We've covered the silent film era, which was the start of movies and filmmaking being brought to the forefront for the first time in history. We've covered the "Roaring Twenties" and a 1930s era of films that coincidentally took place during the decade of The Great Depression (which lasted from 1929 to 1939). Now we arrived to the rockin' 1940s—a transcendental era of movie making that continues to provide the groundwork for the modern films of today. To understand the 1940s, you also have to understand where people were at from a mental and emotional standpoint (at least within the United States). The year 1940 marked the first after The Depression, and frankly, people didn't want to waste their money at the theater for movies that were just as depressing as what they previously been through the prior decade. Folks wanted escapism, storytelling, romance, and lust—much like what the end of the 1930s brought along with films such as The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Gone with the Wind (1939). Thus we enter the 40s. If you are looking to explore the era, here are the best 1940s movies to add to your watchlist.
Whether its Jigsaw (1949) or mysterious thriller like The Lady Confesses (1945), we think these films will help introduce you to the incredible filmmaking, acting, and storytelling showcased during the decade.
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