Old Hollywood movies are so much fun to watch. During the 1920s to the ’60s, movies focused on dialogue, costumes, and sets. There were little special effects, especially those made by a computer. The 1940s was an especially busy year for the movie industry. Thousands of films were released.
During the ’40s, technicolor was advancing. More people had the option to use technicolor. Still, most movies during this decade were shot and released in black and white because of how expensive these effects were.
So, what kind of movies were released during this decade? The ’40s saw a lot of movies surrounding war and romance, likely because of World War II. Movies like “Ships with Wings” and “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” were popular. Even crime movies, dramas, and musicals were reworked to include war in some way, shape, or form. (Interested in movies from the 1950s? Check out the best forgotten movies of the 1950s.)
A popular and growing film genre in the 1940s was dark cinema, also known as film noir. These serious films were full of tension and shock. Dark cinema became popular after World War II. Not everything was doom or gloom. Musicals were also popular, but they had a war spin on them. For instance, some of the more popular movie musicals of the ’40s are “On the Town,” “Going My Way,” “State Fair,” and “Meet Me in St. Louis.” But what about underrated and hidden gems?
To compile this list of the best forgotten movies of the ’40s, 24/7 Tempo consulted various entertainment websites. Some of these include IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. To learn about the history of film in the 1940s, we also reviewed a document by the University of California Press.
“The Shop Around the Corner” (1940)
- Director: Ernst Lubitsch
- Cast: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan
“The Shop Around the Corner” was released on Jan. 12, 1940, in the United States. This hidden gem is considered by some critics as one of the best romance films ever produced. The film didn’t excel at the box office but became a classic to many. It was even remade into a musical titled “In the Good Old Summertime,” just nine years later.
On Rotten Tomatoes, “The Shop Around the Corner” has an audience score of 91% with over 100,00 reviews. The Tomatometer score is even higher at 99%. Who can deny this is a beautiful love story?
“Leave Her to Heaven” (1945)
- Director: John M. Stahl
- Cast: Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, Vincent Price
“Leave Her to Heaven” isn’t too underrated, but it’s sometimes forgotten and deserves a lot more love. This film blurs genres, plays with color and personality, and has an interesting plot. It has a cult following and was released on Dec. 20, 1945.
“Leave Her to Heaven” was one of the few movies of the 1940s shot in technicolor. It tells the story of a jealous and obsessive socialite after she marries. The movie was a success and won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography – Color.
“First Comes Courage” (1943)
- Director: Dorothy Arzner
- Cast: Merle Oberon, Brian Aherne, Carl Esmond
“First Comes Courage” was one of a long list of war dramas released in the ’40s. “First Comes Courage” was released on July 29, 1943, by Columbia Pictures. It was directed by one of the only female directors at the time.
This dark war drama did OK upon its release. However, now it’s beloved by old-movie lovers. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film scored an 80% on the Tomatometer.
“The Letter” (1940)
- Director: William Wyler
- Cast: Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson
It’s hard to see how “The Letter” was ever forgotten. This incredible 1940 film is based on the 1927 play “The Letter” by W. Somerset Maugham. It’s an American crime film noir melodrama that can leave viewers on the edge of their seats. Spoilers ahead as the first scene in the film is shocking. It starts strong with Leslie Crosbie shooting somebody dead and it only continues to grow wilder.
The movie was released on Nov. 22, 1940, in New York City. Although it didn’t win any Academy Awards, it was nominated for seven.
“Three Strangers” (1946)
- Director: Jean Negulesco
- Cast: Sydney Greenstreet, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Peter Lorre
Have you ever heard of the film “Three Strangers?” It was released on Jan. 28, 1946, in the United States. It had a budget of $457,000 but earned a whopping $1.6 million. This American film noir crime drama was incredibly popular for a reason. The director did such a good job of building fear and tension. The costumes alone are beautiful and intriguing.
The ratings for this movie are mixed. It has a 7.0 on IMDb but an audience score of 51% on Rotten Tomatoes.
“The Long Voyage Home” (1940)
- Director: John Ford
- Cast: John Wayne, Thomas Mitchell, Ian Hunter
“The Long Voyage Home” is a fun American drama with enjoyable characters. Although now a cult classic, this film lost money at the box office. It had a budget of $682,495 but only earned $580,129. While the film didn’t make its money back, it was nominated for many awards. It even won New York Film Critics Circle Awards for Best Acting and Best Director.
“The Long Voyage Home” was released on Oct. 8, 1940, in New York City. This hidden gem has a Tomatometer score of 100%.
“Murder, My Sweet” (1944)
- Director: Edward Dmytryk
- Cast: Dick Powell, Claire Trevor, Anne Shirley
Just the title of this movie alone is enough to spark interest. “Murder, My Sweet” was released on Dec. 9, 1944, in the United States. Like most movies of this decade, it was an American film noir. This iconic film influenced the genre as one of the first.
The film earned $597,000 over a budget of around $400,000. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an audience score of 86%. It also scored a 94% on the Tomatometer.
“The Spiral Staircase” (1946)
- Director: Robert Siodmak
- Cast: Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Ethel Barrymore
Not all movies during the 1940s were dramas or romances. Quite a few thriller and horror films were released, including “The Spiral Staircase,” released on Feb. 6, 1946. It’s a chilling story that follows a mute woman as she’s stalked by a serial killer. The movie has a lot of elements including romance, drama, noir, horror, and even gothic.
“Vacation from Marriage” (1945)
- Director: Alexander Korda
- Cast: Robert Donat, Deborah Kerr, Glynis Johns
“Vacation from Marriage” is also known as “Perfect Strangers.” This film is a romantic British drama that is swoon-worthy. It was released on Oct. 15, 1945. The movie tells the story of a married couple and their struggles during World War II.
The movie was so loved that it won an Academy Award for Best Original Motion Picture Story. This hidden gem doesn’t have many reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has only been reviewed by around 100 people.
“I Walked with a Zombie” (1943)
- Director: Jacques Tourneur
- Cast: James Ellison, Frances Dee, Tom Conway
Another horror movie to make our list is “I Walked with a Zombie.” This horror film was released on April 21, 1943, in New York City. It tells the story of a traveling nurse who experiences voodoo rituals and the dead. During its release, the movie didn’t gain a lot of love but it’s now a cult classic. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 85% score on the Tomatometer.
“Cat People” (1942)
- Director: Jacques Tourneur
- Cast: Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Tom Conway
Last but not least is the supernatural horror film, “Cat People.” It was released on Dec. 25, 1942, in the United States. It follows newlywed Irena Dubrovna as she believes she’s a descendant of a tribe of cats. The movie takes a dark turn as Irene becomes obsessed and jealous of her husband’s assistant.
“Cat People” is an interesting film. It had mixed reviews when first released, but now has a small cult following. On Rotten Tomatoes, this strange supernatural film has a 92% on the Tomatometer. (Another great decade for movies was the 1970s. Check out our article on the best ’70s movies that will never get old.)