1941 in film

The year 1941 in film involved some significant events, in particular the release of a film consistently rated as one of the greatest of all time, Citizen Kane.

Events

January 17 – A film based on the best-selling novel Gone with the Wind goes into general release in the United States after touring in a roadshow version during 1940. Becoming a cultural phenomenon, it sells an estimated 60 million tickets this year alone. Adjusted for inflation with numerous rereleases, it remains the highest grossing domestic film of all time with $1.8 billion.^[1]
March 24 – Glenn Miller begins work on his orchestra's first movie Sun Valley Serenade for Twentieth Century Fox.
May 1 – Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, consistently rated as one of the films considered the all-time best, is premiered at the Palace Theatre (New York City).
June – An Airman's Letter to His Mother, a British propaganda film based on true events, is released in cinemas, directed by Michael Powell and narrated by John Gielgud.^[2]
July 2 – Sergeant York, the film biopic of World War I hero Alvin C. York, starring Gary Cooper in the title role, premieres in New York City. It is the highest-grossing picture of the year and earns Cooper the first of two Academy Awards for Best Actor.
July 28 - The assets of Hollywood studios in Japan are frozen by Japan's Ministry of Finance.^[3]
September – Senate Investigation into Motion Picture War Propaganda in the United States.
October 3 – The Maltese Falcon, considered one of the greatest films noir, is released.

Academy Awards

Best Picture: How Green Was My Valley – 20th Century-Fox
Best Actor: Gary Cooper – Sergeant York
Best Actress: Joan Fontaine – Suspicion
Best Supporting Actor: Donald Crisp – How Green Was My Valley
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Astor – The Great Lie
Best Director: John Ford – How Green Was My Valley

Top-grossing films (U.S.)

The top ten 1941 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows:

Highest-grossing films of 1941
Rank	Title	Distributor	Domestic rentals
1	Sergeant York	Warner Bros.	$6,075,000^[4]
2	Honky Tonk	MGM	$2,893,000^[5]
3	Louisiana Purchase	Paramount	$2,750,000^[6]
4	How Green Was My Valley	20th Century Fox	$2,447,000^[7]
5	The Philadelphia Story	MGM	$2,374,000^[5]
6	Caught in the Draft	Paramount	$2,200,000^[8]
7	A Yank in the R.A.F.	20th Century Fox	$2,063,000^[7]
8	Men of Boys Town	MGM	$2,009,000^[5]
9	Ziegfeld Girl	MGM	$1,891,000^[5]
10	They Died with Their Boots On	Warner Bros.	$1,871,000^[4]

Films by country/region

Notable films

Films produced in the United States unless stated otherwise

1941 film releases

United States unless stated

January–March

January 1941
- 1 January
  - Princess Iron Fan (China)
- 16 January
  - The Face Behind the Mask
- 17 January
  - The Philadelphia Story
- 21 January
  - High Sierra
- 23 January
  - Suvorov
- 24 January
  - Life with Henry
  - The Saint in Palm Springs
- 28 January
  - Sullivan's Travels
- 31 January
  - Buck Privates
  - Mr. & Mrs. Smith
February 1941
- 7 February
  - Back Street
- 18 February
  - Adam Had Four Sons
- 20 February
  - Tobacco Road
- 21 February
  - Andy Hardy's Private Secretary
  - Nice Girl?
  - The Strawberry Blonde
  - Western Union
- 25 February
  - The Lady Eve
March 1941
- 1 March
  - Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family (Japan)
- 7 March
  - Rage in Heaven
- 8 March
  - Footsteps in the Dark
- 10 March
  - Flying Wild
- 21 March
  - The Sea Wolf
- 26 March
  - I Wanted Wings
- 28 March
  - Man Made Monster

April–June

April 1941
- 4 April
  - The Devil and Miss Jones
  - Ohm Krüger (Germany)
- 6 April
  - The Flame of New Orleans
- 10 April
  - Piccolo mondo antico (Italy)
- 11 April
  - Road to Zanzibar
  - That Night in Rio
- 12 April
  - The Great Lie
- 19 April
  - The Farmer's Wife (Britain)
  - Hatter's Castle (Britain)
  - Quiet Wedding (GB)
- 24 April
  - Crook's Tour (Britain)
  - Penny Serenade
- 25 April
  - They Met in Argentina
  - Ziegfeld Girl
- 30 April
  - That Hamilton Woman (GB)
May 1941
- 1 May
  - Citizen Kane
- 2 May
  - The Black Cat
- 3 May
  - Meet John Doe
- 5 May
  - Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It (GB)
- 7 May
  - Sheriff of Tombstone
- 9 May
  - U-Boat Course West! (Germany)
- 10 May
  - Spellbound
- 22 May
  - Blood and Sand
- 23 May
  - A Woman's Face
- 24 May
  - Crook's Tour
- 30 May
  - In the Navy
June 1941
- 7 June
  - Shining Victory
- 11 June
  - The Gang's All Here
- 13 June
  - Broadway Limited
  - Man Hunt
  - One Night in Lisbon
- 18 June
  - Moon Over Miami
- 20 June
  - The Big Store
  - The Reluctant Dragon
- 25 June
  - Caught in the Draft
- 26 June
  - Blossoms in the Dust
- 27 June
  - Hit the Road
- 28 June
  - Kipps
  - Love on the Dole (GB)

July–September

July 1941
- 2 July
  - Sergeant York
  - The Sea Wolf
- 4 July
  - A Charming Man (Czechoslovakia)
- 12 July
  - The Bride Came C.O.D.
- 18 July
  - The Shepherd of the Hills
- 25 July
  - Target for Tonight (GB)
- 26 July
  - Bad Men of Missouri
  - Pimpernel Smith
August 1941
- 1 August
  - Bowery Blitzkrieg
  - Charley's Aunt
- 2 August
  - Major Barbara (GB)
- 6 August
  - Hold That Ghost
- 7 August
  - Here Comes Mr. Jordan
- 8 August
  - Six Gun Gold
- 9 August
  - Manpower
- 12 August
  - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- 15 August
  - Life Begins for Andy Hardy
- 21 August
  - Sun Valley Serenade
- 28 August
  - The Blue Star Hotel (Czechoslovakia)
- 29 August
  - The Little Foxes
September
- 1 September
  - Lady Be Good
- 5 September
  - Charlie Chan in Rio
- 6 September
  - Cottage to Let (GB)
- 18 September
  - Ladies in Retirement
- 19 September
  - The Tyrant Father (Portugal)
- 25 September
  - A Yank in the RAF
  - You'll Never Get Rich
- 26 September
  - Hold Back the Dawn
  - It Started with Eve

October–December

October 1941
- 2 October
  - Honky Tonk
  - One Foot in Heaven
- 8 October
  - 49th Parallel
  - Week-End in Havana
- 10 October
  - Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
- 17 October
  - The Devil and Daniel Webster
  - Jesse James at Bay
- 18 October
  - The Maltese Falcon
- 22 October
  - You Belong to Me
- 23 October
  - Dumbo
- 24 October
  - Spooks Run Wild
- 25 October
  - The Tell-Tale Heart
- 28 October
  - How Green Was My Valley
- 31 October
  - The Chocolate Soldier
November 1941
- 7 November
  - Unexpected Uncle
- 14 November
  - I Wake Up Screaming
  - Suspicion
- 15 November
  - Blues in the Night
- 21 November
  - Look Who's Laughing
  - Shadow of the Thin Man
  - Skylark
  - They Died with Their Boots On
- 27 November
  - Stormy Waters (France)
- 28 November
  - The Corsican Brothers
  - Keep 'Em Flying
December 1941
- 1 December
  - The 47 Ronin (Part 1) (Japan)
  - Tarzan's Secret Treasure
- 2 December
  - Ball of Fire
- 5 December
  - Mr. Bug Goes to Town
- 12 December
  - Among the Living
  - Red River Valley
  - The Wolf Man
- 18 December
  - H.M. Pulham, Esq.
  - Kathleen
- 21 December
  - The Heavenly Play (Sweden)
- 25 December
  - Louisiana Purchase
  - The Shanghai Gesture
- 26 December
  - Hellzapoppin'
  - The Sausage-Maker Who Disappeared (Norway)

Serials

The Adventures of Captain Marvel, starring Tom Tyler, directed by William Witney and John English
Dick Tracy vs Crime Inc, starring Ralph Byrd, directed by William Witney and John English
The Green Hornet, starring Gordon Jones
Holt of the Secret Service, directed by James W. Horne
The Iron Claw, directed by James W. Horne
Jungle Girl, starring Frances Gifford, directed by William Witney and John English
King of the Texas Rangers, directed by William Witney and John English
Riders of Death Valley, directed by Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe
Sea Raiders, directed by Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe
Sky Raiders, directed by Ray Taylor and Ford Beebe
The Spider Returns, starring Warren Hull, directed by James W. Horne
White Eagle, directed by James W. Horne

Comedy film series

Animated short film series

Mickey Mouse (1928–1942, 1947–1953)
Looney Tunes (1930–1969)
- Bugs Bunny (1940–1964)
- Daffy Duck (1937–1968)
- Porky Pig (1935–1946, 1948–1951)
- Sniffles (1939–1946)
- Inki (1939–1950)
Terrytoons (1930–1964)
Merrie Melodies (1931–1969)
Scrappy (1931-1941)
Popeye (1933–1957)
Color Rhapsodies (1934–1949)
Donald Duck (1937–1956)
Walter Lantz Cartunes (also known as New Universal Cartoons or Cartune Comedies) (1938–1942)
Goofy (1939–1955)
Andy Panda (1939–1949)
Tom and Jerry (1940–1958, 1961–1967)
- The Midnight Snack
- The Night Before Christmas
Woody Woodpecker (1941–1949, 1951–1972)
Swing Symphonies (1941–1945)
The Fox and the Crow (1941–1950)
Superman (1941–1943)

Births

January 1
- Simón Andreu, Spanish actor
- Eva Ras, Serbian actress, writer and painter
January 3 - Derrick O'Connor, Irish actor (died 2018)
January 4
- George P. Cosmatos, Greek-Italian director and screenwriter (died 2005)
- John Bennett Perry, American actor
January 7 - Harvey Evans, American actor (died 2021)
January 8 - Graham Chapman, British actor (died 1989)
January 10 – José Greci, Italian actress (died 2017)
January 12 - Long John Baldry, English-Canadian singer, musician and voice actor (died 2005)
January 14
- Faye Dunaway, American actress
- Jack Thibeau, American former actor
January 15 - Geoffrey Beevers, British actor
January 19 - Putter Smith, American jazz bassist and actor
January 20 - Henry Cele, South African actor (died 2007)
January 24 - Neil Diamond, American actor and singer
January 27 - Jeannie Epper, American stuntwoman and actress (died 2024)
January 31 – Jessica Walter, American actress (died 2021)
February 5 - David Selby, American actor
February 8 – Nick Nolte, American actor and producer
February 10 – Michael Apted, English director, producer and screenwriter (died 2021)
February 11 - Sonny Landham, American actor and stunt performer (died 2017)
February 13 - Bo Svenson, Swedish-American actor, director, screenwriter and producer
February 27 - Charlotte Stewart, American actress
March 3 - Rada Rassimov, Italian actress
March 4
- John Aprea, American actor and comedian (died 2024)
- Adrian Lyne, English director and producer
March 6 - George P. Wilbur, American actor and professional stuntman (died 2023)
March 14 – Wolfgang Petersen, German director, producer and screenwriter (died 2022)
March 16
- Bernardo Bertolucci, Italian director (died 2018)
- Jerry Chipman, American actor (died 2020)
March 18 - Frank McRae, American actor (died 2021)
March 20 - Paul Junger Witt, American producer (died 2018)
March 22 - Bruno Ganz, Swiss actor (died 2019)
March 24 - David Fox, Canadian actor (died 2021)
April 3 - Eric Braeden, German actor
April 7
- Cornelia Frances, English-Australian actress (died 2018)
- Danny Wells, Canadian actor and comedian (died 2013)
April 9 - Hannah Gordon, Scottish actress and presenter
April 12 - Manuel de Blas, Spanish actor
April 13 - Michael Alldredge, American actor (died 1997)
April 20
- David Leland, English director (died 2023)
- Ryan O'Neal, American actor (died 2023)
April 26 - Claudine Auger, French actress (died 2019)
April 28 – Ann-Margret, Swedish-born American actress, dancer and singer
May 2 - Paul Darrow, English actor (died 2019)
May 13 – Senta Berger, Austrian actress and producer
May 17 - Grace Zabriskie, American actress
May 18 - Miriam Margolyes, British-Australian character actress
May 19
- Nora Ephron, American writer and filmmaker (died 2012)
- Tania Mallet, English actress and model (died 2019)
May 24 – Andrés García, Dominican-Mexican actor
May 29
- Nick McLean, American cinematographer and actor
- Bill Weston, British stunt performer and actor (died 2012)
June 2
- Stacy Keach, American actor
- Mahmoud Yassine, Egyptian actor (died 2020)
June 5 – Spalding Gray, American actor and screenwriter (died 2004)
June 8 - Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, American actor (died 2019)
June 10
- Mickey Jones, American musician and actor (died 2018)
- Jürgen Prochnow, German actor
June 17 - Roberta Maxwell, Canadian actress
June 20
- Stephen Frears, English film director
- Dieter Mann, German actor (died 2022)
June 21
- Joe Flaherty, Canadian-American actor and comedian (died 2024)
- Lyman Ward, Canadian actor
June 22 – Michael Lerner, American actor (died 2023)
June 25 – Denys Arcand, Canadian director and screenwriter
June 27 – Krzysztof Kieślowski, Polish director (died 1996)
July 1 - Milos Milos, Serbian-born American actor and stunt double (died 1966)
July 9 - Yosef Shiloach, Israeli actor (died 2011)
July 10 - Robert Pine, American actor
July 13 - Robert Forster, American actor (died 2019)
July 17 - Paula Shaw, American actress (died 2025)
July 18 - Starletta DuPois, American actress
July 21 - Edward Herrmann, American actor, director and writer (died 2014)
July 26 - Darlene Love, American actress and singer
July 28
- Peter Cullen, Canadian voice actor
- Colin Higgins, Australian-American screenwriter, actor, director and producer (died 1988)
July 29 – David Warner, English actor (died 2022)
August 4
- Martin Jarvis, English actor
- Paul Mooney, American comedian, writer and actor (died 2021)
August 7 - Franco Columbu, Italian bodybuilder, actor and producer (died 2019)
August 8 - Earl Boen, American actor (died 2023)
August 12
- Dana Ivey, American actress
- Deborah Walley, American actress (died 2001)
August 15 - Lou Perryman, American character actor (died 2009)
August 26
- Joan Freeman, American retired actress
- Barbet Schroeder, Iranian-born Swiss director, producer and actor
August 28 - Tony Barry, Australian actor (died 2022)
August 29
- Ellen Geer, American actress
- Mark Kasdan, American screenwriter and producer
- Orestes Matacena, Cuban-American actor, director, producer and writer
September 4 - Rochelle Kaffenberger, American actress (died 2024)
September 18 - Gerry Bamman, American actor
September 26 – Martine Beswick, English actress and model
October 6
- Billy Murray, English actor
- Winston Ntshona, South African actor (died 2018)
October 9 - Michael Goodwin, American character actor
October 10 – Peter Coyote, American actor
October 11 - Charles Shyer, American director, screenwriter and producer (died 2024)
October 19 – Simon Ward, English actor (died 2012)
October 20 – Clare Peploe, English-Italian screenwriter and director (died 2021)
October 23 – Mel Winkler, American actor (died 2020)
October 24 – Frank Aendenboom, Belgian actor (died 2018)
October 25 – Gordon Tootoosis, Aboriginal Canadian actor (died 2011)
October 31
- Mischa Hausserman, Austrian-born American actor (died 2021)
- Sally Kirkland, American actress (died 2025)
November 1 – Robert Foxworth, American actor
November 18 – David Hemmings, English actor, director and producer (died 2003)
November 21 – Nessa Hyams, American casting director (died 2026)
November 22 – Tom Conti, Scottish actor
November 23 – Franco Nero, Italian actor
November 25 – Tiit Lilleorg, Estonian actor (died 2021)
November 27 - Tom Morga, American stuntman, stunt coordinator and actor
November 30 - Sally Douglas, British actress (died 2001)
December 4 – Leila Säälik, Estonian actress
December 6
- Evald Hermaküla, Estonian actor and director (died 2000)
- Leon Russom, American actor
December 8 – Valora Noland, American actress (died 2022)
December 9 – Beau Bridges, American actor
December 10 - Fionnula Flanagan, Irish actress
December 11 - John Davidson, American actor, singer and game show host
December 15 - Vladan Živković, Serbian actor (died 2022)
December 25 - John Capodice, American character actor (died 2024)
December 27 - Aharon Ipalé, Israeli-American actor (died 2016)

Deaths

January 4 – Henri Bergson, 81, French writer
January 10 – Joe Penner, 36, American comedian, actor, The Boys from Syracuse, Millionaire Playboy, The Day the Bookies Wept, Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
March 13 – Stuart Walker, 63, American director, White Woman, Great Expectations
April 23 – Stanley Fields, 57, American actor, The Great Plane Robbery, The Lady from Cheyenne
May 8 – Tore Svennberg, 83, Swedish actor, The Phantom Carriage, A Woman's Face
May 12 – Ruth Stonehouse, 48, American actress, film director, The Satin Woman
May 22 – Ida Waterman, 89, American actress, Stella Maris, The Enchanted Cottage, Amarilly of Clothes-Line Alley, Esmerelda
June 28 – Richard Carle, 69, American actor, The Little Red Schoolhouse, Love Before Breakfast, Rhythm in the Clouds, She Asked for It
July 25 - Purnell Pratt, 55, American actor, Alibi, Scarface, The Mystery Squadron, Dancing Feet
July 29 - James Stephenson, 52, English actor, The Letter, Shining Victory
August 13 – J. Stuart Blackton, 66, British-American film producer and director, co-founder of Vitagraph Studios, The Glorious Adventure
September 18 – Claude King, 66, English actor, Behind the Mask, It Couldn't Have Happened – But It Did
October 9 – Helen Morgan, 41, American actress and singer, You Belong to Me, Applause, Show Boat
October 26 – Victor Schertzinger, 53, American director, Paramount on Parade, Road to Zanzibar
November 2 – Bengt Djurberg, 43, Swedish actor, Troll-elgen
December 21 – David Howard, 45, American film director, Daniel Boone

Film debuts

Reginald Beckwith – Freedom Radio
Adriana Benetti – Teresa Venerdì
Marina Berti – La fuggitiva
Barbara Britton – Secrets of the Wasteland
Faith Brook – Suspicion
Leslie Brooks – Ziegfeld Girl
Phil Brown – I Wanted Wings
Janis Carter – Cadet Girl
John Cason – Buck Privates
Cyd Charisse – Escort Girl
Françoise Christophe – Premier rendez-vous
David Clarke – Knockout
George Cole – Cottage to Let
Ray Collins – Citizen Kane
Joseph Cotten – Citizen Kane
Yvonne De Carlo – Harvard, Here I Come
Dino De Laurentiis (producer) – L'amore canta
John Dehner – The Reluctant Dragon
Anita Durante – Scampolo
Faye Emerson – Affectionately Yours
Bill Erwin – You're in the Army Now
Renée Faure – Who Killed Santa Claus?
Suzanne Flon – Ce n'est pas moi
Elisabeth Fraser – One Foot in Heaven
Terry Frost – Cyclone on Horseback
Eva Gabor – Forced Landing
Ava Gardner – Shadow of the Thin Man
Karen X. Gaylord – The Chocolate Soldier
Jackie Gleason – Navy Blues
Kenneth Griffith – The Farmer's Wife
Eloise Hardt – You Belong to Me
Richard Haydn – Charley's Aunt
Sterling Hayden – Virginia
Charlton Heston – Peer Gynt
Jennifer Holt – Stick to Your Guns
Bruce Lee – Golden Gate Girl
Anna Maestri – Teresa Venerdì
Patrick McVey – Caught in the Draft
Sid Melton – New York Town
Agnes Moorehead – Citizen Kane
Margaret O'Brien – Babes on Broadway
Larry Parks – Mystery Ship
Annette Poivre – Premier rendez-vous
Vera Ralston – Ice-Capades
Carl Benton Reid – The Little Foxes
Adeline De Walt Reynolds – Come Live with Me
Natalie Schafer – The Body Disappears
Frank Sinatra – Las Vegas Nights
Everett Sloane – Citizen Kane
Woody Strode – Sundown
Simone Valère – Premier rendez-vous
Tito Vuolo – Shadow of the Thin Man
Ruth Warrick – Citizen Kane
Orson Welles – Citizen Kane
Rhys Williams – How Green Was My Valley
Marie Windsor – Unexpected Uncle
Barbara Woodell – Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Teresa Wright – The Little Foxes

References

^ "All Time Box Office Adjusted for Ticket Price Inflation". www.boxofficemojo.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-07.
^ "An Airman's Letter to His Mother". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
^ Tosaka, Yuji (2003). Hollywood Goes to Tokyo: American Cultural Expansion and Imperial Japan, 1918–1941. p. 321.
^ ^a ^b Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 28 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^ "101 Pix Gross in Millions" Variety 6 Jan 1943 p 58
^ ^a ^b "All-time Film Rental Champs". Variety. October 15, 1990. p. M162 to 166.
^ "York's 4,000,000". Variety. December 31, 1941. p. 20. Retrieved December 9, 2023.

External links

[1] "All Time Box Office Adjusted for Ticket Price Inflation". www.boxofficemojo.com. Archived from the original on 2014-06-07.

[2] "An Airman's Letter to His Mother". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 25 July 2024.

[3] Tosaka, Yuji (2003). Hollywood Goes to Tokyo: American Cultural Expansion and Imperial Japan, 1918–1941. p. 321.

[warners-4] Warner Bros financial information in The William Schaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 28 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551

[Mannix-5] The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.

[1943101PixGrossMillions-6] "101 Pix Gross in Millions" Variety 6 Jan 1943 p 58

[AllTime-7] "All-time Film Rental Champs". Variety. October 15, 1990. p. M162 to 166.

[VarietyDec41-8] "York's 4,000,000". Variety. December 31, 1941. p. 20. Retrieved December 9, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]