Like promised, here's a full decade overview of the 1940s films in the new Universal deal.This took way, way longer than I anticipated, as there has been quite the deluge of new information compared to my prior 1930s breakdown. As before, I will be covering all previously released films from each year, and selected previously unreleased films from each year if applicable. Note that this list will be only for films that haven't been ruled out all yet. While there are two performers who have been previously ruled out who have films still in the deal (and there are some potential possibilities from this decade), I'll cover those possibilities later when there is more information to be had.
Almost all but confirmed (thanks to hints and clues, these films are almost all but officially confirmed to be in the add on):
[Show spoiler]Among The Living (1941) directed by Stuart Heisler, and starring Albert Dekker, Susan Hayward, Frances Farmer, and Harry Carey. (there are no other Stuart Heisler films available for the deal. The only other option (The Remarkable Andrew (1942)) was ruled out (no William Holden - billed 2nd in this film).
Street Of Chance (1942) directed by Jack Hively, and starring Burgess Meredith and Claire Trevor, from a story by Cornell Woolrich (who wrote the short story that was the basis for Rear Window) (almost all but confirmed, as this is the only remaining film for director Jack Hively owned by Universal - only other film (Are You With It (1948)) was ruled out (no full on 1940s musicals in the deal).
Golden Earrings (1947) directed by Mitchell Leisen, and starring Marlene Dietrich and Ray Milland. (as the only other unreleased Dietrich film was ruled out (Follow The Boys (1944) - ruled out due to no W.C Fields films being in the deal) and no other double dip possibilities for Dietrich (only non boutique label released Dietrich film was Touch Of Evil - already acquired by Kino for 4K) - this film is the only possibility left for her in the deal).
Known Facts:
23 films total.
13 noirs from this decade are in the deal.
2 or more color films from this decade are in the deal, with 2 of them potentially being films with no prior DVD release.
Some "Noirish" films from this decade (around 12 total split between the 1930s-1950s)
Maybe 1 horror/mystery film.
No films from this decade have had a prior Blu-ray release.
People From This Decade Confirmed To Be In The Deal:
[Show spoiler]
Actors/Actresses:
Alan Ladd
Bob Hope
Charles Boyer
Claire Trevor
Claudette Colbert
Donald O'Connor
Ella Raines
Gail Russell (looking at the options, most likely the film/films with her are from the 1950s)
George Raft
Joel McCrea
Joseph Cotten
Loretta Young
Margaret Sullavan
Maria Montez
Ray Milland
Susan Hayward
William Powell
(Irving Pichel as a director was confirmed, but it's unknown if he's in or not as an actor).
Directors:
Frank Borzage
Frank Tuttle
Irving Pichel (no acting roles for him in this decade)
Jack Hively
John Farrow
Mark Sandrich
Mitchell Leisen
Robert Sidomak
Stuart Heisler
William Dieterle
Year By Year (there are no films from the year 1940 in the deal):
1941 (1 film remaining unrevealed):
[Show spoiler]The previously released films from this year are:
Louisiana Purchase, directed by Irving Cummings (who co-directed In Old Arizona with Raoul Walsh and seemingly every other 1930s-1940s Fox musical) and starring Bob Hope, Vera Zorina, Victor Moore, and Dona Drake, from the Irving Berlin stage show of the same name and filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor. (not sure if a musical or not, so may or may not be in the deal)
Skylark directed by Mark Sandrich (who directed many of the Astaire-Rogers musicals, including Top Hat) and starring Claudette Colbert, Ray Milland, and Brian Aherne.
Selected Previously Unreleased Films:
Among The Living (almost all but confirmed - see section above)
Appointment For Love, directed by William A. Seiter and starring Charles Boyer, Margaret Sullavan, and Eugene Pallette.
From the options here, Among The Living is seemingly the sole film from this year to be able to fill this spot, thanks to clues previously given.
1942 (2 films remaining unrevealed):
[Show spoiler]The previously released films from this year are:
Behind The Eight Ball, directed by Edward F. Cline (who directed The Bank Dick) and starring the Ritz Brothers, Carol Bruce, and Dick Foran. (not sure if a musical or not, so may or may not be in the deal)
Lucky Jordan, directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Alan Ladd (with Frank Tuttle fresh off of This Gun For Hire, and this being Ladd's first top-billed role) and Helen Walker (who later starred in Nightmare Alley and Call Northside 777) in her film debut.
The Mystery Of Marie Roget, directed by Phil Rosen (who directed several films for Monogram) and starring Maria Montez, Patric Knowles, Maria Ouspenskaya, John Litel, Edward Norris, and Lloyd Corrigan, adapted from the Edgar Allan Poe story of the same name.
Selected Previously Unreleased Films:
Dr. Broadway, directed by Anthony Mann (in his directorial debut) and starring Macdonald Carey, Jean Phillips and J. Carrol Naish.
Fly-By Night, directed by Robert Sidomak and starring Nancy Kelly and Richard Carlson.
Street Of Chance (almost all but confirmed - see section above)
The Forest Rangers, directed by George Marshall (who directed The Ghost Breakers) and starring Fred MacMurray, Paulette Goddard, Susan Hayward, Albert Dekker, and Eugene Pallette, filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor.
From the possibilities from this year, Street Of Chance is almost all but confirmed to be in 1 of 2 slots from this year. For the other slot, the film that could go in it could vary widely - I'll sum up the likeliest choices below:
Lucky Jordan - of the previously released films this year, probably the likeliest. There has been confirmations on director Frank Tuttle and star Alan Ladd, but what could point towards this is the presence of "noirish" films in the deal, which this film would easily be classified as.
The Mystery Of Marie Roget - could be in the deal if the "maybe" 1 horror/mystery title in the deal ends up panning out (likely either this or The Man In Half Moon Street (1945))
The Forest Rangers - outside of the Maria Montez films, the likeliest candidate for the potential two previously unreleased films, plus there has been confirmation on stars Paulette Goddard and Susan Hayward, although there are other options on both.
Dr. Broadway and Fly-By Night - both (although at most only 1 could be selected) could potentially be inserted into noir sets, especially since both have major directors.
1943 (3 films remaining unrevealed):
[Show spoiler]The previously released films from this year are:
China, directed by John Farrow and starring Alan Ladd, Loretta Young, and William Bendix. (interestingly enough, Ladd's outfit from this film was later cited as inspiration for Indiana Jones' look later on)
So Proudly We Hail, directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard (nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for this film), Veronica Lake, and Sonny Tufts in his film debut.
Selected Previously Unreleased Films:
Corvette K-225, directed by Richard Rosson and starring Randolph Scott, Ella Raines, and Barry Fitzgerald, produced (but not directed) by Howard Hawks.
White Savage, directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall, Sabu, and Turhan Bey, filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor.
Of the options from this year, So Proudly We Hail looks very likely, especially due to the confirmations of director Mark Sandrich and star Veronica Lake, both of which don't seemingly have any real viable alternate options available for them in this deal (although there are other options for them both, so I wouldn't go as far as to say So Proudly We Hail is almost all but confirmed). China is also one of the likelier candidates for the sole John Farrow film in the deal, as only this film and Two Years Before The Mast (also starring Alan Ladd) seemingly have any viable chance of the remaining options.
From the unreleased films, Corvette K-225 could be an interesting choice. Depending on how things go with the unreleased color films, however, this may or may not remain in contention. White Savage could be potentially one of the unreleased color films from the deal, but there are other options as well.
1944 (3 films remaining unrevealed):
[Show spoiler]The previously released films from this year are:
And Now Tomorrow, directed by Irving Pichel and starring Alan Ladd, Loretta Young, and Susan Hayward, with a screenplay co-written by Raymond Chandler and Frank Partos.
Gypsy Wildcat, directed by Roy William Neill and starring Maria Montez, John Hall, Peter Coe, Nigel Bruce, and Leo Carrillo.
The Great Moment, directed and written by Preston Sturges, and starring Joel McCrea, Betty Field, Harry Carey, William Demarest, Franklin Pangborn and Porter Hall.
Selected Previously Unreleased Films:
Destiny, directed by Reginald Le Borg (and uncredited contributions from Julien Duvivier) and starring Gloria Jean, Alan Curtis, Frank Craven, and Grace McDonald (this film was initially meant to be part of Flesh And Fantasy (1943), but was later spun off into it's own film).
Enter Arsène Lupin, directed by Ford Beebe and starring Charles Korvin, Ella Raines, and J. Carrol Naish.
Practically Yours, directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray.
Till We Meet Again, directed by Frank Borzage and starring Ray Milland and Barbara Britton.
The Hour Before The Dawn, directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Veronica Lake and Franchot Tone.
From this year, The Great Moment seems to have a pretty good chance of happening, as since it has been confirmed there is at least 1 Joel McCrea film in the deal, and westerns for the most part have been mostly ruled out (so far not seeing many openings for one in this decade, and none starring McCrea availible in this decade as well), this remains one of the few films from him left as a possibility (there are some other post code 1930s films with him but I'm not seeing those as too likely. And Now Tomorrow also could have a good chance too, given the confirmation of the director (Irving Pichel) and cast (Alan Ladd, Loretta Young, Susan Hayward), but there are other viable options as well for all people confirmed. Gypsy Wildcat could have some chance (I do feel like we may see 1 or more of the Maria Montez Technicolor films this deal), but I wouldn't be sure depending on how the unreleased films from this year stack up.
Of the previously unreleased films, there are certainly quite a handful of good options here. Destiny, given the number of noirs in this deal, could have a good chance, if it hasn't been snagged by the label that has gotten Flesh And Fantasy as an extra, given it's connection to that film.
Practically Yours, the only film starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray that hasn't been released at all on home video, could have a decent chance depending on how things stack up, given confirmations on director Mitchell Leisen and star Claudette Colbert, although there are other options for both (and Leisen has an another all but confirmed film in the deal as well). Till We Meet Again could have a solid chance as well given the confirmation of director Frank Borzage, this being 1 of only 3 films of his left owned by Universal and the only other viable film other than Little Man, What Now? (1934) left as an option. The Hour Before The Dawn is worth noting, as it is in my eyes the likeliest alternative option for Veronica Lake outside of So Proudly We Hail, but I wouldn't say this is a particularly likely alternative. Enter Arsène Lupin could have some chance (I've seen this classified as a noir, but I'm unsure of this definition) as well, potentially for the noir boxsets or for "noirish" films in the deal.
1945 (3 films remaining unrevealed):
[Show spoiler]The previously released films from this year are:
Frontier Gal directed by Charles Lamont and starring Rod Cameron and Yvonne De Carlo, filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor.
Kitty directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Paulette Goddard and Ray Milland.
Love Letters directed by William Dieterle and starring Jennifer Jones (who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for this film) and Joseph Cotten.
Selected Previously Unreleased Films:
A Medal For Benny, directed by Irving Pichel and starring Arturo de Cordova, Dorothy Lamour, and J. Carrol Naish, from a story co-written by John Steinbeck and Frank Butler.
The Man In Half Moon Street, directed by Ralph Murphy and starring Nils Asther and Helen Walker.
Sudan, directed by John Rawlins and starring Maria Montez, Jon Hall, and Turhan Bey, filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor.
Of the options here, Love Letters seems to be very likely in the deal, given confirmation on director William Dieterle (this being his only remaining previously released film in the deal, and 1 of 2 films of his left owned by Universal to be released on Blu-ray. Kitty could also have a decent chance here, given the confirmations of the director (Mitchell Leisen) and all major cast (Paulette Goddard and Ray Milland). Frontier Gal unfortunately doesn't seem to have as likely a chance due to the lack of westerns in the deal.
Of the previously unreleased options, Sudan seemingly could have a good chance given there are potentially 2 unreleased color films in the deal, with this being one of the more likely options. The Man In Half Moon Street could have a solid chance as well, given it's "noirish" nature and could be a candidate for the "maybe" horror/mystery film from this deal (I've also seen this classified as a sci-fi film as well). A Medal For Benny could hsve some chance as well, as this is 1 of only 3 Universal-owned films directed by Irving Pichel (who's been confirmed) left as a possibility.
1946 (2 films remaining unrevealed):
[Show spoiler]The previously released films from this year are:
Smooth As Silk, directed by Charles Barton and starring Kent Taylor and Virginia Grey.
Two Years Before The Mast, directed by John Farrow and starring Alan Ladd, Brian Donlevy, William Bendix, and Barry Fitzgerald.
Selected Previously Unreleased Films:
Blonde Alibi, directed by Will Jason, and starring Martha O'Driscoll, Tom Neal, and Elisha Cook, Jr..
Night In Paradise, directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Merle Oberon and Turhan Bey, filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor.
Tangier, directed by George Waggner and starring Maria Montez, Robert Paige, Sabu, Preston Foster, and Louse Allbritton.
Temptation, directed by Irving Pichel and starring Merle Oberon, George Brent, Charles Korvin, and Paul Lukas (billed 4th, so may still be a possibility)
The Imperfect Lady, directed by Lewis Allen and starring Ray Milland, Teresa Wright, and Anthony Quinn.
The Perfect Marriage, directed by Lewis Allen and starring Loretta Young and David Niven.
The Searching Wind, directed by William Dieterle and starring Robert Young, Sylvia Sidney, and Ann Richards, from a screenplay/play by Lillian Hellman (who wrote The Little Foxes)
White Tie And Tails, directed by Charles Barton and starring Dan Duryea, Ella Raines, and William Bendix.
Of the previously released films here, both could heavily depend on the amount of noirs in this deal. Two Years Before The Mast would be probably (alongside the previously unreleased Night In Paradise) one of few likely non-noirs from this year, an, and Smooth As Silk would likely depend on if it could be included in one of the noir boxsets (can't see it as a solo release in all honesty).
There are numerous previously unreleased films from this year, noir and not (but mostly noir). I'll sum up the likelier possibilities below:
The Imperfect Lady - given the director (Lewis Allen) and cast (Ray Milland, Teresa Wright, Anthony Quinn) and being a noir, it could easily be made a solo release or put in a boxset.
Temptation - like The Imperfect Lady, could be spun either way in a noir set or solo.
Night In Paradise - given the clue of potentially 2 or more previously unreleased color films in the deal, this could be one of the likelier candidates.
Tangier - given the confirmation on Maria Montez and it being a noir, could have some chance in one of the noir boxsets.
The Searching Wind - worth noting as the only other possible William Dieterle film other than Love Letters, but otherwise not as likely a possibility.
1947 (4 films remaining unrevealed):
[Show spoiler]The previously released films from this year are:
Golden Earrings (almost all but confirmed - see section above)
Song Of Scherazade, directed and written by Walter Reisch, and starring Yvonne De Carlo, Brian Donlevy, Jean-Pierre Aumont, and Eve Arden, filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor. (not sure if a musical or not, so may or may not be in the deal)
Where's There Life, directed by Sidney Lanfield and starring Bob Hope, Signe Hasso, and William Bendix.
Selected Previously Unreleased Films:
Singapore, directed by John Brahm and starring Fred MacMurray and Ava Gardner.
Suddenly, It's Spring, directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Fred MacMurray, Paulette Goddard, and MacDonald Carey.
The Senator Was Indiscreet, directed by Charles S. Kaufman and starring William Powell and Ella Raines, produced by Nunnally Johnson.
Time Out Of Mind, directed by Robert Sidomak and starring Phyllis Calvert, Robert Hutton, and Ella Raines.
Wild Harvest, directed by Tay Garnett and starring Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, Robert Preston, Lloyd Nolan, and Allen Jenkins.
To start things off for this year, Golden Earrings is seemingly all but confirmed to show up in the deal. Where's There Life could have a good chance as well, as it does seem there will be another non-noir film from this year as well in the deal and Bob Hope has been confirmed to be in the deal.
Of the previously unreleased films in the deal, Time Out Of Mind seems the likeliest of them, given the confirmation on director Robert Sidomak and Ella Raines, and this being a noir (I could potentially see this as a solo release as well). Singapore could also have a chance as well, given the cast (Fred MacMurray and Ava Gardner) and it being a noir. The Senator Was Indiscreet and Suddenly, It's Spring could have a chance if there are any previously unreleased non-noirs from this year as well. Wild Harvest is worth noting as 1 of 2 previously unreleased Alan Ladd films not ruled out, and the only one that could have some chance (although I'm not sure how much of a chance)
1948 (1 film remaining unrevealed):
[Show spoiler]The previously released films from this year are:
A Woman's Vengeance, directed by Zoltan Korda (who directed the 1939 version of The Four Feathers and The Thief Of Baghdad (1940)) and starring Charles Boyer, Ann Blyth, and Jessica Tandy, with the screenplay and story by Aldous Huxley.
Albuquerque, directed by Ray Enright and starring Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, George "Gabby" Hayes, and Lon Chaney, Jr., filmed in Cinecolor.
Family Honeymoon, directed by Claude Binyon and starring Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray and Hattie McDaniel.
Feudin', Fussin', And A-Fightin', directed by George Sherman and starring Donald O'Connor, Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride.
River Lady, directed by George Sherman and starring Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Duryea, and Rod Cameron, filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor.
State Of The Union, directed by Frank Capra and starring Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Angela Lansbury, Van Johnson, and Adolphe Menjou.
Selected Previously Unreleased Films:
Rogue's Regiment, directed by Robert Florey and starring Dick Powell, Marta Toren, Vincent Price, and Stephen McNally.
The Saxon Charm, directed by Claude Binyon and starring Robert Montgomery, Susan Hayward, John Payne, and Audrey Totter.
Of the previously released films, A Woman's Vengeance seems like it could have a good chance, depending on if the film from this year is a noir or not. State Of The Union would seemingly to me be the likeliest previously released non-noir film from this year to be released.
From the previously unreleased films, both Rogue's Regiment andThe Saxon Charm seem like good options, and could be put into either noir boxsets or made solo releases.
1949 (4 films remaining unrevealed):
[Show spoiler]The previously released films from this year are:
Calamity Jane And Sam Bass, directed by George Sherman and starring Yvonne De Carlo and Howard Duff, filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor.
Sorrowful Jones, directed by Sidney Lanfield and starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball, from the Damon Runyon story "Little Miss Marker". 1st remake of the 1934 film Little Miss Marker.
The Further Adventures Of Ma And Pa Kettle, directed by Charles Lamont and starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride.
Undertow, directed by William Castle (who later directed House On Haunted Hill, among many other horror films) and starring Scott Brady, John Russell, Dorothy Hart, Peggy Dow, Bruce Bennett, and in an early role, Rock Hudson (billed as "Roc Hudson").
Selected Previously Unreleased Films:
Bagdad, directed by Charles Lamont and starring Maureen O'Hara, Paul Christian, and Vincent Price, filmed in 3-Strip Technicolor.
City Across The River, directed and produced by Maxwell Shane, and starring Stephen McNally, Sue England, Barbara Whiting, and in early roles, Tony Curtis (billed as "Anthony Curtis") and Richard Jaeckel.
Illegal Entry, directed by Frederick De Cordova and starring Howard Duff, Marta Toren, and George Brent.
Johnny Stool Pigeon, directed by William Castle and starring Howard Duff, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea, and Tony Curtis (billed as "Anthony Curtis").
Take One False Step, directed, produced, and co-written by Chester Erskine and starring William Powell, Shelley Winters, and Marsha Hunt.
The Great Gatsby, directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Alan Ladd, Betty Field, MacDonald Carey, Ruth Hussey, Barry Sullivan, Howard Da Silva, and Shelley Winters (this film may or may not be available - last was said by the Insider this film had severe legal issues)
The Story Of Molly "X", directed and written by Crane Wilbur and starring June Havoc, John Russell, and Dorothy Hart.
Of the previously released films from this year, Undertow is seemingly one of the likelier options from this year, given it being a noir, and it could be easily fit into one of the noir boxsets (maybe solo, but probably in a set). Sorrowful Jones could also be a strong contender, given it has Bob Hope and a major co-star (Lucille Ball).
From the previously unreleased films, there are a lot of options, which I'll break down below:
Take One False Step - given the confirmation on William Powell and this being a noir, could be very likely to be in the deal. Could be made into a solo release or in the noir sets.
The Great Gatsby - most likely still has legal issues, but if cleared up, would likely be snatched up quickly. Not sure if the book being in the public domain now helps anything here. If this is in the deal, it would likely be a solo release.
Johnny Stool Pigeon - could have a good chance as a solo release or in the noir boxsets given the director (William Castle) and cast (Howard Duff, Dan Duryea, Shelley Winters, Tony Curtis)
Bagdad - could be a possibility for the potential 2 previously unreleased color films in the deal. Was released by Universal on VHS but not DVD.
City Across The River, The Story Of Molly "X", Illegal Entry - all could be solid additions to noir boxsets in the deal, not really seeing any as being solo release though.
Hope everybody enjoys this breakdown! I will be revisiting my prior 1930s breakdown after the two 1930s films from the weekend announcements, as there have been some major updates with that decade as far as things break down. If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to ask.
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