The Lady Gambles (1949)

The Lady Gambles (1949)

[5] Barbara Stanwyck catches the gambling bug something fierce in this melodramatic film co-starring Robert Preston as her worried husband. Stanwyck dips her toes in a Las Vegas casino during a vacation and quickly falls under the spell of craps and poker.…
Adam’s Rib (1949)

Adam’s Rib (1949)

[9] Of the nine films which paired Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, Adam's Rib is often considered the best. Writers Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin were friends of the famous couple and wrote the film specifically for them. Kate insisted the film…
Under Capricorn (1949)

Under Capricorn (1949)

[3] In one of the lesser offerings from director Alfred Hitchcock, Michael Wilding plays a Brit visiting colonial Australia. To the dismay of his uncle (Cecil Parker), the new governor of the colony, Wilding's character gets caught up in the affairs of…
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad (1949)

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad (1949)

[4] This short feature presentation from Disney Animation is really two short stories slammed together. Up first, we have "The Wind in the Willows," narrated by Basil Rathbone. It's a fast-paced story about three stuffy critters -- a badger, a mole, and…
A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

[7] Writer/director Joseph L. Mankiewicz (All About Eve, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir) won his first two Academy Awards for writing and directing this drama about three wives who reflect on their marriages when they learn a fourth woman has just left…
All the King’s Men (1949)

All the King’s Men (1949)

[7] Broderick Crawford plays a small-town hick who attracts a populist following that takes him all the way to the governor's mansion, even though his ascent is riddled with corruption and crime. All the King's Men is really about Crawford's support team…
Pinky (1949)

Pinky (1949)

[7] Elia Kazan directs a trio of Oscar-nominated performances in this adaptation of the Cid Ricketts Sumner novel. Jeanne Crain (State Fair, A Letter to Three Wives) stars as Pinky, a light-skinned African American woman returning to her impoverished southern hometown after…
The Third Man (1949)

The Third Man (1949)

[8] Joseph Cotten uncovers a conspiracy surrounding a deceased friend in The Third Man, a masterfully crafted film noir thriller from author Graham Greene and director Carol Reed. Reed keeps the story moving at a brisk pace, surrounding Cotten's character with a…
Knock on Any Door (1949)

Knock on Any Door (1949)

[4] Humphrey Bogart defends a juvenile delinquent (John Derek) in this uneven and heavy-handed flick from director Nicholas Ray. Didn't care for Derek in this movie, but Bogey makes a nice courtroom stand at the end. The best thing about this movie…
Tarzan’s Magic Fountain (1949)

Tarzan’s Magic Fountain (1949)

[5] Lex Barker takes over the loincloth from Johnny Weissmuller, who was simply getting too old and heavy to continue swinging on vines. Unfortunately, what Barker has in looks, he lacks in charisma. The story in this Lost Horizon-esque episode involves a…