List of crime films of the 1940s

This is a list of crime films released in the 1940s.

Title	Director	Cast	Country	Notes
1940
The Bank Dick	Edward F. Cline	W. C. Fields, Cora Witherspoon, Una Merkel	United States	Crime comedy [1]
The Fatal Hour	William Nigh	Boris Karloff, Grant Withers, Marjorie Reynolds	United States	[2]
The House Across the Bay	Archie Mayo	George Raft, Joan Bennett, Lloyd Nolan	United States	[3]
1941
High Sierra	Raoul Walsh	Humphrey Bogart, Ida Lupino, Arthur Kennedy	United States	[4]
Invisible Ghost	Joseph H. Lewis	Bela Lugosi, Polly Ann Young, John McGuire	United States	[5]
1942
Gang Busters	Noel Smith, Ray Taylor	Robert Armstrong, Joseph Crehan	United States	Film serial [6]
Larceny, Inc.	Lloyd Bacon	Edward G. Robinson, Jane Wyman, Broderick Crawford	United States	[7]
Moontide	Fritz Lang, Archie Mayo	Jean Gabin, Ida Lupino, Thomas Mitchell	United States	Crime drama [8]
This Gun for Hire	Frank Tuttle	Veronica Lake, Robert Preston, Laird Cregar	United States	[9]
1943
The Chance of a Lifetime	William Castle	Chester Morris, Erik Rolf, Jeanne Bates	United States	[10]
G-Men vs The Black Dragon	William Witney	Hooper Atchley, Harry Burns, Rod Cameron	United States	[11]
It Happened at the Inn	Jacques Becker	Fernand Ledoux, Georges Rollin, Blanchette Brunoy	France	Crime drama [12]
Ossessione	Luchino Visconti	Clara Calamai, Massimo Girotti, Juan de Landa	Italy	Crime drama [13]
1944
Bluebeard	Edgar G. Ulmer	John Carradine, Jean Parker, Nils Asther	United States	[14]
Delinquent Daughters	Albert Herman	Fifi D'Orsay, Teala Loring, Mary Bovard	United States	[15]
Double Indemnity	Billy Wilder	Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson	United States	[16]
The Woman in the Window	Fritz Lang	Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey	United States	Crime drama [17]
1945
Crime, Inc.	Lew Landers	Leo Carrillo, Tom Neal, Martha Tilton	United States	[18]
Detour	Edgar G. Ulmer	Tom Neal, Ann Savage, Claudia Drake	United States	[19]
Federal Operator 99	Spencer Gordon Bennet, Yakima Canutt, Wallace A. Grissell		United States	[20]
Mildred Pierce	Michael Curtiz	Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott	United States	Crime drama [21]
Pillow of Death	Wallace W. Fox	Lon Chaney Jr., Brenda Joyce, Clara Blandick	United States	[22]
Scarlet Street	Fritz Lang	Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Dan Duryea	United States	[23]
1946
The Blue Dahlia	George Marshall	Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, William Bendix	United States	Crime thriller [24]
Copie conforme	Jean Dréville	Louis Jouvet, Suzy Delair, Annette Poivre	France	Crime comedy [25]
The Dark Mirror	Robert Siodmak	Olivia de Havilland, Lew Ayres, Thomas Mitchell	United States	Crime thriller [26]
Just Before Dawn	William Castle	Charles Arnt, Robert Barrat	United States	[27]
The Killers	Robert Siodmak	Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmond O'Brien	United States	[28]
Panic (Panique)	Julien Duvivier	Michel Simon, Viviane Romance, Paul Bernard	France	Crime drama [29]
The Postman Always Rings Twice	Tay Garnett	Lana Turner, John Garfield, Cecil Kellaway	United States	[30]
1947
Boomerang	Elia Kazan	Dana Andrews, E.J. Ballantine, Jane Wyatt	United States	Crime drama [31]
Born to Kill	Robert Wise	Lawrence Tierney, Claire Trevor, Walter Slezak	United States	[32]
Brute Force	Jules Dassin	Burt Lancaster, Hume Cronyn, Charles Bickford	United States	Prison film [33]
The Devil Thumbs a Ride	Felix E. Feist	Lawrence Tierney, Ted North, Nan Leslie	United States	[34]
Kiss of Death	Henry Hathaway	Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Coleen Gray	United States	Crime thriller [35]
The Long Night	Anatole Litvak	Henry Fonda, Barbara Bel Geddes, Vincent Price	United States	Crime drama [36]
Monsieur Verdoux	Charles Chaplin	Charles Chaplin, Ada-May, Marjorie Bennett	United States	Crime comedy [37]
Nightmare Alley	Edmund Goulding	Tyrone Power, Coleen Gray, Joan Blondell	United States	Crime drama [38]
Out of the Past	Jacques Tourneur	Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas	United States	[39]
Quai des Orfèvres	Henri-Georges Clouzot	Louis Jouvet, Bernard Blier, Suzy Delair	France	Crime drama [40]
Ride the Pink Horse	Robert Montgomery	Robert Montgomery, Wanda Hendrix, Rita Conde	United States	[41]
T-Men	Anthony Mann	Dennis O'Keefe, Mary Meade, Charles McGraw	United States	[42]
They Won't Believe Me	Irving Pichel	Robert Young, Susan Hayward, Rita Johnson	United States	[43]
The Web	Michael Gordon	Vincent Price, Ella Raines, Edmond O'Brien	United States	[44]
1948
Au-delà des grilles	René Clément	Jean Gabin, Isa Miranda, Andrea Checchi	France Italy	Crime drama [45]
Brass Monkey	Thornton Freeland	Avril Angers. Henry Edwards, Carroll Levis	United Kingdom	[46]
Cry of the City	Robert Siodmak	Victor Mature, Richard Conte, Fred Clark	United States	[47]
Dedee d'Anvers	Yves Allégret	Simone Signoret, Marcello Pagliero, Bernard Blier	France	Crime drama [48]
Drunken Angel	Akira Kurosawa	Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Reizaburo Yamamoto	Japan	Crime drama [49]
Force of Evil	Abraham Polonsky	John Garfield, Thomas Gomez, Marie Windsor	United States	Crime drama [50]
He Walked by Night	Alfred L. Werker	Richard Basehart, Scott Brady, Roy Roberts	United States	Crime thriller [51]
Hollow Triumph	Steve Sekely	Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett, Eduard Franz	United States	[52]
Key Largo	John Huston	Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Monte Blue	United States	[53]
Noose	Edmond T. Gréville	Carole Landis, Joseph Calleia, Derek Farr	United Kingdom	[54]
Raw Deal	Anthony Mann	Dennis O'Keefe, Claire Trevor, Marsha Hunt	United States	[55]
Road House	Jean Negulesco	Ida Lupino, Cornel Wilde	United States	Crime drama [56]
The Naked City	Jules Dassin	Barry Fitzgerald, Howard Duff, Dorothy Hart	United States	Crime drama [57]
1949
The Bribe	Robert Z. Leonard	Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, Charles Laughton	United States	[58]
Criss Cross	Robert Siodmak	Burt Lancaster, Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Duryea	United States	[59]
Kind Hearts and Coronets	Robert Hamer	Dennis Price, Alec Guinness, Valerie Hobson	United Kingdom	[60]
The Devil's Henchman	Seymour Friedman	Warner Baxter, Al Bridge, Ken Christy	United States	[61]
Entre onze heures et minuit	Henri Decoin	Louis Jouvet, Madeleine Robinson, Monique Melinand	France	[62]
The File on Thelma Jordon	Robert Siodmak	Barbara Stanwyck, Wendell Corey, Paul Kelly	United States	[63]
Johnny Stool Pigeon	William Castle	Howard Duff, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea	United States	[64]
Port of New York	Laslo Benedek	Scott Brady, Richard Rober, K.T. Stevens	United States	[65]
The Reckless Moment	Max Ophüls	James Mason, Joan Bennett, Geraldine Brooks	United States	Crime drama [66]
Red Light	Roy Del Ruth	George Raft, Virginia Mayo, Raymond Burr	United States	[67]
They Live by Night	Nicholas Ray	Cathy O'Donnell, Farley Granger, Howard Da Silva	United States	Crime drama [68]
Too Late for Tears	Byron Haskin	Lizabeth Scott, Don DeFore, Dan Duryea	United States	[69]
Under Capricorn	Alfred Hitchcock	Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten, Michael Wilding	United Kingdom	Crime drama [70]
Une si jolie petite plage	Yves Allégret	Gérard Philipe, Madeleine Robinson, Jean Servais	France	Crime drama [71]
White Heat	Raoul Walsh	James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien	United States	[72]

Notes

1. Erickson, Hal. "The Bank Dick: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
2. Erickson, Hal. "The Fatal Hour: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
3. Erickson, Hal. "The House Across the Bay: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
4. Erickson, Hal. "High Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
5. Erickson, Hal. "Invisible Ghost: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
6. Wollstein, Hans J. "Gang Busters: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
7. Brennan, Sandra. "Larceny, Inc.: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
8. Erickson, Hal. "Moontide: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
9. Erickson, Hal. "This Gun for Hire: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
10. Erickson, Hal. "The Chance of a Lifetime: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
11. Wollstein, Hans J. "G-Men vs The Black Dragon: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
12. Erickson, Hal. "Goupi Mains Rouges". Allmovie. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
13. Firsching, Robert. "Ossessione: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 6, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
14. Erickson, Hal. "Bluebeard: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 12, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
15. Erickson, Hal. "Delinquent Daughters: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
16. Rasmussen, Linda. "Double Indemnity: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
17. Rasmussen, Linda. "The Woman in the Window: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
18. Erickson, Hal. "Crime Inc.: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
19. Erickson, Hal. "Detour: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 7, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
20. Wollstein, Hans J. "Federal Operator 99: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
21. Erickson, Hal. "Federal Operator 99: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 15, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
22. Erickson, Hal. "Pillow of Death: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
23. Rasmussen, Linda. "Scarlet Street: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
24. Rasmussen, Linda. "Scarlet Street: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 6, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
25. "Copie Conforme: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
26. Erickson, Hal. "The Dark Mirror: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 11, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
27. Brennan, Sandra. "Just Before Dawn: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 5, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
28. Erickson, Hal. "The Killers: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 6, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
29. Erickson, Hal. "Panique: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
30. Erickson, Hal. "The Postman Always Rings Twice: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 21, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
31. Rasmussen, Linda. "Boomerang: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
32. Erickson, Hal. "Born to Kill: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
33. Deming, Mark. "Brute Force: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 7, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
34. Erickson, Hal. "The Devil Thumbs a Ride: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on December 28, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
35. Erickson, Hal. "Kiss of Death: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
36. Butler, Craig. "The Long Night: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
37. Erickson, Hal. "Monsieur Verdoux: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
38. Erickson, Hal. "Nightmare Alley: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 12, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
39. Erickson, Hal. "Out of the Past: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
40. Williams, Karl. "Quai des Orfèvres: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
41. Erickson, Hal. "Ride the Pink Horse: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
42. Erickson, Hal. "T-Men: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
43. Press, Steve. "They Won't Believe Me: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
44. "The Web (1947) – Michael Gordon | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie". Archived from the original on 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
45. Erickson, Hal. "Au-Dela Des Grilles: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
46. "Brass Monkey: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 17, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
47. Press, Steve. "Cry of the City: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
48. Erickson, Hal. "Dedee d'Anvers: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
49. "Drunken Angel (1948) - Akira Kurosawa | Synopsis, Movie Info, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
50. Eder, Bruce. "Force of Evil: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 5, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
51. Erickson, Hal. "He Walked By Night: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 12, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
52. Press, Steve. "The Scar: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
53. Erickson, Hal. "Key Largo: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
54. Eder, Bruce. "The Silk Noose: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
55. Brennan, Sandra. "The Raw Deal: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on January 26, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
56. Erickson, Hal. "Road House: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
57. http://www.allmovie.com/dvd/the-naked-city-criterion-collection-153903 ^{[ dead link ‍]}
58. Erickson, Hal. "The Bribe: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on August 22, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
59. Press, Steve. "Criss Cross: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 7, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
60. Brenner, Paul. "Kind Hearts and Coronets: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
61. Erickson, Hal. "The Devil's Henchman: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
62. Erickson, Hal. "Entre Onze Heures Et Minuit: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
63. Erickson, Hal. "The File on Thelma Jordon: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
64. Erickson, Hal. "Johnny Stool Pigeon: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 12, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
65. Erickson, Hal. "Port of New York: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on December 23, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
66. Vick, Tom. "The Reckless Moment: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on April 15, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
67. Brennan, Sandra. "Red Light: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
68. Erickson, Hal. "They Live by Night: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 6, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
69. Erickson, Hal. "Too Late for Tears: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 18, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
70. Erickson, Hal. "Under Capricorn: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
71. Erickson, Hal. "Une Si Jolie Petite Plage: Overview". Allmovie. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
72. Erickson, Hal. "White Heat: Overview". Allmovie. Archived from the original on March 13, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.