Oscar Winners

1940 Rebecca       Drama / Thriller / Mystery / Romance N/R, 130 Minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock  
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 Grapes of Wrath       Drama N/R, 128 Minutes
Director: John Ford  
Starring: Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, Russell Simpson, Charley Grapewin, John Carradine, Frank Faylen, John Qualen, Eddie Quillan, Frank Sully, Ward Bond

 This is the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's moving novel about the plight of farmers escaping the Oklahoma "Dust Bowl" during the Great Depression. The Joad family packs up their belongings and moves to California in search of a better life. Although they are confronted with a whole new set of problems, Ma Joad (Jane Darwell) manages to hold her family together. John Ford won the Academy Award for Best Director, and Jane Darwell walked away with Best Supporting Actress honors. The film was also nominated for five other awards, including Best Picture and Actor (Henry Fonda).

1940 The Philadelphia Story       Comedy / Romance N/R, 112 Minutes
Director: George Cukor  
Starring: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, John Howard, Ruth Hussey, Roland Young, John Halliday, Mary Nash, Virginia Weidler, Henry Daniell

 Philadelphia's elite citizens are the subject of this romantic comedy. Katharine Hepburn plays socialite Tracy Lord who is divorced from C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) and is about to marry stuffed-shirt George Kittredge (John Howard). James Stewart plays reporter Macaulay Connor who has arrived on the scene to cover the wedding, but he falls in love with the bride-to-be. Stewart carried away an Academy Award for Best Actor. An Academy Award was also given for Best Writing, and nominations were received for Best Picture, Actress (Hepburn), Supporting Actress (Ruth Hussey for her role as Macaulay's girlfriend), and Director.

1940 Kitty Foyle       Drama N/R, 108 Minutes
Director: Sam Wood  
Starring: Ginger Rogers, Dennis Morgan, James Craig, Eduardo Ciannelli, Gladys Cooper, Ernest Cossart, Odette Myrtil, Mary Treen, K.T. Stevens, Walter Kingsford

 For her role as Kitty Foyle, Ginger Rogers won the Oscar for Best Actress. This is the story of Kitty's intimidation by the snobby, social class of her husband (Dennis Morgan) and her eventual happiness with another man (James Craig). The film also received four nominations, including Best Picture and Director.

1940 The Westerner       Western N/R, 100 Minutes
Director: William Wyler  
Starring: Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Doris Davenport, Fred Stone, Dana Andrews, Chill Wills, Forrest Tucker, Tom Tyler, Charles Halton, Julian Rivero

 Walter Brennan plays the "hanging lawman" Judge Roy Bean who conducts trials from his saloon in Vinegaroon, Texas, and often uses hanging as his sentence. Judge Roy Bean just might meet his match in Cole Hardin (Gary Cooper) who is charged with stealing a horse. Cole talks his way into a delay for his hanging by convincing Judge Bean that he is a friend of actress Lily Langtry (Lilian Bond) who the Judge adores. Cole says he can give the Judge a lock of her hair. When Cole says it will take two weeks to get the lock of hair, his hanging is delayed. Meanwhile, Cole becomes involved in a range war and even gets to see Lily Langtry when she arrives in Texas. Walter Brennan won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and two other nominations were received.

1940 The Grapes of Wrath       Drama N/R, 128 Minutes
Director: John Ford  
Starring: Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, Russell Simpson, Charley Grapewin, John Carradine, Frank Faylen, John Qualen, Eddie Quillan, Frank Sully, Ward Bond

 This is the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's moving novel about the plight of farmers escaping the Oklahoma "Dust Bowl" during the Great Depression. The Joad family packs up their belongings and moves to California in search of a better life. Although they are confronted with a whole new set of problems, Ma Joad (Jane Darwell) manages to hold her family together. John Ford won the Academy Award for Best Director, and Jane Darwell walked away with Best Supporting Actress honors. The film was also nominated for five other awards, including Best Picture and Actor (Henry Fonda).

1941 How Green Was My Valley       Family / Drama N/R, 118 Minutes
Director: John Ford  
Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Donald Crisp, Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall, John Loder, Sara Allgood, Barry Fitzgerald, Patric Knowles, Morton Lowry

 Based on Richard Llewellyn's novel, this touching story about the changing world of a Welsh coal-mining family won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1941, John Ford won an Oscar for Best Director, and Donald Crisp won for Best Supporting Actor. The film won two additional Academy Awards and was nominated for five others.

1941 How Green Was My Valley       Family / Drama N/R, 118 Minutes
Director: John Ford  
Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Donald Crisp, Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall, John Loder, Sara Allgood, Barry Fitzgerald, Patric Knowles, Morton Lowry

 Based on Richard Llewellyn's novel, this touching story about the changing world of a Welsh coal-mining family won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1941, John Ford won an Oscar for Best Director, and Donald Crisp won for Best Supporting Actor. The film won two additional Academy Awards and was nominated for five others.

1941 Sergeant York       Drama N/R, 134 Minutes
Director: Howard Hawks  
Starring: Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie, George Tobias, Stanley Ridges, Margaret Wycherly, Noah Beery Jr., Ward Bond, Elisha Cook Jr., Frank Faylen

 Gary Cooper won the Oscar for his portrayal of Sergeant York in this film based on a true story of York's single-handed killing of 25 and capture of 132 Germans during one day of battle. In addition to one other Oscar (Film Editing), nine nominations were received, including Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Walter Brennan), Supporting Actress (Margaret Wycherly), and Director.

1941 Suspicion       Mystery / Thriller N/R, 99 Minutes
Director: Alfred Hitchcock  
Starring: Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine, Cedric Hardwicke, Nigel Bruce, Dame May Whitty, Isabel Jeans, Heather Angel, Reginald Sheffield, Leo G. Carroll, Constance Worth

 Timid Lina (Joan Fontaine) marries Johnnie Aysgarth (Cary Grant). Although deeply in love with Johnnie, Lina begins to piece together evidence that she is her husband's intended murder victim. Joan Fontaine won the Best Actress Academy Award for her performance in this film, and a nomination was received for Best Picture.

1941 How Green Was My Valley       Family / Drama N/R, 118 Minutes
Director: John Ford  
Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara, Donald Crisp, Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall, John Loder, Sara Allgood, Barry Fitzgerald, Patric Knowles, Morton Lowry

 Based on Richard Llewellyn's novel, this touching story about the changing world of a Welsh coal-mining family won the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1941, John Ford won an Oscar for Best Director, and Donald Crisp won for Best Supporting Actor. The film won two additional Academy Awards and was nominated for five others.

1941 The Great Lie       Drama N/R, 102 Minutes
Director: Edmund Goulding  
Starring: Bette Davis, George Brent, Mary Astor, Lucile Watson, Hattie McDaniel, Grant Mitchell, Jerome Cowan, Thurston Hall, Olin Howland, J. Farrell MacDonald

 Mary Astor won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Sandra Kovak, a woman pregnant with Maggie Patterson's (Bette Davis) deceased husband, Pete's (George Brent), child. Maggie plans to raise the child as her own, but Pete turns up alive, and Maggie and Sandra vie for custody and for Pete's love as well.

1942 Mrs. Miniver       Drama / Romance N/R, 135 Minutes
Director: William Wyler  
Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright, Dame May Whitty, Henry Travers, Richard Ney, Reginald Owen, Miles Mander, Henry Wilcoxon, Rhys Williams

 Kay Miniver (Greer Garson) is the matriarch of a British family who holds things together as World War II closes in around them. While she tends to the children and her garden, her husband Clem (Walter Pigeon) takes part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Meanwhile, German bombs are dropping on their peaceful village, and the eldest son Vin (Richard Ney) falls in love with upper-crust Carol (Teresa Wright). The family seems able to face the tragedies of the war, but will the war take its toll on their young love? This film was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture, Director (William Wyler), Actress (Garson), and Supporting Actress (Wright). It also won two more Oscars and was nominated for six others, including Best Actor (Pidgeon), Supporting Actor (Henry Travers), and Supporting Actress (Dame May Whitty).

1942 Mrs. Miniver       Drama / Romance N/R, 135 Minutes
Director: William Wyler  
Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright, Dame May Whitty, Henry Travers, Richard Ney, Reginald Owen, Miles Mander, Henry Wilcoxon, Rhys Williams

 Kay Miniver (Greer Garson) is the matriarch of a British family who holds things together as World War II closes in around them. While she tends to the children and her garden, her husband Clem (Walter Pigeon) takes part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Meanwhile, German bombs are dropping on their peaceful village, and the eldest son Vin (Richard Ney) falls in love with upper-crust Carol (Teresa Wright). The family seems able to face the tragedies of the war, but will the war take its toll on their young love? This film was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture, Director (William Wyler), Actress (Garson), and Supporting Actress (Wright). It also won two more Oscars and was nominated for six others, including Best Actor (Pidgeon), Supporting Actor (Henry Travers), and Supporting Actress (Dame May Whitty).

1942 Yankee Doodle Dandy           Musical / Drama / Romance N/R, 126 Minutes
Director: Michael Curtiz  
Starring: James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, Richard Whorf, George Tobias, Irene Manning, Frances Langford, Rosemary DeCamp, Jeanne Cagney, S.Z. Sakall

 George M. Cohan's biography is the theme of this patriotic musical, and James Cagney is superb in the title role. The story begins when George (Douglas Croft) was growing up as a star in his family's vaudeville show, continues through his years as one of Broadway's great stars, and ends up with him receiving a medal from the President for his contributions to the United States. Cagney won the Best Actor Oscar for his effort. Nominations included Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Walter Huston), and Director.

1942 Mrs. Miniver       Drama / Romance N/R, 135 Minutes
Director: William Wyler  
Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright, Dame May Whitty, Henry Travers, Richard Ney, Reginald Owen, Miles Mander, Henry Wilcoxon, Rhys Williams

 Kay Miniver (Greer Garson) is the matriarch of a British family who holds things together as World War II closes in around them. While she tends to the children and her garden, her husband Clem (Walter Pigeon) takes part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Meanwhile, German bombs are dropping on their peaceful village, and the eldest son Vin (Richard Ney) falls in love with upper-crust Carol (Teresa Wright). The family seems able to face the tragedies of the war, but will the war take its toll on their young love? This film was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture, Director (William Wyler), Actress (Garson), and Supporting Actress (Wright). It also won two more Oscars and was nominated for six others, including Best Actor (Pidgeon), Supporting Actor (Henry Travers), and Supporting Actress (Dame May Whitty).

1942 Johnny Eager       Drama N/R, 107 Minutes
Director: Mervyn LeRoy  
Starring: Robert Taylor, Lana Turner, Edward Arnold, Van Heflin, Robert Sterling, Henry O'Neill, Glenda Farrell, Barry Nelson, Charles Dingle, Nestor Paiva

 Lisbeth Bard (Lana Turner), the stepdaughter of a crusading district attorney, falls in love with slick Johnny Eager (Robert Taylor) who is anything but a law-abiding citizen. Van Heflin won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in this film.

1942 Mrs. Miniver       Drama / Romance N/R, 135 Minutes
Director: William Wyler  
Starring: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright, Dame May Whitty, Henry Travers, Richard Ney, Reginald Owen, Miles Mander, Henry Wilcoxon, Rhys Williams

 Kay Miniver (Greer Garson) is the matriarch of a British family who holds things together as World War II closes in around them. While she tends to the children and her garden, her husband Clem (Walter Pigeon) takes part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Meanwhile, German bombs are dropping on their peaceful village, and the eldest son Vin (Richard Ney) falls in love with upper-crust Carol (Teresa Wright). The family seems able to face the tragedies of the war, but will the war take its toll on their young love? This film was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture, Director (William Wyler), Actress (Garson), and Supporting Actress (Wright). It also won two more Oscars and was nominated for six others, including Best Actor (Pidgeon), Supporting Actor (Henry Travers), and Supporting Actress (Dame May Whitty).

1942 Casablanca       Drama / Romance N/R, 104 Minutes
Director: Michael Curtiz  
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Peter Lorre, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, S.Z. Sakall, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, John Qualen, Leonid Kinskey

 One of the best films ever, this Oscar winner for Best Picture stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick, the owner of a Moroccan bar during the German occupation of Northern Africa in WWII. When the love of his life, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), shows up in his joint one night, their old romance is rekindled; but Nazi politics make strange bedfellows. Rick: "Here's looking at you, kid." Another major Academy Award went to Michael Curtiz for his directing. The film also won for Best Writing, and had several nominations, including Best Actor (Bogart) and Supporting Actor (Claude Rains).

1942 Casablanca       Drama / Romance N/R, 104 Minutes
Director: Michael Curtiz  
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Peter Lorre, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, S.Z. Sakall, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, John Qualen, Leonid Kinskey

 One of the best films ever, this Oscar winner for Best Picture stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick, the owner of a Moroccan bar during the German occupation of Northern Africa in WWII. When the love of his life, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), shows up in his joint one night, their old romance is rekindled; but Nazi politics make strange bedfellows. Rick: "Here's looking at you, kid." Another major Academy Award went to Michael Curtiz for his directing. The film also won for Best Writing, and had several nominations, including Best Actor (Bogart) and Supporting Actor (Claude Rains).

1943 Watch on the Rhine       Drama N/R, 114 Minutes
Director: Herman Schumlin  
Starring: Paul Lukas, Bette Davis, Lucile Watson, Donald Woods, George Coulouris, Henry Daniell, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Beulah Bondi, Helmut Dantine, Mary Young

 This powerful film, made during the height of Hitler's terror, is about an anti-Nazi, underground worker (Paul Lukas) and his wife (Bette Davis) who, while visiting in America, find that their lives are in danger. This is a good film adaptation of Lillian Hellman's play. Lukas won the Best Actor Oscar and nominations were received for Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Lucile Watson), and Writing-Screenplay (Dashiell Hammett).

1943 The Song of Bernadette           Drama N/R, 158 Minutes
Director: Henry King  
Starring: Jennifer Jones, William Eythe, Charles Bickford, Vincent Price, Lee J. Cobb, Anne Revere, Sig Ruman, Gladys Cooper, Roman Bohnen, Mary Anderson

 In the 19th century, Bernadette Soubirous (Jennifer Jones) saw a vision of the Virgin Mary at the Grotto Of Lourdes. Although her vision was doubted by the church, she did not falter in her claim nor her beliefs. The film received four Oscars, including Best Actress for Jennifer Jones. Nominations included Best Picture, Supporting Actor (Charles Bickford), two Supporting Actress (Gladys Cooper and Anne Revere) and Director.

1943 The More the Merrier       Comedy N/R, 104 Minutes
Director: George Stevens  
Starring: Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, Charles Coburn, Richard Gaines, Bruce Bennett, Frank Sully, Clyde Fillmore, Stanley Clements, Donald Douglas, Ann Savage

 During World War II when there was a housing shortage in Washington D.C., Connie (Jean Arthur) shares an apartment with Mr. Dingle (Charles Coburn) who, in turn, sublets to an army sergeant, Joe (Joel McCrea). The dialogue is funny, and the movie is entertaining. Charles Coburn took home the Oscar for his supporting role in this film. There were five other nominations, including Best Picture, Actress, and Director.

1943 For Whom the Bell Tolls       Drama / Adventure / Romance N/R, 130 Minutes
Director: Sam Wood  
Starring: Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Akim Tamiroff, Arturo de Cordova, Joseph Calleia, Katina Paxinou, Vladimir Sokoloff, Mikhail Rasumny, Fortunio Bonanova, Frank Puglia

 Set in the Spanish Civil War, American Robert Jordan (Gary Cooper) helps a band of peasant guerillas blow up a bridge. While hiding in the hills, Jordan meets and falls in love with Maria (Ingrid Bergman) who has suffered at the hands of Franco's forces. Katina Paxinou won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress. The film also received eight nominations, including Best Picture, Actor (Cooper), Actress (Bergman), and Supporting Actor (Akim Tamiroff).

1944 Going My Way       Drama / Comedy / Musical N/R, 130 Minutes
Director: Leo McCarey  
Starring: Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald, Frank McHugh, Rise Stevens, Gene Lockhart, William Frawley, James Brown, Jean Heather, Porter Hall, Fortunio Bonanova

 Besides winning the Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writer Awards, both Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald won Academy Awards for their roles as Father O'Malley and Father Fitzgibbon. In the film, Father O'Malley is sent to the parish to help the elderly Father Fitzgibbon. It is a heartwarming story about their developing friendship. To top off the Oscars, it also won for Best Song: "Swinging on a Star."