They Died with Their Boots On (1941)

They Died with Their Boots On (1941)

[7] Errol Flynn plays General George Custer in this romantic (though not very historically accurate) panache of the accomplished Civil War general who met a celebrated fate at Little Big Horn. Despite the liberties taken in the script, it's a…
Footsteps in the Dark (1941)

Footsteps in the Dark (1941)

[6] This light-hearted murder mystery isn't likely to stick in your memory, but should satisfy Errol Flynn fans well enough. Flynn plays an author who writes under a secret identity -- so secret even his wife and mother don't realize…
The Lady Eve (1941)

The Lady Eve (1941)

[7] Barbara Stanwyck's a card shark and Henry Fonda's a naive millionaire. They meet and fall in love aboard an Atlantic cruise in Preston Sturges's The Lady Eve, a romantic comedy made tolerable with its sizzling sexual teasing and moderate…
Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

[5] Claude Rains is gold in all his scenes as the god-like Mr. Jordan, but I find the movie's playfully fatalistic view of love and self-purpose too saccharine to swallow. Robert Montgomery is also good as the deceased boxer who,…
The Maltese Falcon (1941)

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

[7] A claustrophobic mystery featuring a career-launching performance from Humphrey Bogart. Characters like Sam Spade can often be played over the top, but Bogart keeps it grounded and accessible for me. I also like the ensemble of supporting players, including…
The Reluctant Dragon (1941)

The Reluctant Dragon (1941)

[7] The Reluctant Dragon is an odd but interesting hybrid of anthology feature and behind-the-scenes documentary. It's about a man whose wife convinces him to take a children's storybook titled The Reluctant Dragon to Walt Disney so that he can…
The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)

The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)

[10]

William Dieterle’s adaptation of Stephen Vincent Benet’s The Devil and Daniel Webster is a winning combination of rustic Americana and dark fantasy. A cautionary tale of greed and power, the narrative centers around the character of Jabez Stone (James Craig), a down-on-his-luck farmer who is barely able to support his family in 1840s New Hampshire. When the nefarious Mr. Scratch (Walter Houston) appears during a moment of weakness, Jabez agrees to sell his soul in exchange for seven years of good luck.  Much to the dismay of his wife (Anne Shirley), mother (Jane Darwell), and beloved politician Daniel Webster (Edward Arnold), Jabez slips into a downward spiral as a result of his newfound wealth and power.  When his seven years are up, Jabez learns the error of his ways and wants to make amends. To escape his contract with the Devil, Jabez puts his fate in the hands of the almost mythic Daniel Webster, who represents him in a climactic barn room trial against Mr. Scratch and a jury of the damned.  

Sullivan’s Travels (1941)

Sullivan’s Travels (1941)

[9] Hollywood director John Sullivan (Joel McCrea), known for making profitable comedies with titles like Ants in Your Plants, decides what he really wants to do is make an all-important 'message movie' called O Brother Where Art Thou, but feels…
Dumbo (1941)

Dumbo (1941)

[9] After Walt Disney released the world's first animated feature film, the wildly successful Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the studio struggled with a couple of ambitious financial failures. Pinocchio and Fantasia were creatively and technologically advanced films, but…