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| 1940 |
1940 Busman's Honeymoon Mystery N/R, 83 Minutes
Director: Arthur B. Woods More Info
Starring: Robert Montgomery, Constance Cummings, Leslie Banks, Seymour Hicks, Robert Newton, Googie Withers, Frank Pettingell, Louise Hampton Lord Peter Wimsey (Robert Montgomery), a noted criminologist, weds Harriet Vane (Constance Cummings), a well-known mystery writer. They get involved in solving a murder, which isn't how they planned on spending their honeymoon. |
1940 Calling Philo Vance Mystery N/R, 62 Minutes
Director: William Clemens More Info
Starring: James Stephenson, Margot Stevenson, Henry O'Neill, Edward Brophy, Ralph Forbes, Donald Douglas, Martin Kosleck, Sheila Bromley, Jimmy Conlin, Edward Requello This updated remake of the successful "The Kennel Murder Case" brought this series of Philo Vance films to an end, with a new Vance (James Stephenson). Another, shorter series would follow in 1947. A designer of warplane equipment is murdered and Vance, who is now a government investigator, is on the trail of the killer. |
1940 The Case of the Frightened Lady Drama / Mystery N/R, 80 Minutes
Director: George King More Info
Starring: Marius Goring, Helen Haye, Penelope Dudley-Ward, Patrick Barr, John Warwick, Felix Aylmer, Ronald Shiner, George Merritt, Torin Thatcher, Elizabeth Scott Lord William Lebanon (Marius Goring) and his mother, Dowager Lady Lebanon (Helen Haye), share homicidal tendencies that run in their family. When the murdered body of chauffeur Studd (John Warwick) is found, Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Tanner (George Merritt) and Deputy Sergeant Totty (Ronald Shiner) step in and try to solve a very difficult case. Based on a stage play by Edgar Wallace. |
1940 Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum Mystery N/R, 64 Minutes
Director: Lynn Shores More Info
Starring: Sidney Toler, C. Henry Gordon, Marc Lawrence, Marguerite Chapman, Victor Sen Yung, Joan Valerie, Michael Visaroff, Charles Trowbridge, Eddie Marr, Joe King Steve McBirney (Marc Lawrence) has escaped from the New York City courthouse after being convicted of murder. McBirney wants revenge against Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) who was the chief witness against him at the trial. The museum is run by plastic surgeon Dr. Cream (C. Henry Gordon) who performs facial surgeries on fugitives so that they look like the wax dummies, including Jack the Ripper and Bluebeard. Chan is lured to the museum with his son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung), and McBirney awaits–ready to strike. |
1940 Charlie Chan in Panama Mystery / Adventure / Drama / Comedy N/R, 67 Minutes
Director: Norman Foster More Info
Starring: Sidney Toler, Jean Rogers, Kane Richmond, Lionel Atwill, Mary Nash, Victor Sen Yung, Chris-Pin Martin, Jack La Rue, Frank Puglia, Eddie Acuff During World War II, a plot is in-the-making to blow up the Panama Canal, and the United States government hires Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) to solve the case. Helping Charlie is his Number 2 son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung), and after they land in Panama City they are confronted by the problem of a number of people who could be an elusive Axis spy known as Rymer who is behind the plot to destroy the canal. Will Charlie and Jimmy be able to identify Rymer, solve the case, and save the canal? |
1940 Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise Mystery / Comedy / Thriller N/R, 75 Minutes
Director: Eugene Forde More Info
Starring: Sidney Toler, Marjorie Weaver, Victor Sen Yung, Lionel Atwill, Leo G. Carroll, Robert Lowery, Don Beddoe, Cora Witherspoon, Kay Linaker, Charles Middleton A Scotland Yard detective is murdered, and Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) goes aboard a cruise ship sailing from Honolulu to San Francisco to solve the crime when it appears that the killer is one of the ship's passengers. With help from his Number 2 son Jimmy (Victor Sen Yung) and the widow (Kay Linaker) of the murdered Scotland Yard detective, Charlie investigates suspicious passengers who include Dr. Sudermann (Lionel Atwill), Prof. Gordon (Leo G. Carroll), and Mr. Walters (Charles Middleton). This is a remake of the lost Charlie Chan movie of 1931, "Charlie Chan Carries On." |
1940 Doomed to Die Mystery / Horror / Thriller N/R, 57 Minutes
Director: William Nigh More Info
Starring: Boris Karloff, Grant Withers, Marjorie Reynolds, Melvin Lang, Guy Usher, Tristram Coffin, William Stelling, Catherine Craig, Henry Brandon, Richard Loo With help from reporter Bobby Logan (Marjorie Reynolds), ace detective Mr. Wong (Boris Karloff) investigates the murder of a shipping magnate and finds more than just murder. Fifth in the Mr. Wong series and the last one starring Karloff. One more would follow: "Phantom of Chinatown." |
1940 The Fatal Hour Mystery N/R, 67 Minutes
Director: William Nigh More Info
Starring: Boris Karloff, Marjorie Reynolds, Charles Trowbridge, Craig Reynolds, Frank Puglia, Jason Robards Sr., Grant Withers, John Hamilton, Harry Strang, Lita Chevret While trying to solve the murder of a police officer, Mr. Wong (Boris Karloff) uncovers a jewelry smuggling ring. |
1940 Foreign Correspondent Adventure / Drama / Mystery / Thriller / Romance N/R, 119 Minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock More Info
Starring: Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, Albert Bassermann, Robert Benchley, Edmund Gwenn, Eduardo Ciannelli, Harry Davenport, Ian Wolfe At the beginning of World War II, American reporter Johnny Jones (Joel McCrea) is sent to Europe where he witnesses the assassination of Dutch diplomat Van Meer (Albert Basserman). Looking into the matter, Johnny finds a huge conspiracy, and, with help from peace advocate Stephen Fisher's (Herbert Marshall) daughter Carol (Laraine Day), he uncovers Nazi plans to conquer Europe. But, discovering the plans will lead to a dangerous journey as Johnny puts together clues to discover who is the leader of the deadly plot. The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Supporting Actor (Basserman). This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's best films. |
1940 Half a Sinner Adventure / Comedy / Mystery N/R, 59 Minutes
Director: Al Christie More Info
Starring: Heather Angel, John "Dusty" King, Constance Collier, Walter Catlett, Tom Dugan, Robert Elliott, Clem Bevans, Emma Dunn, Henry Brandon, William B. Davidson Schoolteacher Anne Gladden (Heather Angel) escapes the attentions of a gangster by driving off in his car. What Anne does not know is that there is a corpse in the trunk. While the gangster tries to recover his car, Anne meets a stranger and picks him up. Now they discover the body and try to return the car, but both the gangster and the police are on their trail. |
1940 Haunted House Mystery N/R, 70 Minutes
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1940 The Letter Mystery / Drama N/R, 97 Minutes
Director: William Wyler More Info
Starring: Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson, Frieda Inescort, David Newell, Gale Sondergaard, Victor Sen Yung, Bruce Lester, Cecil Kellaway, Doris Lloyd Somerset Maugham's play is brought to the screen in this film about circumstances following Leslie Crosbie's (Bette Davis) supposed self-defense murder of her lover, Geoffrey (David Newell). Geoffrey's widow (Gale Sondergaard) appears on the scene and says she has a letter from Leslie inviting Geoffrey to visit and that he was Leslie's lover. Leslie pays the $10,000 in blackmail money that is being demanded for the letter. The trial convenes, and her lawyer's (James Stephenson) defense proves Leslie innocent. Now, her husband Robert (Herbert Marshall) discovers that $10,000 is missing from his bank account, Leslie confesses, and Robert forgives her. But, everyone has not forgiven her, and a surprise visitor is lurking in Leslie's garden. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Actress (Davis), Supporting Actor (Stephenson), and Director. Remade in 1947 as "The Unfaithful" and in 1982 as "The Letter" for TV. |
1940 The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady Mystery N/R, 71 Minutes
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1940 The Lone Wolf Strikes Mystery N/R, 57 Minutes
Director: Sidney Salkow More Info
Starring: Warren William, Joan Perry, Eric Blore, Alan Baxter, Astrid Allwyn, Montagu Love, Robert Wilcox, Don Beddoe, Fred Kelsey, Addison Richards Our hero, the reformed jewel thief, comes to the rescue of another damsel in distress whose pearls have been stolen. |
1940 Love, Honor and Oh Baby! Comedy / Mystery / Romance N/R, 59 Minutes
Director: Charles Lamont More Info
Starring: Donald Woods, Kathryn Adams, Wallace Ford, Marc Lawrence, Warren Hymer, Mona Barrie, Hobart Cavanaugh, Irving Bacon, Frank Puglia, Thomas E. Jackson After the break-up with his girlfriend, a desolate Brian (Donald Woods) decides to help his sister by hiring a hit man to kill him and allow his sister to collect on his insurance. Then, Brian falls in love with another woman, and now must race against time to figure out who the hit man is and to cancel the contract. |
1940 Midnight Limited Mystery N/R, 61 Minutes
Director: Howard Bretherton More Info
Starring: John "Dusty" King, Marjorie Reynolds, George Cleveland, Edward Keane, Monte Collins, Pat Flaherty, Herbert Ashley, Lita Chevret, I. Stanford Jolley, Buck Woods The Phantom Robber (I. Stanford Jolley) has robbed the "Midnight Limited" four times–even though private eye Val Lennon (John "Dusty" King) and his assistant, Joan (Marjorie Reynolds), have been hot on his trail. Determined to get his man, Val sets himself up as bait, goes undercover, and prepares to nab the Phantom Robber. |
1940 Murder Over New York Mystery N/R, 65 Minutes
Director: Harry Lachman More Info
Starring: Sidney Toler, Marjorie Weaver, Robert Lowery, Ricardo Cortez, Victor Sen Yung, Donald MacBride, Melville Cooper, Kane Richmond, Joan Valerie, Clarence Muse During a police convention in New York City, Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is called on to investigate espionage and possible sabotage at an airplane plant. |
1940 Phantom of Chinatown Mystery N/R, 61 Minutes
Director: Phil Rosen More Info
Starring: Keye Luke, Grant Withers, Lotus Long, Charles F. Miller, Virginia Carpenter, John Dilson, Paul McVey, Huntley Gordon, John Holland, Willy Castello Boris Karloff left the "Mr. Wong" series and was replaced by a younger Wong–Jimmy (Keye Luke)–in this final entry in the series. An archeologist returns from an expedition where an ancient scroll was found. Before you know it, he is murdered and Jimmy sets out to hunt down the murderer. |
1940 Raffles Mystery N/R, 70 Minutes
Director: Sam Wood More Info
Starring: David Niven, Olivia de Havilland, Dame May Whitty, Dudley Digges, Douglas Walton, Lionel Pape, E.E. Clive, Peter Godfrey, Margaret Seddon, Gilbert Emery An ex-Scotland Yard detective, Raffles (David Niven), relieves his boredom by becoming a jewel thief. This is a remake of a 1930 film by the same name. |
1940 Rebecca Drama / Thriller / Mystery / Romance N/R, 130 Minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock More Info
Starring: Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier, George Sanders, Judith Anderson, Nigel Bruce, Gladys Cooper, Florence Bates, Reginald Denny, C. Aubrey Smith, Leo G. Carroll In this film, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Joan Fontaine plays a naive woman married to a brooding widower (Laurence Olivier). After moving into his country estate, she finds that she must live in the shadow of Rebecca, his first wife. Based on Daphne du Maurier's Gothic novel. The film also won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and was nominated for nine other awards, including Best Actor (Olivier), Actress (Fontaine), Supporting Actress (Judith Anderson) and Director. |
1940 The Saint Takes Over Mystery N/R, 69 Minutes
Director: Jack Hively More Info
Starring: George Sanders, Wendy Barrie, Jonathan Hale, Paul Guilfoyle, Morgan Conway, Robert Emmett Keane, Cy Kendall, James Burke, Robert Middlemass, Nella Walker Another good Saint episode as the Saint (George Sanders) again helps Inspector Fernack, who this time is being framed by gambling bad guys. After running into several murders, the Saint prevails. |
1940 The Saint's Double Trouble Mystery N/R, 68 Minutes
Director: Jack Hively More Info
Starring: George Sanders, Helene Whitney, Jonathan Hale, Bela Lugosi, Donald MacBride, John F. Hamilton, Thomas W. Ross, Elliott Sullivan, Pat O'Malley, Byron Foulger The dastardly Saint look-alike smuggles diamonds into the U.S. from Egypt (via a mummy, with Bela Lugosi's help). Now, the Saint must not only clear himself, but also recover the diamonds and bring the bad guys to justice. |
1940 Slightly Honorable Mystery N/R, 83 Minutes
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1940 You'll Find Out Comedy / Musical / Horror / Mystery / Romance N/R, 95 Minutes
Director: David Butler More Info
Starring: Kay Kyser, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Bela Lugosi, Helen Parrish, Dennis O'Keefe, Harry Babbitt, M.A. Bogue, Ginny Simms, Alma Kruger Wealthy heiress Janis Bellacrest (Helen Parrish) celebrates her birthday with Kay Kyser's band for the entertainment. The party takes a decided turn when three bizarre characters (Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi) show up to join in the festivities in the haunted house, which is the scene of the party. |
| 1941 |
1941 The Black Cat Horror / Mystery / Comedy N/R, 70 Minutes
Director: Albert S. Rogell More Info
Starring: Basil Rathbone, Hugh Herbert, Broderick Crawford, Bela Lugosi, Gale Sondergaard, Anne Gwynne, Gladys Cooper, Alan Ladd, Claire Dodd, John Eldredge When cat-loving dowager Henrietta Winslow (Cecilia Loftus) dies, her greedy relatives converge on her haunted mansion for the reading of her will looking for their fortunes. Now, they must deal with screams in the night and hidden passages. |
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Full listing of Mystery movies from the 1940's | 13 Lead Soldiers (1948)
Accused, The (1949)
After Midnight with Boston Blackie (1943)
Alias Boston Blackie (1942)
Amazing Mr. X, The (1948)
And Then There Were None (1945)
Appointment with Murder (1948)
Avalanche (1946)
Big Clock, The (1948)
Big Sleep, The (1946)
Big Town After Dark (1947)
Black Cat (1941)
Black Magic (1949)
Black Raven (1943)
Blue Dahlia (1946)
Boomerang! (1947)
Boston Blackie and the Law (1946)
Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion (1945)
Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood (1942)
Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture (1949)
Boston Blackie's Rendezvous (1945)
Bribe (1949)
Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1947)
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1947)
Bury Me Dead (1947)
Busman's Honeymoon (1940)
Call Northside 777 (1948)
Calling Dr. Death (1943)
Calling Philo Vance (1940)
Case of the Baby-Sitter (1947)
Case of the Frightened Lady (1940)
Castle in the Desert (1942)
Challenge (1948)
Chance of a Lifetime (1943)
Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum (1940)
Charlie Chan in Black Magic (1944)
Charlie Chan in Panama (1940)
Charlie Chan in Rio (1941)
Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944)
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise (1940)
Chinese Cat (1944)
Chinese Ring, The (1947)
Christmas Holiday (1944)
Citizen Kane (1941)
City of Missing Girls (1941)
Close Call for Boston Blackie (1946)
Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941)
Counter-Espionage (1942)
Cover-Up (1949)
Crack-Up (1946)
Crime Doctor (1943)
Crime Doctor's Courage (1945)
Crime Doctor's Diary (1949)
Crime Doctor's Gamble (1947)
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt (1946)
Crime Doctor's Strangest Case (1943)
Crime Doctor's Warning (1945)
Criss Cross (1949)
Crossroads (1942)
Cry Wolf (1947)
Dangerous Lady (1941)
Dangerous Money (1946)
Dark Alibi (1946)
Date with the Falcon (1941)
Dead Man's Eyes (1944)
Dead Men Tell (1941)
Dead Reckoning (1947)
Deadline at Dawn (1946)
Detour (1945)
Devil Bat's Daughter (1946)
Devil's Cargo (1948)
Dick Tracy (1945)
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)
Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. (1941)
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Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946)
Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947)
Docks of New Orleans (1948)
Doomed to Die (1940)
Dragonwyck (1946)
Dressed to Kill (1941)
Dressed to Kill (1946)
Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen (1942)
Eyes in the Night (1942)
Falcon and the Co-eds (1943)
Falcon in Danger (1943)
Falcon in Hollywood (1944)
Falcon in Mexico, The (1944)
Falcon in San Francisco (1945)
Falcon Out West (1944)
Falcon Strikes Back (1943)
Falcon Takes Over (1942)
Falcon's Adventure, The (1946)
Falcon's Alibi (1946)
Falcon's Brother (1942)
Fallen Angel (1945)
Fatal Hour (1940)
Feathered Serpent (1948)
Fingers at the Window (1942)
Fog Island (1945)
Foreign Correspondent (1940)
Framed (1947)
Frozen Ghost (1945)
Gaslight (1944)
Gay Falcon (1941)
Ghost Ship, The (1943)
Glass Key (1942)
Golden Eye, The (1948)
Green for Danger (1946)
Half a Sinner (1940)
Hard Guy (1941)
Hat Box Mystery (1947)
Haunted House (1940)
Hidden Eye (1945)
House of Fear (1945)
I Live on Danger (1942)
Inner Circle (1946)
Isle of the Dead (1945)
Jade Mask (1945)
Jenny Lamour (1947)
Jigsaw (1949)
Johnny Angel (1945)
Just Before Dawn (1946)
Kid Glove Killer (1942)
Lady Confesses (1945)
Lady of Burlesque (1943)
Laura (1944)
Leopard Man (1943)
Letter (1940)
Living Ghost (1942)
Lodger, The (1944)
Lone Wolf and His Lady (1949)
Lone Wolf in London (1947)
Lone Wolf in Mexico (1947)
Lone Wolf Keeps a Date (1941)
Lone Wolf Meets a Lady (1940)
Lone Wolf Strikes (1940)
Lone Wolf Takes a Chance (1941)
Love, Honor and Oh Baby! (1940)
Lured (1947)
Maltese Falcon (1941)
Man on the Eiffel Tower (1949)
Mask of Dimitrios (1944)
Meet Boston Blackie (1941)
Midnight Limited (1940)
Millerson Case (1947)
Ministry of Fear (1944)
Moss Rose (1947)
Murder by Invitation (1941)
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Murder Over New York (1940)
Murder, My Sweet (1944)
My Favorite Brunette (1947)
Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948)
Night Has Eyes (1942)
Night Monster (1942)
Notorious Lone Wolf (1946)
One Body Too Many (1944)
One Mysterious Night (1944)
Out of the Past (1947)
Panther's Claw (1942)
Pearl of Death (1944)
Phantom Killer (1942)
Phantom of Chinatown (1940)
Phantom Thief (1946)
Philo Vance Returns (1947)
Philo Vance's Gamble (1947)
Philo Vance's Secret Mission (1947)
Pillow of Death (1945)
Pursuit to Algiers (1945)
Raffles (1940)
Rebecca (1940)
Red Dragon (1945)
Red House (1947)
Roar of the Press (1941)
Rogues' Gallery (1944)
Saddle Mountain Roundup (1941)
Saint in Palm Springs (1941)
Saint Meets the Tiger (1943)
Saint Takes Over (1940)
Saint's Double Trouble (1940)
Saint's Vacation (1941)
Scarlet Claw, The (1944)
Scarlet Clue (1945)
Search for Danger (1949)
Secrets of the Lone Wolf (1941)
Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)
Shadows in the Night (1944)
Shadows on the Stairs (1941)
Shadows Over Chinatown (1946)
Shake Hands with Murder (1944)
Shanghai Chest (1948)
Shanghai Cobra (1945)
She-Wolf of London (1946)
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942)
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942)
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)
Sherlock Holmes in Washington (1943)
Sky Dragon (1949)
Slightly Honorable (1940)
Song of the Thin Man (1947)
Spellbound (1945)
Spider Woman (1944)
Spiral Staircase (1946)
Strange Impersonation (1946)
Stranger, The (1946)
Suspicion (1941)
Take One False Step (1949)
Terror by Night (1946)
Thin Man Goes Home (1944)
Third Man, The (1949)
Topper Returns (1941)
Trap (1946)
Trapped by Boston Blackie (1948)
Uninvited, The (1944)
Velvet Touch (1948)
Verdict (1946)
Weird Woman (1944)
When Strangers Marry (1944)
Woman in Green, The (1945)
X Marks the Spot (1942)
You'll Find Out (1940)
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