In the
1940’s studios were on the rebound.
People went to theaters to escape the realities
of WWII. The popularity of animated features
also grew. Towards the end of the decade
the HUAC (The House Committee on Un-American
Activities) hearings accused many people
in Hollywood of being communists and blacklisted
them from the industry. Below is a selection
of the most influential films of this time
period.
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Dumbo -
by Walt Disney
Separated from his mother, a baby
elephant with huge ears must rely on his
friends to help him learn to like himself
and find his true potential.
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here to get your copy!
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Casablanca
- by Michael Curtiz
Rick Blaine runs the swankiest
club in Casablanca during WWII. Things
get even hotter when his old flame comes
looking for help with her new husband.
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The
Philadelphia Story - by George Cukor
Tracy Lord kicks her husband
Dexter, out of the house
for being
a playboy. Two years later when she's
ready to remarry, Dexter comes back
to make things difficult.
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Double
Indemnity - by Billy Wilder
Phyllis Dietrichson begins
having a affair with
insurance salesman Walter Naff.
Together they plan to murder her husband
and collect on his life insurance.
Of course,
things don't exactly work
out they way they planned.
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Citizen
Kane - by Orson Wells
Charles Foster Kane a rich
newspaper man, utters the word "Rosebud" before
he dies. A reporter investigates
the
stories of Kane's life to find the
true meaning of his mysterious last
word.
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Ivan
the Terrible - by Sergei Eisenstein
The story of Czar Ivan who
crowns himself the ruler
of Russia.
Fighting jealous family members trying
to overthrow him, he is willing to
sacrifice even his own
son to continue his rule.
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Hamlet
- by Laurence Olivier
Hamlet discovers his
uncle Claudius has murdered his father
to become king. Hamlet seeks his revenge
even
if it means losing his own life.
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The
Bicycle Thief - by Vittorio De Sica
During Italy's post war depression,
a poor father sells
some possessions
to buy a bicycle and get work
putting
up posters. When his bike is
stolen, he wanders around town searching
for his family's only hope for survival.
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