List of horror films of the 1940s

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A list of horror films released in the 1940s. After the success of Son of Frankenstein (1939), Universal horror caught a second wind and horror films would continue to be produced at a feverish pace into the mid-1940s.[1] The early 1940s would see the debut of Lon Chaney Jr. and the "The Wolf Man", both of which would go on to become fixtures in the Universal landscape. Meanwhile, Dracula and Frankenstein's monster would appear in numerous sequels, often together in what would colloquially be referred to as "monster rally" films.[2]

Hoping to present a viable alternative to the Universal juggernaut, RKO decided to embark on a series of its own horror films, starting with Cat People in 1942. Led by producer Val Lewton and director Jacques Tourneur, this critically acclaimed series would focus less on visible horrors and more on the psychological aspects of fear.[3]

Horror films released in the 1940s
Title Director Cast Country Notes
1940
The Ape William Nigh Boris Karloff, Maris Wrixon United States [4]
Before I Hang Nick Grinde Boris Karloff, Evelyn Keyes, Bruce Bennett United States [5]
Black Friday Arthur Lubin Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Stanley Ridges United States [6]
The Devil Bat Jean Yarbrough Bela Lugosi, Suzanne Kaaren, Dave O'Brien United States [7]
The Door with Seven Locks Norman Lee Leslie Banks, Lilli Palmer, Romilly Lunge United Kingdom [8]
Dr. Cyclops Ernest B. Schoedsack Albert Dekker, Thomas Coley, Janice Logan United States [9]
The Ghost Breakers George Marshall Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, Willie Best, Richard Carlson United States [10]
The Invisible Man Returns Joe May Cedric Hardwicke, Vincent Price, Nan Grey United States [11]
The Mummy's Hand William Christy Cabanne Dick Foran, Peggy Moran, Wallace Ford United States [12]
Son of Ingagi Richard Kahn Zack Williams, Laura Bowman, Spencer Williams United States [13]
You'll Find Out David Butler Kay Kyser, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi United States [14]
1941
The Black Cat Albert Rogell Basil Rathbone, Hugh Herbert, Broderick Crawford, Bela Lugosi, Gale Sondergaard United States [15]
The Devil Commands Edward Dmytryk Boris Karloff, Richard Fiske, Amanda Duff United States [16]
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Victor Fleming Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner United States [17]
Horror Island George Waggner Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo, Peggy Moran United States [18]
Invisible Ghost Joseph H. Lewis Bela Lugosi, Polly Ann Young, John McGuire United States [19]
King of the Zombies Jean Yarbrough Joan Woodbury, Dick Purcell, Mantan Moreland United States [20]
The Mad Doctor of Market Street Joseph H. Lewis Una Merkel, Lionel Atwill, Nat Pendleton United States [21]
Man Made Monster George Waggner Lionel Atwill, Lon Chaney, Jr., Anne Nagel United States [22]
The Monster and the Girl Stuart Heisler Ellen Drew, Robert Paige, Paul Lukas United States [23]
Spooks Run Wild Phil Rosen Bela Lugosi, Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, Bobby Jordan United States [24]
The Wolf Man George Waggner Lon Chaney, Jr., Warren William, Claude Rains, Ralph Bellamy, Evelyn Ankers United States [25]
1942
The Boogie Man Will Get You Lew Landers Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Jeff Donnell United States [26]
Cat People Jacques Tourneur Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Tom Conway, Jane Randolph United States [27]
The Corpse Vanishes Wallace W. Fox Bela Lugosi, Luana Walters, Tristram Coffin United States [28]
Bowery at Midnight Wallace Fox Bela Lugosi, John Archer United States
Dr. Renault's Secret Harry Lachman J. Carrol Naish, John Shepperd, Lynne Roberts, George Zucco United States [29]
The Ghost of Frankenstein Erle C. Kenton Lon Chaney, Jr., Cedric Hardwicke, Ralph Bellamy, Lionel Atwill, Bela Lugosi United States [30]
The Mad Monster Sam Newfield Johnny Downs, George Zucco, Anne Nagel United States [31]
The Mummy's Tomb Harold Young Lon Chaney, Jr., Dick Foran, Elyse Knox, Turhan Bey United States [32]
Night Monster Ford I. Beebe Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Irene Hervey, Ralph Morgan United States [33]
The Undying Monster John Brahm James Ellison, Heather Angel, John Howard, Bramwell Fletcher United States [34]
1943
The Leopard Man Jacques Tourneur Dennis O'Keefe, Margo, Jean Brooks United States
The Ape Man William Beaudine Bela Lugosi, Wallace Ford, Louise Currie, Minerva Urecal United States [35]
Captive Wild Woman Edward Dmytryk Evelyn Ankers, Acquanetta, John Carradine United States [36]
Carnival of Sinners Maurice Tourneur Antoine Balpêtré, Pierre Fresnay, André Bacque France [37]
Dead Men Walk Sam Newfield George Zucco, Mary Carlisle, Ned Young, Dwight Frye United States [38]
Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man Roy William Neill Lon Chaney, Jr., Ilona Massey, Patric Knowles, Lionel Atwill, Bela Lugosi United States [39]
I Walked with a Zombie Jacques Tourneur Tom Conway, Frances Dee, James Ellison, Edith Barrett United States [40]
The Mad Ghoul James Hogan David Bruce, Evelyn Ankers, George Zucco, Robert Armstrong United States [41]
The Mysterious Doctor Ben Stoloff John Loder, Eleanor Parker, Lester Matthews United States [42]
Phantom of the Opera Arthur Lubin Claude Rains, Susanna Foster, Nelson Eddy United States
The Return of the Vampire Lew Landers Bela Lugosi, Frieda Inescort, Nina Foch, Roland Varno United States [43][44]
Revenge of the Zombies Steve Sekely John Carradine, Robert Lowery, Gale Storm, Veda Ann Borg United States [45]
The Seventh Victim Mark Robson Kim Hunter, Tom Conway, Isabel Jewell United States [46]
Son of Dracula Robert Siodmak Lon Chaney, Jr., Robert Paige, Louise Allbritton, Evelyn Ankers United States [47]
1944
The Climax George Waggner Boris Karloff, Susanna Foster, Turhan Bey United States [48]
Crazy Knights William Beaudine Billy Gilbert, Maxie Rosenbloom, Shemp Howard United States [49]
Cry of the Werewolf Henry Levin Nina Foch, Stephen Crane, Osa Massen United States [50]
The Ghost Catchers Edward F. Cline Ole Olsen, Chic Johnson, Gloria Jean United States [51]
House of Frankenstein Erle C. Kenton Boris Karloff, J. Carrol Naish, Lon Chaney, Jr., John Carradine United States [52]
Jungle Woman Reginald Le Borg Evelyn Ankers, J. Carrol Naish, Samuel S. Hinds United States [53]
The Lady and the Monster George Sherman Vera Ralston, Richard Arlen, Mary Nash, Sidney Blackmer United States [54]
The Man in Half Moon Street Ralph Murphy Nils Asther, Helen Walker United States [55]
The Monster Maker Sam Newfield J. Carrol Naish, Ralph Morgan, Tala Birell United States [56]
The Mummy's Curse Leslie Goodwins Lon Chaney, Jr., Peter Coe, Virginia Christine United States [57]
The Mummy's Ghost Reginald Le Borg Lon Chaney, Jr., John Carradine, Ramsay Ames, Robert Lowery United States [58]
Return of the Ape Man Phil Rosen Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, George Zucco United States [59]
The Tower of the Seven Hunchbacks Edgar Neville Antonio Casal, Isabel de Pomés Spain [60]
The Uninvited Lewis Allen Ray Milland, Gail Russell, Ruth Hussey United States [61]
Voodoo Man William Beaudine Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, George Zucco United States [62]
Weird Woman Reginald Le Borg Lon Chaney, Jr., Anne Gwynne, Evelyn Ankers United States [63]
1945
Dead of Night Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden, Robert Hamer Mervyn Johns, Michael Redgrave, Sally Ann Howes, Mary Merrall United Kingdom [64]
Fog Island Terry O. Morse George Zucco, Lionel Atwill, Jerome Cowan United States [65]
House of Dracula Erle C. Kenton Lon Chaney, Jr., John Carradine, Martha O'Driscoll, Lionel Atwill United States [66]
Isle of the Dead Mark Robson Boris Karloff, Ellen Drew, Marc Cramer, Katherine Emery United States [67]
The Jungle Captive Harold Young Otto Kruger, Amelita Ward, Phil Brown United States [68]
The Picture of Dorian Gray Albert Lewin George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed United States Supernatural horror film[69]
The Vampire's Ghost Lesley Selander John Abbott, Charles Gordon, Peggy Stewart United States [70]
Zombies on Broadway Gordon M. Douglas Alan Carney, Bela Lugosi, Wally Brown United States [71]
1946
The Beast with Five Fingers Robert Florey Robert Alda, Andrea King, Peter Lorre United States [72]
The Cat Creeps Erle C. Kenton Fred Brady, Lois Collier, Paul Kelly United States [73]
The Catman of Paris Lesley Selander Carl Esmond, Lenore Aubert, Adele Mara United States [74]
The Devil Bat's Daughter Frank Wisbar Rosemary La Planche, John James, Michael Hale United States [75]
The Face of Marble William Beaudine John Carradine, Claudia Drake, Robert Shayne United States [76]
The Flying Serpent Sherman Scott George Zucco, Ralph Lewis, Hope Kramer United States [77]
House of Horrors Jean Yarbrough Robert Lowery, Martin Kosleck, Rondo Hatton United States [78]
The Mask of Diijon Lew Landers Erich Von Stroheim, Jeanne Bates, William Wright United States [79]
She-Wolf of London Jean Yarbrough Don Porter, June Lockhart, Sara Haden United States [80]
The Spider Woman Strikes Back Arthur Lubin Brenda Joyce, Gale Sondergaard, Kirby Grant United States [81]
Strangler of the Swamp Frank Wisbar Rosemary La Planche, Robert Barrat, Blake Edwards United States [82]
Valley of the Zombies Philip Ford Robert Livingston, Adrian Booth, Ian Keith United States [83]
1947
Scared to Death Christy Cabanne Bela Lugosi, George Zucco, Nat Pendleton, Molly Lamont United States
1948
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein Charles Barton Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney, Jr. United States Horror comedy[84]
The Creeper Jean Yarbrough Eduardo Ciannelli, Onslow Stevens, June Vincent United States [85]
1949
New Version of the Ghost of Yotsuya Keisuke Kinoshita Kinuyo Tanaka, Ken Uehara, Hisako Yamane Japan [86]

References

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  2. Hardy 1995, p. 74.
  3. Worland 2007, p. 73.
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Citations

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