Video: 'It's A Wonderful Life' trailer

(Friday, December 20, 1946, 8:30 p.m. EST) — It’s a Wonderful Life, an American Christmas fantasy drama film about an angel who helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed, premiered tonight at special benefit showing for the Boys’ Club of New York at the Globe theatre at 205 West 46th Street in midtown-Manhattan. Continue reading ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ premieres in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1946) →

Video: 'The Best Years of Our Lives' trailer

(Thursday, November 21, 1946, 8:30 p.m. EST) — The Best Years of Our Lives, an American drama film about three returning servicemen who fight to adjust to life after World War II, premiered tonight at the Astor theater in New York City.

Directed by William Wyler, the film starred Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo and Harold Russell.

Video: 'Academy Awards 1945'

(Thursday, March 7, 1946, 8:00-9:41 p.m. PST) — The Lost Weekend, a noir drama film about an alcoholic writer, won four Oscars tonight, including Best Motion Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder) and Best Actor (Ray Milland) at the 18th Academy Awards ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. Continue reading ‘The Lost Weekend’ wins Best Motion Picture at 18th Academy Awards 70 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1946) →

Video: 'Meet Me in St. Louis' (trailer)

(Wednesday, November 22, 1944) — Meet Me in St. Louis, a musical film about an American family living in St. Louis at the time of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition World’s Fair in 1904, premiered today in St. Louis (it would premiere in New York on Nov. 28, 1944).

Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the film starred Judy Garland, Margaret O’Brien, Mary Astor, Lucille Bremer, Tom Drake and Marjorie Main.

Video: 'To Have and Have Not' (trailer)

(Wednesday, October 11, 1944) — To Have and Have Not, a romance-war-adventure film that follows a skipper-for-hire’s romance with a beautiful drifter complicated by his growing involvement with the French resistance, opened today at the Hollywood in New York City.

Directed by Howard Hawks, the film starred Humphrey Bogart, Walter Brennan, Lauren Bacall, Dolores Moran and Hoagy Carmichael.

Video: 'Laura' (trailer)

(Wednesday, October 11, 1944) — Laura, a film noir about a police detective who falls in love with the woman whose murder he’s investigating, opened today at the Roxy in New York City.

Directed by Otto Preminger, the film starred Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price and Judith Anderson.

Video: 'Double Indemnity' (trailer)

(Wednesday, September 6, 1944) — Double Indemnity, a film noir about an insurance salesman who gets seduced into plotting a client’s death, opened today at the Paramount Theatre in New York City.

Directed by Billy Wilder, the film starred Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson.

Video: 'Arsenic and Old Lace' (trailer)

(Friday, September 1, 1944) — Arsenic and Old Lace, a dark comedy film about a young man who is about to be married and discovers the two aunts who raised him have been poisoning lonely old men, premiered today at the Strand in New York City.

Directed by Frank Capra, the film starred Cary Grant.