1941 in film

The year 1941 in film involved some significant events.

Events
Citizen Kane, consistently rated as one of the greatest films of all time, was released in 1941.

Dumbo was released, becoming Disney's only big hit in the 1940s and one of the most acclaimed animated films ever made.

Top-grossing films (U.S.)
Box office numbers were reported at the time as a percentage compared to 'normal' business at each theater. For example, Sergeant York performed at 220% while Citizen Kane did 130% (coming in a surprisingly strong 30th for the year). This is why exact dollar grosses for the period are unreliable at best.

Rank

Title

Director

Studio

Leading Star

1. Sergeant York Howard Hawks Warner Bros. Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan 2. Honky Tonk Jack Conway MGM Clark Gable, Lana Turner 3. Louisiana Purchase Irving Cummings Paramount Bob Hope, Vera Zorina 4. A Yank in the RAF Henry King 20th Century Fox Tyrone Power, Betty Grable 5. How Green Was My Valley John Ford 20th Century Fox Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara 6. Babes on Broadway Busby Berkeley, Vincente Minnelli MGM Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney 7. Caught in the Draft David Butler Paramount Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour 8. Road to Zanzibar Victor Schertzinger Paramount Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour 9. Keep 'Em Flying Arthur Lubin Universal Bud Abbott, Lou Costello 10. In the Navy Arthur Lubin Universal Bud Abbott, Lou Costello 11. Charley's Aunt Archie Mayo 20th Century Fox Jack Benny, Kay Francis, Anne Baxter 12. Ziegfeld Girl Robert Z. Leonard MGM James Stewart, Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr, Lana Turner 13. Birth of the Blues Victor Schertzinger Paramount Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, Brian Donlevy 14. They Died with Their Boots On Raoul Walsh Warner Bros. Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland 15. Nothing but the Truth Elliott Nugent Paramount Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard 16. Life Begins for Andy Hardy George B. Seitz MGM Mickey Rooney, Lewis Stone, Judy Garland 17. Hold That Ghost Arthur Lubin Universal Bud Abbott, Lou Costello 18. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Victor Fleming MGM Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner 19. Shadow of the Thin Man W.S. Van Dyke MGM William Powell, Myrna Loy 20. They Met in Bombay Clarence Brown MGM Clark Gable, Rosalind Russell, Peter Lorre 21. Dive Bomber Michael Curtiz Warner Bros. Errol Flynn, Fred MacMurray 22. Meet John Doe Frank Capra Warner Bros. Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck

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

Notable films released in 1941

 * 1) Dumbo

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
Buster Keaton (1917–1944) Laurel and Hardy (1921-1945) Our Gang (1922–1944) The Marx Brothers (1929–1946) The Three Stooges (1933–1962)

Animated short film series
Mickey Mouse (1928–1942, 1947–1953) Looney Tunes (1930–1969) Bugs Bunny (1941-1964) Daffy Duck (1938–1968) Porky Pig (1936–1946, 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)

Film Debuts
Cyd Charisse - The Gay Parisian Laird Cregar - Hudson's Bay Ava Gardner - Fancy Answers Charlton Heston - Peer Gynt Deborah Kerr - Major Barbara Bruce Lee - Golden Gate Girl Norman Lloyd - The Forgotten Man Frank Sinatra - Las Vegas Nights