Killer 1940s Film Noirs - The Best 1940s Film Noirs by Year
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The Best 1940s Film Noirs by Year
This post is all about the best 1940s film noir movies by year
What is a Film noir?
For other film noir lovers out there, you know it's hard to exactly describe or define what makes a movie a film noir.
It's more like once you've seen enough of them, you can then recognize them based off of common themes that tend to run through the movies.
Film noirs peaked in popularity in the 1940s and 1950s, this is generally referred to as the "classic period of flim noir."
The term film noir is a french term that means "black film" or "dark film."
This is fitting because film noirs often center around the underworld or crime of some sort. (they are also often shot in black and white, but there are also color film noirs.)
Common storyline include hardboiled detectives unraveling a mystery, an organized crime syndicate, or a heist about to take place.
The world of film noir often has a femme fatale and or the 'girl next door.'
Often the story can be told through flashbacks with the main character narrating the storyline.
The main character is also often flawed, again going back to the theme of the underworld, something that was rare in the 1940s.
The femme fatale was usually a woman of questionable motives or virtue, (and usually drop-dead gorgeous to boot.)
Femme fatale is another french term for "fatal woman" as she is usually sedective and often brings down the male character in film noirs.
Sometimes the femme fatale isn't all that bad and there can be a happy ending, but often either she destroys the man, or he finds the 'girl next door' character.
These girls are meant to be the wholesome female characters of the film, they can sometimes come across as being a little too goody two shoes.
Film noirs and the Motion Picture Production Code
Old film noir movies often have bad endings, due to the nature of being a film noir along with the Motion Picture Production Code that was in effect from 1934-1968.
Among other things, the code specified that:
“Crime and immorality could never be portrayed in a positive light.”
“Criminals should not be made to be heroes.”
Since film noirs often identify with an “anti-hero” or the “not so good guy,” in order to comply with the code, if the story portrayed a main character who was involved in a bank heist, for example, he wouldn’t be able to get away with it in the end because otherwise that could be portraying crime in a positive light.
So, unfortunately if you always want a happy ending in your movies, unless the main character hasn’t been directly involved in a serious crime, then it’s not likely to end well.
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1940
The Letter (1940)
Directed by William Wyler, starring Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson
After shooting a man, a woman claims it was in self-defense, but a letter might incriminate her.
This is based on a play, which was actually inspired by a true story.
Rebecca (1940)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Judith Anderson
A shy young woman that marries a wealthy aristocrat, finds herself overwhelmed by the presence of her husband's first wife in the house.
The haunting story by Daphne Du Maurier, is masterfully brought to life by Hitchcock.
Sometimes classified as a drama, sometimes as a film noir, we're not entirely sure, but Rebecca is a must-see movies for classic movies fans.
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1941
Suspicion (1941)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine, Cedric Hardwicke
A shy young heiress marries a charming playboy but then begins to fear that he might be trying to kill her.
Joan Fontaine plays a similar role of the timid, shy woman as she did in Hitchcock's Rebecca.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Directed by John Huston, starring Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Glady George, Peter Lorre
A detective, motivated by the death of his partner, investigates a case involving a priceless statue.
A classic film noir with lots of twists and turns, good luck keeping track of the plot.
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1942
This Gun for Hire (1942)
Directed by Frank Tuttle, starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Robert Preston
A hit man begins to feel his conscious when he is paid off by a traitor.
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1943
Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten, Macdonald Carey
A teenage girl begins to suspect her uncle is a serial killer, putting her own life at risk.
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1944
Gaslight (1944)
Gaslight 1944 also comes in with a 7.8 on imdb.
Newly married Paula (Ingrid Bergman) moves back into her childhood home where her Aunt had been brutally murdered years before.
Her new husband (Charles Boyer) who was charming before getting married begins to show a different side as he tries to slowly drive her mad and has secrets of his own.
Joseph Cotten plays her ardent admirer, who knew her aunt.
Ingrid Bergman plays the beautiful Paula who honestly comes across a being quite naive, but it might be intentional due to the time period, as it’s set in Victorian London.
(Laura 1944)
Directed by Otto Preminger, starring Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, Judith Anderson
Another famous old film noir movie, Laura 1944 even beats out Gilda on imdb, coming in at a 7.9.
When a cop (Dana Andrews) begins investigating the murder of a beautiful woman (Gene Tierney), he begins to fall in love with the victim.
Laura is a classic film noir told through flashbacks for a large portion of the film. There is also the noir-style detective, the gorgeous femme fatale, and some inspirational dark lighting throughout the film.
Clifton Webb stars as the witty writer Waldo Lydecker who gave Laura her career start and is also in love with her.
To round out the men in love with her, add in Vincent Price, playing Laura’s fiance.
Some great 1940’s fashion here. Clifton Webb as Waldo Lydecker supplies some great dialogue and really makes the movie.
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Murder My Sweet (1944)
Directed by Edward Dmytryk, starring Dick Powell, Claire Trevor, Anne Shirley
Philip Marlow, a private detective, is hired to find the girlfriend of an ex-con.
To Have and Have Not (1944)
Directed by Howard Hawks, starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Walter Brennan, Dolores Moran
An American helps a French resistance leader and his beautiful wife escape.
A storyline that is a bit similar to Casablanca, although there is no history this time between Bogart and the resistance leader's wife. Instead he falls for the singer, played by Lauren Bacall.
Double indemnity (1944)
Directed by Billy Wilder, starring Fred MacMurray Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson
A woman and an insurance provider plot to kill her husband and collect the insurance money.
Costume designer Edith Head designed the clothes for double indemnity.
The Woman in the Window (1944)
Directed by Fritz Lang, starring Edward G Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey
A man falls for a femme fatale and is drawn into murder and blackmail.
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1945
Mildred Pierce (1945)
Directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, Ann Blyth, Bruce Bennett
Mildred Pierce, another famous old film noir movie comes in with a 8.0 on imdb.
Mildred Pierce (Joan Crawford) is a mother who is determined to do anything for her children. Her determination to give her children whatever they want leads her to become a successful restaurant owner and even leave her husband.
But, it turns out that her daughter might not be as deserving as her mother thinks.
The film starts out with a classic film noir style flashback, centering around a murder and most of the movie is told from Mildred’s point of view.
Joan Crawford always does a phenomenal job playing strong women and this movie is no exception.
Fallen Angel (1945)
Directed by Otto Preminger, starring Alice Faye, Dana Andrews, Linda Darnell, Charles Bickford
Fallen Angel 1945 come in with a 7.1 on imdb.
Dana Andrews plays a drifter who become infatuated with a femme fatale (Linda Darnell). When she gets murdered Dana Andrews becomes a suspect.
This old film noir movie feels a bit different than the others. For one thing, the femme fatale who you think is main character actually gets murdered in the beginning.
It turns out that another woman is actually the main female character (Alice Faye.) She falls for Dana Andrews and eventually marries him but he has other intentions.
Can a good woman change a bad man?
Linda Darnell is gorgeous for the few scenes she’s in. Alice Faye is a bit annoying as the “good” girl, but not too bad. It’s a nice story.
Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
Directed by John M. Stahl, starring Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, Vincent Price
An obsessively jealous woman smothers anyone in her life that she loves, even to the point of murder.
For more on Gene Tierney's fashion in Leave Her to Heaven:
Gene Tierney Leave Her to Heaven - Her Lethal Femme Fatale Style
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1946
The Dark Corner (1946)
Directed by Henry Hathaway, starring Lucille Ball, Clifton Webb. William Bendix, Mark Stevens
A man is backed into a corner, and his secretary has to help him out.
Another gem starring the talented Lucille Ball in a non-comedic role. Honestly, when you're so used to her in I Love Lucy, it's a bit hard to get that image out of your head.
Lady in the Lake (1946)
Directed by Robert Montgomery, starring Audrey Totter, Lloyed Nolan, Tom Tully
A detective is hired to find the wife of a a boss, drawing Philip Marlow into a murder case.
Another Philip Marlowe detective film noir.
Dead Reckoning (1946)
Directed by John Cromwell, starring Humphrey Bogart, Lizabeth Scott, Morris Carnovsky
A man researches a buddy's girlfriend to find himself drawn into a web of love and murder.
The Blue Dahlia (1946)
Directed by George Marshall, starring Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix
A man suspected of killing his wife, tries to find the real killer.
Gilda (1946)
Directed by Charles Vidor, starring Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, George Macready
Gilda 1946 centers around Johnny (Glenn Ford), a down and out gambler who gets into business with a casino owner and quickly becomes his number one man.
In a twist, his boss comes back from a business trip newly married to Gilda (Rita Hayworth) who happens to be Johnny’s ex.
Gilda 1946, starring Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth, has a well-deserved imdb rating of 7.7.
Johnny’s jealousy of Gilda and her feisty personality make for some snappy dialogue between the two characters. There is also great on-screen chemistry between Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth.
Amid their personal disagreements, suspicious events begin unfolding around the casino and Johnny’s boss who is also Gilda’s husband.
To sweeten the deal is some classy 1940’s fashion (mostly evening dresses) and some catchy song numbers.
The Killers (1946)
Directed by Robert Siodmak, starring Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O-Brien
When a man is executed by killers, his death and involvement with a beautiful woman is investigated through flashbacks.
Ava Gardner is stunning in her role as the femme fatale.
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Directed by Tay Garnett, starring Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway, Hume Cronyn
A woman and her boyfriend plot to kill her husband in this classic film noir.
The Big Sleep (1946)
Directed by Howard Hawks, starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, John Ridgely, Martha Vickers
The Big Sleep 1946 comes in on imdb with a 7.9
This is one of those stereotypical film noir detective type films with Bogart starring as the trench-coat wearing private eye.
Philip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) is a private eye hired by a wealthy family. The two daughters fight for Bogart’s attention, one of them being Lauren Bacall. Can you guess which one he ends up with?
It’s got snappy dialogue, femme fatales, a good mystery, and dramatic lighting. However, the plot itself is so complicated that I’ve seen it three times and I still get confused as to what happened.
If you’re able to piece it together and explain it to me, please do. It’s still a good noir to watch for all the other elements of a good noir, good romance, a mystery, dark lighting, and snappy dialogue.
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)
Directed by Lewis Milestone, starring Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizabeth Scott, Kirk Douglas, Judith Anderson
An old murder case is brought back when a man meets his childhood friends who all have a secret.
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1947
The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
Directed by Orson Welles, starring Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles, Everett Sloane
A man who is fascinated by the gorgeous wife, agrees to go along on a yachting trip, only to find that he's being set up as the fall guy.
Fun fact: Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth were married in real life.
Out of the Past (1947)
Directed by Jacques Tourneur, starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming
A man tries to escape his past, only to have it catch up to him.
Kiss of Death (1947)
Directed by Henry Hathaway, starring Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Coleen Gray, Richard Widmark
A man involved in a jewelry heist is convinced into testifiying against his accomplices, but are they all behind bars for good, or will they want revenge?
Dark Passage (1947)
Directed by Delmer Daves, starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Bruce Bennett, Agnes Moorehead
Dark Passage 1947 has a 7.5 on imdb.
A classic Bogey-Bacall romance, you’ll love this noir if you’re a fan of the real-life couple
Vincent Parry (Humphrey Bogart) is a wrongly convicted murderer who escapes from San Quentin. Irene (Lauren Bacall) is the woman who rescues him and helps him until he can try to prove his innocence.
Humphrey Bogart has his trademark snappy dialogue and, as usual, great chemistry with Lauren Bacall’s character Irene.
It’s seriously impressive how much she believes in his innocence as the body count continues to rise, but she never loses faith in him.
Lauren Bacall, also known for her classy fashion, wears some great 1940s fashion in this film.
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Lured (1947)
Directed by Douglas Sirk, starring George Sanders, Lucille Ball, Charles Coburn, Borlis Karloff
Lured 1947 has a 7.0 rating on imdb.
Lucille Ball, in an early non-comedic role, plays Sandra Carpenter, a dance hall girl, who, when her friend disappears, she agrees to help the Police track down the killer.
The killer is targeting young, single women, mostly via ads in the personal section of the newspaper. Sandra, being young and single, becomes “bait” for the killer by answering all the personal ads. Needless to say she runs into some creepy situations.
During her investigation she falls in love with Robert Fleming (George Sanders) but Robert fits the description of the charming killer.
Bits of Lucille Ball’s sense of humor come through in the film. She and George Sanders make a good couple with her feisty personality offsetting his smooth charm…they should’ve starred in more movies together.
Worth mentioning is a ridiculous scene involving Boris Karloff as a mad artist that she runs into while answering an ad.
It lasts about ten minutes and really feels out of place compared to the rest of the movie.
Framed (1947)
Directed by Richard Wallace, starring Glenn Ford, Janis Carter, Barry Sullivan
A man trusts a femme fatale and is finds himself framed.
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1948
Sorry Wrong Number (1948)
Directed by Anatole Litvak, starring Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards, Wendell Corey
A disabled woman overhears a murder plot on the phone.
Key Largo (1948)
Directed by John Huston, starring Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall
Gangsters take over a hotel on the Florida keys.
Best 1940s Film Noir Movies by Year: 1949
Tension (1949)
Directed by John Berry, starring Richard Basehart, Audrey Totter, Cyd Charisse, Barry Sullivan
Tension 1949 is an underrated “B” film noir, but hard to find. It’s not even yet available on streaming!
Audrey Totter stars as Claire Quimby, the spoiled wife of Warren Quimby. (Richard Basehart). When she leaves him for another man, he plots on how to kill the man she left him for.
When the man turns up dead, he’s the prime suspect.
Tension is entertaining with Audrey totter as the femme fatale, who can really turn on the charm when needed. Don’t expect more than an entertaining B film and you’ll enjoy it.
Criss Cross (1949)
Directed by Robert Siodmak, starring Burt Lancaster, Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Duryea
A man and his ex-wife who is now married to a gangster, devise a scheme to have his truck robbed.
Impact (1949)
Directed by Arthur Lubin, starring Brian Donlevy, Ella Raines, Charles Coburn
A woman and her boyfriend attempt to kill her husband, but the plot takes a turn when the boyfriend is killed instead.
Caught (1949)
Directed by Max Ophuls, starring James Mason, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Ryan
A socialite tries to escape her abusive husband by working in a doctors office, but her husband isn't about to let her go so easily.
This post was all about the best 1940s film noir movies by year
What is your favorite 1940s film noir?
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Originally published Feb 2021, updated May 2024