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For my second Oscar-related «Film Friday» I'm bringing you one of the five Best Picture nominees at the 28th Academy Awards ceremony in March 1956. This also serves to honour Jack Lemmon's 92th birthday, which was on Wednesday. Directed by John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy, Mister Roberts (1955) is set aboard the USS Reluctant , where executive officer Lieutenant Junior Grade Douglas A. «Doug» Roberts (Henry Fonda) tries to shield the dispirited crew from the harsh and unpopular captain, Lieutenant Commander Morton (James Cagney). World War II is winding down and Roberts fears he will miss his chance to get into the fighting. He repeatedly asks to be assigned to another ship, but Morton, anxious to use Roberts to expedite his own promotion, refuses to sign any of his transfer requests. Roberts shares his quarters with Ensign Frank Thurlowe Pulver (Jack Lemmon), the laundry and morale officer. Pulver spends most of his time idling in his bunk and avoids the captain at all costs, so mu...

Keeping with both my Oscar-themed «Film Fridays» and my James Dean-themed week, this week on «Film Friday» I bring the only James Dean film to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Incidentally, this was the last film he appeared in. Directed by George Stevens, Giant (1956) begins with Texas cattle tycoon Jordan «Bick» Benedict Jr. (Rock Hudson) falling in love with Leslie Lynnton (Elizabeth Taylor) while on a horse-buying trip to Maryland. They marry and return to Texas to live on the Benedict family ranch, Reata, where Leslie finds an unwelcoming sister-in-law, Luz (Mercedes McCambridge), and a handyman, Jett Rink (James Dean), who despises Bick. When Luz dies following a horse-riding accident, Jett learns that she has left him a small piece of land on the Benedict ranch, which he makes his home and names Little Reata. After refusing the Benedict family's offer to buy Little Reata, Jett discovers oil on the land, making him a rich man. Meanwhile, Leslie and Bi...

This week on «Film Friday» I bring you one of the most powerful and groundbreaking portrayals of juvenile delinquency in cinema history. This is also film that immortalized James Dean as the ultimate rebel and solidified his status as a screen legend. Directed by Nicholas Ray, Rebel Without a Cause (1955) opens with teenager Jim Stark (James Dean) sprawled drunk on the sidewalk, playing with a toy monkey. He is then taken to the police station, where two other teens have also been brought in: Judy (Natalie Wood), who was found wandering the streets, and John «Plato» Crawford (Sal Mineo), who was caught shooting puppies. On the first day of school, Jim learns that Judy is his neighbour and offers her a ride. She refuses, and is picked up by her boyfriend, Buzz Gunderson (Corey Allen) and their group of delinquent friends. Jim goes alone to school, where he is shunned by most of the student body, except Plato, who comes to idolize him as a father figure.   James Dean, Sal Mineo, Co...