1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 19481949

1949 Movies

Take a nostalgic look back at the top movies of 1949, celebrating the films, directors and actors that defined the year and left a lasting legacy in the world of entertainment.

1949 Academy Awards

Little Women
Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy
Starring: June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret O'Brien
Country: United States of America
Outline: The four daughters of a New England family fight for happiness during and after the Civil War.
source: imdb.com
Pinky
Written by: Philip Dunne, Dudley Nichols
Directed by: Elia Kazan
Starring: Jeanne Crain, Ethel Barrymore, Ethel Waters, William Lundigan
Country: United States of America
Outline: Pinky Johnson, a light-skinned Black woman, returns to the South after becoming a nurse in the North, where she confronts racial prejudice and her own identity. The film explores themes of race relations and personal identity in a racially divided society.
source: imdb.com
Sands of Iwo Jima
Written by: Harry Brown, James Edward Grant
Directed by: Allan Dwan
Starring: John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara, Forrest Tucker
Country: United States of America
Outline: Marine Sergeant John M. Stryker trains a group of recruits for the Battle of Iwo Jima, leading them through rigorous training and into one of the bloodiest engagements of World War II. The film portrays the harsh realities of war and the bond between soldiers.
source: imdb.com
The Stratton Story
Written by: Douglas Morrow
Directed by: Sam Wood
Starring: James Stewart, June Allyson, Frank Morgan, Agnes Moorehead
Country: United States of America
Outline: The film tells the true story of Monty Stratton, a professional baseball pitcher who overcomes the loss of his leg to return to the game. It highlights themes of perseverance and the human spirit.
source: imdb.com
I Was a Male War Bride
Written by: Charles Lederer
Directed by: Howard Hawks
Starring: Cary Grant, Ann Sheridan, Marion Marshall, Randy Stuart
Country: United States of America
Outline: A French Army officer and an American WAC officer fall in love during World War II and face bureaucratic challenges when they attempt to marry and travel to the United States. The film is a comedy that explores the challenges of love and bureaucracy.
source: imdb.com
Mr. Belvedere Goes to College
Written by: John Cecil Holm
Directed by: Elliott Nugent
Starring: Clifton Webb, Shirley Temple, Edmund Gwenn, William Demarest
Country: United States of America
Outline: Lynn Belvedere, a cultured butler, enrolls in college to write a novel and becomes involved in the lives of the students and faculty. The film is a comedy that satirizes college life and the pursuit of art.
source: imdb.com
Jolson Sings Again
Written by: Sidney Buchman
Directed by: Henry Levin
Starring: Larry Parks, Barbara Hale, William Demarest, Ludwig Donath, Bill Goodwin
Country: United States of America
Outline: In this sequel to 'The Jolson Story', Al Jolson returns to the stage after a premature retirement, facing personal and professional challenges. He embarks on a journey of self-discovery, entertaining troops during World War II and finding new love.
source: imdb.com
The Third Man
Written by: Graham Greene
Directed by: Carol Reed
Starring: Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard, Bernard Lee
Country: United States of America
Outline: In post-war Vienna, an American writer investigates the mysterious death of his friend, uncovering a web of intrigue and corruption. The film is renowned for its atmospheric cinematography and iconic zither score.
source: imdb.com
The Heiress
Written by: Ruth Goetz, Augustus Goetz
Directed by: William Wyler
Starring: Olivia de Havilland, Montgomery Clift, Ralph Richardson
Country: United States of America
Outline: In 1849 New York City, Catherine Sloper, a young woman, falls in love with Morris Townsend, a charming suitor. Her father, Dr. Austin Sloper, suspects Morris is a fortune hunter and opposes their union.
source: imdb.com
White Heat
Written by: Virginia Kellogg
Directed by: Raoul Walsh
Starring: James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Margaret Wycherly, Steve Cochran
Country: United States of America
Outline: A psychopathic criminal with a mother complex makes a daring escape from prison and leads his old gang in a chemical plant payroll heist. His mother is the only person he trusts, and his obsession with her leads to his downfall.
source: imdb.com
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Written by: Robert Hamer, John Dighton
Directed by: Robert Hamer
Starring: Dennis Price, Alec Guinness, Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Outline: Louis D'Ascoyne Mazzini seeks revenge against his aristocratic family by murdering the eight relatives ahead of him in the line of succession to the dukedom.
source: imdb.com
Barsaat
Written by: Raj Kapoor, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas
Directed by: Raj Kapoor
Starring: Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Leela Chitnis, K. N. Singh
Country: India
Outline: A love triangle unfolds between a young man, his beloved, and a woman he marries, set against the backdrop of monsoon rains.
source: imdb.com
Twelve O'Clock High
Written by: Sy Bartlett, Beirne Lay Jr.
Directed by: Henry King
Starring: Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill, Dean Jagger
Country: United States of America
Outline: In 1942, Brigadier General Frank Savage takes command of a demoralized U.S. Army Air Forces unit during World War II, leading them through perilous missions over Germany. The film delves into the psychological toll of war on soldiers.
source: imdb.com
A Letter to Three Wives
Written by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring: Jeanne Crain, Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern, Kirk Douglas
Country: United States of America
Outline: Three women receive a letter from a friend who has run off with one of their husbands, leading them to reflect on their marriages.
source: imdb.com
The Set-Up
Written by: Art Cummings, Milton Raison
Directed by: Robert Wise
Starring: Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias, Alan Baxter
Country: United States of America
Outline: An aging boxer faces the harsh realities of his profession as he prepares for a fight that could be his last.
source: imdb.com
Bitter Rice
Written by: Giuseppe De Santis, Carlo Lizzani
Directed by: Giuseppe De Santis
Starring: Silvana Mangano, Raf Vallone, Doris Dowling
Country: Italy
Outline: Set in the rice fields of northern Italy, the film follows the lives of female workers and their relationships with soldiers during World War II.
source: imdb.com
Le silence de la mer
Written by: Jean-Pierre Melville
Directed by: Jean-Pierre Melville
Starring: Howard Vernon, Nicole Stéphane, Jean-Marie Robain
Country: France
Outline: During the German occupation of France in World War II, a Frenchman and his niece are forced to host a German officer in their home, leading to a silent form of resistance.
source: criterion.com
Criss Cross
Written by: Richard Brooks
Directed by: Robert Siodmak
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Duryea
Country: United States of America
Outline: A man returns to his hometown and becomes entangled in a dangerous love triangle with his ex-wife and a gangster.
source: imdb.com
Adam's Rib
Written by: Ruth Gordon, Garson Kanin
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday
Country: United States of America
Outline: A married couple, both lawyers, find themselves on opposite sides of a courtroom when they represent opposing clients in a case involving a woman accused of shooting her husband.
source: imdb.com
On the Town
Written by: Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Directed by: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
Starring: Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin, Vera-Ellen
Country: United States of America
Outline: Three U.S. Navy sailors enjoy a 24-hour shore leave in New York City, each seeking romance and adventure. Their escapades lead them to unexpected encounters and musical numbers across the city.
source: rottentomatoes.com
All the King's Men
Written by: Robert Rossen, Robert Penn Warren
Directed by: Robert Rossen
Starring: Broderick Crawford, John Ireland, Joanne Dru, Mercedes McCambridge, John Derek, Shepperd Strudwick
Country: United States of America
Outline: The rise and fall of a populist politician in the American South, exploring themes of power, corruption, and idealism. The film delves into the complexities of political ambition and its impact on personal relationships.
source: imdb.com
The Rocking Horse Winner
Written by: Anthony Pelissier, D.H. Lawrence
Directed by: Anthony Pelissier
Starring: John Howard Davies, Valerie Hobson, Ronald Squire, Daphne Anderson, Hugh Sinclair, Marie Ney
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Outline: A young boy, obsessed with his mother's desire for wealth, discovers he has the ability to predict horse race winners. His newfound talent leads to unforeseen consequences, highlighting the dangers of materialism and the complexities of familial love.
source: imdb.com