Supernatural films from the 1940s

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This list general concerns those comedies and dramas that have a significant supernatural element, generally by some interaction with an interpretation of angelic beings or the after-life, and usually portrayed in a light or humorous tone. Sometimes, these films are mostly serious or dark while the supernatural elements are still contrastingly portrayed in levity (ie, It’s a Wonderful Life is a fairly dark film, yet the angelic element is mostly comical). Perhaps this contrast is evident of the the escapist nature of the films: people wanted a religiously-grounded escape from the dark reality of WII.

(I also included Topper — and although I haven’t seen it and it isn’t in the 1940s, from what I can tell it belongs to this genre as well, although this genre arrived en masse in the 1940s. Also, Toppers makes delish pizza.)

  1. 1.
    Angel on My Shoulder
    by Archie Mayo
  2. 2.
    Here Comes Mr. Jordan
    by Alexander Hall
  3. 3.
    Heaven Can Wait (The Criterion Collection)
    by Ernst Lubitsch
  4. 4.
    It's a Wonderful Life
    by Frank Capra
  5. 5.
    ?
    The Bishop's Wife (1947)
    by Henry Koster
  6. 6.
    Stairway To Heaven (A Matter Of Life And Death)
    by Michael Powell
  7. 7.
    The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
    by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
  8. 8.
    Topper / Topper Returns (Enhanced Double Feature)
    by Norman Z. McLeod
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Created by michaelpsb on Oct 07, 2009.
 

Comments

MestnyiGeroi

Untitled — 2 years ago

Portrait of Jennie is a great one along these lines. Also Miracle on 34th Street might be considered.

Oct 07, 09:20AM | 3 comments | Reply to this



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