigues and the world-famous Tagide Club Dancers of Lisbon.

Waltzing In Satin Scanties

1956 • 3 min

Betty Page dances in satin underwear.

The Conceited General

1956 • 24 min • China

After a victorious military campaign, a general returns home to glory and prosperity. The king rewards him and claims that all enemies will be intimidated by the general. From then on, the general no longer practice martial arts. He eats, drinks, lives the glamorous life, and didn't bother anymore with sharpening his weapons. When the enemy one day returns, his own arrogance led to his defeat and eventually to the downfall of whole nation.

Friendship

1956 • 24 min