As later documents showed, his teachers praised him with high words, partially influenced by his forced political involvement, which left a strong mark on his later career.

The true success comes with his leading role in 1949's Lúdas Matyi, the first Hungarian color film, in which his life-filled folk-tale character gained success all over the country, and abroad - he became the best male actor on the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival of 1950, the highest ranking prize in socialist countries of the era.

As the political climate pressed filmmakers for more realistic presentation of young peasants, workers, Soós seemed ideal to fill this role, especially as he was "raised from poverty", and achieved a lot compared to his comrades.

He spends 3 years commuting between filming in the capital and Debrecen, where surrounded by fear and bad reputation of being a poster boy of the communists.

Under hospital treatment after a suicide attempt, he falls in love with his doctor, Hedvig Perjési, leading to a passionate and rough relationship.

His life was dramatized by Miklós Hubay in his 1974 drama Tüzet Viszek and 1973 film Imre Soós (directed by Pál Sándor), while his relationship with Hedvig Perjési was novelized by Péter Müller in the book Részeg Józanok.