We are indeed nearing the end of this "best films of the decade" series. There will only be one or two more after this, since I'm pretty sure I haven't yet seen 10 films from the 1920s.

The Golden Age of television was also a stellar decade for some truly classic films, due in large part, I'm sure, to the fact that television was catching on, and the movies were going to have to fight to stay relevant!

Let's jump right into it and see what kind of gems Hollywood cranked out during this famous transitional period. But, before that I would like to put in as a disclaimer that I haven't seen a few of these in a long time, so I apologize if I'm a little short on detail for some of them.

Here are the honorable mentions:

"Rear Window," "I Confess," "Rashomon," "The Searchers," "The Wild One," "Peter Pan," "The Bridge on the River Kwai," "The Hidden Fortress," "Rebel Without a Cause," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Lady and the Tramp," "Alice In Wonderland," "Teacher’s Pet," and "Cheaper By the Dozen."

10. "Vertigo"

I said before I suspected Alfred Hitchcock's day was coming, and it was! He was my top two in the honorable mentions, and here's one of his films now! If you Hitchcock fans still aren't satisfied, just trust me and stay tuned! It would probably shock any modern film buff to know that this film was actually considered a flop when it was originally released! But just like his fellow auteur, Stanley Kubrick, a number of his films needed some time to age before they would be seen as the classic masterpieces that they are now! In this one, my favorite actor of all time, Jimmy Stewart, plays a guy named Scottie, who suffers from acrophobia (a fear of high places, hence the title). After getting "vertigo" during his job as a cop, resulting in one of his fellow officers falling to his death, Scottie tries to keep to himself. But then, he is hired by a friend to follow his delusional wife around and make sure she doesn't hurt herself! Of course, he soon falls in love with his quarry. Unfortunately, his condition prevents him from keeping her from jumping off a balcony. Soon, Scottie, finds a woman who looks amazingly like the wife and begins to pursue her. Those of you who have seen the movie know that there's a twist to this plot point, but just a quick PSA, if I may. If someone you're with likes you because you remind them of their ex, dump them! This film is iconic for its psychological story as well as all of its twists and turns. It is also notable for the effect Hitchcock used to convey Stewart's sense of vertigo, which was a brand new technique at the time. The acting is great. Jimmy Stewart plays his disturbed role to perfection, and Kim Novak plays her "dual" role equally well. The film is pretty much perfect, so if you haven't seen it, you've been missing out!

9. "The Ten Commandments"

I haven't seen this movie in over nine years (meaning I was eleven at the time!), but who doesn't remember the story of Moses?! I do remember some liberties being taken with the Biblical story, but nothing that takes away from the Judeo-Christian themes that are found in the Bible story. I remember it being exciting, even with the nearly 4-hour running time, and my short eleven-year-old attention span. I also remember the effect used for the parting of the Red Sea looking pretty spectacular for the time it was made. I don't know, I probably need to watch this again at some point...

8. "The 400 Blows"

(I dare you to turn off the safe-search and Google the title.) The first and probably only foreign film you'll see me cite on these lists, this French gem is a coming-of-age story of a young boy named Antoine Doniel. He finds himself victimized by his unfairly vengeful teacher and his apathetic (or just pathetic) parents. Antoine tries to stay out of trouble, but it just seems to find him. He's clearly a boy just trying to enjoy his life, but after getting in trouble one too many times, he finds himself in the French equivalent of juvie. Fortunately, he escapes and begins running toward what he hopes is a better life. I haven't seen the sequel (I believe there's a sequel), so I have to just take the film's word for it that he found some sort of redemption. Pretty much perfect. Perfectly paced, perfectly scripted, and perfectly shot, especially with the film's iconic merry-go-round scene. What makes it more impressive is that this was Francois Truffaut's first film!

7. "Rio Bravo"

I like John Wayne movies, and this might possibly be the most fun John Wayne movie I've ever seen. John Wayne arrests a known gangster and must keep him in the jail until the marshall can arrive to take him away. This isn't easy, as the gangster's brother and their boys keep trying to break him out, and his only assistance is the town drunk, a trigger-happy, one-legged old man, and a young inexperienced fellow played by Ricky Nelson. As usual, John Wayne doesn't take crap from anyone, and the other three do their best to help as well. My favorite part, of course, is the end with the obligatory shootout where they shoot at the dynamite to stop the bad guys! (And hey, Django Unchained has something to reference now.)

6. "High Noon"

You could cut the tension with a knife in this movie, as it counts down the minutes to when the train will arrive and the outlaw Frank Miller will step off the train and hunt down the sheriff who jailed him, Will Caine. Caine is scared out of his mind, but he won't run. Although technically retired, he feels duty-bound to stay until the new sheriff arrives. Nobody will help him. After all the years of helping the town, they refuse to return the favor. Even his own wife won't stick around. So, it's up to him to stand up to the bad guys and protect the town which has abandoned him one last time. (Sounds familiar, come to think of it...)

5. "Ben-Hur"

What can I say? It's got revenge, fights, true love (am I thinking of another movie?), chariot races, Jesus...just check this one out before watching the new one!

4. "Harvey"

Jimmy Stewart has a rabbit friend nobody else can see. Nothing wrong with that, is there? Unless, maybe he's not crazy...

3. "12 Angry Men"

I just watched this film again last night, and I still can't believe they managed to make it so great. How does a film that's driven almost entirely by dialogue manage to be so intriguing? And how do we get to know the personality of every single guy without knowing their names? Of course this film is based on the play about 12 men on a jury who must decide whether to acquit or condemn a young man accused of murder. What seems like an open and shut case is turned on its head when Henry Fonda's Juror #8 voices reasonable doubt and convinces the stubborn men one-by-one to rethink their positions. Again, this movie that takes place almost entirely in one room and just uses talking will keep you on the edge until the climactic verdict is handed in!

2. "North By Northwest"

Well, here you go, Hitchcockians! Probably the closest thing to an action thriller (at least in the United States) that the 1950s had to offer, Cary Grant is a workaholic who gets caught up in international intrigue due to a simple case of mistaken identity. From being chased by crop dusters to hanging off Mt. Rushmore, this Hitchcock crowd-pleaser is just as thrilling today as it was then!

1. "On the Waterfront"

Probably one of my all-time favorites. Marlon Brando is a washed-up boxer working for the town's local crime boss along with his big brother. But then, thanks to the influence of the local priest, Brando is encouraged to stand up and tell the truth about what's been happening. The boss is none too happy, and the result is someone close to Brando being whacked. Brando must decide whether to just play ball and avoid trouble or stand up to him and set an example for the town. The story is great. Just like 12 Angry Men, it's a good picture of why it's important to stand up for your beliefs, even if you're standing alone. The acting is great, especially, of course, from Mr. Brando himself who mesmerized audiences with his passionate performance and set the bar higher for film acting. I also like the way the bad part of town is shot in a way that's simultaneously ugly and beautiful. If you haven't seen it, this oldie-but-goodie is a must-see no matter what type of films you're typically into.