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Poll: Dusting Off Celluloid 1940s: Which Old Movie Would You Like to See?

A poll by rubyfruit76.
These are movies, released in the 1940s, widely considered to be one of the best decades in cinema, recommended by poll authors and commentators. Which of these relatively little-known but highly recommended films, all released during the 1940s, would you most like to see (again or for the first time)?

(Where there are comments next to a movie, they were provided by the poll board contributor who nominated the film.)

After voting, see the guidelines or discuss the poll here

Vote for movies released before 1940 here

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Make Your Choice

  1. Vote!

    Ditte, Child of Man (1946)

    Ditte is a female counterpart to Pelle the Conqueror by the same author. The film is a humanist depiction of poverty and a young woman's struggle at the bottom of society. It was released around Europe and in America, but frequently censored. (Recommended by pbn/Peter)
  2. Vote!

    Fort Apache (1948)

    (Recommended by leavey-2)
  3. Vote!

    Gaslight (1944)

    Recommended by Kyle Perez, who writes: A little known film-noir gem called Gaslight (1944). Been waiting to see this one for a while as it boasts an impressive leading cast in Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotton and the same director who churned out classics like My Fair Lady, The Philadelphia Story and A Star is born, George Cukor.
  4. Vote!

    Johnny Belinda (1948)

    An Oscar nominated film that won the Best Actress Award for Jane Wyman, and also has superb acting by Charles Bickford. It is a very interesting drama about a deaf/mute girl suffering a rape which complicates her education, while the guilty remains free and unknown. (Recommended by Pencho15)
  5. Vote!

    Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

    Recommended by Dan Dassow, stating that "the film provides a nostalgic view of the beginning of the Twentieth Century in the heartland of America. It also commemorates the 1904 World Fair and Olympics held in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri. (The) Film also prominently displays Judy Garland’s vocal and acting talent."
  6. Vote!

    Mildred Pierce (1945)

    Recommended by Dibyayan Chakravorty, who describes it simply as "the classic film noir," and, after seeing this film, one realizes that says an awful lot when it comes to this highly acclaimed film.
  7. Vote!

    Mrs. Miniver (1942)

    (Recommended by Dibyayan Chakravorty)
  8. Vote!

    The Ox-Bow Incident (1942)

    A morality tale, starring Henry Fonda, that is as emotionally compelling as it is suspenseful and illuminating, this is the story of a posse who wants to lynch three murder suspects and the few that depart from the posse and oppose killing the suspects. It was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, won as 1943's best film by the U.S. National Board of Review, and was chosen by the U.S. National Film Preservation Board. (Recommended by rubyfruit76)
  9. Vote!

    The Pirate (1948)

    Recommended by NDbportmanfan1, who explains, "The film is visually stunning. Presented in technicolor, the set design and costumes were great; The Pirate felt so ahead of its time in this regard."
  10. Vote!

    Pride of the Bowery (1940)

    (Recommended by rocky-o)
  11. Vote!

    Red River (1948)

    (Recommended by Hoekkie)
  12. Vote!

    Repeat Performance (1947)

    Recommended by The Movie Smith, who describes it as "a hybrid film-noir / sci fi film with philosophical implications."
  13. Vote!

    Scarlet Street (1945)

    This one starring noir regular Edward G. Robinson and the beautiful Joan Bennett and directed by Fritz Lang, a director who many coined to have pioneered the film-noir genre with his dark, German expressionist style with films like M (1931). (Recommended by Kyle Perez)
  14. Vote!

    Shoeshine (1946)

    (Recommended by ElMaruecan82) ...Like in "Bicycle Thieves" or "Umberto D." the simplest things make the most inspirational statements about humanity (...) in "Sciuscia", the horse is the dream, the exhilarating feeling of freedom inhabiting (two children's) hearts and the cement of a seemingly unbreakable friendship. (...) The film demonstrates how authority, bureaucracy, order can annihilate the most beautiful aspects of humanity, and finally how fragile are the most beautiful virtues. (To read ElMaruecan's full review, go here)
  15. Vote!

    The Window (1949)

    (Recommended by Madelyn Barrigan)

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