List of American films of 1942

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A list of American films released in 1942. Bob Hope hosted the 15th Academy Awards ceremony at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The winner of the Outstanding Motion Picture (later: Best Picture) category was MGM's Mrs Miniver.

The other nine nominated pictures were 49th Parallel; King's Row; The Magnificent Ambersons; The Pied Piper; The Pride of the Yankees; Random Harvest; The Talk of the Town; Wake Island; and Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Casablanca was released in 1942, but won its three Oscars in 1944.

Contents

A-C

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
A-Haunting We Will Go Alfred L. Werker Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Dante the Magician Comedy Laurel and Hardy
Across the Pacific John Huston Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Sydney Greenstreet, Charles Halton Thriller Warner Bros.. Filmed on the outbreak of America entering World War II
Any Bonds Today? Bob Clampett Animated Propaganda Warner Bros.
Arabian Nights John Rawlins Maria Montez, Jon Hall, Sabu, Leif Erickson, Billy Gilbert, Turhan Bey, Shemp Howard Adventure Universal Pictures
The Arm Behind the Army Propaganda Short
Bambi David Hand Animated RKO Pictures Walt Disney
The Battle of Midway John Ford Propaganda Academy Award
The Big Shot Lewis Seiler Humphrey Bogart, Irene Manning Crime Warner Bros.
The Big Street Irving Reis Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball, Barton MacLane Drama RKO
Black Dragons William Nigh Bela Lugosi Sci-fi Monogram Pictures
The Black Swan Henry King Tyrone Power, Maureen O'Hara Adventure 20th Century Fox
The Boogie Man Will Get You Lew Landers Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre Comedy Horror Columbia Pictures
Bowery at Midnight Wallace Fox Bela Lugosi, John Archer Horror Monogram Pictures
The Bowling Alley Cat William Hanna, Joseph Barbera Animated Short Warner Bros.
Broadway William A. Seiter George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Janet Blair Crime Musical Universal Pictures
The Bugle Sounds S. Sylvan Simon Wallace Beery, Marjorie Main, Donna Reed War
Bugs Bunny Gets the Boid Robert Clampett Animated Short Warner Bros.
Campus on the March Propaganda
Captains of the Clouds Michael Curtiz James Cagney, Dennis Morgan War Warner Bros.
Casablanca Michael Curtiz Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman Drama Romance Academy Award Best Picture in 1943 - often cited as one of the greatest films of all time
Cat People Jacques Tourneur Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph Horror RKO Pictures
Commandos Strike at Dawn John Farrow Paul Muni, Anna Lee, Lillian Gish War Columbia
The Corpse Vanishes Wallace Fox Bela Lugosi, Luana Walters Sci-Fi Horror Monogram Pictures

D-H

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
Desperate Journey Raoul Walsh Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan War Warner Bros.
Dog Trouble William Hanna, Joseph Barbera Animated Short MGM
Don Winslow of the Navy Action Adventure Serial Universal Pictures
Donald Gets Drafted Donald Duck Animated Short RKO Pictures, Walt Disney
The Dover Boys Charles M. Jones Animated Short Warner Bros.
The Draft Horse Animated Short Warner Bros.
Fine Feathered Friend William Hanna, Joseph Barbera Tom and Jerry Animated Short MGM
The Fleet's In Victor Schertzinger Dorothy Lamour, William Holden Musical Paramount Pictures
Flight Lieutenant Sidney Salkow Pat O'Brien, Glenn Ford Drama Columbia Pictures
Fly-by-Night Robert Siodmak Richard Carlson, Nancy Kelly Thriller
Flying Tigers David Miller John Wayne War Republic Pictures
For Me and My Gal Busby Berkeley Judy Garland, Gene Kelly Musical MGM
Fraidy Cat William Hanna, Joseph Barbera Tom and Jerry Animated Short MGM
Fresh Hare I. Freleng Animated Short Warner Bros.
Friendly Enemies Allan Dwan Charles Winninger, Charles Ruggles Drama United Artists
Gang Busters Noel M. Smith, Ray Taylor Action Adventure Serial Universal Pictures
The Gay Sisters Irving Rapper Barbara Stanwyck, George Brent Drama
Gentleman Jim Raoul Walsh Errol Flynn Bio-pic
George Washington Slept Here William Keighley Jack Benny, Ann Sheridan, Charles Coburn Comedy Warner Bros.
The Ghost of Frankenstein Erle C. Kenton Lon Chaney, Jr., Cedric Hardwicke Horror Universal Pictures
The Glass Key Stuart Heisler Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake Film noir Paramount Pictures
The Great Man's Lady William A. Wellman Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, Brian Donlevy Western Paramount
Hemp for Victory Raymond Evans Propaganda
Henry Browne, Farmer Canada Lee Propaganda Short
Hold the Lion, Please Chuck Jones Animated Short Warner Bros.
Holiday Inn Mark Sandrich Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire Christmas Musical Paramount Pictures
How to Play Baseball Jack Kinney Animated Short RKO Pictures
How to Swim Jack Kinney Animated Short RKO Pictures, Walt Disney

I-N

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
I Married a Witch René Clair Veronica Lake, Frederic March Romantic comedy United Artists
I Married an Angel W. S. Van Dyke Jeanette Macdonald, Nelson Eddy Musical MGM
In Old California William C. McGann John Wayne, Binnie Barnes Western Republic
In This Our Life John Huston Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland Drama Warner Bros.
Invisible Agent Edwin L. Marin Ilona Massey, Jon Hall War Universal Pictures
It's All True Orson Welles, Norman Foster Shot in South America
It's Everybody's War Short war propaganda
Jackass Mail Norman Z. McLeod Wallace Beery Western
Jam Session Duke Ellington and his orchestra performing C Jam Blues. Short
Japanese Relocation Short war propaganda Produced by the Office of War Information
Johnny Eager Mervyn LeRoy Robert Taylor, Lana Turner Film noir MGM
Jungle Book Zoltan Korda Sabu Adventure Alexander Korda Films for United Artists
Junior G-Men action serial Universal Pictures
Junior G-Men of the Air Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys action serial Universal Pictures
Kid Glove Killer Fred Zinnemann Van Heflin, Marsha Hunt Crime MGM
King of the Mounties William Witney Allan Lane, Gilbert Emery Action adventure Republic Pictures
Kings Row Sam Wood Ann Sheridan, Ronald Reagan, Robert Cummings B movie drama Warner Bros.
Larceny, Inc. Lloyd Bacon Edward G. Robinson, Jane Wyman, Broderick Crawford Crime Comedy Warner Bros.
The Mad Monster Sam Newfield George Zucco, Anne Nagel Horror
The Magnificent Ambersons Orson Welles Joseph Cotten, Anne Baxter Drama Romance RKO Pictures
The Major and the Minor Billy Wilder Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland Comedy Paramount Pictures
The Male Animal Elliott Nugent Henry Fonda, Olivia de Havilland Romantic comedy
The Man Who Came to Dinner William Keighley Monty Woolley, Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan, Billie Burke, Jimmy Durante Comedy
Manpower Short war propaganda Produced by the Office of War Information
Miss Annie Rooney Edwin L. Marin Shirley Temple, Dickie Moore, Guy Kibbee Drama United Artists
Moontide Archie Mayo Jean Gabin, Ida Lupino, Claude Rains Drama 20th Century Fox
Mrs. Miniver William Wyler Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Teresa Wright War drama MGM Academy Award winner
The Mummy's Tomb Harold Young Horror Universal Pictures
My Favorite Blonde Sidney Lanfield Bob Hope, Madeleine Carroll Comedy Paramount
My Favorite Duck Porky Pig and Daffy Duck Animated comedy
My Gal Sal Irving Cummings Rita Hayworth, Victor Mature, Phil Silvers Musical biopic 20th Century Fox
My Sister Eileen Alexander Hall Rosalind Russell, Janet Blair Musical Columbia Pictures
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge Wallace Fox Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall Comedy Monogram Pictures
The News Parade of the Year 1942 Eugene W. Castle Short documentary
Night Monster Ford Beebe Bela Lugosi Mystery horror Universal Pictures
Night Plane from Chungking Ralph Murphy Robert Preston War adventure drama Paramount Pictures
Now, Voyager Irving Rapper Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Gladys Cooper Drama Warner Bros.

O-S

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
Orchestra Wives Archie Mayo Ann Rutherford, George Montgomery Musical 20th Century Fox
Overland Mail Ford Beebe Noah Beery, Jr. Western Universal Pictures
The Palm Beach Story Preston Sturges Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor, Rudy Vallee Screwball comedy Paramount Pictures
Panama Hattie Norman Z. McLeod Red Skelton, Ann Sothern Musical MGM
Pardon My Sarong Erle C. Kenton Abbott and Costello Comedy Universal Pictures
Perils of Nyoka William Witney Kay Aldridge Action adventure Republic Pictures
The Pied Piper Irving Pichel Monty Woolley, Roddy McDowall War 20th Century Fox
Pittsburgh Lewis Seiler John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott Drama Universal Pictures
The Pride of the Yankees Sam Wood Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright Baseball biopic RKO Pictures
Puss 'n' Toots William Hanna, Joseph Barbera Short animation MGM
Random Harvest Mervyn LeRoy Ronald Colman, Greer Garson Drama MGM
Reap the Wild Wind Cecil B. DeMille John Wayne, Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland Adventure Paramount Pictures
Reunion in France Jules Dassin Joan Crawford, John Wayne, Philip Dorn Drama MGM
Ride 'Em Cowboy Arthur Lubin Abbott and Costello Comedy Universal Pictures
Rings on Her Fingers Rouben Mamoulian Henry Fonda, Gene Tierney Comedy 20th Century Fox
Rio Rita S. Sylvan Simon Abbott and Costello Comedy MGM
Road to Morocco David Butler Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour Road musical Paramount Pictures
Roxie Hart William A. Wellman Ginger Rogers Comedy
Saboteur Alfred Hitchcock Robert Cummings Thriller Universal Pictures
Safeguarding Military Information John Huston Short war propaganda
Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror John Rawlins Basil Rathbone Mystery thriller 20th Century Fox
Ship Ahoy Edward Buzzell Eleanor Powell Musical comedy MGM
Somewhere I'll Find You Wesley Ruggles Clark Gable, Lana Turner Romance MGM
Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake John Cromwell Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney Adventure 20th Century Fox
Song of the Islands Walter Lang Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Jack Oakie Musical 20th Century Fox
The Spoilers Ray Enright John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott Western Universal Pictures
Springtime in the Rockies Irving Cummings Betty Grable, John Payne, Cesar Romero Musical 20th Century Fox
Spy Smasher William Witney Kane Richmond Spy Republic Pictures
The Squawkin' Hawk Chuck Jones Animated short Warner Bros.
Street of Chance Jack Hively Burgess Meredith, Claire Trevor Crime Paramount Pictures

T-Z

Title Director Cast Genre Notes
A Tale of Two Kitties Bob Clampett Animation
Tales of Manhattan Julien Duvivier Charles Boyer, Rita Hayworth, Ginger Rogers, Henry Fonda, Charles Laughton, Edward G. Robinson Drama 20th Century Fox
The Talk of the Town George Stevens Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, Ronald Colman Screwball comedy Columbia Pictures
Tarzan's New York Adventure Richard Thorpe Johnny Weissmuller Action MGM
Tennessee Johnson William Dieterle Van Heflin, Lionel Barrymore Biopic MGM
There's One Born Every Minute Devin Grady Hugh Herbert, Peggy Moran Comedy Universal
This Above All Anatole Litvak Tyrone Power, Joan Fontaine Romance 20th Century Fox
This Gun for Hire Frank Tuttle Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake Crime thriller Paramount Pictures
To Be or Not to Be Ernst Lubitsch Carole Lombard, Jack Benny Screwball comedy United Artists
To the Shores of Tripoli H. Bruce Humberstone Maureen O'Hara, John Payne Romantic drama 20th Century Fox
Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die William McGann Richard Dix Western
Tortilla Flat Victor Fleming Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, John Garfield Comedy drama MGM
Treat 'Em Rough Ray Taylor Eddie Albert Boxing drama
Tulips Shall Grow Animated short Nominated for an Academy Award Preservation in the National Film Registry
The Undying Monster John Brahm James Ellison Horror 20th Century Fox
The Wabbit Who Came to Supper I. Freleng Animated Warner Bros.
Wake Island John Farrow Brian Donlevy, Robert Preston WWII drama Paramount Pictures
We Are the Marines Louis De Rochemont War documentary feature 20th Century Fox
White Cargo Richard Thorpe Hedy Lamarr, Walter Pidgeon, Richard Carlson Romantic melodrama MGM
Who Done It? Erle C. Kenton Abbott and Costello Comedy Universal Pictures
Winning Your Wings John Huston War propaganda short
Woman of the Year George Stevens Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn Romantic comedy MGM
Wood for War Arthur H. Wolf WWII propaganda short
The World at War Frank Capra WWII propaganda short Produced by the Office of War Information
Yankee Doodle Dandy Michael Curtiz James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston Biography Warner Bros.
You Were Never Lovelier William A. Seiter Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth Musical comedy Columbia Pictures

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