Top 10 Movies of the 1940s

This decade saw Hollywood reflect the changes in society and technology in some landmark films. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today, in this installment of our series on the greatest movies of all time, we're counting down our picks for the top 10 movies of the 1940s.
Special thanks to our users Andrew A. Dennison, 14728, Philip Folta and jwiking62 for submitting the idea on our Suggest Page at WatchMojo.com/suggest!
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[@NOTJpOp4LiFe]

It's A Wonderful Life has got to be one of my favourite movies of all time, so happy it made the list !

[@louiso.4325]

Box office performance shouldn't have anything to do with the greatness of a movie.

[@Confucius_76]

wow what a purist

[@animaniac6180]

Ikr.

[@troyefantroyfan1593]

Barney Os. Citizen Kane was ignored by the public

[@lukereviewscriterion8062]

Louis O. Exactly. Many movies have done well at the box office and aren’t good at all.

[@OversikerSTUDIO]

It doesnt

[@snarkus63]

I think "Double Indemnity" deserved more than just an honorable mention.

[@daviebaggins]

I love that movie. Agreed

[@gretchendemasi768]

ya BABY STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE

[@coolhere45]

James Stewart, one of my favorite actors.

[@barbaraweaver2040]

Jimmy Stewart is my favorite actor!

[@clairehind1101]

Same

[@daveerhardt1879]

James Stewart is number 1 with me also.

[@mryoyoserpico]

Hes definitely one of my favorite actors!

[@kyleshiflet9952]

Him and Spencer Tracey are #1 in my book

[@spugesdu]

I don't envy whoever had to put this list together, it was one hell of a decade for American cinema.

[@WatchMojo]

4 clips yesterday, 3 clips today and tomorrow... and the BONUS WatchMojo.com exclusive clip is The Top 10 Songs by The Beatles, enjoy: watchmojo.com/video/id/12260/?hp

[@yoodamon]

can you make the best moviesoundtracks on action/drama and /kidsmovies ? :)

[@KillerZeli]

I know you can't satisfy everybody, but there should be at least an honorable mention for Bycicle Thieves ...

[@cotothedog]

Top 10 Claymation movies

[@jaimekerr1192]

Top 10 animated movie battles!

[@WatchMojo]

***** in production

[@CristianGarcia-ke9jh]

I've seen all of these! Also really love Laura, Mildred Pierce, Possessed, Gaslight, Notorious, Spellbound, Rope and Shadow of A Doubt ✨✨✨

[@WatchMojo]

In case you didn't notice the trend ;) - expect: Top 10 Movies of the 1950s: Sunday Top 10 Movies of the 1960s: Monday Top 10 Movies of the 1970s: Tuesday Top 10 Movies of the 1980s: Wednesday Top 10 Movies of the 1990s: Thursday Top 10 Movies of the 2000s: Friday To then be followed by the ALL-TIME top 10 list afterwards.

[@michig.297]

Looking Forward to it :)

[@FoxAllThat]

Wow I didn't even realise that Fantasia was that old!

[@ZeppelinBigFan]

I'm missing Hitchcock's underrated classic "Rope", from 1948. Just incredible filmmaking! Highly recommended.

[@Aaron_Potter]

Yeah I think Rope and Arsenic and Old Lace should be on this list if just an honorable mention.

[@ChannelBlaino]

Notorious and Rebbeca

[@kevinbowen6182]

YEp NOtorious and REbecca. Especially Notorious.

[@41DRWS]

Loved that film

[@Der1Einzige]

ZeppelinBigFan 99999999%

[@danieln6613]

Casablanca would be my number one, it may not have been as innovative as Citizen Kane in its time, but it's just more fun to watch

[@Rosewolf29]

A lot of Humphry Bogard works were really fun to watch. Check out his film Dark Passage. that was a really good one.

[@lydiamond12]

I love the cinema...love the movies. There are so many great films. When I saw Citizen Kane for the first time I sat there in awe. This film was big, epic, unusual, gripping I just fell in love. I wish there was a cinema that showed all of these great films. Not only American films but films from all over the world.

[@dejabu24]

Laura was a great movie from the 40s

[@MsAppassionata]

That should have at least been an honorable mention.

[@MovieMontagesss]

Some great movies of the 40's not mentioned here: - Waterloo Bridge - His Girl Friday - Suspicion - Sullivan's Travels - Sergeant York - Random Harvest - Bambi - The Pride of the Yankees - Mrs Miniver - The Magnificent Ambersons - The Song of Bernadette - The Ox-Bow Incident - Laura - Gaslight - To Have and Have Not - Brief Encounter - Spellbound - The Lost Weekend - Matter of Life and Death - Notorious - The Big Sleep - Bycicle Thieves - Kind Hearts and Coronets - The Heiress - White Heat

[@michellemonroe-rz2di]

Thank you for mentioning this!

[@tristanlanphere7736]

It’s a top 10 not a top 30

[@rolandpointoh]

Hitchcock's 'Rebecca' isn't talked about enough, I think. It's one of my favorites from this decade. Truly a masterpiece!

[@WatchMojo]

Hope you're enjoying our series on WatchMojo March Madness: Greatest Movies of All Time Series for the first two clips watch Top 10 Movies of the 1920s Top 10 Movies of the 1930s

[@ItsSteveMiller]

While Citizen Kane was groundbreaking, I still prefer Casablanca over it in terms of watch-ability.

[@nahlagandour159]

Lmao. No

[@boxbo7926]

I mean the both are pretty slow compared to some movies at the time. I think where Casablanca takes the cake is with its end I my opinion. As much as I love citizen Kane I can see where some people might find it... underwhelming

[@acdragonrider]

I prefer others to both. Best Years of our lives, Notorious, shadow of a doubt.

[@harisankars4365]

Yesterday I watched Casablanca at 2 am in the morning.

[@PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

How did "Gilda" (1946); a terrific film noir and one of the screens ultimate femme fatales not make this list? Great characters in Hayworth, Ford and MacReady; and a storyline still intriguing today.

[@Timbulathespidermonk]

No Kings Row, Rope, Notorious, Bicycle Thieves (wrong language, I guess), The Wolfman, How Green Was My Valley. I know you can't pick every movie from the decade, but some of these are hard to leave out.

[@cicjose6016]

Rope and How Green Was My Valley were amazing movies but im pretty sure the top 5 are accurate.....

[@Timbulathespidermonk]

After seeing the 1950's list, I'm a lot less upset with this one. Seriously, Seven Samurai was one of the greatest movies ever made and they had it at #8!!

[@Iggy3]

What a strong decade for movies!

[@marvelvsdc6624]

70s is

[@acdragonrider]

Randy White I think the 40s and 50d are the best. My preference though

[@fluffy4812]

Acdragonrider Videos I think the 80s and 90s are

[@dd1530]

@@fluffy4812 no

[@awstevans]

I prefer Casablanca. All time classic. But you cannot argue with Citizen Kane in my opinion. Its not only a well scripted and well shot film, I found it to be engaging and moving. Watched this in Film School and 90% of the students in the large room lost interest and talked throughout. So some may find it boring but to dismiss it as important would be a dishonor to such a passionate film

[@tobyrice8909]

same I thought it would be #1

[@YoungTheFish]

The decade of Humphrey Bogart...

[@PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

Bogie, Bacall, Welles, and Hayworth... A decade of Film Noirs.

[@marcusgomez934]

And gene tierney

[@Tim_Raths]

YoungTheFish And James Stewart

[@boxbo7926]

Timothy Raths I was going to comment the same thing lol

[@MsAppassionata]

And Cary Grant.

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

My Top 10 List 1. Citizen Kane 2. Casablanca 3. it's a Wonderful Life 4. Pinocchio 5. Bicycle Thieves 6. the Maltese Falcon 7. the Grapes of Wrath 8. the third Man 9. the Philadelphia Story 10. the Great Dictator

[@TheTimoEffect]

let me guess.. Number one is Citizen Kane, right?

[@maximusw01]

Timo J yep

[@jerboxx]

Amazing decade, Citizen Kane, Casablanca and Rebecca are my favorites

[@montage2726]

If you watch one of these, you’ll be glad... • Key largo • Lifeboat • Meet John Doe • Notorious • Sergeant York • To Have or Have Not • The Big Sleep • The Westerner

[@Leanashe23]

Bicycle Thieves should have at least got a mention...

[@VRichardsn]

Agreed!

[@gaetanoc.3516]

For real

[@gaetanoc.3516]

Should have been top 5

[@KBrianO]

@@gaetanoc.3516 watchmojo only knows american/hollywood movies. Shame on them

[@ultimatum6786]

Is it that good?

[@spartenkiller897]

I love the 1940s, the music, the movies, the everything...

[@acdragonrider]

The glorious war

[@andrewstephen9096]

@@acdragonrider There was nothing glorious about it, fool.... 🤮

[@kelleyceccato7025]

The 1940s also gave us three of the best "woman's pictures" of all time: "That Hamilton Woman" with Vivien Leigh, "Now, Voyager" with Bette Davis and "Random Harvest" with Greer Garson (which I prefer to the more lauded "Mrs. Miniver"). Whatever the list says, these two will always make my Top 10 of this decade.

[@pr0jectSkyneT]

Here's looking at you kid

[@matthew6905]

.

[@connorreis]

Alfred Hitchcock's classics Shadow of a Doubt and Spellbound should be on here. I was also hoping to see Miracle on 34th Street on here

[@acdragonrider]

I fell in love with Teresa Wright

[@michellemonroe-rz2di]

Yes spellbound I love Gregory Peck and Ingrid Bergman

[@highwind1991]

double indemnity and bicycle thieves should be on the list

[@InterScudetto]

The third man is totally underrated. Should be up there with Kane and Casablanca

[@MrAGr]

I can't believe there weren't any Bette Davis movies in the top 10 movies of the 1930s or the 1940s, even just as honourable mentions. Her movies defined an era and she changed Hollywood with her acting choices. She deserves at least an honourable mention.

[@martinfennell3924]

The Letter

[@TuanBe-ni2ud]

Can you recommend me some films of her besides all about eve?

[@OL_Possum]

The Little Foxes should have been one of the top ten....@@TuanBe-ni2ud

[@michaeljohns8764]

Bambi, Dumbo, and Pinnochio.

[@ectoplasmicentity]

35 seconds into this video and let me guess...Citizen Cane is number one?

[@RandomDudeOne]

Anybody who knows anything about film would have known that before even watching the video.

[@uchihadante77]

It`s a Wonderful Life deserves the first place for me.

[@meashishpokhrel]

uchihadante77 yes you are right..

[@ericburns9132]

I agree. While I like Citizen Kane and Casablanca, I think It's a Wonderful Life is a better film.

[@TheWeirdBananas]

Heres Mine 1: Citizen Kane 2: Casablanca 3: Its A Wonderful Life 4: Grapes of Wrath 5: Double Indemnity 6: The Malteste Falcon 7: The Best Years Of Our Life 8: Sierra Madre 9: Philedelphia Story 10: Sullivans Travels

[@GilliganKrueger0829]

I'm also really proud you've included animated Disney films on these lists. A lot of people just blow them off as silly kids movies, but some of them really do need to be recognized among the more iconic films of all time. Though maybe that's just my bias as a Disney nerd

[@TuanBe-ni2ud]

I hate disney now but i have to admit that back then disney did make masterpieces after masterpieces 😍

[@anthony99846]

Knew citizen Kane would get number 1

[@mateuscarvalho3870]

The Maltese Falcon, nice. It's my favorite movie of that decade, and my favorite John Huston(which means a lot).

[@TheFbiFilesRepeat]

Ive never seen it, looking forward to

[@TakeThisification]

"The Great Dictator" should be much higher for the ending speech alone.

[@wcingnatalia456]

I hate how that film made Americans suspicious and he had to leave the u.s .

[@TheNabOwnzz]

No, the speech is disgusting commie propaganda.

[@anuragate9282]

@@TheNabOwnzz It talks About Fair Democracy and Human Equality. I don't see how that makes it a Commie propaganda to you.

[@TheNabOwnzz]

@@anuragate9282 Democracy and equality are commie concepts.

[@BazedSlavaryan]

Y'all mfs should stop watchin crap and watch a good movie like jud süß

[@CINAMASTER1]

1. Late Spring 2. The Red Shoes 3. Bicycle Thieves 4. Brief Encounter 5. Notorious 6. Citizen Kane 7. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre 8. The Third Man 9. The Big Sleep 10. Rome, Open City 11. Black Narcissus 12. To Be or Not To Be 13. The Best Years of Our Lives 14. Heaven Can Wait 15. Casablanca

[@alanbehrens4231]

Nice list Nick. I love all these films. To Be Or Not To Be has such modern dark humor with a classic touch.

[@devonhayes2209]

Casablanca as 15?!?!

[@Elizabeththegreatest]

Fantasia was my first experience of classical music, so I will always love it!

[@WatchMojo]

And finally, more top 10 lists on Action movies: Top 10 Action Movie Clichés Top 10 Action Packed Slow Motion Scenes Top 10: Female Action Stars Top 10 Worst Live-Action Movies Based on Cartoons Top 10 Unlikely Action Stars Top 10 Typecast Male Action Stars

[@drstrangelove6558]

the Best Years of Our Lives should been more than just an honorble mention, the great dictator was ranked waaaay to low, the third man was actually relesed in 1950 in U.S so it should been ranked on the 1950s, Personaly Its a Wonderful should be #1, Where is To Be Or Not To Be and Citizen Kane is a Joke I Could Not Belive it was number one

[@KidGreeD14]

Orson Welles is so awesome i wish I could be an ounce of the filmmaker he was

[@xSTATOKEx]

Can't wait for 50s and 60s, I'll finally be able to see where you rank Kurosawa's masterpieces.

[@KayleLang]

Seven Samurai is going to be hard to top.

[@Viking2Go]

They have to mention Rashomon, the film is why we have the - SURPRISE - Rashomon-POV which are the most awesome way of twisting and turning plots. :)

[@DarkProf1]

***** Love "The Bicycle Thief".

[@Fa1c0]

The only disagreement I would have is that, Casablanca and Citizen Kane would be tied for first place.

[@GreatWonderMoose]

They can't really do that, though, so I think they made the best decision in how to split them up. They're both masterpieces and are a close 1st and 2nd.

[@nathanielberry4965]

Personally I'd put Casablanca at number 1 and Citizen Kane at number 2

[@devonhayes2209]

@@nathanielberry4965 for sure! The greatest movie of all time

[@jg9125]

Would have been nice to see some Powell and Pressburger on the list; The Red Shoes and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp are among my all time favourites. Also Double Indemnity should definitely be in top 10, for its outstanding performances and in my opinion the definitive noir script. Really good list though, especially considering they were dealing with maybe the greatest decade in Western cinema. The top 3 are all among the very few films that fully justify however much hype they receive. Can't wait for the '50s!

[@themintcast4437]

My Picks: 1. Casablanca 2. Citizen Kane 3. The Great Dictator 4. Rebecca 5. Bicycle Thieves 6. Hamlet 7. Rope 8. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre 9. The Third Man 10. The Maltese Falcon

[@DreamyWoIf]

Just like City Ligths missing from the 30s list, another cringe worthy moment here as one of the all time best, Bicycle Thieves, doesn't even get into the honorable mentions. Such mistakes shouldn't be made.

[@winterhorse1132]

.

[@DreamyWoIf]

I would probably make it a top 20 because as a person who is interested in classics, I feel that even more masterpieces from those eras should be mentioned and commented upon since people are generally getting less and less interested in them.

[@joey4track]

omg i wish i was even 1/1000th as cool as Humphrey Bogart...

[@matthewVALANCEY]

where the hell is Hitchcock's Rope?

[@ElianaPontou018]

or lifeboat

[@WatchMojo]

More top 10 lists on... Comedies: Top 10 Cult Classics: Comedies Top 10 Horror Comedies Top 10 Stoner Comedies Top 10 Ensemble Comedy Movie Casts

[@drstrangelove6558]

comedies are the best genre of Movies imo;) please do a top 10 Comedy Movies of the 1920s!

[@TheWeirdBananas]

What about Sullivans Travels.

[@maryhanson2996]

Impossible to pick the best. But the scene in Casablanca after Rick has seen Ilsa, his one true love, and the deep, painful agony he endured while sitting at the piano asking why of all the fun joints in all the world she had to walk into his. Anyone who has ever felt that pain knows exactly the agony and flood of emotions running through Rick and it can't help but dig up that forgotten misery. God that was powerful. And Treasure of Sierra Madre another Bogart gem. I couldn't look away for a second,but most of these films do that. What a decade!

[@gb6710]

The Great Dictator is the greatest movie in the 40s just for The Speech. The only other contender is Citizen Cane.

[@gabrielalexanderkhoury73]

Also the funny parts with the dictators arguing over spaghetti or the artistic part with the globe.

[@WatchMojo]

More top 10 lists on Horror movies: Top 10 Scariest Horror Movie Villains Top 10 Unique Horror Movie Kills Top 10 Scariest Scenes From Non-Horror Movies Top 10 Horror Movie Franchises Top 10 Horror Movie Cliches Top 10 Horror Movie Franchises Top 10 Iconic Horror Movie Moments Top 10 Horror Movie Masks

[@johntreacy8655]

No Pinocchio☹️☹️

[@TANMAC43]

I feel like Pinocchio and Bambi should have at least gotten an honorable mention. Glad Fantasia's on the list though.

[@YTLawnGnome]

Very happy Fantasia is on the top 10. It is one of the most original Disney Films and my all time favorite Classic. I just watched Casablanca for the first time this week. It really is one of the greatest films ever made. I loved it!

[@Musketeer3]

This looks a lot like my film professor's list. :-)

[@GreenDragon1234]

Harrison Strunk You’re even lucky for that. I’m a teen and kids my age only watch movies in the 21st century. The few movies earlier are just Disney movies.

[@alexisperez2214]

@Harrison Strunk when your twenty you will look back at this comment and laugh

[@ericburns9132]

My top 10 from the 40s are 1. It's a Wonderful Life 2. The Best Year's of Our Lives 3. Citizen Kane 4. The Grapes of Wrath 5. A Gentleman's Agreement 6. Going My Way 7. The Stratton Story 8. Casablanca 9. The Third Man 10. Miracle on 34th Street

[@Nachtopus]

The Great Dictator needs to be moved up a few slots.

[@lindafromowitz9071]

agreed

[@drstrangelove6558]

it should be #2 or at least in the top 3 in mo

[@lukeswall5999]

yeah a least maybe 5

[@JennWakely]

My favorites are Sorry, Wrong Number and Postman always rings twice.

[@ADDodger]

Is there really a point to these? Whenever there's a chance for Citizen Kane to be #1, Citizen Kane is #1

[@orphaeus99]

Maybe because it's a great movie and it deserves to be number 1?

[@ADDodger]

Well yes, I don't doubt that, what I meant is that there's never any surprise so they're not very exciting since we know the answer already

[@scofield1154]

orphaeus99 Does it ? Does it really ?

[@autoscape1963]

love Orson but I love to hate this film....awful

[@bibleanddisneyfan]

Nice list! I personally would have put Pinocchio in place of Fantasia, but still a very good list! It's A Wonderful Life, Citizen Kane, and Casablanca all definitely deserved to be here. The Maltese Falcon was pretty good too.

[@zlinqx]

I think Pinocchio should get an honorable mention.

[@OgreVI]

Wow, your list is almost exactly like mine. Throw in "Out of the Past" and switch a couple between the actual list and the honorable mentions, throw in "The Wolf Man" for nostalgia's sake, and you nailed it.

[@sala19843714]

6:59 when you're slapped, you'll take it and like it....smack smack smack (wow)....

[@jeremyadams1521]

Great list, but I would have liked a mention for The Red Shoes, Notorious and His Girl Friday

[@miggizle85]

Haven't really watched a lot of these "Golden Age" movies so these lists are pretty informative. I'm definitely gonna have to watch a ton of these A few observations: -Chaplin's impression of Hitler had me in stcitches -Bogart was one god damn good actor -Ingrid is a definite GGILF (great grama) -"Rosebud". Masterpiece!

[@mollayoyo]

Where's Pinocchio? Not even an honorable mention? :(

[@Tardisius]

"It's the stuff dreams are made of". =))

[@christineizeki1299]

My Top 10 Movies of 1940's 10. The Lost Weekend 9. The Third Man 8. Pinocchio 7. Easter Parade 6. Yankee Doodle Dandy 5. The Great Dictator 4. Anchors Aweigh 3. Shadow of a Doubt 2. The Heiress 1. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Honorable Mentions Casablanca Citizen Kanee Double Indemnity Fantasia It's a Wonderful Life On the Town The Grapes of Wrath

[@MariaVosa]

Seriously. What do you people have against Hitchcock?! Not even an honorable mention in either the 30s or 40s.

[@JohnSpawn1]

Rebecca is a honourable mention.

[@MariaVosa]

Tom Waits Doh! You're right! I tend to forget it's one of his movies since it was a bit out of the usual for his stories. Mea culpa

[@JohnSpawn1]

MariaVosa Well, you're still right. Shadow of a doubt and Rope could have still received a mention as well. Hell, even Lifeboat was terrific. But Hitchcock is not gonna be overlooked in the next two lists. Vertigo (since it's now ranked as the greatest film of all time by Sight and Sound poll) and Psycho will be rated highly.

[@TusharRaj87]

50's was the best decade for Hitchcock. I personally didn't like Vertigo. But Dial M For Murder, Rear Window and Strangers on a Train were mindblowing. Psycho is my favorite Hitchcock movie, but it's a 1960 release, I think, so it won't be on the next list.

[@TusharRaj87]

MariaVosa Your Wasp profile pic is awesome. She's the most underrated Marvel character of all time. Good to see fans.

[@joseph4861]

Always suprises me that Its a wonderful life is considered a feel good movie, when it is one of the very few films that deals with suicide, despair and failure. Also, James Stewart's performance in it is, is absolutely amazing in its emotional realism, precision and charm. Its a wonderful life and Casablanca, Treasure of the Sierra Madre are the films I have watched most often from this list. They will never grow old.

[@AadelBussinger]

Can you please do top ten best Shakespeare movie adaptations?

[@WatchMojo]

Maybe. Meantime, Top 10 Notes: Romeo and Juliet Top 10 Notes: Hamlet

[@smit4459]

I agree. What would be your top ten Shakespeare film adaptations?

[@dangeiger9796]

I would like that one

[@linkbiff1054]

1. Hamlet (1948) 2. Henry V (1989) 3. Ran (1985) 4. Lion King (1994) 5. Richard III (1955) 6. Henry V (1946) 7. Romeo + Juliet (1996) 8. Othello (1965) 9. The Merchant of Venice (2004) 10. Julius Caesar (1953)

[@themintcast4437]

1. Hamlet (1948) 2. Macbeth (1971) 3. Ran (1985) 4. The Lion King (1994) 5. Romeo and Juliet (1968) 6. Throne of Blood (1957) 7. Macbeth (2015) 8. Henry V (1989) 9. Richard III (1995) 10. The Merchant of Venice (2004)

[@CoolHandLuke7]

Probably should've included Bicycle Thieves. The Third Man is the GOAT, and I would've liked to see Woman of the Year get some love, but that was always a long shot.

[@martinfennell3924]

bicycle thieves and woman of the year are 2 of my favs

[@DodgeThisBam]

Man 1940 was a good year for movies!

[@markpeterson3063]

You hit 8 of my top 12 movies of the 40s (if you include your honorable mentions). Here is my top 12: 1. Casablanca 1942. Coin flip between 1 and 2. 2. Citizen Kane 1941 3. Rebecca 1940. My second favorite Hitchcock, after Vertigo. 4. Gaslight 1944. Very underrated film, but not by me. It put the word "gaslight" in the dictionary. 5. The Maltese Falcon 1941 6. Notorious 1946. My third favorite Hitchcock, and the best Cary Grant film. 7. Double Indemnity 1944 8. Love Letters 1945. Ayn Rand screenplay. 9. The Third Man 1949 10. It’s a wonderful life 1946 11. Noi Vivi 1942 (Outstanding Italian film whose anti-communist message was also seen as anti-fascist). 12. The Great Dictator 1940 #66 (The greatest satire after "Network" & "Dr. Strangelove."

[@NicNac723]

I love The Great Dictator! I memorized the final speech in High school. I bet I can still write it out... I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone - if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness - not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.... The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. ..... Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you - enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” - not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then - in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite! YAY! Still got it!

[@delbertswederofsky9257]

Mickey Rooney

[@drstrangelove6558]

Wow you know your stuff.....

[@GinaBlythe]

Spherical Cube GREAT MOVIE! We should play this in schools...even if just for that speech...

[@larkpraise]

Citizen Kane????? I can't even sit through the first 10 minutes without falling asleep! There are many forties movies which were better than most of the ones you mentioned! "Double Indemnity", "The Lady Eve", "Meet John Doe", "The Song of Bernadette", "His Girl Friday", "Going My Way", "The Bells of St. Mary's", "Meet Me in St. Louis", "The Lost Weekend", "Johnny Belinda", "Since You Went Away", Arsenic and Old Lace", "Bataan", and "Its A Wonderful Life" should have been number One!!!

[@linkbiff1054]

My Own 10. The Great Dictator 9. Fantasia 8. Rebecca 7. Yankee Doodle Dandy 6. White Heat 5. The Maltese Falcon 4. Hamlet 3. Its a Wonderful Life 2. Casablanca 1. Citizen Kane

[@bruhffffgggg]

this one is nice

[@juansierra9946]

1 - It's a Wonderful Life 2 - Double Indemnity 3 - Citizen Kane 4 - Casablanca 5 - The Great Dictator

[@mittins100]

And Then There Were None

[@LePrince1890]

Another good set of choices. Honorable mentions could have included "The Magnificent Ambersoms", "The Lady From Shanghai", "Shadow of a Doubt", "Notorious", "The Shop Around the Corner", "Heaven Can Wait", "Champion", "Pride of the Yankees", "Sergeant York", "Sullivan's Travels", "The Lady Eve", "Hail The Conquering Hero", "The Bank Dick", "Mrs. Miniver", "That Hamilton Woman", "Hamlet", "Since You Went Away", "The Woman In the Window", "Scarlet Street", House of Strangers", "The Naked City".

[@chrishernandez3699]

Sergeant York and Pinocchio should have at least been in the honorable mentions.

[@RickTBL]

Hitchcock's Notorious, Lifeboat and Shadow Of A Doubt.

[@adamstevens2048]

Brilliant films! "Citizen Kane" deserves the number one spot!

[@andresdelgado3083]

They got this list pretty spot on (would've liked Double Indemnity and Pinocchio to be on there though), but it was great. Way to spoil the meaning of Rosebud, WatchMojo!

[@googdood2948]

Kinda disappointed that The Wolfman wasn't on the list. It was a pretty great movie.

[@glennsampson5945]

Some of the top movies missing from this list are "The Ox-Bow Incident," "Aresenic & Old Lace," "Lifeboat," "Rope," and "Sorry, Wrong Number."

[@BayareaGuy06]

I own and seen The Philadelphia Story, Fantasia, The Maltese Falcon, It's A Wonderful Life and Casablanca. I'd probably be more biased about this list since I own and seen only five of these ten films and this would be my top 5 films of the 1940's: 1. It's A Wonderful Life 2. Casablanca 3. The Maltese Falcon 4. Fantasia 5. The Philadelphia Story

[@siddhantyadav4837]

Gentleman agreement,The killers,Going my way,The lost weekend

[@mankmemes5978]

Who’s a teen who hates the 21st century and feels nostalgic here?

[@TRAVELERinANantiqueLAND]

You’re not alone my friend

[@hairmetalforlife8019]

I'm not actually a teen (I'm 20) but I absolutely feel that!

[@shinryujinanswermycalls6648]

@@hairmetalforlife8019 Same😂

[@Jo_Wardy]

Well I love both eras 40s and 2020s But I just love the movies the fashion The cars and the type of era it was.

[@acdragonrider]

I feel like I was born in the wrong period. I have discovered that so many of my values are very old style (emphasis on chivalry, family piety , patriotism and nationalism of the old days) but I can’t say it to people because I would be seen as bad or weird. I love studying military history. I am not into modern rebel culture. I love old era music (classical, opera, and old folk). Obsessed with ancient medieval and Renaissance history.

[@crazycarrottop08]

irritatingly, the main thing I remember from Citizen Kane was how the narrator always shouted at the top of his lungs "THE XANADU!!!"

[@YokoshimaOfficial]

Most James Stewart films~

[@doggfacejr]

1. Its a Wonderful Life 2. Pinochio 3. Citizen Kane 4. Casablanca 5. Double Indemnity 6. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre 7. Miracle on 34th Street 8. The Maltese Falcon 9. Fantasia 10. The Third Man

[@drstrangelove6558]

yeah its a wonderful Life is #1! :) but i Wood put Chaplins the great dictator at #2

[@Cleon29Warrior]

"Out of the past", people!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Wired4Life2]

Great list again, but there could've been Honorable Mentions for "PINOCCHIO", "BICYCLE THIEVES", or anything by Powell & Pressburger (The Archers) particularly "THE RED SHOES".