The Greatest Movie of Every Year of the 1930s
Cinema as it is known today had its origins within the films that were made in the 1930s. Although the prior decade had seemed tremendous leaps forwards in the types of formal choices that filmmakers were willing to make, the 1930s saw a rise in audience engagement, resulting in one of the greatest periods of sustained success in the history of the box office. In an era before television was even a prestige format, audiences that sought escapism found going to the movies to be a source of catharsis.
The 1930s was an era in which Hollywood was unencumbered by censorship or sustained backlash, and saw the release of many films that would have been deemed controversial in later decades. Frankly, it’s impressive how many of these classics have held up so well today. Here is the best film from every year of the 1930s.
10
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (1930)
All Quiet on the Western Front is one of the most important war films ever made, as it has the rare distinction of being about “The Great War” before World War II even occurred. Although Hollywood would later take efforts to ensure that combat was perceived in a more heroic light, this astounding adaptation of the acclaimed novel of the same name depicted the hell that young men went through when they were sent into the trenches.
All Quiet on the Western Front was no stranger to controversy, as real members of the Nazi party sought to ban it for its message, which argued against fascism and xenophobia. It’s a film that spanned the test of time, and even inspired an excellent remake in 2022 from director Edward Berger, which won Germany the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
9
‘M’ (1931)
M is one of the most foundational texts within the German Expressionist movement, which saw a rise in dark, moody noir stories with twisted morality among their eclectic casts of characters. Although America would see a rise in true crime films about serial killers within the New Hollywood era of the 1970s, M told a radical story about a ruthless child murderer who becomes targeted by both the police officers and members of the local criminal gangs in Germany.
M is still one of the scariest and most intense films ever made, even if it splits the difference between being a “horror” or “psychological thriller.” Although he had a prolonged career in Hollywood that involved playing all sorts of villains and sadistic characters, Peter Lorre was rarely as sinister or memorable as he was as an obsessive killer in M.
8
‘Freaks’ (1932)
Freaks invoked controversy from the moment it was released, and suffered from many bans that took it out of circulation until the 1960s. Although it was sadly met with so much backlash that director Red Browning never got to experience the career resurgence that he deserved, the overwhelming legacy of Freaks is that it is both a masterpiece and a singular testament to his artistic genius.
Freaks explored the sideshow culture of carnival and traveling shows, and examined how those with physical abnormalities could be treated with hatred and distrust by the rest of society. Freaks dared to treat these characters with sympathy, and has stood the test of time as a progressive film about the people who are swept under the rug by society. Decades later, it would be praised as a landmark achievement within the history of disability representation.
7
‘Duck Soup’ (1933)
Duck Soup is quite simply one of the funniest movies ever made, and certainly one of the greatest projects that the Marx brothers ever worked on. Although the family performers got their start as traveling musicians, the Marx brothers were at their peak when they were able to play wacky characters within a surprisingly timely work of political satire.
Duck Soup satirized the slapdash, incompetent ways in which wars and treaties are formed, and proved to be very insightful in what it was saying amidst global tensions that would ultimately result in another world war. When looking at the history of war satires that tackled contemporary issues,, Duck Soup can be seen as a direct inspiration on future classics like The Great Dictator, Dr. Strangelove (or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb), and Wag the Dog.
6
‘The Thin Man’ (1934)
The Thin Man isn’t just one of the most entertaining mystery films of the decade, but a skeleton key to the history of Hollywood’s ensemble sleuth comedies. Although the dynamic partnership of William Powell and Myrna Loy resulted in an astounding thirteen films (including five sequels to The Thin Man), their first team up back in 1934 is the most timeless and entertaining.
The Thin Man offered an alternative approach to mystery stories than the darker noirs of the German Expressionist movement, as it allowed the audience to become engaged as they followed along and searched for clues to the eventual culprit. Although it’s the type of immediately rewatchable classic that can be enjoyed by cinephiles of all ages at any point in the calendar year, The Thin Man deserves more credit for being one of the most pleasurable Christmas films ever made.
5
‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ (1935)
Mutiny on the Bounty isn’t the last time that the iconic novel was brought to the big screen, but it was certainly the most influential; in addition to winning the Academy Award for Best Picture, Mutiny on the Bounty helped to create a new rule within the Oscars’ voting process that allowed for the creation of supporting categories, as all three of its stars were nominated in the Best Actor category.
Mutiny in the Bounty depicted a compelling ethical dilemma regarding the loyalties of a crew who feel obliged to rebel against their leader, who has begun to show signs of madness. Although the role of Bligh would eventually be occupied by such legendary actors as Marlon Brando and Sir Anthony Hopkins, no one occupied and embodied the role quite like the brilliant Charles Laughton in his most chilling part ever.
4
‘Modern Times’ (1936)
Modern Times is one of the many masterpieces that Charlie Chaplin made during the most productive period in his career, but it may be his most technically impressive. In examining the ways in which the industrial revolution was putting factory employees out of work, Chaplin created a dizzying series of dangerous stunts in which “the Tramp” seems to be constantly on the verge of losing his own life.
Modern Times had deeper themes that argued for the merits of traditional approaches, which was made clear by the fact that Chaplin had made a black-and-white silent film in an era where “talkies” were beginning to take over. Although Chaplin would later concede to make a sound picture in order to deliver his most important message ever with The Great Dictator, Modern Times is a testament to the depth of emotion that could be encapsulated by a silent film.
3
‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (1937)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was the first feature-length animated film release in the United States, and established a precedent of excellence that Walt Disney Pictures would maintain through decades of subsequent animated films. Although the use of groundbreaking cel animation gave it a technical edge over other emerging animated films, the artwork and attention-to-detail in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has allowed it to stand the test of time for almost a century.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is still the definitive version of the “Snow White” story, even though the character and original fairy tale are part of the public domain, and have thus been adapted into countless different films and television shows. It also features some of the most iconic Disney tunes, which are still synonymous with the company’s brand and included in many theme park attractions.
2
‘Bringing Up Baby’ (1938)
Bringing Up Baby is one of the most important romantic comedies ever made because it embodied the slapstick era like no prior film had. Although there were components of slapstick humor that had been incorporated in many silent films, Bringing Up Baby created a formula that allowed A-list movie stars to show their aptitude for physical humor.
Bringing Up Baby is one of the best films ever made by Howard Hawks, a legendary filmmaker who would go on to become idealized for his highly influential work within the western genre. It also offered the definitive roles for both Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, two of the most famous movie stars of the classical era; Hepburn had the type of autonomy that was rarely given to female stars, and Grant was able to complicate his heartthrob image by giving a more idiosyncratic performance.
1
‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington’ (1939)
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington is one of the most timeless political dramas of all-time, as the story of an earnest man who is villainized by the power elite has never failed to be relevant. The character of Jefferson Smith is one of the all-time great movie heroes because James Stewart was able to evoke a spirit of goodness and compassion that makes his turbulent political journey even more emotionally gripping.
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington spoke to an ongoing problem in American politics without being saccharine, and has held up remarkably well as an old-fashioned drama. Although 1939 was an all-time great movie year that included classics like The Wizard of Oz, Gone With The Wind, Stagecoach, and Of Mice and Men, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington should shoot to the top of every cinephile’s watchlist.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Release Date
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October 9, 1939
- Runtime
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129 Minutes
- Director
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Frank Capra
- Writers
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Sidney Buchman, Lewis R. Foster, Myles Connolly
