Video: 'Wake Island' trailer

(Tuesday, August 11, 1942) — Wake Island, a film about the United States military garrison on Wake Island and the onslaught by the Japanese following the attack on Pearl Harbor, opened today in the U.S.

Directed by John Farrow, the film stars Brian Donlevy, Robert Preston and William Bendix.

Video: 'The Pride of the Yankees' clip

(Wednesday, July 15, 1942) — The Pride of the Yankees, a tribute film to the legendary New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, opened today at the Astor Theater in New York City.

Directed by Sam Wood, the film stars Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Walter Brennan, Babe Ruth and Dan Duryea.

Video: 'The Magnificent Ambersons' trailer

(Friday, July 10, 1942) — The Magnificent Ambersons, a film about an Englishman on vacation in France who is caught up in the German invasion of that country, opened today in the U.S.

Directed by Orson Welles, the film stars Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Anne Baxter, Tim Holt, Agnes Moorehead and Ray Collins.

Video: 'Mrs. Miniver' trailer

(Thursday, June 4, 1942) — Mrs. Miniver, a drama film about a British family struggling to survive the first days of World War II, opened today at the Music Hall in New York.

Directed by William Wyler, the film stars Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright and Dame May Whitty. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director.

Video: 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' trailer

(Friday, May 29, 1942) — Yankee Doodle Dandy, a biographical musical film about George M. Cohan, known as “The Man Who Owns Broadway,” premiered tonight during a war-bonds benefit at the Hollywood Theatre in New York.

Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film stars James Cagney as George M. Cohan, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston and Richard Whorf. Continue reading ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ premieres in New York 70 years ago tonight (1942) →

Video: '49th Parallel' trailer

(Thursday, March 5, 1942) — 49th Parallel, a film about a stranded German U-boat crew that tries to evade capture in Canada during World War II, premiered tonight in New York (it had already premiered in London on Oct. 8, 1941).

Directed by Michael Powell, the film stars Leslie Howard, Laurence Olivier and Raymond Massey.

(Thursday, February 26, 1942) — How Green Was My Valley, the story of Welsh coalminers in changing times, was named Best Picture of 1941 (beating out Citizen Kane) tonight at the 14th Academy Awards at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The film’s director, John Ford, also won for Best Director.

Gary Cooper (Sergeant York) won Best Actor while Joan Fontaine (Suspicion) won Best Actress.

'To Be or Not to Be' trailer

(Sunday, February 15, 1942) — To Be or Not to Be, a comedy about a troupe of actors in Nazi-occupied Warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops, premiered tonight in Los Angeles.

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, the film stars Carole Lombard, Jack Benny, Robert Stack, Felix Bressart, Lionel Atwill, Stanley Ridges and Sig Ruman. The film was released two months after actress Carole Lombard was killed in an airplane crash.

'Kings Row' clip

(Monday, February 2, 1942) — Kings Row, a story of young people growing up in a small American town at the turn of the twentieth century, beset by social pressure, dark secrets, and the challenges and tragedies one must face as a result of these hard facts, premiered tonight at the Astor in New York City.

Directed by Sam Wood, the film stars Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, and future U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Reagan and most film critics considered Kings Row his best movie.

Video: 'Woman of the Year' trailer

(Monday, January 19, 1942) — Woman of the Year, a romantic comedy film about an emancipated woman, opened today in the United States.

Directed by George Stevens, the film stars Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn (her fourth Academy Award nomination for Best Actress) and Fay Bainter.