Casablanca (1942) Michael Curtiz - Let the record show that choosing a "number one" film for the 1940s was the hardest of the decades yet because there were two films that easily could have been chosen. But, when all was said and done, how could I go against Humphrey and Ingrid? Is there really any doubt that this film about two war-torn lovers who meet in Paris and meet again in Casablanca is the most romantic film ever. At least the most romantic ever made about World War II. The film was adapted from a little-known stage play and was originally supposed to be another cheaply made mass produced picture by Warner Bros. Studio and star future president Ronald Reagan. As luck would have it, however, Bogart ended up taking the lead role in the film sharing the headline with Swedish beauty, Ingrid Bergman. The film would go on to win three Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director and Screenplay, and in 2006 the Writers Guild of America named it the greatest screenplay ever written, and the American Film Institute has it currently ranked as the 3rd greatest American film ever made. I have my doubts its because the scenario is truly relatable for a large majority of people, but I also have my suspicions that most people have experienced love-lost or had a "We'll always have Paris"-type moment in their personal story. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman would both star in several of the pictures to be listed below, but in 1942, they captured the hearts of thousands when they starred together for the only time in both of their outstanding careers.The Rest:
Citizen Kane (1941) Orson Welles
Detour (1945) Edgar G. Ulmer
Double Indemnity (1944) Billy Wilder
Its a Wonderful Life (1946) Frank Capra
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
The Maltese Falcon (1941) John Huston
Notorious (1946) Alfred Hitchcock
Spellbound (1945) Alfred Hitchcock
The Thief of Bagdad (1940) Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
The Third Man (1949) Carol Reed
Honorable Mentions: The Best Years of Our Lives, The Grapes of Wrath, The Red Shoes, Treasure of Sierra Madre.
5 comments:
Not one foreign language film among them and only one non-American!
Ooops! That sounded like I was criticising - I wasn't. All your lists are fascinating and there are films - particularly in the more recent lists that I really need to catch up with.
In all honesty. I've not reached into the 1940s all that well. But I believe I had two Archers films on here. But, no, I admit a deficiency of foreign films on this list. I need to find some more.
Yes, another apology due for my too quick reading of your list. I missed not only one of The Archers but the Carol Reed as well. I tend to read other peoples blogs just before bed...it's an age thing!
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