Invisible Man Returns (1940) ***

A fine sequel to the 1933 horror classic.

Northwest Passage (1940) ***

Curious film, set in 1759, about British North American soldiers raiding an Indian village in French Canada and exterminating all its inhabitants.

Nobuko (1940) ***

A Japanese "Dead Poets Society", directed by Hiroshi Shimizu. An excellent script by Yoshitomo Nagase (who also wrote Shimizu's "Ornamental Hairpin"), based on a novel by Bunroku Shishi.

Second Chorus (1940) ***

This low-key, unpretentious musical has been grossly underrated by critics and film-goers alike. It stars Fred Astaire and Burgess Meredith as two jazz musicians in love with the same girl (Paulette Goddard). Musical numbers include:

"Sugar"  *
"Everything's Jumping"  *
"Dig It"  **
"Sweet Sue"  **
"Would You Like To Be The Love Of My Life"  **
"Poor Mr. Chisholm" (song)  *
"Concerto For Clarinet"  **
"Poor Mr. Chisholm / Hoe Down The Bayou"  **

Primrose Path (1940) **

Road To Singapore (1940) **

The first film in the popular series. Its best gag (about a "Republican" fish) was certainly hilarious back in 1940.

The Foundling (1940) **

A little girl gets lost in a big city.

Angels Over Broadway (1940) **

An alcoholic playwright tries to prevent a suicide.

Dr Ehrlich's Magic Bullet (1940) **

Another bio-medico-pic in the tradition of "The Story Of Louis Pasteur".

Swiss Family Robinson (1940) *

Even worse than the mediocre 1960 Disney's remake.

The Mark Of Zorro (1940) *

Very predictable.

All This And Heaven Too (1940) *

Dated, but effective melodrama starring Bette Davis as a governess implicated in a huge scandal.

One Million BC (1940) *

Cavemen fighting.

Timur And His Team (1940) *

Very disappointing Soviet film based upon a popular novel by Arkadi Gajdar.

Dance Girl Dance (1940) *

While it has a few musical numbers, it's not really a musical, but rather an anti-musical, as it subverts the main themes of the Hollywood musical, delivering instead a vaguely feminist melodrama where musical and romantic ambitions mutually sabotage themselves.

Quicker'n A Wink (1940) ***

Oscar-nominated novelty short using different camera speeds to show various objects in motion.

Power And The Land (1940) ***

Directed by Joris Ivens. Memorable documentary film about a New Deal initiative for electrification of rural areas. It shows what a difference electricity can make in the life of an Ohio dairy farmer and his family.

London Can Take It (1940) ***

Directed by H.Jennings and H.Watt. Oscar-nominated film about the London Blitz. It even manages to sneak in some bits of dark humor: "shops open every day - actually, some are more open than ever before".

Takapihalta valoon (1940) ***

Siege (1940) ***

Powerful documentary about the siege of Warsaw in September 1939. Nominated for an Academy Award.

Nude Ranch (1940) ***

Kan De huske Køge gennem 25 Aar (1940) ***

Children Of Japan (1940) ***

By The Warm Sea (1940) ***

Teddy The Rough Rider (1940) ***

Oscar-nominated short about President Theodore Roosevelt.

Eyes Of The Navy (1940) **

A short documentary about naval aviation.

Broadway Melody Of 1940 (1940) ***

The third and probably the best of Eleonor Powell's "Broadway" musical extravaganzas. This time, Fred Astaire replaces Robert Taylor and the result is the teaming of two greatest tap dancers in Hollywood history. Numbers include:

"Please Don't Monkey With Broadway" **
"All Ashore"
"Between You And Me" *
"I've Got My Eyes On You" **
"Jukebox Dance" **
"I Concentrate On You" **
"Begin The Beguine" ***

Christmas In July (1940) ***

Wacky farce about winning lots of money.

The Westerner (1940) ***

Amusing western starring Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan.

Dark Command (1940) ***

Fine western set during the Civil War.

Down Argentine Way (1940) ***

A beautiful American girl (Betty Grable) meets a handsome Argentinian man (Don Ameche). There is also Carmen Miranda and the Nicholas Brothers. Musical numbers:

"South American Way" **
"Down Argentine Way" (song) ***
"Two Dreams Met" *
"Down Argentine Way" (dance) ***
"Nenita" *
"Doin' The Conga" *
"Mama Yo Quiero" **
"Bambu" *
"Sing To Your Senorita" **
"Two Hearts Met" (reprise) *

Rebecca (1940) ***

Interesting adaptation of a Daphne du Maurier's novel about a young girl married to an English aristocrat whose first wife had died under mysterious circumstances.

Dr Cyclops (1940) ***

Excellent special effects highlight this interesting film that mixes several genres: adventure, horror and science-fiction.

Foreign Correspondent (1940) ***

Alfred Hitchcock's thriller set in Holland shortly before the Nazi invasion.

Abe Lincoln In Illinois (1940) ***

An example of pure Americana, the story of Abraham Lincoln's adult life before he became president.

Go West (1940) ***

Along with "A Night in Casablanca" (1946), this is Marx Brothers' most enjoyable film since "A Day at the Races" (1937). Harpo is in a particularly great form here, especially during the justly celebrated "train ride" sequence.

The Grapes Of Wrath (1940) ***

An adaptation of John Steinbeck's greatest novel.

The Great Dictator (1940) ***

Charlie Chaplin plays a ruthless dictator of a European country. Any resemblance to an actual, real-life dictator was, of course, purely coincidental.

The Thief Of Bagdad (1940) ****

Colorful fantasy film based on "Arabian Nights" tales. It's not a remake of the 1924 Douglas Fairbank's film. The plot is completely different. Directors: Michael Powell and Tim Whelan. Ludwig Berger is listed as a co-director, but the black and white footage he shot was never included in the film.

The Great McGinty (1940) ***

Comedy about political corruption.

It's A Date (1940) ***

Deanna Durbin was the most charming Hollywood star of the late 30's. This is one of her best films. Songs:

"Love Is All" **
"Loch Lomond" **
"Rhythm Of The Islands" *
"Quando M'en Vo (Musetta's Waltz)" **
"Ave Maria" **

Pride And Prejudice (1940) ****

An excellent adaptation of Jane Austen's most popular novel. A superb comedy of manners.

Kitty Foyle (1940) ***

Ginger Rogers won an Oscar for her fine performance as a poor young girl who marries a very rich man.

The Letter (1940) ***

Lush drama set in tropical Malaysia, with Bette Davis murdering her lover.

The Philadelphia Story (1940) ****

Katherine Hepburn plays a rich Philadelphia woman, who must choose between three men: her new fiancee, her former husband (Cary Grant) and a young reporter (James Stewart).

Little Nellie Kelly (1940) ***

Judy Garland, Charles Winninger and George Murphy star in this film adaptation of George M.Cohen's play about an Irish immigrant family in New York. Songs include:

"It's A Great Day For The Irish" *
"A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" *
"Singin' In The Rain" **
"Nellie Kelly I Love You" **

The Bank Dick (1940) ****

W.C.Fields gets a job as a security guard in a local bank.

The Long Voyage Home (1940) ***

Life on a cargo ship.

The Stars Look Down (1940) ***

Excellent film about coal-miners in Britain.

My Favorite Wife (1940) ***

A woman returns from a desert island to find her husband engaged to another woman.

Pinocchio (1940) *****

One of the greatest animated films ever made, a superb adaptation of Carlo Collodi's children classic. The film, whose incredibly realistic animation would remain unsurpassed for more than half a century, is memorable for its conceptions of individual characters (imposing Stromboli, cunning Honest John, stupid Gideon, wise Jiminy Cricket, terrifying Monstro the Whale and many others). Superb songs include:

"When You Wish Upon A Star" ***
"Little Woodenhead" **
"Give A Little Whistle" *
"Hi Deedle Dee Dee" **
"I've Got No Strings" **

My Little Chicadee (1940) ***

W.C.Fields and Mae West star in this interesting comedy.

His Girl Friday (1940) *****

One of the best (and fastest) comedies of all times. Superb dialogues, delivered at the speed of light.

New Moon (1940) ***

Nelson Eddy is a French aristocrat who leads a revolt of prisoners in New Orleans. Jeanette McDonald is a French aristocrat whose ship is captured by those prisoners. They all find themselves on a tropical island and live happily ever after. Songs:

"Dance Your Cares Away" *
"The Way They Do It In Paris" *
"Shoes" *
"One Kiss" *
"Wanting You" ***
"Lover Come Back To Me" *
"Stout-Hearted Men" **
"Marianne" *
"Lover Come Back To Me" (reprise) **

Night Train (1940) ***

Tense spy movie set in Germany.

The Sea Hawk (1940) ***

English pirates fight against the Spanish fleet.

Service With The Colors (1940) **

The difficulties of adapting to the Army's life are explored in this Oscar-nominated short.

The Shop Around The Corner (1940) ***

Two pen pals work in the same shop. Surprisingly modern comedy - it could have been set in our Internet world without changing a single line of dialogue.

Strike Up The Band (1940) ***

Two high school students organize a dance orchestra. Typical Mickey Rooney - Judy Garland musical, with a few corny moments, but also some excellent musical numbers. Songs:

"Our Love Affair" **
"Do The Conga" **
"Nobody" **
"Nell Of New York" *
"Drummer Boy" ***
"Strike Up The Band" **

Tin Pan Alley (1940) ***

Excellent musical starring Alice Faye and Betty Grable. Songs include:

"Hawaii, Lovely Hawaii" **
"You Say The Sweetest Things, Baby" ***
"Moonlight Bay" ***
"Honeysuckle Rose" **
"Moonlight And Roses"
"America I Love You" *
"Goodbye Broadway Hello France" *
"The Sheik Of Araby" **
"K-K-K-Katy" *

The video version also includes a song that was deleted from the film:

"Get Out And Get Under" **

The House Of Seven Gables (1940) **

An adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel about a tragic hatred between two brothers. **

Our Town (1940) **

Often dreary, occasionally uplifting film about life in a small New England town at the turn of the century. There are some brechtian devices, with a narrator talking directly to the audience and sometimes inviting other characters to do likewise. **

Santa Fe Trail (1940) **

The most reactionary Hollywood film since "The Birth Of A Nation" (1915). Its villains are abolishionists led by John Brown, who fought against slavery in 1850's.

They Drive By Night (1940) **

A melodrama about the trucking business.

Bitter Sweet (1940) *

The worst of all Jeannette McDonald-Nelson Eddy musicals.

The Courageous Dr Christian (1940) *

A doctor tries to help some poor folks in a small town.

Too Many Girls (1940) *

Four college football players are hired as bodyguards for a rich heiress (Lucille Ball). Mediocre musical with a weak score by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart. Songs:

"Heroes In The Fall" *
"You're Nearer" *
"Pottawatomie" *
"'Cause We All Got Cake" *
"Spic And Spanish" *
"Love Never Went To College" *
"Look Out" *
"I Didn't Know What Time It Was" *
"You're Nearer" (reprise) *

Waterloo Bridge (1940) *

Vivien Leigh stars in this depressing melodrama.

Mad Youth (1940) ***

An enjoyable B-movie about a slutty mother and her equally slutty daughter.

The Eternal Jew (1940) ***

The infamous Nazi documentary that paved the way to the Holocaust. Creepy and terrifying, a work of pure evil.

The Devil Bat (1940) **

Bela Lugosi plays a crazy scientist who kills people using giant bats.

Crimes At The Dark House (1940) **

Tod Slaughter stars as a Australian mass-murderer pretending to be an inheritor of a British estate.

L'il Abner (1940) *

Silent greats Buster Keaton (Lonesome Polecat), Edgar Kennedy (Cornelius Cornpone), Chester Conklin (Mayor Gurgle) and Al St. John (Joe Smithpan) appear in this otherwise mediocre adaptation of Al Capp's immortal comic strip about those zany barefoot hillbillies from Dogpatch, Arkansas. Not nearly as good as the 1959's musical version.

Jew Suss (1940) ****

The infamous, but very well-made, Nazi film set in 18th century Stuttgart. The story concerns a manipulative Jewish merchant who becomes the finance minister of Wurtemburg. Extremely anti-semitic, but unusual because while denounced as a villain, Suss (magnificently played by Ferdinand Marian) is also presented as intelligent, charming, and even idealistic in his determination to fight for the rights of his people. With only a few minor changes, this could have easily been an anti-Nazi film, denouncing the persecution of Jews and celebrating their attempts to emancipate themselves.

A Wild Hare (1940) *****

The second pairing of Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd is actually their first "true" cartoon, introducing their definitive screen personalities, dramatic situations and classic one-liners (including the immortal "what's up, doc?"). This Academy Award nominee is perhaps the most influencial cartoon ever made, firmly establishing the "high" Warner style of animation, recognizable for its screwball characters in wacky situations performing zany feats and acting crazy all the time. A true classic.

You Ought To Be In Pictures (1940) ****

A classic short that skillfully mixes live-action footage with the animated characters of Porky and Daffy. In the film, Daffy convinces his pal that he's wasting his talent in cartoons and encourages him to look for true fame and glory in the "real" live-action features. But maybe it's only his ploy to steal Porky's place as Warners' top animated star ? Ironically, the real-life history of the Warner Bros animation studio wasn't much different - Porky was being gradually relegated to supporting roles, while Daffy's fortunes were rising quickly.

Musical Poster #1 (1940) ****

Abstract patterns fill the screen while jazz music is playing on the soundtrack. It's followed by a propaganda message calling for vigilance against Nazi spies. British film directed by Len Lye.

Window Cleaners (1940) ****

Donald Duck's efforts to clean the windows on a skyscraper are constantly frustrated by lazy Pluto and a resourceful bee. Outstanding animation, great backgrounds and awesome perspectives.

Puss Gets The Boot (1940) ****

In Tom and Jerry's film debut the cat is still called Jasper, but he already enjoys tormenting the poor mouse, painting false holes on walls and holding the poor creature by the tail. But Mammy Two-Shoes warns Jasper not to break any more dishes and Jerry finds an ideal way of blackmailing his tormentor.

A Rainy Day (1940) ****

The Bear Family house is crumbling, but lazy Papa Bear is reluctant to repair the leaky roof. Funniest of all is Mama Bear, always humming some nonsense tune (like "piter pater" or "la la la la"). The most spectacular scene takes place on the roof during a violent rainstorm, with shingles moving like huge ocean waves and thunders hitting Papa Bear (turning him into a living lightbulb). This climactic sequence can withstand comparisons with the best works by Walt Disney.

Mighty Hunters (1940) ****

Knock Knock (1940) ****

Woody made his film debut in this Andy Panda cartoon, playing an obnoxious woodpecker, whose incessant knocking drives Andy's father crazy. Woody's famous laugh and his antagonistic personality immediately made him a star. His creation must be credited to writer Ben Hardaway, who also contributed to the development of Bugs Bunny (in the late 30's, Hardaway co-directed "Porky's Hare Hunt" and "Hare-um Scare-um" at Warner Bros., the first two cartoons starring Bugs Bunny in his formative years).

Cross Country Detours (1940) ****

The last and best of many spot-gag travelogue spoofs made by Tex Avery in the late 1930's (including 1938's "The Isle Of Pingo-Pongo" and 1939's Oscar-nominated "Detouring America"). Here, most gags deal with animals living in national parks. A sexy lizard sheds her skin as a striptease, while a little girl reciting "Mary Had a Little Lamb" frightens a horrible gila monster. There are also shots of croaking frogs, freezing polar bears and a little deer imitating Mae West.

Bone Trouble (1940) ****

Pluto tries to steal a delicious, juicy bone and is chased by a huge bulldog. Excellent character animation, especially in the classic "hall-of-mirrors" sequence, with Pluto distorted like a crocodile, a camel, a kangaroo and a seal.

The Bear's Tale (1940) ****

The familiar story about Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear and Goldilocks receives a modernized treatment, resulting in one of Tex Avery's cleverest cartoons.

The Homeless Flea (1940) ***

Funny cartoon about a dog and a flea.

Romeo In Rhythm (1940) ***

Hilarious parody of operatic conventions.

The Milky Way (1940) ***

Disneyesque MGM cartoon about three kittens discovering the Milky Way. Nominated for an Academy Award.

The Lonesome Stranger (1940) ***

Hugh Harman's MGM cartoon set in the Far West, where a masked hero defeats a gang of outlaws. A clear indication of the growing influence of the High Warner screwball cartoon style.

Tugboat Mickey (1940) ***

Mickey, Donald and Goofy respond to a false distress signal at sea and their tugboat is sunk. The last "trio" Disney cartoon.

The Riveter (1940) ***

Donald finds a job as a construction worker, but he suffers from vertigo and is unable to handle his equipment properly. Amusing and very well animated.

Slap Happy Pappy (1940) ***

Amusing Looney Tune about chicken parents desperately wanting a boy.

Porky's Hired Hand (1940) ***

Farmer Porky hires a lazy and stupid helper to protect his chickens from a smart fox.

Swinging The Lambeth Walk (1940) ***

Swing Social (1940) ***

Musical cartoon about dancing and singing fish.

Papa Gets The Bird (1940) ***

How Wet Was My Ocean (1940) ***

Amusing Terrytoon set on a beach.

Mr Mouse Takes A Trip (1940) ***

Mickey and Pluto have some troubles with a conductor, who insists that dogs are not allowed on trains (but apparently mice are fine). A typical Disney effort.

Good Night Elmer (1940) ***

Elmer tries to sleep, but a candle insists on burning all night and there is just no way to extinguish its flame. One of very few Elmer's solo cartoons. In their book "Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies", Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald called it "one of the most irritating cartoons ever made". One must strongly disagree with that opinion. Director Chuck Jones was clearly conducting an experiment here, trying to squeeze as much humor as possible from a simple and ordinary premise. This film might have even inspired Disney's "Drip Dippy Donald" (1948).

With Poopdeck Pappy (1940) ***

Popeye tries to put his father to bed.