The Great Gatsby

Poorly directed, but Alan Ladd and Shelley Winters put in terrific performances. There's a climactic special effect moment that's unexpected. I'm not even sure if it was a good or bad effect. It was just... unusual.

Engrossing adaptation of Fitzgerald's novel is surprisingly well-done, with Ladd a terrific Gatsby, and Winters shining in a brief bit as a harbinger for her future all-or-nothing performances.

Easily overlooked but Ladd better plays Gatsby's scrappy background. (It's on YouTube.)

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is considered a great piece of literature, right? Well, this 1949 movie adaptation starring Alan Ladd felt like any kind of Hollywood B-movie. Let's just say they didn't deliver the greatness in Gatsby, but it was a alright standard crime movie this era was known for.