1956 in film

The following is an overview of1956 in film,including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths.

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Top-grossing films (U.S.)

See also:List of 1956 box office number-one films in the United States

The top ten 1956 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows:

Highest-grossing films of 1956

Rank	Title	Distributor	Domestic rentals
1	The Ten Commandments	Paramount	$34,200,000
2	Around the World in 80 Days	United Artists	$22,000,000
3	Giant	Warner Bros.	$12,000,000
4	Seven Wonders of the World	Cinerama Releasing	$9,300,000
5	The King and I	20th Century Fox	$8,500,000
6	Trapeze	United Artists	$7,300,000
7	War and Peace	Paramount	$6,250,000
8	High Society	MGM	$5,602,000
9	The Teahouse of the August Moon		$5,550,000
10	The Eddy Duchin Story	Columbia	$5,300,000

Events

• February 5 – First showing ofdocumentary filmsby theFree Cinemamovement, at theNational Film Theatre,London.
• February 16 –Carouselis the first film released that was shot inCinemaScope 55.
• February 23 –Arthur B. KrimandRobert BenjaminacquireMary Pickford's interest inUnited Artistsfor $3 million giving them full ownership of UA.
• February –Warner Bros.sells much of its pre-1950 library toAssociated Artists Productions(a.a.p.); after a series of mergers the films return to WB 40 years later.
• February –Darryl F. Zanuckannounces his resignation as head of production of20th Century Foxafter 20 years as the studio head. He is later replaced byBuddy Adler.
• April 18 –Grace KellymarriesPrince Rainier IIIand becomesPrincess consort of Monaco.She stops acting. Her last feature film,High Society,is released in July.
• May 30 –United ArtistsreleaseTrapezewhich becomes their highest-grosser until surpassed byAround the World in 80 Daysthe following year.
• July –HarryandAlbert Warnersell their stock inWarner Bros.Jack L. Warnerretains his and becomes president.
• July 25 – The comedy partnership betweenDean Martin and Jerry Lewisends. Their last film together,Hollywood or Bust,is released later in the year.
• August 4 – The last film serial,Blazing the Overland TrailfromColumbia Pictures,is released.
• October 5 –The Ten Commandmentsopens in cinemas. It was the most expensive film of all time with a cost of $13 million and becomes one of the most successful and popular films of all time, currently ranking 6th on the list of all time moneymakers (when adjusted for inflation). It was directorCecil B. DeMille's last film.
• October 17 –Mike Todd'sAround the World in 80 Daysis released and goes on to becomeUnited Artists' highest-grossing film.
• October 18 –Joseph Vogelbecomes president ofMGM.
• November 1 – The filmOklahoma!,released in 1955 to select cities inTodd-AO,now receives a U.S. national release inCinemaScope,since not all theatres are yet equipped for Todd-AO. To accomplish this, the film has actually been shot twice, rather than printing one version in two different film processes, as is later done.
• November 15 –Elvis Presley's first film,Love Me Tender,opens.
• November 28
  • And God Created Womanopens in France makingBrigitte Bardotan international star.
  • It is announced that production headDore Scharywill leaveMGMat the end of the year.
• December 14 –Dance with Me, Henryis the last film featuring the comedy duoAbbott and Costello.

Awards

Category/Organization	14th Golden Globe Awards February 28, 1957		29th Academy Awards March 27, 1957
	Drama	Comedy or Musical
Best Film	Around the World in 80 Days	The King and I	Around the World in 80 Days
Best Director	Elia Kazan Baby Doll		George Stevens Giant
Best Actor	Kirk Douglas Lust for Life	Cantinflas Around the World in 80 Days	Yul Brynner The King and I
Best Actress	Ingrid Bergman Anastasia	Deborah Kerr The King and I	Ingrid Bergman Anastasia
Best Supporting Actor	Earl Holliman The Rainmaker		Anthony Quinn Lust for Life
Best Supporting Actress	Eileen Heckart The Bad Seed		Dorothy Malone Written on the Wind
Best Foreign Language Film	Before Sundown A Girl in Black Roses on the Arm War and Peace The White Reindeer		La Strada

Top ten money making stars

Rank	Actor/Actress
1.	William Holden
2.	John Wayne
3.	James Stewart
4.	Burt Lancaster
5.	Glenn Ford
6.	Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis
7.	Marilyn Monroe
8.	Gary Cooper
9.	Kim Novak
10.	Frank Sinatra

1956 film releases

January–March

• January 1956
  • 11 January
    • The Lieutenant Wore Skirts
  • 12 January
    • Diane
  • 26 January
    • Helen of Troy
  • 29 January
    • Warning from Space(Japan)
• February 1956
  • 5 February
    • Invasion of the Body Snatchers
  • 16 February
    • Carousel
  • 25 February
    • The Lone Ranger
• March 1956
  • 3 March
    • Forbidden Planet
  • 6 March
    • 1984(U.K.)
  • 9 March
    • Come Next Spring
    • Meet Me in Las Vegas
  • 10 March
    • Never Say Goodbye
  • 21 March
    • Rock Around the Clock
  • 23 March
    • Serenade
  • 24 March
    • Raw Edge
  • 25 March
    • Indestructible Man
    • World Without End
  • 28 March
    • The Conqueror

April–June

• April 1956
  • 4 April
    • The Maverick Queen
  • 6 April
    • Jubal
  • 10 April
    • Seven Wonders of the World
  • 11 April
    • Backlash
  • 24 April
    • Our Miss Brooks
  • 26 April
    • The Creature Walks Among Us
  • 27 April
    • Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
• May 1956
  • 8 May
    • The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
  • 9 May
    • The Harder They Fall
  • 15 May
    • Invitation to the Dance
  • 26 May
    • The Searchers
  • 30 May
    • Trapeze
    • While the City Sleeps
    • The Animal World
• June 1956
  • 1 June
    • The Man Who Knew Too Much
  • 6 June
    • The Killing
  • 10 June
    • Crime in the Streets
  • 12 June
    • A Kiss Before Dying
  • 13 June
    • Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
    • Star in the Dust
  • 15 June
    • Gunslinger
  • 20 June
    • Safari
  • 21 June
    • The Eddy Duchin Story
  • 22 June
    • The Catered Affair
  • 27 June
    • Moby Dick
  • 29 June
    • The King and I

July–September

• July 1956
  • 6 July
    • The Fastest Gun Alive
  • 12 July
    • Foreign Intrigue
  • 15 July
    • It Conquered the World
  • 17 July
    • High Society
  • 18 July
    • Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
  • 23 July
    • Dakota Incident
  • 25 July
    • Pardners
  • 29 July
    • Hold Back the Night
  • 30 July
    • Run for the Sun
• August 1956
• The Beast of Hollow Mountain
  • 1 August
    • Autumn Leaves
  • 3 August
    • Mukh O Mukhosh,highest grossingDhallywood, Bangladeshfilm of 1956.
  • 17 August
    • A Cry in the Night
    • These Wilder Years
  • 21 August
    • War and Peace
  • 24 August
    • A Strange Adventure
  • 26 August
    • The Swan
  • 29 August
    • The First Traveling Saleslady
    • The Vagabond King
• September 1956
  • 12 September
    • The Bad Seed
  • 15 September
    • Lust for Life
  • 21 September
    • The Last Wagon
  • 28 September
    • The Best Things in Life Are Free

October–December

• October 1956
  • 5 October
    • The Ten Commandments
  • 17 October
    • Around the World in 80 Days
    • Attack
    • Julie
  • 26 October
    • The Opposite Sex
  • 31 October
    • Death of a Scoundrel
    • You Can't Run Away from It
• November 1956
  • 1 November
    • Naked Gun
    • The White Squaw
  • 15 November
    • Love Me Tender
    • Gun the Man Down
  • 18 November
    • Yield to the Night(U.K.)
  • 24 November
    • Giant
  • 25 November
    • Friendly Persuasion
  • 29 November
    • The Teahouse of the August Moon
• December 1956
  • 1 December
    • The Mole People
    • The Girl Can't Help It
    • Curucu, Beast of the Amazon
  • 5 December
    • Man Beast
  • 6 December
    • Hollywood or Bust
    • Nightfall
  • 12 December
    • Bundle of Joy
  • 13 December
    • Anastasia
    • The Rainmaker
  • 21 December
    • The King and Four Queens
  • 25 December
    • Written on the Wind
  • 26 December
    • Rodan(Japan)
    • Zarak
  • 29 December
    • Baby Doll
  • The Great Man

Notable films released in 1956

United Statesunless stated

#

• 7th Cavalry,starringRandolph ScottandBarbara Hale
• 23 Paces to Baker Street,starringVan JohnsonandVera Miles
• 1984,directed byMichael Anderson,starringEdmond O'BrienandMichael Redgrave– (GB)

A

• Accused of Murder,starringVera Ralston
• Alexander the Great,starringRichard Burton
• Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves(Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum) – (India)
• The Ambassador's Daughter,starringOlivia de Havilland,Myrna Loy,John Forsythe
• Anastasia,starringIngrid BergmanandYul Brynner
• And God Created Woman,directed byRoger Vadim,starringBrigitte Bardot– (France)
• Aparajito(The Unvanquished), directed bySatyajit Ray– (India)
• Around the World in 80 Days,directed byMichael Anderson,starringDavid Niven,Cantinflas,Shirley MacLaine–Academy Awardfor Best Picture
• At Gunpoint,starringFred MacMurray,Walter Brennan,Dorothy Malone
• Attack,a.k.a.Attack!,directed byRobert Aldrich,starringJack Palance,Eddie Albert,Lee Marvin
• Autumn Leaves,starringJoan CrawfordandCliff Robertson
• Away All Boats,starringJeff Chandler

B

• Baby Doll,directed byElia Kazan,starringCarroll Baker,Karl Malden,Eli Wallach
• Back from Eternity,starringRobert Ryan,Anita Ekberg,Rod Steiger
• Backlash,starringRichard WidmarkandDonna Reed
• The Bad Seed,starringNancy KellyandPatty McCormack
• Bandido,starringRobert Mitchum
• The Battle of the River Plate,a.k.a.Pursuit of the Graf Spee,written and directed byPowell and Pressburger,starringJohn GregsonandPeter Finch– (GB)
• Before Sundown(Vor Sonnenuntergang) – (West Germany)
• Behind the Headlines,starringPaul CarpenterandHazel Court
• The Benny Goodman Story,starringSteve AllenandDonna Reed
• The Best Things in Life Are Free,starringGordon MacRae,Dan Dailey,Sheree North
• Between Heaven and Hell,directed byRichard Fleischer,starringRobert WagnerandBuddy Ebsen
• Beyond a Reasonable Doubt,directed byFritz Lang,starringDana AndrewsandJoan Fontaine
• Bhowani Junction,starringAva GardnerandStewart Granger– (GB/United States)
• Bigger Than Life,directed byNicholas Ray,starringJames Mason,Barbara Rush,Walter Matthau
• The Birds and the Bees,starringGeorge GobelandMitzi Gaynor
• The Black Tent,directed byBrian Desmond Hurst,starringDonald Sinden,Anthony Steel,Anna Maria Sandri&André Morell– (U.K.)
• Bob le flambeur(Bob the Gambler), directed byJean-Pierre Melville– (France)
• The Bold and the Brave,starringWendell CoreyandMickey Rooney
• The Boss,starringJohn PayneandDoe Avedon
• The Bottom of the Bottle,directed byHenry Hathaway,starringVan Johnson,Joseph Cotten,Ruth Roman
• The Brave One,directed byIrving Rapper
• The Burmese Harp(Biruma no tategoto), directed byKon Ichikawa– (Japan)
• The Burning Hills,starringNatalie WoodandTab Hunter
• Bus Stop,starringMarilyn MonroeandDon Murray

C

• C.I.D.,starringDev Anand– (India)
• Calabuch(a.k.a. The Rocket from Calabuch), directed byLuis García Berlanga,starringEdmund GwennandValentina Cortese– (Spain)
• Calle Mayor(Main Street), directed byJuan Antonio Bardem,starringBetsy Blair– (Spain)
• Carnival Night(Karnavalnaya noch) – (USSR)
• Carousel,directed byHenry King,starringShirley JonesandGordon MacRae
• The Case of the Mukkinese Battle Horn,comedy short starringPeter Sellers,Spike Milligan,Dick Emery– (GB)
• The Catered Affair,starringBette Davis,Ernest Borgnine,Debbie Reynolds
• Checkpoint (1956 film),directed byRalph Thomas,starringAnthony Steel,Odile Versois,Stanley Baker&James Robertson Justice– (U.K.)
• Child of Sorrow(Anak dalita) – (Philippines)
• Chori Chori,starringNargisandRaj Kapoor– (India)
• Comanche,starringDana AndrewsandLinda Cristal
• Come Next Spring,starringAnn SheridanandSteve Cochran
• Congo Crossing,starringVirginia MayoandPeter Lorre
• The Conqueror,directed byDick Powell,starringJohn Wayne(asGenghis Khan)
• The Court Jester,starringDanny Kaye
• Crazed Fruit(Kurutta kajitsu), directed byKō Nakahira– (Japan)
• Crime Against Joe,starringJulie London
• Crime in the Streets,directed byDon Siegel,starringJames WhitmoreandJohn Cassavetes
• A Cry in the Night,starringEdmond O'Brien,Natalie Wood,Raymond Burr

D

• D-Day the Sixth of June,starringRobert Taylor
• Dakota Incident,starringDale Robertson
• Dance with Me, Henry,starringBud AbbottandLou Costello
• Death in the Garden(La mort en ce jardin), directed byLuis Buñuel,starringSimone SignoretandCharles Vanel– (France)
• Death of a Scoundrel,starringGeorge SandersandZsa Zsa Gabor
• Diane,starringLana Turnerin her final MGM film after nearly 20 years with the studio
• Donatella,directed byMario Monicelli,starringElsa Martinelli– (Italy)
• Don't Look Back, My Son(Ne okreći se sine) – (Yugoslavia)
• The Dragon(O Drakos) – (Greece)

E

• Early Spring(Soshun), directed byYasujirō Ozu– (Japan)
• Earth vs. the Flying Saucers,starringHugh Marlowe
• The Eddy Duchin Story,starringTyrone PowerandKim Novak
• Elena and Her Men,starringIngrid Bergman– (France/Italy)

F

• The Fastest Gun Alive,starringGlenn FordandBroderick Crawford
• The First Texan,starringJoel McCrea
• The First Traveling Saleslady,starringGinger Rogers,Barry Nelson,Carol Channing
• Forbidden Planet,starringWalter Pidgeon,Leslie Nielsen,Anne Francis
• Forever, Darling,starringDesi Arnaz,Lucille Ball,James Mason
• Friendly Persuasion,directed byWilliam Wyler,starringGary Cooper,Dorothy McGuire,Anthony Perkins
• Funtoosh(Funny Man), starringDev Anand– (India)

G

• Gaby,starringLeslie Caron
• Gervaise,directed byRené Clément,starringMaria Schell– (France)
• Giant,directed byGeorge Stevens,starringElizabeth Taylor,Rock HudsonandJames Deanin his final film
• The Girl Can't Help It,starringTom EwellandJayne Mansfieldin her first starring role
• The Girl He Left Behind,starringTab HunterandNatalie Wood
• A Girl in Black,directed byMichael Cacoyannis– winner ofGolden Globe– (Greece)
• Godzilla, King of the Monsters!directed byTerry MorseandIshirō Honda,starringRaymond BurrandTakashi Shimura– (Japan/United States)
• Good-bye, My Lady,directed byWilliam A. Wellman,starringBrandon deWilde,Walter Brennan,Phil Harris
• Great Day in the Morning,directed byJacques Tourneur,starringRobert StackandVirginia Mayo
• The Great Locomotive Chase,starringFess ParkerandJeffrey Hunter
• The Great Man,directed by and starringJosé Ferrer,withJulie London,Keenan Wynn,Ed Wynn
• The Green Man,starringAlastair Sim,George Cole,Terry-Thomas– (GB)
• Gun the Man Down,starringJames ArnessandAngie Dickinsonin her film debut
• Gunslinger,directed byRoger Corman,starringJohn IrelandandBeverly Garland

H

• The Harder They Fall,starringHumphrey Bogartin his final film
• The Harvest Month(Elokuu) – (Finland)
• Helen of Troy,starringRossana Podestà,Stanley Baker
• High Society,starringBing Crosby,Frank SinatraandGrace Kellyin her final film
• Hilda Crane,starringJean Simmons
• Hold Back the Night,starringJohn Payne
• Hollywood or Bust,starringDean MartinandJerry Lewis,withAnita Ekberg,in the finalMartin and Lewisfilm
• Hot Blood,starringJane RussellandCornel Wilde
• The Houston Story,starringBarbara HaleandGene Barry
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame,starringGina LollobrigidaandAnthony Quinn– (France/Italy)

I

• Ich suche Dich(I Seek You), starringO. W. FischerandAnouk Aimée– (West Germany)
• The Indian Fighter,starringKirk DouglasandWalter Matthau
• Invasion of the Body Snatchers,directed byDon Siegel,starringKevin McCarthy
• Invitation to the Dance,directed by and starringGene Kelly
• It Conquered the World,directed byRoger Corman,starringPeter GravesandBeverly Garland

J

• Jagte Raho(Stay Awake), starringRaj Kapoor– (India)
• Johnny Concho,starringFrank Sinatra
• Jubal,starringGlenn Ford,Rod Steiger,Ernest Borgnine,Felicia Farr,Charles Bronson
• Julie,starringDoris DayandLouis Jourdan

K

• Kanal,directed byAndrzej Wajda– (Poland)
• The Killer Is Loose,directed byBudd Boetticher,starringJoseph Cotten,Rhonda Fleming,Wendell Corey
• The Killers,a short film directed byAndrei Tarkovsky– (U.S.S.R.)
• The Killing,directed byStanley Kubrick,starringSterling Hayden,Coleen Gray,Marie Windsor,Vince Edwards
• The King and Four Queens,starringClark Gable
• The King and I,starringDeborah KerrandYul Brynner
• A Kiss Before Dying,starringRobert WagnerandJoanne Woodward

L

• The Last Hunt,directed byRichard Brooks,starringRobert TaylorandStewart Granger
• The Last Wagon,starringRichard Widmark
• The Leech(Shabab emraa) – (Egypt)
• The Lieutenant Wore Skirts,directed byFrank Tashlin,starringTom EwellandSheree North
• Lisbon,directed by and starringRay Milland,withMaureen O'HaraandClaude Rains
• The Lone Ranger,starringClayton MooreandJay Silverheels
• The Long Arm,starringJack Hawkins– (GB)
• Love Me Tender,starringElvis Presleyin his film debut
• Lust for Life,starringKirk Douglas(asVincent van Gogh) andAnthony Quinn

M

• A Man Escaped(Un condamné à mort s'est échappé ou Le vent souffle où il veut), directed byRobert Bresson– (France)
• The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit,starringGregory Peck,Jennifer Jones,Fredric March,Keenan Wynn,Lee J. Cobb
• Man on the Tracks(Człowiek na torze) – (Poland)
• The Man Who Knew Too Much,directed byAlfred Hitchcock(a remake of his own 1934 British film), starringJames StewartandDoris Day
• The Man Who Never Was,starringClifton WebbandGloria Grahame– (GB)
• Marie Antoinette Queen of Francem directed byJean Delannoy,starringMichèle MorganandRichard Todd– (France)
• The Maverick Queen,starringBarbara StanwyckandBarry Sullivan
• Meet Me in Las Vegas,starringCyd Charisse
• Merry-Go-Round(Körhinta) – (Hungary)
• Michel Strogoff
• Miracle in the Rain,starringJane Wyman
• Moby Dick,directed byJohn Huston,starringGregory Peck,Richard Basehart,Leo Genn
• Mukh O Mukhosh(The Face and the Mask) – (East Pakistan)
• The Mystery of Picasso,a documentary featuringPablo Picasso,directed byHenri-Georges Clouzot

N

• Naked GunstarringMara CordayandWillard Parker
• Nagareru(Flowing), directed byMikio Naruse– (Japan)
• Never Say Goodbye,starringRock Hudson,David Janssen,Cornell Borchers
• New Delhi– (India)

O

• Old Khottabych(Starik Khottabych) – (U.S.S.R.)
• On the Threshold of Space,starringGuy Madison
• The Opposite Sex,starringJune Allyson,Leslie Nielsen,Joan Collins
• Othello,starringSergei Bondarchuk– (U.S.S.R.)
• Over-Exposed,starringCleo Moore

P

• Pardners,starringDean MartinandJerry Lewis
• Patterns,starringVan HeflinandEd Begley
• Pillars of the Sky,starringJeff ChandlerandDorothy Malone
• Please Murder Me,starringAngela LansburyandRaymond Burr
• Poor but Handsome(Poveri ma belli) – (Italy)
• The Power and the Prize,starringRobert Taylor,Burl Ives,Mary Astor,Cedric Hardwicke,Elisabeth Müller
• Private's Progress,aBoulting Brothersfilm starringIan CarmichaelandRichard Attenborough– (GB)
• Professor Hannibal(Hannibál tanár úr), directed byZoltán Fábri(Hungary)
• The Proud and Profane,starringWilliam HoldenandDeborah Kerr
• The Proud Ones,starringRobert RyanandVirginia Mayo

Q

• Qivitoq– (Denmark)

R

• The Rack,starringPaul Newman,Edmond O'Brien,Walter Pidgeon,Anne Francis,Lee Marvin,andCloris Leachman
• The Railroad Man(Il Ferroviere), directed by and starringPietro Germi– (Italy)
• The Rainmaker,starringBurt Lancaster,Katharine Hepburn,Lloyd BridgesandWendell Corey
• Raj Hath,starringMadhubala– (India)
• Ransom!,starringGlenn FordandDonna Reed
• Reach for the Sky,a biopic ofDouglas BaderstarringKenneth More– (GB)
• The Red Balloon(Le Ballon rouge) – (France)
• The Road of Life(El camino de la vida) – (Mexico)
• Rock Around the Clock,featuringBill Haley and His Comets
• Rodan,directed byIshirō Honda– (Japan)
• The Roof(Il Tetto), directed byVittorio De Sica– (Italy)
• Run for the Sun,starringRichard Widmark,Trevor Howard,Jane Greer

S

• Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island,directed byHiroshi Inagaki,starringToshiro Mifune– (Japan)
• The Searchers,directed byJohn Ford,starringJohn Wayne,Jeffrey Hunter,Vera Miles,Ward Bond,Ken Curtis,Natalie Wood
• Serenade,directed byAnthony Mann,starringMario LanzaandJoan Fontaine
• Seven Men from Now,directed byBudd Boetticher,starringRandolph ScottandLee Marvin
• Seven Wonders of the World,a documentary film directed byTay Garnettand others
• Seven Years in Tibet– (GB)
• The She-Creature,starringMarla English
• The Silent World,a marine documentary byJacques-Yves CousteauandLouis Malle– (France)
• Sira` Fi al-Mina(a.k.a. Dark Water), directed byYoussef Chahine,starringOmar Sharif– (Egypt)
• Slightly Scarlet,starringJohn PayneandRhonda Fleming
• The Solid Gold Cadillac,starringJudy Holliday
• Somebody Up There Likes Me,starringPaul Newman
• The Spanish Gardener,starringDirk Bogarde– (GB)
• The Square Jungle,starringTony CurtisandPatricia Crowley
• Star in the Dust,starringJohn AgarandMamie Van Doren
• Stars in Your Eyes– (GB)
• Storm Center,starringBette DavisandKim Hunter
• Street of Shame(Akasen chitai), directed byKenji Mizoguchi– (Japan)

T

• Tea and Sympathy,directed byVincente Minnelli,starringDeborah KerrandJohn Kerr
• The Teahouse of the August Moon,starringMarlon BrandoandGlenn Ford
• The Ten Commandments,directed byCecil B. DeMille,starringCharlton Heston,Yul Brynner,Anne Baxter,Yvonne De Carlo,Edward G. Robinson
• There's Always Tomorrow,starringBarbara Stanwyck,Fred MacMurray,Joan Bennett
• Three Brave Men,starringRay Milland
• Time Table,directed by and starringMark Stevens,withFelicia Farr
• Toward the Unknown,starringWilliam HoldenandVirginia Leith
• A Town Like Alice,starringVirginia McKennaandPeter Finch– (GB)
• Trapeze,directed byCarol Reed,starringBurt Lancaster,Tony Curtis,Gina Lollobrigida
• Tribute to a Bad Man,directed byRobert Wise,starringJames Cagney,Irene Papas,Stephen McNally,Don Dubbins,Vic Morrow
• The Twelve Months(Dvenadtsat mesyatsev) – (USSR)

U

• Uncle Hyacynth(Mi tío Jacinto) – (Spain)

V

• Valley of Peace(Dolina miru) – (Yugoslavia)
• I Vampiri(The Vampire) – (Italy)

W

• War and Peace,directed byKing Vidor,starringAudrey Hepburn,Henry Fonda,Mel Ferrer,Anita Ekberg
• Wakeful Eyes,directed byEzz El-Dine Zulficar,starringSalah ZulfikarandShadia– (Egypt)
• What a Woman!,starringSophia Loren,Charles BoyerandMarcello Mastroianni– (Italy)
• While the City Sleeps,starringDana Andrews,Ida Lupino,Rhonda Fleming,George Sanders,Vincent Price
• Who Done It?,starringBenny Hill– (GB)
• A Woman's Devotion,starringRalph MeekerandJanice Rule
• Written on the Wind,directed byDouglas Sirk,starringRock Hudson,Lauren Bacall,Robert Stack,Dorothy Malone
• The Wrong Man,directed byAlfred Hitchcock,starringHenry FondaandVera Miles

X

• X the Unknown,starringDean JaggerandLeo McKern– (GB)

Y

• Yield to the Night,starringDiana Dors– (GB)
• You Can't Run Away from It,directed byDick Powell,starringJune AllysonandJack Lemmon

Z

• Zarak,starringVictor Mature– (GB)

Serials

• Blazing the Overland Trail,starringLee RobertsandDennis Moore
• Perils of the Wilderness

Short film series

• Looney Tunes(1930–1969)
• Terrytoons(1930–1964)
• Merrie Melodies(1931–1969)
• Popeye(1933–1957)
• The Three Stooges(1934–1959)
• Bugs Bunny(1940–1962)
• Tom and Jerry(1940–1958)
• Droopy(1943–1958)
• Yosemite Sam(1945–1963)
• Speedy Gonzales(1953–1968)
• Woody Woodpecker(1940–1972)

Ending this year

• Donald Duck(1934-1956)
• Chip 'n' Dale(1943-1956)

Births

• January 1 –Sheila McCarthy,Canadian actress and singer
• January 3 –Mel Gibson,American Irish actor and director
• January 7 –David Caruso,American actor
• January 9
  • Kimberly Beck,American actress
  • Tim Kelleher,American writer, actor and director
  • Imelda Staunton,English actress
• January 13 –Janet Hubert,American actress
• January 20 –Bill Maher,American comedian, writer, producer, actor and television host
• January 21
  • Geena Davis,American actress
  • Robby Benson,American actor
• January 22 –Michael Kopsa,Canadian actor (d.2022)
• January 24 –Peter Woodward,English actor, screenwriter and stuntman
• January 25
  • Dinah Manoff,American actress and director
  • Kevin O'Rourke,American actor
• January 27
  • Susan Blakeslee,American voice actress and musical theatre actress
  • Mimi Rogers,American actress
• January 30 –Ann Dowd,American actress
• January 31 –John Lydon,English actor
• February 3 –Nathan Lane,American actor
• February 12 –Arsenio Hall,American comedian, actor and talk show host
• February 13 –Jimmy Yuill,Scottish actor
• February 14 –Tom Burlinson,Canadian-Australian actor and singer
• February 15 –Olga Merediz,American actress and singer
• February 17 –Richard Karn,American actor
• February 19 –Kathleen Beller,American actress
• February 26 –Jonathan Schmock,American actor, director, producer and writer
• February 28 –Lloyd Sherr,American voice actor
• March 1 –Tim Daly,American actor
• March 2 –Ángel Salazar,Cuban-American comedian and actor (d.2024)
• March 5 –Adriana Barraza,Mexican actress
• March 7 –Bryan Cranston,American actor and director
• March 8 –John Kapelos,Canadian actor
• March 11 –Rob Paulsen,American voice actor
• March 12 –Lesley Manville,English Actress
• March 13 –Dana Delany,American actress
• March 16 –Clifton Powell,American actor
• March 25 –Matthew Garber,British actor and filmmaker (d.1977)
• March 26 –Erika Kaljusaar,Estonian actress
• March 27 –Michael Harney,American actor
• March 30 –Paul Reiser,American comedian, actor and musician
• April 8 –Jim Piddock,English actor, producer and writer
• April 12 –Andy García,Cuban-American actor
• April 14 –Chris Ellis,American character actor
• April 17 –Vyto Ruginis,English actor and producer
• April 18 –Eric Roberts,American actor
• April 20 –Georgie Glen,Scottish actress
• April 22 –Bruce A. Young,American actor, writer and screenwriter
• April 27 –Kevin McNally,English actor and writer
• April 30 –Lars von Trier,Danish director
• May 4 –Ralph Seymour,American actor
• May 5 –Lisa Eilbacher,American actress
• May 7 –S. Scott Bullock,American voice actor
• May 9 –Wendy Crewson,Canadian actress
• May 10
  • Paige O'Hara,American actress, voice actress, singer and painter
  • Jonathan Roberts,American screenwriter, producer and author
• May 12 –Kimiko Yo,Japanese actress
• May 13 –Fred Melamed,American actor, comedian and writer
• May 17 –Bob Saget,American stand-up comedian, actor and television host (d.2022)
• May 19 –Steven Ford,American actor
• June 1 –Tom Irwin,American actor
• June 4 –Keith David,American actor
• June 5 –Roger Michell,British director (d.2021)
• June 9 -Kelly Connell,American actor
• June 15
  • Ava Cadell,former actress, writer and producer
  • Robin Curtis,American actress
• June 18 –Marsha Garces Williams,American producer
• June 22 –Tim Russ,American actor, director, screenwriter and musician
• June 25 –Chloe Webb,American actress
• June 27 –John Michael Bolger,American actor
• June 30 –David Alan Grier,American actor, singer and comedian
• July 1 –Alan Ruck,American actor
• July 2 –Jerry Hall,American actress and model
• July 9 –Tom Hanks,American actor and director
• July 11 –Sela Ward,American actress
• July 16 –Tony Kushner,American author, playwright and screenwriter
• July 18 –Audrey Landers,American actress and singer
• July 19 –Peter Barton,American retired actor
• July 25 –Roger Clinton Jr.,American actor and musician
• July 31
  • Michael Biehn,American actor
  • R. A. Mihailoff,American actor
• August 10 –Peter Robbins,American child actor (d.2022)
• August 12 –Bruce Greenwood,Canadian actor
• August 17 –Mahendra Perera,Sri Lankan actor
• August 19 –Adam Arkin,American actor and director
• August 20 –Joan Allen,American actress
• August 21 –Kim Cattrall,English-born Canadian actress
• August 23 –Skipp Sudduth,American actor
• August 24 –Kevin Dunn,American actor
• August 26 –Brett Cullen,American actor
• August 28 –Luis Guzman,Puerto Rican character actor
• September 5 –Debbie Turner,American actress
• September 7 –Michael Beattie,Canadian-American actor
• September 11
  • Tony Gilroy,American filmmaker
  • Adriane Lenox,American actress
• September 16 –Jimmy Chisholm,Scottish actor
• September 17 –Susie Silvey,English actress, dancer and model
• September 18 –Tim McInnerny,English actor
• September 20
  • Gary Cole,American actor
  • Debbi Morgan,American actress
• September 26 –Linda Hamilton,American actress
• September 28 –Kiran Shah,Kenyan-Indian actor and stunt double
• September 29 –Stuart Charno,American actor
• October 2 –Charlie Adler,American voice actor and voice director
• October 3 –Hart Bochner,Canadian actor, director, screenwriter and producer
• October 4 –Christoph Waltz,Austrian-German actor
• October 10
  • Amanda Burton,Northern Irish actress
  • Fiona Fullerton,British actress and singer
• October 11 –Stephen Spinella,American actor
• October 14 –Bruce MacVittie,American actor (d.2022)
• October 20 –Danny Boyle,English director and producer
• October 21 –Carrie Fisher,American actress (d.2016)
• October 23 –Dwight Yoakam,American singer-songwriter, actor and filmmaker
• October 24 –Erich Anderson,American actor (d.2024)
• October 26 –Rita Wilson,American actress and producer
• October 30 –Juliet Stevenson,English actress
• November 3 –Gary Ross,American director, writer and producer
• November 8 –Richard Curtis,New Zealand-born British director and screenwriter
• November 9 –Tyler Coppin,American-Australian actor
• November 10
  • Matt Craven,Canadian character actor
  • Sinbad,American stand-up comedian and actor
• November 13 –Rex Linn,American actor
• November 16 –Dan Shor,American actor, director and writer
• November 17 –Kelly Ward,American actor and voice director
• November 20 –Bo Derek,American actress and model
• November 21 –Timothy Stack,American actor, producer and screenwriter
• November 22 –Richard Kind,American actor and voice actor
• November 24 –Ruben Santiago-Hudson,American actor and director
• November 26 –Don Lake,Canadian actor and writer
• November 27 –William Fichtner,American actor
• December 2 –Steven Bauer,Cuban-born American actor
• December 7 –Mark Rolston,American character actor
• December 8 –Michael C. Burgess,British actor
• December 10 –Catherine Parks,American actress
• December 17 –Peter Farrelly,American film director
• December 20 –Blanche Baker,American actress and filmmaker
• December 22 –Ray Lui,Hong Kong actor

Deaths

• January 9 –Marion Leonard,74, American early silent actress,The Prussian Spy,The Gibson Goddess
• January 12 –Norman Kerry,61, American actor,The Phantom of the Opera,The Unknown
• January 19 –Charles Dingle,68, American actor,Call Me Madam,State of the Union
• January 23 –Alexander Korda,62, Hungarian film director, the founder of London Films,That Hamilton Woman,The Private Life of Henry VIII
• February 2
  • Bob Burns,65, American actor,Waikiki Wedding,Belle of the Yukon
  • Charley Grapewin,86, American actor,The Wizard of Oz,The Grapes of Wrath
• February 26 –Elsie Janis,66, American actress and screenwriter,A Regular Girl,Women in War
• March 17 –Fred Allen,61, American actor,It's in the Bag!,O. Henry's Full House
• March 24 –Jean Gehret,56, Swiss actor and director,La Chienne,Madame Bovary
• March 25 –Robert Newton,50, English actor,Oliver Twist,Odd Man Out
• April 4 –Lloyd Ingraham,81, American actor and director,Scaramouche,West of the Rio Grande
• April 14 –Christian Rub,70, Austrian actor,Father's Son,Something for the Birds
• April 15 –Kathleen Howard,71, Canadian-American opera singer and actress,It's a Gift,Ball of Fire
• April 21 –Charles MacArthur,60, American screenwriter and playwright,Wuthering Heights,His Girl Friday
• April 24 –Henry Stephenson,85, British actor,Mutiny on the Bounty,Oliver Twist
• April 26 –Edward Arnold,66, American actor,Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,Diamond Jim
• May 12 –Louis Calhern,61, American actor,Duck Soup,Notorious,The Asphalt Jungle,High Society
• June 2 –Jean Hersholt,69, Danish-American actor,Heidi
• June 6 –Margaret Wycherly,74, English-American actress,White Heat,Sergeant York
• June 30 –Thorleif Lund,76, Norwegian actor,Skibsrotten,Republikaneren
• July 8 –Mona Mårtenson,54, Swedish actress,Pippi Longstocking,The Saga of Gosta Berling
• July 16 –Olof Winnerstrand,80, Swedish actor,Torment,A Lesson in Love
• August 16 –Bela Lugosi,73, Hungarian-born American actor,Dracula,White Zombie,The Black Cat
• August 23 –Kenji Mizoguchi,58, Japanese director,The Life of Oharu,A Geisha
• October 2 –George Bancroft,74, American actor,Stagecoach,Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
• October 9 –Marie Doro,74, American actress,Oliver Twist,Sally Bishop
• October 17 –Anne Crawford,35, British actress,Knights of the Round Table,Night Beat
• November 6 –Paul Kelly,57, American actor,Juvenile Court,Adventure in Sahara
• November 10 –Victor Young,56, American composer,Around the World in 80 Days,For Whom the Bell Tolls
• November 26 –Tommy Dorsey,56, American musician,The Fabulous Dorseys,DuBarry Was a Lady,Ship Ahoy
• November 30 –Viggo Wiehe,81, Danish actor,Doctor Nicholson and the Blue Diamond,Røverne fra Rold
• December 8 –Jack Cohn,67, co-founder ofColumbia Pictures
• December 12 –E. A. Dupont,64, German writer, director,Jealousy,The Scarf
• December 26 –Holmes Herbert,74, British actor,Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,The Invisible Man

Film Debuts

• Karin Baal–Teenage Wolfpack
• Jean-Paul Belmondo–Molière
• Francine Bergé–Elena and Her Men
• Michael Caine–Panic in the Parlor
• Frank Campanella–Somebody Up There Likes Me
• Roger Carel–Meeting in Paris
• Jacqueline Doyen–Le salaire du péché
• Andrew Duggan–Patterns
• Barbara Eden–Back from Eternity
• Barry Foster–The Baby and the Battleship
• James Garner–Toward the Unknown
• Frank Gorshin–The Proud and Profane
• Rance Howard–Frontier Woman
• Ron Howard–Frontier Woman
• Glenda Jackson–The Extra Day
• Dean Jones–Somebody Up There Likes Me
• Alfredo Landa–Around the World in 80 Days
• Robert Loggia–Somebody Up There Likes Me
• Michael Lonsdale–It Happened in Aden
• Nan Martin–The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
• Francis Matthews–Bhowani Junction
• Doug McClure–Friendly Persuasion
• Donald Moffat–The Battle of the River Plate
• Robert Morse–The Proud and Profane
• Don Murray–Bus Stop
• Leslie Nielsen–Ransom!
• Joan Plowright–Moby Dick
• Elvis Presley–Love Me Tender
• Maggie Smith–Child in the House
• Harry Dean Stanton–The Wrong Man
• Rip Torn–Baby Doll
• Cicely Tyson–Carib Gold
• Robert Vaughn–The Ten Commandments
• John Vernon–1984
• Eli Wallach–Baby Doll
• Tuesday Weld–Rock, Rock, Rock
• Salah Zulfikar–Wakeful Eyes

External links

• List of 1956 filmsatIMDb
• List of 1956 deathsatIMDb
• List of 1956 birthsatIMDb