What a great year for film noir it was! I have now seen 75 films that were released in 1947. A few shorts, documentaries, and B movies were reviewed only here. The total also includes a few I’ve seen before that were not easily available this time around. In that category, Raoul Walsh’s Pursued deserves special mention. As of the time I first watched it, it probably would have made the top half of my favorites list. It features gorgeous black-and-white cinematography by James Wong Howe and a cast that includes Robert Mitchum, Teresa Wright, and Judith Anderson. Another film I liked several years ago that I did not see this time was The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer with Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and Shirley Temple.
There were many, many films that could as easily have filled the bottom three slots on my top-ten list. The ones I selected mostly reflect my bias for film noir. As usual, the list represents my personal favorites and does not attempt to arrive at the “best” films of the year.
10. They Made Me a Fugitive – directed by Alberto Cavalcanti
9. Ride the Pink Horse – directed by Robert Montgomery
8. Crossfire – directed by Edward Dmytryk
7. Miracle on 34th Street – directed by George Seaton
6. Quai de Orfevres – directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
5. Brighton Rock – directed by John Boulting
4. Nightmare Alley – directed by Edmund Goulding
3. Black Narcissus – directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
2. Odd Man Out – directed by Carol Reed
1. Out of the Past – directed by Jacques Tourneur
The Bishop’s Wife, Body and Soul, The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer and Pursued dropped out of my predicted favorites list to make way for They Made Me a Fugitive, Ride the Pink Horse, Crossfire, and Brighton Rock. All but Crossfire were new to me. The complete list of films I viewed for 1947 can be found here and here.
With so many good movies it surprises me that the List offers only a few in 47. For that reason I only really know your top 3. Of those Black Narcissus would move one or two places up for me.
Which of those many other movies would you recommend for me to watch?
Black Narcissus is perhaps the “best” film of the year but not the one I love the most. I would guess you’ve seen Miracle on 34th Street but if you haven’t it’s an absolute must for the whole family. I’m kind of reluctant to choose between the others. They are all so dark! I’d recommend Nightmare Alley but it is ultra, ultra dark and I hated it the first time I saw it. So I’ll go for Brighton Rock, which is also very dark but at least has some good people in it. I loved all the movies on my list.
I haven’t seen most of these, I must confess, but I do love your top choice (also known as Build My Gallows High in the UK) and Brighton Rock – also Body and Soul out of your nearlies. Your blog is great.
Why, thank you! I love your blogs too. I really must read Brighton Rock and get more familiar with Graham Greene in general. His work is responsible for some of my favorite films.