Category Archives: Movies 1940s

‘Mrs. Miniver’ wins Best Picture at 15th Academy Awards 70 years ago today (1943)


Video: '1942 Oscar Winners'

(Thursday, March 4, 1943)Mrs. Miniver won six Oscars tonight at the 15th Academy Awards, including Outstanding Motion Picture, Best Director for William Wyler and Best Actress for Greer Garson, whose 5 1/2-minute acceptance speech became the butt of industry jokes.

James Cagney won Best Actor for Yankee Doodle Dandy. The ceremonies were held in the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles (click here to watch a newsreel from tonight’s ceremony).

Jury acquits actor Errol Flynn of statutory rape 70 years ago today (1943)


Video: 'Tasmanian Devil - The Fast And Furious Life Of Errol Flynn' (statutory rape case at 25:44)

(Saturday, February 6, 1943) — A Los Angeles jury today acquitted actor Errol Flynn, 33, of three counts of statutory rape. He had be charged with having sex with two under-age girls, Betty Hansen and Peggy Satterlee, at the Bel Air home of Flynn’s friend Frederick McEvoy.

‘The Palm Beach Story’ premiered in New York City 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: 'The Palm Beach Story' (trailer)

(Monday, November 2, 1942)The Palm Beach Story, a romantic screwball comedy film about a married woman who courts an eccentric millionaire to finance her husband’s career, premiered today in New York City.

Directed by Preston Sturges, the film stars Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor and Rudy Vallee.

‘Bambi’ premieres in New York City 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: 'Bambi' trailer

(Thursday, August 13, 1942)Bambi, an animated film about a young deer growing up in the wild after his mother is shot by hunters, premiered in the U.S. today at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, five days after its world premiere in London.

Directed by David Hand, the fifth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series stars Bobby Stewart, Donnie Dunagan and Hardie Albright.