List of thriller films of the 1940s

Thriller films
By decade

A list of thriller films released in the 1940s.

Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/notes
1940
Before I Hang Nick Grinde Boris Karloff, Evelyn Keyes, Bruce Bennett United States [1]
Foreign Correspondent Alfred Hitchcock Joel McCrea, Laraine Day United States [2]
Gaslight Thorold Dickinson Anton Walbrook, Diana Wynyard, Frank Pettingell United Kingdom [3]
Night Train to Munich Carol Reed Rex Harrison, Margaret Lockwood United Kingdom
Rebecca Alfred Hitchcock Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Judith Anderson United States Psychological thriller[4]
Stranger on the Third Floor Boris Ingster Peter Lorre, John McGuire, Margaret Tallichet United States Psychological thriller[5]
1941
Among the Living Stuart Heisler Albert Dekker, Susan Hayward, Harry Carey United States [6]
Le Dernier des Six Georges Lacombe Michele Alfa, Pierre Fresnay, Jean Tissier France Psychological thriller[7]
I Wake Up Screaming H. Bruce Humberstone Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Carole Landis United States [8]
Man Hunt Fritz Lang Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders United States [9]
Shadow of the Thin Man W.S. Van Dyke William Powell, Myrna Loy, Barry Nelson United States Comedy thriller[10]
Suspicion Alfred Hitchcock Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine United States Psychological thriller[11]
1942
L'Assassin Habite au 21 Henri-Georges Clouzot Suzy Delair, Pierre Fresnay, Noël Roquevert France Comedy thriller[12]
Bowery at Midnight Wallace W. Fox Bela Lugosi, John Archer, Wanda McKay United States Crime thriller[13]
Cat People Jacques Tourneur Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Tom Conway United States Supernatural thriller[14]
Eyes in the Night Fred Zinnemann Edward Arnold, Ann Harding, Katherine Emery United States Crime thriller[15]
The Glass Key Stuart Heisler Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd United States [16]
I Live on Danger Sam White Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Elizabeth Risdon United States [17]
Nightmare Tim Whelan Diana Barrymore, Brian Donlevy, Henry Daniell United States [18]
Saboteur Alfred Hitchcock Priscilla Lane, Robert Cummings, Norman Lloyd United States [19]
This Gun for Hire Frank Tuttle Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar United States Crime thriller[20]
1943
Above Suspicion Richard Thorpe Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurray, Conrad Veidt United States Political thriller[21]
Le Corbeau Henri-Georges Clouzot Pierre Fresnay, Pierre Larquey, Micheline Francey France Psychological thriller[22]
The Fallen Sparrow Richard Wallace John Garfield, Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak United States [23]
Journey into Fear Norman Foster Joseph Cotten, Dolores del Río, Ruth Warrick, Orson Welles United States [24]
The Leopard Man Jacques Tourneur Dennis O'Keefe, Margo, Jean Brooks United States [25]
Shadow of a Doubt Alfred Hitchcock Joseph Cotten, Teresa Wright, MacDonald Carey United States [26]
1944
Bluebeard Edgar G. Ulmer John Carradine, Jean Parker, Nils Asther United States [27]
The Climax George Waggner Boris Karloff, Susanna Foster United States [28]
Dark Waters André De Toth Merle Oberon, Franchot Tone, Thomas Mitchell United States [29]
Double Indemnity Billy Wilder Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson United States Crime thriller[30]
Gaslight George Cukor Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman United States [31]
Laura Otto Preminger Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Clifton Webb United States Psychological thriller[32]
The Lodger John Brahm Merle Oberon, George Sanders, Laird Cregar United States [33]
The Mask of Dimitrios Jean Negulesco Sydney Greenstreet, Zachary Scott, Faye Emerson United States [34]
Ministry of Fear Fritz Lang Ray Milland, Marjorie Reynolds, Carl Esmond United States Psychological Thriller[35]
Murder, My Sweet Edward Dmytryk Dick Powell, Claire Trevor, Anne Shirley United States [36]
Phantom Lady Robert Siodmak Franchot Tone, Ella Raines, Alan Curtis United States [37]
The Scarlet Claw Roy William Neill Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gerald Hamer United States [38]
The Thin Man Goes Home Richard Thorpe William Powell, Myrna Loy, Gloria DeHaven United States Comedy thriller[39]
When Strangers Marry William Castle Dean Jagger, Kim Hunter, Robert Mitchum United States [40]
The Woman in the Window Fritz Lang Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey United States [41]
1945
The Body Snatcher Robert Wise Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Henry Daniell United States [42]
Conflict Curtis Bernhardt Humphrey Bogart, Alexis Smith, Sydney Greenstreet United States [43]
Cornered Edward Dmytryk Dick Powell, Walter Slezak, Nina Vale United States [44]
Dead of Night Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden, Robert Hamer Mervyn Johns, Michael Redgrave, Sally Ann Howes, Mary Merrall United Kingdom Psychological thriller[45]
Hangover Square John Brahm Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders United States [46]
The House on 92nd Street Henry Hathaway William Eythe, Lloyd Nolan, Signe Hasso United States [47]
My Name Is Julia Ross Joseph H. Lewis Nina Foch, Dame May Whitty, George Macready United States [48]
Spellbound Alfred Hitchcock Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Jean Acker United States Psychological thriller[49]
Strange Illusion Edgar G. Ulmer Charles Arnt, Jameson Clark, Jimmy Clark United States [50]
1946
Bedlam Mark Robson Boris Karloff, Anna Lee, Billy House United States
The Brute Man Jean Yarbrough Rondo Hatton, Jane Adams, Tom Neal United States
Crack-Up Irving G. Reis Pat O'Brien, Claire Trevor, Herbert Marshall United States Psychological thriller
Deadline at Dawn Harold Clurman Susan Hayward, Paul Lukas, Bill Williams United States
Dragonwyck Joseph L. Mankiewicz Gene Tierney, Spring Byington, Walter Huston United States
I See a Dark Stranger Frank Launder Deborah Kerr, Trevor Howard, Raymond Huntley United Kingdom
Leave Her to Heaven John M. Stahl Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde United States Psychological thriller
Notorious Alfred Hitchcock Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains United States Political thriller
Shadow of a Woman Joseph Santley Helmut Dantine, Andrea King, Don McGuire United States
Shock Alfred L. Werker Vincent Price, Lynn Bari, Anabel Shaw United States
The Spiral Staircase Robert Siodmak Dorothy McGuire, George Brent, Ethel Barrymore United States Psychological thriller
The Stranger Orson Welles Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson, Loretta Young United States Psychological thriller
1947
Kiss of Death Henry Hathaway Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Coleen Gray United States Psychological thriller, crime thriller
The Lady from Shanghai Orson Welles Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles United States
Love from a Stranger Richard Whorf John Hodiak, John Howard, Ann Richards United States
The Red House Delmer Daves Edward G. Robinson, Lon McCallister, Judith Anderson United States
Song of the Thin Man Edward Buzzell William Powell, Myrna Loy United States Comedy thriller
1948
The Big Clock John Farrow Ray Milland, Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Sullivan United States Psychological thriller
Cry of the City Robert Siodmak Victor Mature, Richard Conte, Fred Clark United States
He Walked by Night Alfred L. Werker Richard Basehart, Scott Brady, Roy Roberts United States
Key Largo John Huston Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Monte Blue United States Crime thriller
Sorry, Wrong Number Anatole Litvak Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards United States Psychological thriller
1949
The Bribe Robert Z. Leonard Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Charles Laughton, Vincent Price United States Crime thriller
D.O.A. Rudolph Maté Edmond O'Brien, Pamela Britton, Luther Adler United States Psychological thriller
Follow Me Quietly Richard Fleischer William Lundigan, Dorothy Patrick, Jeff Corey United States
Gun Crazy Joseph H. Lewis Peggy Cummins, John Dall, Berry Kroeger United States Crime thriller
The Third Man Carol Reed Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles United Kingdom Psychological thriller
Stray Dog Akira Kurosawa Toshirō Mifune, Takashi Shimura Japan
White Heat Raoul Walsh James Cagney United States Crime thriller
Whirlpool Otto Preminger Gene Tierney, Richard Conte, Jose Ferrer United States Psychological thriller

Notes

  1. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Before I Hang - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  2. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Foreign Correspondent - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  3. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Gaslight - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  4. ^ LeVasseur, Andrea. "Rebecca - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  5. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Stranger on the Third Floor - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  6. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Among the Living - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  7. ^ German, Yuri. "Le Dernier des Six - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  8. ^ Eder, Bruce. "I Wake Up Screaming - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  9. ^ Deming, Mark. "Man Hunt - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  10. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Shadow of the Thin Man - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  11. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Suspicion - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  12. ^ Erickson, Hal. "L'Assassin Habite au 21 - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  13. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Bowery at Midnight - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  14. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Cat People - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  15. ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Eyes in the Night - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  16. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Glass Key - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  17. ^ Brennan, Sandra. "I Live on Danger - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  18. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Nightmare - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  19. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Saboteur - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  20. ^ Erickson, Hal. "This Gun for Hire - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  21. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Above Suspicion - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  22. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Le Corbeau - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  23. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Fallen Sparrow - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  24. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Journey into Fear - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  25. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Leopard Man - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  26. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Shadow of a Doubt - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Retrieved August 26, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  27. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Bluebeard - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  28. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Climax - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  29. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Dark Waters - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on December 25, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  30. ^ Rasmussen, Linda. "Double Indemnity - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  31. ^ Williams, Karl. "Gaslight - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  32. ^ Williams, Karl. "Laura - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  33. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Lodger - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  34. ^ Deming, Mark. "The Mask of Dimitrios - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  35. ^ Blaise, Judd. "Ministry of Fear - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  36. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Murder, My Sweet - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  37. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Phantom Lady". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  38. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Scarlet Claw - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  39. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Thin Man Goes Home - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  40. ^ Erickson, Hal. "When Strangers Marry - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  41. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Woman in the Window - Cast, Reviews, Summary, and Awards - AllRovi". Allrovi. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  42. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Body Snatcher". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  43. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Conflict". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  44. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Cornered". Allrovi. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  45. ^ Blaise, Judd. "Dead of Night". Allrovi. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  46. ^ Deming, Mark. "Hangover Square". Allrovi. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  47. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The House of 92nd Street". Allrovi. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  48. ^ Deming, Mark. "My Name is Julia Ross". Allrovi. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  49. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Spellbound". Allrovi. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  50. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Strange Illusion". Allrovi. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.