The Top 10 Films of the 1940s

The 1940s were not only a significant era in history, but also in film history. Film is frequently a reflection of the times. Particularly for those of us who weren’t around during World War II, films from that period are how we experience the war’s impact on the world. War movies became fairly common in the 40s (i.e. Sergeant York [1941] and In Which We Serve [1942]). These productions were sources of great entertainment, yet they could also be sources of war propaganda.

Film noir was also starting to be a commonplace. The use of dark settings and shady characters in films was a notable shift from the common film narrative. The Maltese Falcon (1941) is one of the earliest examples.

If you missed my article on The Top 10 Films of the 1930s, you can read it here. Without further ado (and in no particular order)…The Top 10 Films of the 1940s!

A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

David Niven plays Peter Carter, a British soldier who was supposed to die in one of the last battles of World War II. However, the angel that was supposed to take him to heaven just missed him. Peter then falls in love with June (Kim Hunter), an American servicewoman. However, the aforementioned angel, Conductor 71 (Marius Goring) confronts Peter and says he must go to heaven with him. Peter refuses and does what he can to convince the powers that be to let him live.

This is a love story about the determination to keep love alive, and without a doubt, one of the greatest love stories of all time!

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

The combination of Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart is a sure-fire formula for a fantastic and hilarious comedy!

Hepburn plays Tracy Lord, a Philadelphia socialite who is about to be married. She finds herself in a pickle when she begins to develop feelings for the tabloid reporter (Stewart) tasked with writing about the occasion. Adding insult to injury (figuratively and literally), her ex-husband (Grant) shows up to complicate things. These turns of events make for a great mixed-up comedy.

The screenplay has some of the best-written dialogue in film history.

(example)

“Doggone it, C.K. Dexter Haven. Either I’m gonna sock you or you’re gonna sock me.”

“Shall we toss a coin?”

One-liners like this crack me up (par for the course for Hepburn and Grant – what a duo!), and this movie is chock full of them!

Rope (1948)

This story revolves around two men who strangle their former classmate to death right before a dinner party. They decide to celebrate the perfection of their crime by hiding the body in a chest and draping a tablecloth over it, using it as a buffet table. As the night progresses, one of the culprits starts to act paranoid, which garners the attention of the boys’ former professor (James Stewart).

This is a pure Alfred Hitchcock classic! The Master of Suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat with this film. His always-brilliant direction deviates from the norm as he opted for very long takes and very few cuts in Rope. Rope was originally a play by Patrick Hamilton, and Hitchcock filmed it much like a play would be performed, and in real-time. The methods used in creating this masterpiece still amaze me.

To Be or Not to Be (1942)

I think this film was my first foray into the world of Jack Benny. In a way, I’m glad because this was a great introduction to him. His comedic talents are infallible in this hilarious movie about the war. You know…“hilarious” and “war” seem so contradictory, but this generation did an incredible job of making light of the darkest period in their lives.

Benny plays Joseph Tura, a member of an acting troupe in occupied Poland who decides to use the troupe to outwit the Nazis. The troupe disguises themselves as Nazis in order to prevent a spy from reaching the Germans. Yet another example of The Greatest Generation’s ability to cope with devastation through humor.

The Naked City (1948)

The release of The Maltese Falcon unleashed a slew of film noir pieces. The Naked City is a noteworthy follow-up. This murder-mystery explores dark locations, such as the real-life ghettos in New York City. This gives a great sense of realism to the story. The plot has many twists and turns that make this a remarkable detective story with an unforgettable climax!

The Third Man (1949)

Film noir makes its presence known on this list. The Third Man is another great example of that film category. Just like The Naked City, the authentic locations leave their mark on the story and, in this case, post-war Vienna. Joseph Cotten plays Holly Martins, a man visiting Vienna to see his childhood friend Harry Lime (Orson Welles). However, Martins inadvertently finds himself entangled in an investigation involving Lime’s disappearance.

There is an iconic scene at the Wiener Riesenrad, a tall Ferris wheel in the heart of Vienna. Lime has a memorable monologue about the insignificance of society, and the unforgettable finale takes place in the sewers, which represent the underbelly of Vienna. I just love how director Carol Reed turned the real locations into characters in their own right.

Beauty and the Beast [La belle et la bête] (1946)

Before the classic 1991 Disney film and the 2017 remake, there was this beautiful film: the first cinematic adaptation of Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s story. Beauty and the Beast was well-shot and the set pieces are some of the best I’ve seen in a film. The exterior shots of the Beast’s castle were filmed at a real French chateau. I appreciate that choice by director Jean Cocteau because the beauty of that location gives the perfect “fairy tale” feel to this story. For all those who love the aforementioned Disney films, I implore you: watch this one.

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

I love a good comedy, and sometimes, I love a good dark comedy. Kind Hearts and Coronets is one of the earliest examples of a great dark comedy. Most people would initially perceive a plot about murder as disturbing, but I dare you not to laugh at this film.

Louis D’Ascoyne Mazzini (Dennis Price), the 10th Duke of Chalfon plots to kill all nine of the people ahead of him in line for the dukedom. They are all members of the D’Ascoyne family (all hilariously played by Sir Alec Guinness). Killing nine people may be a challenge for some, but in Mazzini’s case, it may be a little too easy. I just love the writing and comedy in this film. I can only imagine the theater audiences roaring with laughter!

Detour (1945)

B-movies are not typically my thing, but Detour was excellent for that kind of movie. It is a recent addition to the Criterion Collection, and that says a lot about a film. This film is one of the original deviations from traditional storytelling, involving both main characters being shady. I praise the originality of it, and I consider it a landmark film.

It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)

This is one of the best feel-good movies of all time, and one of my favorite Christmas movies, to boot. All of the characters are likable, and I just love the way they connect with one another.

Aloysius T. McKeever (Victor Moore) is a homeless man who sneaks into a boarded-up mansion every winter. Eventually, several more people move in, much to Aloysius’ initial reluctance. Michael J. O’Connor (the owner of the mansion) finds out about the new tenants. He pretends to be a bum named Mike and wins a spot in the home so that he can keep tabs on it.

I’m already laughing just writing about this film – it is as hilarious as it is heart-warming.

Happy watching!