Top 10 Movies of the 1940s

this decade saw Hollywood reflect the

this decade saw Hollywood reflect the changes in society and technology in

changes in society and technology in

changes in society and technology in some landmark films welcome to

some landmark films welcome to

some landmark films welcome to watchmojo.com and today in this

watchmojo.com and today in this

watchmojo.com and today in this installment of our series on the

installment of our series on the

installment of our series on the greatest movies of all time we’re

greatest movies of all time we’re

greatest movies of all time we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 movies of the 1940s is looking at you

movies of the 1940s is looking at you

movies of the 1940s is looking at you kid for our series of the best movies of

kid for our series of the best movies of

kid for our series of the best movies of all time we chosen 10 movies per decade

all time we chosen 10 movies per decade

all time we chosen 10 movies per decade based on their iconic status critical

based on their iconic status critical

based on their iconic status critical acclaim box office success and

acclaim box office success and

acclaim box office success and watchability

watchability

watchability and just so you know we’re not

and just so you know we’re not

and just so you know we’re not necessarily choosing the movies your

necessarily choosing the movies your

necessarily choosing the movies your film studies professor would pick so sit

film studies professor would pick so sit

film studies professor would pick so sit back and relax as we explore the highest

back and relax as we explore the highest

back and relax as we explore the highest highs and lowest lows of a tumultuous

highs and lowest lows of a tumultuous

highs and lowest lows of a tumultuous decade yeah number 10 the Great Dictator

decade yeah number 10 the Great Dictator

decade yeah number 10 the Great Dictator hey famous never one to shy away from

hey famous never one to shy away from

hey famous never one to shy away from controversy Charlie Chaplin released

controversy Charlie Chaplin released

controversy Charlie Chaplin released this anti-nazi film at the start of

this anti-nazi film at the start of

this anti-nazi film at the start of World War two – freaking Damon that

World War two – freaking Damon that

World War two – freaking Damon that she’s a cockapoo relative another movie

she’s a cockapoo relative another movie

she’s a cockapoo relative another movie coming out satirizing Hitler and his

coming out satirizing Hitler and his

coming out satirizing Hitler and his regime the movie follows a Jewish barber

regime the movie follows a Jewish barber

regime the movie follows a Jewish barber as he attempts to avoid imprisonment by

as he attempts to avoid imprisonment by

as he attempts to avoid imprisonment by Nazi troops though it was banned in some

Nazi troops though it was banned in some

Nazi troops though it was banned in some parts of Europe the great dictator

parts of Europe the great dictator

parts of Europe the great dictator eventually earned millions at the box

eventually earned millions at the box

eventually earned millions at the box office

office

office landed five Oscar nominations and

landed five Oscar nominations and

landed five Oscar nominations and signaled Chaplin’s complete move to

signaled Chaplin’s complete move to

signaled Chaplin’s complete move to talking pictures soldiers in the name of

talking pictures soldiers in the name of

talking pictures soldiers in the name of democracy let us all unite

number nine the Treasure of the Sierra

number nine the Treasure of the Sierra Madre long as it’s all fine the noble

Madre long as it’s all fine the noble

Madre long as it’s all fine the noble Brotherhood will last but when the piles

Brotherhood will last but when the piles

Brotherhood will last but when the piles of gold begin to grow that’s when the

of gold begin to grow that’s when the

of gold begin to grow that’s when the trouble starts no one ever said that

trouble starts no one ever said that

trouble starts no one ever said that being a gold prospector is easy and when

being a gold prospector is easy and when

being a gold prospector is easy and when it’s further complicated by distrustful

it’s further complicated by distrustful

it’s further complicated by distrustful partners and dangerous Bandidos it can

partners and dangerous Bandidos it can

partners and dangerous Bandidos it can be downright life-threatening I got

be downright life-threatening I got

be downright life-threatening I got three of them credit me with three how

three of them credit me with three how

three of them credit me with three how many Duke a couple I guess I’m one up on

many Duke a couple I guess I’m one up on

many Duke a couple I guess I’m one up on you but I got born you did pop I got

you but I got born you did pop I got

you but I got born you did pop I got three nice shootin name huh I did I put

three nice shootin name huh I did I put

three nice shootin name huh I did I put it all about two inches one my head one

it all about two inches one my head one

it all about two inches one my head one double clown say featuring Humphrey

double clown say featuring Humphrey

double clown say featuring Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt as two penniless

Bogart and Tim Holt as two penniless

Bogart and Tim Holt as two penniless Americans looking for their fortune in

Americans looking for their fortune in

Americans looking for their fortune in Mexico this John Huston adventure is a

Mexico this John Huston adventure is a

Mexico this John Huston adventure is a darkly humorous character study on greed

darkly humorous character study on greed

darkly humorous character study on greed and morality that won several Oscars and

and morality that won several Oscars and

and morality that won several Oscars and inspired countless filmmakers so that

inspired countless filmmakers so that

inspired countless filmmakers so that all night on over here way to pick it up

all night on over here way to pick it up

all night on over here way to pick it up and going our way

and going our way

and going our way you go anyway without my gun and go

you go anyway without my gun and go

you go anyway without my gun and go quick number eight the Philadelphia

quick number eight the Philadelphia

quick number eight the Philadelphia Story you really hate me don’t you

Story you really hate me don’t you

Story you really hate me don’t you Connor no I don’t like you very much

Connor no I don’t like you very much

Connor no I don’t like you very much though this is less of a love triangle

though this is less of a love triangle

though this is less of a love triangle and more of a love square Katharine

and more of a love square Katharine

and more of a love square Katharine Hepburn plays a socialite with more

Hepburn plays a socialite with more

Hepburn plays a socialite with more suitors than she can successfully manage

suitors than she can successfully manage

suitors than she can successfully manage including her ex-husband played by Cary

including her ex-husband played by Cary

including her ex-husband played by Cary Grant oh you want to get even with your

Grant oh you want to get even with your

Grant oh you want to get even with your ex bride huh I’ll have a car pick them

ex bride huh I’ll have a car pick them

ex bride huh I’ll have a car pick them up at noon tomorrow no it’s Philadelphia

up at noon tomorrow no it’s Philadelphia

up at noon tomorrow no it’s Philadelphia casts to perfection

casts to perfection

casts to perfection it’s a smartly written classic romantic

it’s a smartly written classic romantic

it’s a smartly written classic romantic comedy that allowed audiences to

comedy that allowed audiences to

comedy that allowed audiences to reconnect with Hepburn as a star and

reconnect with Hepburn as a star and

reconnect with Hepburn as a star and kept the Hepburn grant machine moving

kept the Hepburn grant machine moving

kept the Hepburn grant machine moving while also taking home two Academy

while also taking home two Academy

while also taking home two Academy Awards ah that’s the old redhead no

Awards ah that’s the old redhead no

Awards ah that’s the old redhead no bitterness no recrimination just a good

bitterness no recrimination just a good

bitterness no recrimination just a good swift left to the jaw

this animated Disney epic was a

this animated Disney epic was a deviation from the standard cartoon fare

deviation from the standard cartoon fare

deviation from the standard cartoon fare of the time pushing the envelope by

of the time pushing the envelope by

of the time pushing the envelope by blending abstract sequences and

blending abstract sequences and

blending abstract sequences and classical music

as a feature-length film it relied

as a feature-length film it relied heavily on aesthetics and the experience

heavily on aesthetics and the experience

heavily on aesthetics and the experience including the use of Fanta sound audio

including the use of Fanta sound audio

including the use of Fanta sound audio to give the impression of a live

to give the impression of a live

to give the impression of a live orchestra it was met with a so-so

orchestra it was met with a so-so

orchestra it was met with a so-so response from commercial audiences and

response from commercial audiences and

response from commercial audiences and mixed reviews from critics but Fantasia

mixed reviews from critics but Fantasia

mixed reviews from critics but Fantasia eventually went down in history as a

eventually went down in history as a

eventually went down in history as a cinematic marble I guess nobody knew

cinematic marble I guess nobody knew

cinematic marble I guess nobody knew Harry like he did like I did number 6

Harry like he did like I did number 6

Harry like he did like I did number 6 the third man take mr. Holly Martin’s

the third man take mr. Holly Martin’s

the third man take mr. Holly Martin’s home

home

home Holly Marty’s me yeah the writer set in

Holly Marty’s me yeah the writer set in

Holly Marty’s me yeah the writer set in a war ravaged Vienna the film is a dark

a war ravaged Vienna the film is a dark

a war ravaged Vienna the film is a dark crime thriller with an innovative score

crime thriller with an innovative score

crime thriller with an innovative score an American author is on a hunt to

an American author is on a hunt to

an American author is on a hunt to figure out who may or may not be

figure out who may or may not be

figure out who may or may not be responsible for the death of his friend

responsible for the death of his friend

responsible for the death of his friend I wondered about 200 times if it really

I wondered about 200 times if it really

I wondered about 200 times if it really was an accident

work differences Glick is dead isn’t he

work differences Glick is dead isn’t he shot in stark black-and-white and often

shot in stark black-and-white and often

shot in stark black-and-white and often at odd angles it’s visual style matches

at odd angles it’s visual style matches

at odd angles it’s visual style matches its mysterious storytelling style to

its mysterious storytelling style to

its mysterious storytelling style to produce film noir of the highest order

one farm it’s a couple of miles I don’t

one farm it’s a couple of miles I don’t walk there for my dogs wasn’t creeped

walk there for my dogs wasn’t creeped

walk there for my dogs wasn’t creeped out number five

out number five

out number five The Grapes of Wrath we lived here 50

The Grapes of Wrath we lived here 50

The Grapes of Wrath we lived here 50 years same place everybody’s got to get

years same place everybody’s got to get

years same place everybody’s got to get off everybody’s leaving going out to

off everybody’s leaving going out to

off everybody’s leaving going out to California the Great Depression hit the

California the Great Depression hit the

California the Great Depression hit the world hard including the hard worn

world hard including the hard worn

world hard including the hard worn farmers of the Midwest the film based on

farmers of the Midwest the film based on

farmers of the Midwest the film based on John Steinbeck’s milestone and Pulitzer

John Steinbeck’s milestone and Pulitzer

John Steinbeck’s milestone and Pulitzer Prize winning novel follows the Joad

Prize winning novel follows the Joad

Prize winning novel follows the Joad family as they travel west towards

family as they travel west towards

family as they travel west towards California in search of better

California in search of better

California in search of better opportunities and a chance at life

opportunities and a chance at life

opportunities and a chance at life Jordan look human

Jordan look human

Jordan look human two prosperous although bleak and harsh

two prosperous although bleak and harsh

two prosperous although bleak and harsh in nature the Academy award-winning film

in nature the Academy award-winning film

in nature the Academy award-winning film and its actors accurately captured the

and its actors accurately captured the

and its actors accurately captured the difficulties for many of America’s poor

difficulties for many of America’s poor

difficulties for many of America’s poor at a time when economic conditions were

at a time when economic conditions were

at a time when economic conditions were at their worst

at their worst

at their worst I can’t wipe us out that can’t elites

I can’t wipe us out that can’t elites

I can’t wipe us out that can’t elites will go on forever pagas where are the

will go on forever pagas where are the

will go on forever pagas where are the people

I’m trying to find my sister I have

I’m trying to find my sister I have reason to believe that she’s here in San

reason to believe that she’s here in San

reason to believe that she’s here in San Francisco with a man by the name of

Francisco with a man by the name of

Francisco with a man by the name of Thursby Floyd Thursby number four The

Thursby Floyd Thursby number four The

Thursby Floyd Thursby number four The Maltese Falcon

Maltese Falcon

Maltese Falcon why were you tailing Thursday I wasn’t

why were you tailing Thursday I wasn’t

why were you tailing Thursday I wasn’t miles wasn’t but the simple reason we

miles wasn’t but the simple reason we

miles wasn’t but the simple reason we had a client was a client sorry I can’t

had a client was a client sorry I can’t

had a client was a client sorry I can’t tell you that

tell you that

tell you that a detective is tasked with solving the

a detective is tasked with solving the

a detective is tasked with solving the murder of his partner finding a

murder of his partner finding a

murder of his partner finding a mysterious Falcon statue dealing with

mysterious Falcon statue dealing with

mysterious Falcon statue dealing with some shady characters and a not that

some shady characters and a not that

some shady characters and a not that trustworthy love interest so did you

trustworthy love interest so did you

trustworthy love interest so did you kill him who put that bright idea in

kill him who put that bright idea in

kill him who put that bright idea in your head both critics and audiences

your head both critics and audiences

your head both critics and audiences heralded this John Huston masterpiece as

heralded this John Huston masterpiece as

heralded this John Huston masterpiece as the quintessential murder mystery of its

the quintessential murder mystery of its

the quintessential murder mystery of its time with Humphrey Bogart Sam Spade

time with Humphrey Bogart Sam Spade

time with Humphrey Bogart Sam Spade leading the charge

leading the charge

leading the charge I know slap don’t take it and like it

I know slap don’t take it and like it

I know slap don’t take it and like it its artistic use of camera angles along

its artistic use of camera angles along

its artistic use of camera angles along with its gritty detective driven plot

with its gritty detective driven plot

with its gritty detective driven plot and masterful melodrama still makes it a

and masterful melodrama still makes it a

and masterful melodrama still makes it a cinematic favorite what is it

the stuff that dreams are made of but

the stuff that dreams are made of but you stopped it for I want you to take a

you stopped it for I want you to take a

you stopped it for I want you to take a good look at that face number three it’s

good look at that face number three it’s

good look at that face number three it’s a wonderful life

a wonderful life

a wonderful life hey CI I don’t want one for one night I

hey CI I don’t want one for one night I

hey CI I don’t want one for one night I want something for a thousand in one

want something for a thousand in one

want something for a thousand in one night it’s a timeless feel good film

night it’s a timeless feel good film

night it’s a timeless feel good film there to remind you of the value of life

there to remind you of the value of life

there to remind you of the value of life headlined by Jimmy Stewart this Frank

headlined by Jimmy Stewart this Frank

headlined by Jimmy Stewart this Frank Capra classic follows a man as he comes

Capra classic follows a man as he comes

Capra classic follows a man as he comes to terms with the meaning of his

to terms with the meaning of his

to terms with the meaning of his existence as well as the importance of

existence as well as the importance of

existence as well as the importance of family and friendship

family and friendship

family and friendship Jamie Chloe oh I could eat job it’s a

Jamie Chloe oh I could eat job it’s a

Jamie Chloe oh I could eat job it’s a wonderful life initially lost money but

wonderful life initially lost money but

wonderful life initially lost money but it’s since become essential holiday

it’s since become essential holiday

it’s since become essential holiday viewing that keeps audiences coming back

viewing that keeps audiences coming back

viewing that keeps audiences coming back generation after generation of all the

generation after generation of all the

generation after generation of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the

gin joints in all the towns in all the

gin joints in all the towns in all the world

world

world she walks into mine number two

she walks into mine number two

she walks into mine number two Casablanca is looking at eel kid

Casablanca is looking at eel kid

Casablanca is looking at eel kid the tumult of the era found its way into

the tumult of the era found its way into

the tumult of the era found its way into many movies and this is one of the most

many movies and this is one of the most

many movies and this is one of the most notable Humphrey Bogart plays the owner

notable Humphrey Bogart plays the owner

notable Humphrey Bogart plays the owner of a club in Casablanca Morocco which

of a club in Casablanca Morocco which

of a club in Casablanca Morocco which sees its fair share of expatriates and

sees its fair share of expatriates and

sees its fair share of expatriates and refugees seeking solace from the growing

refugees seeking solace from the growing

refugees seeking solace from the growing hostility of the Nazi regime

hostility of the Nazi regime

hostility of the Nazi regime I told Strasser you wouldn’t find the

I told Strasser you wouldn’t find the

I told Strasser you wouldn’t find the letters here but I told my men to be

letters here but I told my men to be

letters here but I told my men to be especially destructive you know how that

especially destructive you know how that

especially destructive you know how that impresses Germans in addition to its

impresses Germans in addition to its

impresses Germans in addition to its stellar storytelling and impeccable

stellar storytelling and impeccable

stellar storytelling and impeccable acting there’s romance danger bogey and

acting there’s romance danger bogey and

acting there’s romance danger bogey and Ingrid Bergman it’s a recipe for a

Ingrid Bergman it’s a recipe for a

Ingrid Bergman it’s a recipe for a classic that you’ll regret not

classic that you’ll regret not

classic that you’ll regret not experiencing maybe not today maybe not

experiencing maybe not today maybe not

experiencing maybe not today maybe not tomorrow but soon and for the rest of

tomorrow but soon and for the rest of

tomorrow but soon and for the rest of your life

your life

your life what about us we’ll always have Paris

what about us we’ll always have Paris

what about us we’ll always have Paris before we unveil our pick for best movie

before we unveil our pick for best movie

before we unveil our pick for best movie of the 1940s here are a few honorable

of the 1940s here are a few honorable

of the 1940s here are a few honorable mentions handle just automobile

mentions handle just automobile

mentions handle just automobile insurance or car of all kinds fire

insurance or car of all kinds fire

insurance or car of all kinds fire earthquake theft public liability group

earthquake theft public liability group

earthquake theft public liability group insurance industrial stuff and so on

insurance industrial stuff and so on

insurance industrial stuff and so on right down the line accident insurance

right down the line accident insurance

right down the line accident insurance accident insurance sure mr. dietrichson

accident insurance sure mr. dietrichson

accident insurance sure mr. dietrichson I’ve given you every chance to make

I’ve given you every chance to make

I’ve given you every chance to make something yourself I gave up my own job

something yourself I gave up my own job

something yourself I gave up my own job when you asked me I gave up the best

when you asked me I gave up the best

when you asked me I gave up the best years of my life and what have you done

years of my life and what have you done

years of my life and what have you done you flopped couldn’t even hold that job

you flopped couldn’t even hold that job

you flopped couldn’t even hold that job in the drugstore the lovely rooms

in the drugstore the lovely rooms

in the drugstore the lovely rooms loveless room you’ve ever seen

loveless room you’ve ever seen

loveless room you’ve ever seen everything is kept just as mrs. Dewinter

everything is kept just as mrs. Dewinter

everything is kept just as mrs. Dewinter lighted nothing has been altered since

lighted nothing has been altered since

lighted nothing has been altered since that last night I am the kid that’s all

that last night I am the kid that’s all

that last night I am the kid that’s all the handy I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy I’m

the handy I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy I’m

the handy I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy I’m glad I am I’m a real eyed Yankee Doodle

glad I am I’m a real eyed Yankee Doodle

glad I am I’m a real eyed Yankee Doodle made my name and fame and boohoo

made my name and fame and boohoo

made my name and fame and boohoo just as mr. doom day by riding on a pony

number 1 Citizen Kane I sympathize with

number 1 Citizen Kane I sympathize with you Charles Foster Kane is a scoundrel

you Charles Foster Kane is a scoundrel

you Charles Foster Kane is a scoundrel his paper should be run out of town a

his paper should be run out of town a

his paper should be run out of town a committee should be formed to boycott

committee should be formed to boycott

committee should be formed to boycott him widely considered the greatest film

him widely considered the greatest film

him widely considered the greatest film ever made this tour de force tells the

ever made this tour de force tells the

ever made this tour de force tells the life story of an immensely wealthy

life story of an immensely wealthy

life story of an immensely wealthy newspaper magnate through flashbacks

newspaper magnate through flashbacks

newspaper magnate through flashbacks what were Kane’s last words

what were Kane’s last words

what were Kane’s last words do you remember boys huh yes we what

do you remember boys huh yes we what

do you remember boys huh yes we what were the last words he said on earth

were the last words he said on earth

were the last words he said on earth maybe he told us all about himself on

maybe he told us all about himself on

maybe he told us all about himself on his deathbed maybe he didn’t pretty

his deathbed maybe he didn’t pretty

his deathbed maybe he didn’t pretty clearly based on the life of William

clearly based on the life of William

clearly based on the life of William Randolph Hearst the IRA’s biggest

Randolph Hearst the IRA’s biggest

Randolph Hearst the IRA’s biggest publishing mogul the film was the

publishing mogul the film was the

publishing mogul the film was the brainchild of Orson Welles who

brainchild of Orson Welles who

brainchild of Orson Welles who painstakingly created a masterpiece I

painstakingly created a masterpiece I

painstakingly created a masterpiece I expect to lose a million dollars next

expect to lose a million dollars next

expect to lose a million dollars next year you know mr. Thatcher at the rate

year you know mr. Thatcher at the rate

year you know mr. Thatcher at the rate of a million dollars a year I’ll have to

of a million dollars a year I’ll have to

of a million dollars a year I’ll have to close this place in 60 years

close this place in 60 years

close this place in 60 years by utilizing groundbreaking cinematic

by utilizing groundbreaking cinematic

by utilizing groundbreaking cinematic and storytelling techniques Welles

and storytelling techniques Welles

and storytelling techniques Welles insured Citizen Kane won the Oscar for

insured Citizen Kane won the Oscar for

insured Citizen Kane won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and stood apart

Best Original Screenplay and stood apart

Best Original Screenplay and stood apart from its contemporaries for generations

do you agree with our list what’s your

do you agree with our list what’s your favorite movie of the 40’s for more

favorite movie of the 40’s for more

favorite movie of the 40’s for more thrilling top 10s published every day be

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