Top Ten Films Of The 1940s

Now we are getting to my favorite decades in these "top ten" list. I've complained before about the low quality of films in other decades. But cinema, especially American cinema, from the 1920s-1940s, to me, is unbeatable.

Hollywood was a true dream factory back then. Some people may not like that. Many may not find enjoyment in pure Hollywood escapism. But I do. That is one of the great things about movies, their ability to take us away. To transport us to places which don't resemble our world. Places not plagued with our daily problems.

During the 1940s we would see some of the great screwball comedies like Howard Hawks' "His Girl Friday" (1940). One of the fastest talking comedies I've ever seen, only the Marx Brothers in "Duck Soup" (1933) can match it. We would also see many films dealing with WW2 and patriotic pride. Two of the greatest films to deal with life at home were the Oscar winning "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) and "Since You Went Away" (1944), both of which I have already included in my "Masterpiece Film Series".

But cinema from other countries was just as amazing, but taking a totally different approach. The war left Europe in ruins. They weren't looking for escapism. They wanted to see films which showed life as it was for them. This gave rise to the Italian neo-realism movement. In France the great Marcel Carne made what many consider his masterpiece "Children of Paradise" (1945), interrupted as an anti-war parable.

Though this list, more than any of the previous list, will have mostly American films. These are the films which have left the biggest impact on me. Those 20 years, between the 1920s-1940s, I feel showed Hollywood at its peak. These are the movies I find myself going back to repeatedly. Just think of all the great filmmakers and films which were made in this single decade. I didn't even come close to capturing all the magic the decade produced. And I'm even including a runner's up list! But that isn't even enough. Just think, Orson Welles, John Ford, Charlie Chaplin, Preston Sturges, Ernst Lubitsch, Billy Wilder, William Wyler and Frank Capra were all alive making films which many considered their best. You will see their films on this list. These are the films I think young film buffs should throw themselves into. Take a break from today's current movies, they aren't going anywhere, but films from this decade and those before it are sadly becoming forgotten. Youthful audiences aren't turning to these films. This is where your attention should be. These are the films you should be studying.

This list is not perfect, not by a long shot, but hopefully it will serve as a nice introduction, a starting place, for people to begin with. Unlike other lists, this one will be done in order of preference, though I may regret that tomorrow. Here are some of my favorite films of the 1940s.

1. THE BICYCLE THIEF (1949, Dir. Vittoria De Sica; Italy) - This is not the most characteristic film of the 1940s but it is my personal favorite movie of all-time. There was no way I couldn't include it on the list. For me it is the best Italian neo-realist films ever made. It is hard for me to say what makes this film seem so perfect to me. If I told you the story, you might find it boring, though the title gives a lot away. But it isn't the story, on the surface, which makes this a memorable masterpiece, it is what is underneath. Here is simply a film about people. People we come to identify with. We struggle along with this family. Their concerns become our concerns. The film was even given an honorary Oscar and was nominated for "Best Screenplay". De Sica won the "Best Director" award from the National Board of Review as well.

2. MRS. MINIVER (1942, Dir. William Wyler; U.S.) - Another one of my all-time favorites. Here we have a WW2 story told from the British perspective. Supposedly, British moral was very low by the time this film was made. This film was an attempt to inspire nationalist pride. The film was nominated for 12 Oscars walking away with 6 including "Best Picture", "Director" and "Actress" (Greer Garson). A sequel was made many years later, "The Miniver Story" (1950) which brought back Garson and Walter Pidgeon, and while it is a good film, it doesn't have the heartfelt sentimentality and emotion of this great film.

3. CASABLANCA (1943, Dir. Michael Curtiz; U.S.) -I would have gotten in a lot of trouble if I didn't include this one. An American classic. Bogart, Bergman and Paul Henreid will forever be associated with this movie. They have reached icon status. Of course the film won the "Best Picture" Oscar as well as ones for "Best Director" and "Screenplay" but was nominated for 5 other awards.

4. CITIZEN KANE (1941, Dir. Orson Welles; U.S.) - Another one of those American classics I'd have to include on this list. But Welles' masterpiece was clearly one of the most influential American films of all time with its advanced editing and story structure. Many claim Welles never directed a better picture than this his debut film. The movie was nominated for 9 Oscars winning one for its screenplay. It has even caused a debate about the merits of the Oscar awards. The film lost the "Best Picture" race to John Ford's "How Green Was My Valley" (1941). Many claim this was one of the Academy's great mistakes.

5. THE GREAT DICTATOR (1940, Dir. Charlie Chaplin; U.S.) -Chaplin's first full sound film was an attack on Hitler at a time when American movies weren't really addressing the conflict in Europe. A small group of film buffs see this movie as too preachy and sentimental (as I have said before this country has a big problem with sentimentality). Others say Chaplin doesn't work well in the sound medium. I don't know, these kind of remarks have become more cliche arguments to me rather than insight comments. "The Great Dictator" is a masterpiece in my opinion. Not Chaplin's greatest work but it belongs beside his best. Yes it is sentimental. And yes it is preachy, the famous last scene. But, so what? It doesn't ruin the movie for me at all. The film even went on to earn 5 Oscar nominations including "Best Picture", "Actor" (Chaplin) and "Screenplay". Co-starring is Paulette Goddard and Jack Oakie.

6. RANDOM HARVEST (1942, Dir. Mervyn LeRoy; U.S.) - It could be considered an odd choice. And the plot could be thought of as pretty goofy. But the movie is able to pull my heartstrings in a way few films do. It is one of my favorite movies. Ronald Coleman is a WW1 soldier who loses his memory and forgets his life with Greer Garson, whom he was suppose to marry. At its time of release it was a big hit and was nominated for 7 Oscars but lost everything to Wyler's "Mrs. Miniver".

7. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946, Dir. Frank Capra; U.S.) - A holiday favorite. This film has probably been seen by more people than any other film on this list. I think it is Capra's best film. And is one Jimmy Stewart is most often associated with. It has some pretty dark moments but its ending can make a stone cry, to quote Orson Welles (he was talking about a different movie).

8. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944, Dir. Billy Wilder; U.S.) - This Billy Wilder noir film could be one of the most perfectly constructed films of all time. It is one of the noir films which all others are measure against, if only for its popularity. There were some better movies (check out my 1950s list) but the film shows Wilder's great versatility. Based on a James M. Cain novel with an adapted screenplay written by the great Raymond Chandler. Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson star in this classic.

9. CHILDREN OF PARADISE (1946, Dir. Marcel Carne; France) - Made during WW2 and released shortly after most people spend time talking about the great difficulties Carne and his crew had to go through to get the film made. It is pure eye candy and a true testament to the power of cinema that the film was made in the first place. I don't know if it is my favorite Carne film, nearly all of his films are masterpieces, but the film is one no film lover should go without seeing.

10. UNFAITHFULLY YOURS (1948, Dir. Preston Sturges; U.S.) - I had to include a comedy on here with all these serious war bound stories. This is my favorite Preston Sturges comedy about a conductor (Rex Harrison) who wants to murder his wife (Linda Darnell) whom he suspects his cheating on him. The film has great dialogue and memorable physical comedy, just as Sturges' best films always do. Many consider this Sturges' last great work.

RUNNER'S UP! (In no order)

1. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946, Dir. William Wyler; U.S.)

2. SINCE YOU WENT AWAY (1944, Dir. John Cromwell; U.S.)

3. (TIE) A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT (1947, Dir. Elia Kazan; U.S.)/ A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN (1945, Dir. Elia Kazan; U.S.)

4. REBECCA (1940, Dir. Alfred Hitchcok; U.S.)

5. ROME OPEN CITY (1945, Dir. Roberto Rossellini; Italy)

6. (TIE) THE MORE THE MERRIER (1943, Dir. George Stevens; U.S.)/ THE TALK OF THE TOWN (1942, Dir. George Stevens; U.S.)

7. HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO (1944, Dir. Preston Sturges; U.S.)

8. MONSIEUR VERDOUX (1947, Dir. Charlie Chaplin; U.S.)

9. THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940, Dir. Ernst Lubitsch; U.S.)

10. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940, Dir. George Cukor; U.S.)