With A Song In My Heart (1952) ***

A Treasure On Bird Island (1952) ***

La Femme à l'orchidée (1952)

Secrets Of Women (1952) ***

Alraune (1952) ***

Over-the-top German melodrama about an evil scientist and a seductress.

Rewizor (1952) ***

Excellent adaptation of Gogol's classic.

The Bad And The Beautiful (1952) ***

Excellent drama about a complicated Hollywood producer.

Gromada (1952) ***

Stalinist drama about brave Communists fighting against evil kulaks in a little village in post-war Poland. Pure propaganda, totally divorced from reality, but very skillfully made.

Mlodosc Chopina (1952) ***

Flat Top (1952) **

Average war movie set on an aircraft carrier.

Viva Zapata (1952) **

So-so biopic about the famous Mexican revolutionary, Emiliano Zapata. Fairly accurate, but curiously tame.

5 Fingers (1952) **

Ordinary spy melodrama set in Turkey during World War II.

Son Of Paleface (1952) *

Very silly comedy western starring Bob Hope.

Communism (1952) ***

Hard-hitting documentary denouncing Soviet Communism and its aggression. A fascinating relic of its time, made while Stalin was still alive and while US troops were still fighting the Korean War (which at the time many thought would be a prelude to World War III). It explains why this film is much harsher than later Cold War propaganda films. Just as harsh, in fact, as the anti-Nazi propaganda films made during World War II.

I Like Ike (1952) ***

Water Birds (1952) ***

Desert Killer (1952) ***

Pleasant little Oscar-nominated documentary about a hunt for a mountain lion in Arizona.

Reducing (1952) ***

Very politically-incorrect by today's standards, a comedy about an obese woman trying to lose weight. Fat-shaming, 1950's-style.

The Olympic Elk (1952) **

High Noon (1952) *****

A man of integrity faces a cruel world. A great western and a great political allegory. Gary Cooper's greatest performance.

Jeux interdits (1952) ****

Deeply moving French drama about a little girl whose parents are killed in a bombing raid during the war.

The Crimson Pirate (1952) ****

One of the best pirate movies ever made.

The Importance Of Being Earnest (1952) ****

A perfect adaptation of Oscar Wilde's greatest play.

Bend Of The River (1952) ***

Memorable western starring Jimmy Stewart.

Casque d'or (1952) ***

French films about Parisian gangsters in the 1890's.

Coiffeur pour dames (1952) ***

Fernandel plays a Parisian coiffeur in this dated, but amusing comedy from France.

The Narrow Margin (1952) ***

Tense thriller set aboard a train.

The Greatest Show On Earth (1952) ***

This circus drama by Cecil B. DeMille definitely didn't deserve to win the Oscar for best picture, but otherwise it's a solid and very memorable picture starring Charlton Heston.

Ikiru (1952) ***

Excellent Japanese drama directed by Akira Kurosawa.

Life Of Oharu (1952) ***

Powerful Japanese drama.

Singin' In The Rain (1952) *****

Unquestionably the greatest musical film of all times. It has a superb script by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, fabulous musical numbers and great performances by Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor and Jean Hagen (who got an Oscar nomination). Numbers include:

"Fit As A Fiddle" **
"All I Do Is Dream Of You" **
"Make 'Em Laugh" ***
"Beautiful Girl" **
"You Were Meant For Me" **
"Moses Supposes" **
"Good Morning" ***
"Singin' In The Rain" ***
"Would You" **
"Broadway Rhythm" ***
"Singin' In The Rain" (reprise) **
"You Are My Lucky Star" **

Limelight (1952) ***

Chaplin's last Hollywood film.

The Quiet Man (1952) *****

John Ford's tribute to Ireland, that land of green pastures, strong-willed women, friendly folks and brawling rows.

Monkey Business (1952) ***

Funny comedy with Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers acting like little children.

La Petite Aurore, l'enfant martyre (1952) ***

Curious film about an abused child.

Le Plaisir (1952) ***

French film directed by Max Ophuls.

Umberto D (1952) ***

Italian drama about a old retiree and his dog.

The Belle Of New York (1952) ****

Very charming fantasy musical, set at the turn of the century and starring Fred Astaire as a rich New York playboy who falls in love with Salvation Army girl Vera Ellen. Songs include:

"When I'M Out With The Belle Of New York" *
"Who Wants To Kiss The Bridegroom" *
"Let A Little Love Come In" *
"Seeing's Believing" **
"Baby Doll" ***
"Oops" ***
"Currier And Ives" **
"Naughty, But Nice" *
"I Wanna Be A Dancin' Man" ***

The Big Sky (1952) ***

An epic western about a trading expedition deep into the Indian territory in the 1830's. The film is quite remarkable for its positive representation of Indians.

Hans Christian Andersen (1952) ***

A colorful musical fantasy about a Danish cobbler who writes beautiful fairy-tales. Songs and ballet numbers:

"The King's New Clothes" **
"Inch-worm" *
"I'M Hans Christian Andersen" *
"Wonderful Copenhagen" **
"I'M Hans Christian Andersen" (reprise) *
"Thumbelina" **
"Ice-Skating Ballet" **
"Dream Fantasy" *
"The Ugly Duckling" *
"Anywhere I Wander" *
"I'M Hans Christian Andersen" (reprise) *
"No Two People" *
"The Little Mermaid" *

Just For You (1952) ***

A couple of pleasant tunes greatly enhance this unpretentious musical starring Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman and Natalie Wood. Songs include:

"I'll Si Si Ya In Bahia" **
"Call Me Tonight"
"Checkin' My Heart" *
"Zing A Little Zong" **
"The Live Oak Tree" *
"Maiden Of Guadaloupe" *
"On The 10:10 From Ten-Ten-Tennessee" *
"Just For You"

The Member Of The Wedding (1952) ***

Well acted drama about a 12-year old tomboy (Julie Harris), set in a sleepy Georgia town in the early 50's.

Othello (1952) ***

Excellent adaptation of one of the greatest Shakespearian tragedies. Directed by Orson Welles.

Pat And Mike (1952) ***

Fine comedy starring Katharine Hepburn as a tennis champion and Spencer Tracy as her coach.

Road To Bali (1952) ***

Two American hoofers stranded in Australia (Bing Crosby and Bob Hope) are hired by an evil cousin of an Indonesian princess (Dorothy Lamour). Their job - to retrieve a sunken treasure guarded by a giant octopuss. The only "Road" movie in color. Many witty one-liners. Songs:

"Chicago Style" *
"Moonflowers" *
"Hoots Mon" *
"To See You" **
"The Merry-Go-Runaround" **
"Moonflowers" (reprise) *

Sudden Fear (1952) ***

Joan Crawford and Jack Palance star in this fine film noir directed by David Miller.

Moulin Rouge (1952) **

The life of Toulouse-Lautrec, a French painter at the turn of the century.

Outcast Of The Island (1952) *

A dated adaptation of a Joseph Conrad's novel.

Bloodhounds Of Broadway (1952) *

Minor musical about a mobster and a hillbilly girl. It's adapted from a Damon Runyon's novel. Songs include:

"Broadway Rhythm"
"Bye Low" *
"I've Got A Feelin' You're Foolin'" *
"I Wish I Knew" *
"Jack O'Diamonds" *

Pamietniki chlopow (1952) *

A documentary about Polish peasants. Atrocious Communist propaganda, full of lies and exaggerations. Andrzej Munk's worst film ever, completely devoid of his sense of irony and nuance.

Royal Scotland (1952) *

Oscar-nominated documentary about Scotland.

Rabbit Seasoning (1952) *****

The second part of the Bugs-Daffy-Elmer hunting trilogy (sandwiched between 1951's "Rabbit Fire" and 1953's "Duck! Rabbit! Duck!"). Again, Elmer wants to hunt rabbits, but Bugs uses verbal acrobatics to trick Daffy into asking to be shot. Example - Daffy: "shoot him now!", Bugs: "he doesn't have to shoot YOU now!", Daffy (furious): "he does so have to shoot me now!". Needless to say, obedient Elmer quickly follows the instruction.

Madeline (1952) *****

This adaptation of Ludwig Bemelmans' tale about a French schoolgirl is among UPA's finest achievements.

How To Be A Detective (1952) ****

An excellent pastiche of the film noir genre, with Goofy as a private-eye investigating murders, meeting luscious femmes fatales and running after shady crooks.

Pluto's Christmas Tree (1952) ****

Along with a tree, Mickey and Pluto bring home Chip and Dale. A classic Disney cartoon.

Pink And Blue Blues (1952) ****

Mr Magoo babysits his neighbors' child, while a thief breaks into the house. Hilarious situations.

Two Chips And A Miss (1952) ****

Chip and Dale are two "men about town", spending an evening with Clarice, a sexy lounge singer. Very nice tunes.

Tree For Two (1952) ****

A black panther escapes from a zoo and hides among garbage cans. Meanwhile, Sylvester is chased by two weird dogs, tough Spike and pathetic Chester, his one-dog fun club. Unfortunately for Spike, he always mistakes the panther for Sylvester and gets trashed to a pulp. At the end, their roles reversed, Spike becomes an admiring lackey of Chester.

Terrier Stricken (1952) ****

A terrific action cartoon starring Claude Cat, whose antagonism towards Frisky Puppy culminates in two harrowing rides, as the poor cat is thrown out of windows, crashed into ceillings, pulled through mouse holes and subjected to countless other humiliations.

Neighbors (1952) ****

A powerful parable about hatred and war - a simple dispute over a flower slowly degenerates into a murderous conflict. The film employs an animation technique called "pixilation", whereby techniques normally used to animate drawings are used to animate live actors. It received two Oscar nominations: for short subject (one-reel) and, bizarrely, for documentary short subject. And it won in that second category, even though it's definitely not a documentary.

Kiddin' The Kitten (1952) ***

A fat cat, too lazy to catch mice himself, devises an ingenious scheme. He sets a phony mice-catching school, tricking his student into working for free.

Hello Aloha (1952) ***

Overworked Goofy dreams of a beautiful vacation in Hawaii. He quits his job (shortly after getting fired) and settles permanently among the natives, who promptly throw him into an active volcano to appease their gods.

A Romance Of Transportation In Canada (1952) ***

Oscar-nominated NFB cartoon tracing Canadian history through its transportation networks.

Hasty Hare (1952) ***

Bugs Bunny is kidnapped by Marvin Martian and K-9 (a space dog).

Muntz TV (1952) ***

A commercial for Muntz TV.

Hare Lift (1952) ***

Bugs finds himself as a pilot of a huge plane, hijacked by bank-robber Sam. Plenty of amusing situations (including a robot pilot).

Little Johnny Jet (1952) ***

Tex Avery's cartoon about an old propeller airplane becoming a proud father of a young jet.

Gift Wrapped (1952) ***

Christmas comes but once a year for Sylvester and the hungry cat is truly disappointed by the rubber mouse he receives. He much prefers Granny's gift (a live Tweety bird) and tries desperately to make an exchange.

The Turn-Tale Wolf (1952) ***

A revisionist take on the “Three Little Pigs” tale, with The Big Bad Wolf as a victim of mean, sadistic pigs.

Operation: Rabbit (1952) ***

Wil E.Coyote is very confident that Bugs Bunny will be his next supper. The smart rabbit quickly disillusions him about it.

Uncle Donald's Ants (1952) ***

An army of ants invades Donald's home in search of sugar and maple syrup. A sequel of sorts to 1948's "Tea For Two Hundred".

14 Carrot Rabbit (1952) ***

Bandit Sam is robbing gold prospectors in the Klondike. He forces Bugs Bunny to become his partner.

Color Cry (1952) ***

Feed The Kitty (1952) ***

Huge bulldog Mark Anthony falls in love with a cute little kitten, doing his best to protect him from harm. Excellent gags include the dog using the kitten as a wind-up toy or a powder puff to conceal his presence from his mistress.

Caballero Droopy (1952) ***

Droopy is serenading a senorita.

Two Weeks' Vacation (1952) ***

Goofy's vacation is a disaster the moment he hits the open road.

Two Gun Goofy (1952) ***

A Goofy western with PegLeg Pete as a bandit.

Little Runaway (1952) ***

Funny cartoon about a runaway seal.

Willie The Kid (1952) ****

Superb cartoon about imaginative children playing Cowboys and Indians in the backyard.

The Oompahs (1952) ***

Excellent cartoon about a family of musical instruments.

Termites From Mars (1952) ***

Woody Woodpecker faces an invasion from Mars.

Johann Mouse (1952) ***

Tom and Jerry are living in the home of the famous composer. Soon, the cat becomes a virtuoso pianist, while the mouse achieves lasting fame as a dancer.

Donald Applecore (1952) ***

Chip and Dale are devouring Donald's delicious apples.

Little Beau Pepe (1952) ***

Pepe le Pew meets Beau Geste in a fort in the Sahara desert.

Mouse Warming (1952) ***

A cat stands in a way of a beautiful romance between a mouse boy and a cute mouse girl. Very inventive cartoon with many unexpected plot twists.

The Dog Snatcher (1952) ***

A dog catcher warns Magoo to get a licence for his pooch.

Susie The Little Blue Coupe (1952) ***

A story about a little blue car. Old and worn-out, it finally ends in a junkyard. Slightly inferior to "The Little House" (1952), the cartoon has an identical theme - the fate of objects - originally used in "Johnny Fedora And Alice Bluebonnet" segment from "Make Mine Music" (1946).

Cracked Quack (1952) ***

Daffy Duck is flying south for the winter and finds refuge in Elmer's house.

Magical Maestro (1952) ***

A magician gets even with an opera singer. Hilarious cartoon full of innovative touches.

Captains Outrageous (1952) ***

Captain Magoo is fishing a marlin, but catches his nephew Waldo instead.

The Super Snooper (1952) ***

Duck Drake is called to privately investigate a murder, but he reenacts the crime in the wrong house. Every cliche of the detective genre is turned into a gag.

Beep Beep (1952) ***

Coyote is once again dropping anvils on the Road Runner. The bird once again eludes his pursuer.

Rock A Bye Bear (1952) ***

Amusing cartoon directed by Tex Avery.

One Cab's Family (1952) ***

Amusing cartoon about a family of taxi cabs.

Ain't She Tweet (1952) ***

Sylvester once again tries to catch Tweety, but Granny's house is protected by an army of vicious dogs. There are several funny gags in this typical "Sylvester & Tweety" cartoon.

Triplet Trouble (1952) ***

Three evil kittens are tormenting Tom and Jerry.

Little Red Rodent Hood (1952) ***

Sylvester plays the Big Bad Wolf role in this familiar story about a cute little girl (here played by a cute little mouse) visiting her granny. Some ingenious gags, including Sylvester dressing as a "Fairy Godmother", armed with an electric magic wand.

The Little House (1952) ***

One of three Disney films that explore a similar theme: the fate of objects abandoned by their owners. This time, instead of a hat ("Johnny Fedora And Alice Bluebonnet" segment from 1946's "Make Mine Music") or a car (1952's "Susie The Little Blue Coupe"), the hero is a small house.

Fit To Be Tied (1952) ***

A grateful bulldog promises Jerry to take care of Tom, but a tight leash severly limits his field of action.

Man Alive (1952) ***

A UPA documentary cartoon about cancer.