Sayon's Bell (1943) ***

Beautiful film shot by Hiroshi Shimizu in Taiwan. Story of a native girl who dies in a rainstorm. A fine screenplay by Kihan Nagase, Torashirô Saitô and Hiroshi Ushida. Based on a true story.

Lassie Come Home (1943) ***

Arguably Lassie's best film, featuring Elizabeth Taylor in her film debut.

Mission To Moscow (1943) ***

Pure and undiluted Stalinist propaganda, swallowed whole by, to quote from Ernst Lubitsch's "The Merry Widow" (1934), "the greatest idiot in the diplomatic service", Joseph Davies, US Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1936 to 1938. But in 1943, with Stalin being essentially the only thing standing between Hitler and the Nazi conquest of the entire world, such Stalinist propaganda and the official US government propaganda, were, for all practical purposes, identical. So the film denounces Leon Trotsky as a Gestapo agent, defends Soviet agression against Finland, blames France and England for the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact and completely ignores the Soviet invasion of Poland on September 17, 1939. In other words, a total bullshit, but still extremely interesting (and genuinely fascinating) for revealing a peculiar state of mind that existed at the time, with the severity of the Nazi threat essentially forcing people into accepting mind-boggling Stalinist lies as a price for using communist Russia to defend the capitalist West. But even back in 1943, the film was a complete flop and it only received one Oscar nomination - fittingly enough for Best Art Direction - for its skillful window-dressing of Stalinist genocides and atrocities.

Voyage sans espoir (1943) ***

Action In The North Atlantic (1943) ***

Heavy-handed wartime propaganda aside, this is an exciting war drama about a US merchant ship surviving U-boats and dive bombers on the way to Murmansk.

Air Force (1943) ***

Fine war drama about a bomber crew flying to Hawaii during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Amazing Mrs Holliday (1943) **

War orphans, Deanna Durbin and China. Jean Renoir began the film, but he wasn't credited for his work.

The Ape Man (1943) *

Ridiculous horror movie starring Bela Lugosi as a half-man, half-ape creature. There is also a real ape in the picture, but nobody cares anyway.

Hangmen Also Die (1943) *

The events surrounding the killing of Heydrich in Prague in 1942, completely distorted by screenwriter Bertold Brecht in order to accommodate his Communist political views, creating a fairy-tale version of the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, as if the real one wasn't compelling enough. Ironically, seeing the disastrous results, Brecht accused director Fritz Lang of distorting his script, but the fault clearly lies with the future citizen of East Germany.

Hers To Hold (1943) *

Pretty dreadful Deanna Durbin vehicle.

Meshes Of The Afternoon (1943) ****

This landmark experimental film by Maya Deren became a model for others to follow.

Action In Slow Motion (1943) ***

The Geography Of The Body (1943) ***

Plan For Destruction (1943) ***

Interesting documentary about Nazi geopolitician Karl Haushofer.

Heavenly Music (1943) ***

Oscar-winning musical curiosity about European classical music influencing contemporary American jazz tunes.

Cameramen At War (1943) ***

Directed by Len Lye. Documentary film about heroic efforts of British cameramen to film actual battle scenes.

Sunde born (1943) ***

Baptism Of Fire (1943) ***

A unique film, neither a documentary nor a work of fiction (but nominated for an Oscar as best documentary feature). Its topic: the hesitations and fears of a raw recruit facing his first battle. Elisha Cook Jr plays one of the soldiers. Part of the "Fighting Men" series. Length: 36 min.

Im Wald von Katyn (1943) ***

A precious rarity - a Nazi propaganda documentary that is actually true. In 1943, Germans discovered mass graves of Polish officers in the forest of Katyn in western Russia. This short film was made to reveal that Stalinist atrocity. It was only in 1990 that the Soviet authorities finally admitted their guilt.

The Spirit Of '43 (1943) ***

US Treasury Department commissioned this Disney commercial to encourage Americans to pay their taxes during World War II. "Taxes to bury the Axis". A super-patriotic cartoon.

You John Jones (1943) **

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy for MGM. The cruel destructions of World War II are presented in this short film starring James Cagney, Ann Sothern and Margaret O'Brien.

Hold Your Temper (1943) **

Directed by Lloyd French for RKO. Edgar Kennedy promises his wife never to lose his temper with his evil in-laws.

Fala The President's Dog (1943) **

FDR's White House in the early 40's as seen through the eyes of a dog.

All-American (1943) *

A wartime documentary produced by the Signal Corps for the workers in armament factories. It presents the life of US Air Force pilots.

Casablanca (1943) *****

A genuine triumph of Hollywood cinema and one of the most beloved movies of all time. It's the story of anti-Nazi refugees from the occupied Europe trying to get to America.

The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943) *****

This is Michael Powell's and Emeric Pressburger's masterpiece, a magnificent epic comedy charting almost half a century of British history from the Boer War to WWII. It was probably the first wartime film to conclude that the Second World War was fought against Nazism, and not against the German people.

The Sky's The Limit (1943) *****

One of Fred Astaire's finest films, a dark comedy about a fighter pilot who falls in love with a magazine photographer (Joan Leslie). Superlative songs include:

"My Shining Hour" (song) ***
"A Lot In Common With You" ***
"My Shining Hour" (dance) ***
"One For My Baby" ***

Le Corbeau (1943) ****

Amazing French film about the realities of life in Nazi-occupied France. Made under the Vichy regime, the film was heavily criticized for allegedly defaming French people. But in reality, it's a powerful condemnation of the corrosive influence that an oppresive regime has on ordinary people.

Girl Crazy (1943) ****

The second cinematic adaptation of George Gershwin's immortal 1930 stage hit. Mickey Rooney plays Danny Churchill Jr, a rich playboy sent to an all-male college in Arizona, where he falls in love with Ginger (Judy Garland, so named in honor of Ginger Rogers, who created the character on stage 13 years earlier). Legendary musical score includes hits like:

"Treat Me Rough" **
"Bidin' My Time" ***
"Could You Use Me" **
"Embraceable You" ***
"Fascinatin' Rhythm" **
"But Not For Me" **
"I Got Rhythm" ***

Heaven Can Wait (1943) ****

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch. A playboy (Don Ameche) tells his life story to the Devil.

The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) ****

Great western about a posse that turns into a lynching mob. Set in Nevada in 1885.

Shadow Of A Doubt (1943) ****

One of Hitchcock's finest psychological thrillers, set in an idyllic community of Santa Rosa, California.

Le Baron fantôme (1943) ***

In the early 19th century France, an officer wants to marry a young girl from an impoverished aristocratic family.

Bataan (1943) ***

War drama set in the Philippines.

The Battle Of Russia (1943) ***

Impressive documentary about the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. The fifth part of the "Why We Fight" series. An Academy Award nominee.

Best Foot Forward (1943) ***

An enjoyable musical set on a college campus. Musical numbers:

"Wish I May" *
"Three Men On A Date" **
"Two O’Clock Jump" **
"Ev’ry Time" *
"The Flight Of The Bumble Bee" **
"The Three B’s" **
"Alive And Kicking" *
"You’re Lucky" *
"Buckle Down Winsocki" ***

Cabin In The Sky (1943) ***

Vincente Minnelli's first film, an all-black musical.

Divide And Conquer (1943) ***

The third part of the "Why We Fight" series. It deals with Nazi invasions of Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and France. Not to be confused with a documentary short of the same title made a year earlier.

The Gang's All Here (1943) ***

Memorable musical co-starring Carmen Miranda.

Five Graves To Cairo (1943) ****

A tense spy drama set in a remote town in Western Egypt, captured by German troops on their way to Cairo in the summer of 1942. A British soldier (Franchot Tone), separated from his unit and left behind enemy lines, impersonates a Nazi spy and manages to gain the confidence of Feldmarchal Rommel.

Hello, Frisco, Hello (1943) ***

Nostalgic musical set in San Francisco's Barbary Coast. Songs include:

"Hello, Frisco, Hello" **
"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" **
"Sweet Cider Time"
"Doin' The Grizzly Bear" *
"It's Tulip Time In Holland" *
"Why Do They Always Pick On Me" *
"Bedelia"
"Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly" *
"By The Light Of The Silvery Moon" **
"Gee, But It's Great To Meet A Friend" *
"You'll Never Know" **
"I've Got A Girl In Every Port" *

I Walked With A Zombie (1943) ***

Set in Haiti, it is less a horror movie, and more a fantasy melodrama about voodoo cults.

Hitler's Children (1943) ***

An American girl (Bonita Granville) is imprisoned in a Nazi labor camp. Co-directed by Edward Dmytryk and Irving Reis.

Journey Into Fear (1943) ***

Co-directed by Orson Welles and Norman Foster, it's a tense spy melodrama starring Joseph Cotten (who also wrote the screenplay) and Dolores Del Rio.

The Leopard Man (1943) ***

A horror film set in a little town in New Mexico.

Mr Lucky (1943) ***

A good romantic comedy starring Cary Grant.

The More The Merrier (1943) ***

Nice comedy set in wartime Washington DC.

Saludos Amigos (1943) ***

Four cartoon shorts linked by brief live-action sequences shot during Walt Disney's tour of South America. The first two segments are set in the Andes. The third one stars Goofy as an Argentinian gaucho. The final episode introduces a Brazilian parrot named Jose Carioca, who teaches Donald about samba. 40' 

"Lake Titicaca" (B.Roberts) ** 

"Pedro" (H.Luske) *** 

"El Gaucho Goofy" (J.Kinney) *** 

"Aquarela do Brasil" (W.Jackson) ***

Son Of Dracula (1934) ***

The title character is Count Alucard (get it ?) who travels from Transylvania to the swamps of Louisiana, looking for new victims.

Sanshiro Sugata (1943) ***

Akira Kurosawa's film debut. Particularly impressive is the final confrontation set on a windy hillside.

The Seventh Victim (1943) ***

A film noir that gradually becomes a horror movie.

The Song Of Bernadette (1943) ***

Virgin Mary's apparition in Lourdes.

Stage Door Canteen (1943) ***

Countless cameo appearances by famous movie stars and stage legends, greatly enhances this wartime musical set in New York's club for enlisted men. Musical numbers include:

"Machine Gun Song" *
"A Rookie And His Rhythm" **
"Girl I Love To Leave Behind"
"Marching Through Berlin" **
"She's A Bombshell From Brooklyn" *
"Sleep Baby Sleep" **
"Goodnight Sweetheart" **
"Quick Sands" *
"Don't Worry Island" *
"We Musn't Say Goodbye" **
"Why Don't You Do Right" ***

Stormy Weather (1943) ***

Flimsy, almost non-existing plot only serves to support an incredible variety of superb musical numbers in this all-black musical extravaganza. Best numbers include:

"There's No Two Ways About Love" **
"That Ain't Right" *
"Ain't Misbehavin" **
"Diga, Diga, Doo" **
"I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City"
"I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby" **
"Geechy Joe" *
"Stormy Weather" ***
"There's No Two Ways About Love" (reprise)
"My, My, Ain't That Something"
"Jumpin' Jive" ***
"My, My, Ain't That Something" (reprise)

This Is The Army (1943) ***

There's almost no plot, but this troop show, starring Ronald Reagan and George Murphy, features an amazing variety of musical numbers. There's also a scene with Reagan talking about performing in front of the President of United States. Songs:

"Your Country And My Country" **
"My Sweetie" **
"Poor Little Me, I'M On K.P." *
"We're On Our Way To France" **
"God Bless America" ***
"What Does He Look Like" **
"This Is The Army Mr Jones" ***
"I'M Getting Tired So I Can Sleep" *
"Mandy" **
"Ladies Of The Chorus" **
"What The Well-Dressed Man In Harlem Will Wear" **
"How About A Cheer For The Navy" **
"I Left My Heart At The Stagedoor Canteen" **
"With My Head In The Clouds" **
"American Eagles" **
"Oh How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning" ***
"This Time Is The Last Time" ***

Titanic (1943) ***

A Nazi German propaganda film, made during World War II, denouncing British capitalist greed for the sinking of the "Titanic" in 1912. This national-socialist film is so rabidly anti-capitalist that it was released without problems in socialist East German shortly after the war, but it was banned in capitalist West Germany for decades. The footage of the sinking ship was re-used in the 1958's British film, "A Night To Remember".

Thousands Cheer (1943) ***

A musical film starring Kathryn Grayson and Gene Kelly.

Victory Through Air Power (1943) ***

A unique film for Walt Disney, an animated documentary about the history of aviation and an exposé of the strategic bombing theory of Major Alexander de Seversky.

We Dive At Dawn (1943) ***

Submarine warfare is presented in this interesting British war movie.

The Battle Of Britain (1943) **

The fourth segment of the "Why We Fight" series is also one of the weakest. Its very narrow topic (bombing raids on England in the fall of 1940) would better fit a short rather than a feature film. By comparison, the second segment of the series, "The Nazis Strike" (1942), which dealt with far larger subjects (annexations of Austria and Czechoslovakia, as well as the invasion of Poland), was a much shorter film.

Desert Victory (1943) **

Oscar winning documentary about the British fighting Rommel's Africa Corp.

The Fallen Sparrow (1943) **

There are some obscure political innuendos about links between Nazism and old European traditions, but otherwise, it's a rather simplistic thriller about a veteran of the Spanish Civil War (John Garfield) fighting against German spies in New York.

Madame Curie (1943) **

The life of the famous scientist couple.

Fires Were Started (1943) *

Humphrey Jenning's documentary feature about London firemen during the war.

The North Star (1943) *

Lillian Hellman was well known for condemning ordinary Germans for their passive acceptance of the Nazi regime. But she was equally guilty of turning a blind eye on the horrors of Stalinism by presenting a naively optimistic view of life in the Soviet Union. Her script for "The North Star" is a case in point. It presents Ukrainian peasants living happily on their collective farm and heroically resisting the Nazi invaders. The historical truth was far more disturbing: having suffered under Stalin's genocidal policies, starving Ukrainians often welcomed Germans as liberators.

Porky Pig's Feat (1943) *****

Porky and Daffy cannot pay their hotel bill and they try to sneak out, but the suspicious manager follows their every move. Months later, they call Bugs Bunny asking for advice. But the rabbit has exactly the same problem, being a prisoner next door. Superb cartoon by Frank Tashlin, one of the purest examples of the High Warner style of animation: fast, furious, exaggerated, loud, antagonistic, self-reflexive, gag-oriented and most importantly - screamingly funny.

Chicken Little (1943) *****

This Walt Disney's masterpiece was a brilliantly cynical and sarcastic comment on the naivety of democratic institutions and their lack of foresight in dealing with the threat of Nazi domination. A clever fox (superbly animated) wrecks havoc in a poultry farm, manipulating the public opinion, spreading lies, undermining the faith of the masses in their leaders and encouraging fools like Chicken Little to sow confusion and panic.

Tortoise Wins By A Hare (1943) *****

Bugs Bunny challenges the turtle to another race. He hopes to win using a streamlined, "air-flow", metal turtle shell. But a rabbit gambling ring mistakes Bugs for a turtle and clobber him on the head, allowing Cecil Turtle (disguised as a rabbit) to win the race again. Mel Blanc's does a fantastic voice job, fully expressing Bugs' frustration and anger as he yells and screams while desperately trying to win. Directed by Robert Clampett.

Red Hot Riding Hood (1943) ****

This is not a naive and sentimental fairy-tale, but a smart, clever and very self-reflexive satiric farce with a lusty old Grandma chasing a horny Wolf chasing sexy cabaret singer Red.

The 500 Hats Of Bartholomew Cubbins (1943) ****

Oscar-nominated Puppetoon by George Pal, adapted from a story by Doctor Seuss.

Puss N' Booty (1943) ****

Cats eat birds, but Rudolph isn't just a gourmand, but also a hypocrite. After devouring a little bird, he helps his mistress look for him in trash cans, envelopes and under postage stamps. Then, he anxiously awaits the arrival of the pet shop truck bringing the next victim. But the cat gets more than he bargained for and the laws of nature are rewritten - in cartoons, birds can eat cats, too!

Education For Death (1943) ****

A political cartoon about Nazi indoctrination.

Yankee Doodle Mouse (1943) ****

Lt Jerry Mouse sets a "cat raid" shelter in the cave and poor Tom suffers a series of humiliating defeats. An Oscar-winning film with plenty of action and cartoony violence.

Corny Concerto (1943) ****

Excellent parody of "Fantasia" (1940), starring Bugs Bunny as the prey, Porky Pig as the hunter and Elmer Fudd as Leopold Stokowski. Musical menu consists of Strauss' "Tales From The Vienna Woods" and "Blue Danube".

The Wise Quacking Duck (1943) ****

Mr Meek has to bring a duck home for dinner. Daffy is at his zaniest in this wacky cartoon classic.

The Aristo-Cat (1943) ****

The magnificently stylized backgrounds of this film greatly enhance the amusing story of Pussy, a spoiled little cat and his adventures with two smart mice, Hubie and Bertie.

What's Buzzin' Buzzard (1943) ****

Two hungry vultures catch a rabbit, but they are so busy arguing over who will eat him, they let him escape. Later, they try to devour each other and the gags fly fast and furious as they find themselves in each other's cooking pots.

Wackiki Wabbit (1943) ****

Excellent cartoon about two castaways looking for food and finding Bugs Bunny. Its bold designs predate UPA by half a decade.

Reason And Emotion (1943) ****

Superb Oscar-nominated cartoon about human psychology in the context of World War II and the Nazi threat.

Spies (1943) ***

"Loose lips sink ships" in this excellent Private Snafu cartoon.

Scrap Happy Daffy (1943) ***

Daffy is fighting against a Nazi goat.

Rumors (1943) ***

A quarantine for "rumor-itis" is imposed on a army base after Private Snafu spreads some ridiculous rumors.

An Itch In Time (1943) ***

A vagabond flea finds a new home (and dinner) on Elmer Fudd's dog. Quite amusing and inventive.

Inki And The Minah Bird (1943) ***

A native boy named Inki is hunting a big lion, but a mysterious minah bird always crosses his path.

Figaro And Cleo (1943) ***

A nice semi-musical cartoon about mischievious Figaro and his attempts to snatch a little goldfish. A few pleasant songs greatly enliven the proceedings.

Secret Agent (1943) ***

More a film noir than a Superman cartoon, but impressive nonetheless.

Fifth Column Mouse (1943) ***

A smart cat convinces a stupid mouse to spread misinformation. But the mice quickly wise up and begin to mobilize against the threat. There are obvious analogies to the Nazis and their sympathizers.

Underground World (1943) ***

A Superman cartoon set in a huge cave.

Greetings Bait (1943) ***

Oscar-nominated Merrie Melodie about a fish bait.

The Dizzy Acrobat (1943) ***

Woody Woodpecker at the circus. Nominated for an Oscar.

Falling Hare (1943) ***

Bugs Bunny chases a mischievious gremlin, who tries to sabotage airplanes. Aerial acrobatics galore. Directed by Bob Clampett.

Fighting Tools (1943) ***

Dumb Hounded (1943) ***

The whole cartoon is based on a single running gag: no matter where he tries to hide, an escaped prisoner always bumps into Droopy.

Tin Pan Alley Cats (1943) ***

One of "Censored Eleven" cartoons, with some reused animation from "Porky In Wackyland" (1938).

Donald's Tire Trouble (1943) ***

Donald has a flat tire on a bumpy mountain road and his futile repairs result in countless inventive gags.

Callisto la petite nymphe de Diane (1943) ***

Yankee Doodle Daffy (1943) ***

Energetic cartoon with Daffy Duck desperately trying to convince talent agent Porky Pig to give his client (an opera-singing, little black duckling named Sleepy Lagoon), an audition.

He Dood It Again (1943) ***

The third "Mighty Mouse" cartoon (back when he was still known as "Super Mouse") and a very good one, too.

En passant (1943) ***

Hiss And Make Up (1943) ***

Amusing cartoon about a cat, a dog, a canary and a grandma.