Best Of...
American cinema: 1940s
The Killers (1946)
Robert Siodmak
Late one evening, two strangers arrive in a small New Jersey town. They stop at a roadside café where they intend to kill a man named Ole Anderson, also known as "the Swede"...
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Robert Siodmak
Kitty Foyle (1940)
Sam Wood
On the day she is to get married, Kitty Foyle receives an unexpected visit from a former lover Wyn Strafford, whom she hasn't seen for years...
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Sam Wood
The Lady Eve (1941)
Preston Sturges
After a year looking for rare species of snakes in the forests of South America, Charles Pike, son of a ludicrously wealthy ale magnate, returns home by cruise ship...
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Preston Sturges
The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
Orson Welles
In San Francisco, drifter Michael O'Hara falls under the spell of Elsa Bannister, a beautiful young blonde who is grateful when he saves her from some marauding thugs...
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Orson Welles
Laura (1944)
Otto Preminger
Inspector Mark McPherson investigates the killing of Laura Hunt. The prime suspect is Waldo Lydecker, a renowned writer with a high opinion of himself and a low opinion of everyone else - except Laura...
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Otto Preminger
The Leopard Man (1943)
Jacques Tourneur
In New Mexico, Jerry Manning hires a trained leopard as a gimmick for his girlfriend Kiki, a nightclub performer. On its first night, the leopard takes fright and runs off into the night... [More...]
Jacques Tourneur
In New Mexico, Jerry Manning hires a trained leopard as a gimmick for his girlfriend Kiki, a nightclub performer. On its first night, the leopard takes fright and runs off into the night... [More...]
Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948)
Max Ophüls
Vienna, circa 1900. Renowned concert pianist Stefan Brand is about to leave town to avoid having to fight a duel when he receives a mysterious letter from an unknown woman... [More...]
Max Ophüls
Vienna, circa 1900. Renowned concert pianist Stefan Brand is about to leave town to avoid having to fight a duel when he receives a mysterious letter from an unknown woman... [More...]
The Letter (1940)
William Wyler
Late one evening, whilst her husband is away working in his Malayan rubber plantation, Leslie Crosbie shoots a man dead in front of her house... [More...]
William Wyler
Late one evening, whilst her husband is away working in his Malayan rubber plantation, Leslie Crosbie shoots a man dead in front of her house... [More...]
Lifeboat (1944)
Alfred Hitchcock
During WWII, a freighter crossing the Atlantic Ocean is struck by a German U-boat. As the ship goes down, a handful of survivors reach the safety of a small lifeboat... [More...]
Alfred Hitchcock
During WWII, a freighter crossing the Atlantic Ocean is struck by a German U-boat. As the ship goes down, a handful of survivors reach the safety of a small lifeboat... [More...]
The Locket (1946)
John Brahm
On the day of his marriage to his true love Nancy, John Willis receives an unexpected visit from a man who claims to be his future wife's former husband... [More...]
John Brahm
On the day of his marriage to his true love Nancy, John Willis receives an unexpected visit from a man who claims to be his future wife's former husband... [More...]
The Lodger (1944)
John Brahm
Whitechapel, London, in the 1880s. In desperate need of cash so that they can keep up appearances, Mr and Mrs Bonting are forced to rent out one of their rooms to a lodger... [More...]
John Brahm
Whitechapel, London, in the 1880s. In desperate need of cash so that they can keep up appearances, Mr and Mrs Bonting are forced to rent out one of their rooms to a lodger... [More...]
The Lost Moment (1947)
Martin Gabel
New York publisher Lewis Venable travels to Venice in the hope of acquiring a set of priceless love letters written by the 19th century poet Jeffrey Ashton to his devoted paramour Juliana Bordereau... [More...]
Martin Gabel
New York publisher Lewis Venable travels to Venice in the hope of acquiring a set of priceless love letters written by the 19th century poet Jeffrey Ashton to his devoted paramour Juliana Bordereau... [More...]
Lydia (1941)
Julien Duvivier
In old age, the American benefactress Lydia Macmillan is visited by one of her former suitors Dr Michael Fitzpatrick and invited to take tea with him... [More...]
Julien Duvivier
In old age, the American benefactress Lydia Macmillan is visited by one of her former suitors Dr Michael Fitzpatrick and invited to take tea with him... [More...]
Macbeth (1948)
Orson Welles
Triumphant in battle, warriors Macbeth and Banquo return to their home in Scotland and are greeted by three strange hags who offer them prophecies of future glory... [More...]
Orson Welles
Triumphant in battle, warriors Macbeth and Banquo return to their home in Scotland and are greeted by three strange hags who offer them prophecies of future glory... [More...]
Madame Bovary (1949)
Vincente Minnelli
In 1857, a book is on trial in France, charged with being an affront to public morality. That book is 'Madame Bovary', and its author Gustave Flaubert gives an impassioned defence of his work, arguing that its heroine is not a monster, but a victim of a monstrous society... [More...]
Vincente Minnelli
In 1857, a book is on trial in France, charged with being an affront to public morality. That book is 'Madame Bovary', and its author Gustave Flaubert gives an impassioned defence of his work, arguing that its heroine is not a monster, but a victim of a monstrous society... [More...]
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
Orson Welles
In the later half of the 19th Century, the Ambersons have become one of the wealthiest and most revered families in Indianapolis... [More...]
Orson Welles
In the later half of the 19th Century, the Ambersons have become one of the wealthiest and most revered families in Indianapolis... [More...]
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
John Huston
One day, Brigid O'Shaughnessy enters the office of private detectives Sam Spade and Miles Archer to hire someone to find her missing sister... [More...]
John Huston
One day, Brigid O'Shaughnessy enters the office of private detectives Sam Spade and Miles Archer to hire someone to find her missing sister... [More...]
The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
William Keighley
A critic, public speaker and bon vivant, Sheridan Whiteside is one of America's top radio personalities. During a busy lecture tour, he allows himself to be talked into having dinner at the house of a prominent Ohio family, the Stanleys... [More...]
William Keighley
A critic, public speaker and bon vivant, Sheridan Whiteside is one of America's top radio personalities. During a busy lecture tour, he allows himself to be talked into having dinner at the house of a prominent Ohio family, the Stanleys... [More...]
The Mark of Zorro (1940)
Rouben Mamoulian
Some time in the 19th Century, Don Diego de la Vega is at a military school in Spain when he is summoned back to his home in Southern California by his father, Don Alejandro Vega... [More...]
Rouben Mamoulian
Some time in the 19th Century, Don Diego de la Vega is at a military school in Spain when he is summoned back to his home in Southern California by his father, Don Alejandro Vega... [More...]
The Mask of Dimitrios (1944)
Jean Negulesco
In 1938, the body of a dead man is found on a beach near Istanbul. He is identified as Dimitrios Makropoulos, a master criminal whose nefarious exploits include theft, espionage, smuggling and political assassination... [More...]
Jean Negulesco
In 1938, the body of a dead man is found on a beach near Istanbul. He is identified as Dimitrios Makropoulos, a master criminal whose nefarious exploits include theft, espionage, smuggling and political assassination... [More...]
Meet John Doe (1941)
Frank Capra
When Henry Connell takes over as editor-in-chief of the newspaper The New Bulletin, his first act is to sack all of the staff on his payroll.... [More...]
Frank Capra
When Henry Connell takes over as editor-in-chief of the newspaper The New Bulletin, his first act is to sack all of the staff on his payroll.... [More...]
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
Vincente Minnelli
In 1903, St Louis is home to the Smith family, a typical middle-class American household which comprises successful business man Alonzo Smith, his wife Anna, their grown-up son Lon and four daughters, Rose, Esther, Agnes and Tootie... [More...]
Vincente Minnelli
In 1903, St Louis is home to the Smith family, a typical middle-class American household which comprises successful business man Alonzo Smith, his wife Anna, their grown-up son Lon and four daughters, Rose, Esther, Agnes and Tootie... [More...]
Mildred Pierce (1945)
Michael Curtiz
When her husband is shot dead, Mildred Pierce Beragon breaks down under police questioning and confesses that she is the murderer... [More...]
Michael Curtiz
When her husband is shot dead, Mildred Pierce Beragon breaks down under police questioning and confesses that she is the murderer... [More...]
Ministry of Fear (1944)
Fritz Lang
England, 1940. Leaving an asylum where he has spent the last two years, Stephen Neale decides to return to London, even though the capital is under attack from German bombers... [More...]
Fritz Lang
England, 1940. Leaving an asylum where he has spent the last two years, Stephen Neale decides to return to London, even though the capital is under attack from German bombers... [More...]
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
George Seaton
When he complains about a drunken Santa at a Thanksgiving Day parade, Kris Kringle quickly finds himself cast as his replacement... [More...]
George Seaton
When he complains about a drunken Santa at a Thanksgiving Day parade, Kris Kringle quickly finds himself cast as his replacement... [More...]
Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
Charles Chaplin
For thirty years, Frenchman Henri Verdoux has endured the monotonous life of a bank clerk so that he can provide for the wife and child he adores... [More...]
Charles Chaplin
For thirty years, Frenchman Henri Verdoux has endured the monotonous life of a bank clerk so that he can provide for the wife and child he adores... [More...]
The Moon and Sixpence (1942)
Albert Lewin
London, in the late 19th century. Geoffrey Wolfe, a writer of some renown, recalls the fantastic life of the painter Charles Strickland... [More...]
Albert Lewin
London, in the late 19th century. Geoffrey Wolfe, a writer of some renown, recalls the fantastic life of the painter Charles Strickland... [More...]
Moontide (1942)
Archie Mayo
Bobo, a drifter of French origin, arrives in San Pablo, California looking for work. After a night of heavy drinking, he wakes up to find himself on a barge belonging to a Japanese fish bait merchant, Hirota... [More...]
Archie Mayo
Bobo, a drifter of French origin, arrives in San Pablo, California looking for work. After a night of heavy drinking, he wakes up to find himself on a barge belonging to a Japanese fish bait merchant, Hirota... [More...]
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948)
H.C. Potter
Tired of living in his cramped Manhattan apartment with his wife and two teenage daughters, advertising executive Jim Blandings is smitten by the dream of owning a house in the country... [More...]
H.C. Potter
Tired of living in his cramped Manhattan apartment with his wife and two teenage daughters, advertising executive Jim Blandings is smitten by the dream of owning a house in the country... [More...]
Mr. Lucky (1943)
H.C. Potter
Small-time swindler Joe Adams avoids being called up to join the army in WWII by taking the identity of one of his henchmen, Joe Bascopolous, who is unfit for active service... [More...]
H.C. Potter
Small-time swindler Joe Adams avoids being called up to join the army in WWII by taking the identity of one of his henchmen, Joe Bascopolous, who is unfit for active service... [More...]