Highest-Rated Movies about '1930s'

The Blue Angel (1930), Belle Epoque (1992), Midnight (1939), Come and Get It (1936), Shanghai Triad (1995), Secret Agent (1936), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936) ... Let's take a look at the ranked list of the best 1930s movies.

#16. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

Storyline: Having returned from fighting in World War I, James Allen doesn't want to settle into a humdrum life and decides to set off to find his fortune. He travels the length and breadth of America, working as a skilled tradesman in the construction industry. When times get tough however, he finds himself living in a shelter where an acquaintance suggests they go out for a hamburger. What the friend really has in mind is to rob the diner and Allen soon finds himself working on a chain gang with a long jail sentence. Allen manages to escape however and heads to Chicago where over several years he slowly but surely works his way up the ladder to become one of the most respected construction engineers in the city. His past catches up with him and despite protestations from civic leaders and his many friends in Chicago, he finds himself again on the chain gang. Escaping for a second time, he accepts that to survive, he must lead a life of crime.

Plot Keywords: crime, drama, prison, fugitive, social injustice, justice system, oppression ...

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#18. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Storyline: Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith, leader of the Boy Rangers, is appointed on a lark by the spineless governor of his state. He is reunited with the state's senior senator--presidential hopeful and childhood hero, Senator Joseph Paine. In Washington, however, Smith discovers many of the shortcomings of the political process as his earnest goal of a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state political boss, Jim Taylor. Taylor first tries to corrupt Smith and then later attempts to destroy Smith through a scandal.

Plot Keywords: political, idealism, corruption, democracy, fight, justice, american politics ...

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#19. La Grande Illusion (1937)

Storyline: During 1st WW, two French officers are captured. Captain De Boeldieu is an aristocrat while Lieutenant Marechal was a mechanic in civilian life. They meet other prisoners from various backgrounds, as Rosenthal, son of wealthy Jewish bankers. They are separated from Rosenthal before managing to escape. A few months later, they meet again in a fortress commanded by the aristocrat Van Rauffenstein. De Boeldieu strikes up a friendship with him but Marechal and Rosenthal still want to escape...

Plot Keywords: war, world war i, escape, french cinema, classic, anti-war, humanity ...

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#20. It Happened One Night (1934)

Storyline: Ellie Andrews has just tied the knot with society aviator King Westley when she is whisked away to her father's yacht and out of King's clutches. Ellie jumps ship and eventually winds up on a bus headed back to her husband. Reluctantly she must accept the help of out-of- work reporter Peter Warne. Actually, Warne doesn't give her any choice: either she sticks with him until he gets her back to her husband, or he'll blow the whistle on Ellie to her father. Either way, Peter gets what (he thinks!) he wants .... a really juicy newspaper story.

Plot Keywords: romance, comedy, classic, road movie, journalist, opposites attract, oscar winner ...

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#21. Captains Courageous (1937)

Storyline: Harvey Cheyne is a spoiled brat used to having his own way. When a prank goes wrong onboard an ocean liner Harvey ends up overboard and nearly drowns. Fortunately he's picked up by a fishing boat just heading out for the season. He tries to bribe the crew into returning early to collect a reward but none of them believe him. Stranded on the boat he must adapt to the ways of the fishermen and learn more about the real world.—Col Needham <col@imdb.com>

Plot Keywords: adventure, coming of age, friendship, father-son relationship, adaptation, classic, inspirational ...

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#23. The Roaring Twenties (1939)

Storyline: After the WWI Armistice Lloyd Hart goes back to practice law, former saloon keeper George Hally turns to bootlegging, and out-of-work Eddie Bartlett becomes a cab driver. Eddie builds a fleet of cabs through delivery of bootleg liquor and hires Lloyd as his lawyer. George becomes Eddie's partner and the rackets flourish until love and rivalry interfere.

Plot Keywords: gangster, crime, drama, classic, american, 1930s, shootout ...

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#24. My Man Godfrey (1936)

Storyline: In the depths of the Depression, a party game brings dizzy socialite Irene Bullock to the city dump where she meets Godfrey, a derelict, and ends by hiring him as family butler. He finds the Bullocks to be the epitome of idle rich, and nutty as the proverbial fruitcake. Soon, the dramatizing Irene is in love with her 'protege'...who feels strongly that a romance between servant and employer is out of place, regardless of that servant's mysterious past...

Plot Keywords: comedy, romance, classic, 1930s, usa, black and white, romantic comedy ...

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#25. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Storyline: In this charming film based on the popular L. Frank Baum stories, Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado's path and somehow end up in the land of Oz. Here she meets some memorable friends and foes in her journey to meet the Wizard of Oz who everyone says can help her return home and possibly grant her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage.

Plot Keywords: fantasy, musical, adventure, family, classic, fairy tale, song and dance ...

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#27. The Thin Man (1934)

Storyline: After a four year absence, one time detective Nick Charles returns to New York with his new wife Nora and their dog, Asta. Nick re-connects with many of his old cronies, several of whom are eccentric characters, to say the least. He's also approached by Dorothy Wynant whose inventor father Clyde Wynant is suspected of murdering her father's mistress (his former secretary ).. Her father had left on a planned trip some months before and she has had no contact with him. Nick isn't all that keen on resuming his former profession but egged-on by wife Nora, who thinks this all very exciting, he agrees to help out. He solves the case, announcing the identity of the killer at a dinner party for all of the suspects.

Plot Keywords: detective, comedy, mystery, black comedy, classic, 1930s, american film ...

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#28. Trouble in Paradise (1932)

Storyline: High class European thief Gaston Monescu meets his soul mate Lily, a pickpocket masquerading as a countess. The two join forces and come under the employ of Mme. Colet, the beautiful owner of the Colet perfume company. Gaston works as Mme. Colet's personal secretary under the alias Monsieur La Valle. Rumors start to fly as 'M. La Valle' steals Mme. Colet away from her other suitors. When the secret of his true identity catches up to him, Gaston is caught between the two beautiful women.

Plot Keywords: comedy, romance, drama, classic, 1930s, black and white, witty ...

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#29. China Seas (1935)

Storyline: Dashing captain Alan Gaskell (Clark Gable) is attempting to lead a more subdued life with a new love interest, aristocrat Sybil Barclay (Rosalind Russell), when his ship is taken over by pirates while sailing the South Pacific. Alan discovers that his predicament involves his volatile former girlfriend, Dolly Portland (Jean Harlow), and her new beau, the shifty Jamesy MacArdle (Wallace Beery). This tense scenario leads to unexpected sparks between Alan and Dolly.

Plot Keywords: adventure, drama, romance, action, historical, nautical, mystery ...

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#30. Fury (1936)

Storyline: Based on the story "Mob Rule" by Norman Krasna. Joe Wilson and Katherine Grant are in love, but he doesn't have enough money for them to get married. So Katherine moves across the country to make money. But things go disastrously wrong for Joe when he stops in a small town and is mistaken for a wanted kidnapper. Through the course of the movie, Fritz Lang shows us how a decent and once civilized man can become a ruthless and bitter man.—Andre'a M. Thompson <athompso@ziggy.st.hmc.edu>

Plot Keywords: war, drama, historical, action, adventure, romance, suspense ...

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