# 1939 versus 1989 in Film

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1939-versus-1989-in-film/707942
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 22, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1939-versus-1989-in-film/707942 "2014-12-22T19:40:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1939-versus-1989-in-film/707942/1 "2014-12-22T19:40:33Z")

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I remember people trying to make a case that 50 years after ‘The best year ever in Film- 1939’ that 1989 was matching 1939.  
How does this claim stack up now?

In no particular order-

My favourite films of 1989

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade  
Dead Poets Society  
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso  
When Harry met Sally  
Crimes and Misdemeanors

My favourite films of 1939

Mr Smith goes to Washington  
Wizard of OZ  
Rules of the Game  
Gone with the Wind  
Goodbye Mr Chips

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### Author: ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1939-versus-1989-in-film/707942/2 "2014-12-22T20:08:37Z")

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My 5 favorite films of 1939 and 1989 (in alpha order)

**Of Mice and Men  
Only Angels Have Wings  
The Rules of the Game  
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums  
The Wizard of Oz**

**A City of Sadness  
Crimes and Misdemeanors  
Do the Right Thing  
Drugstore Cowboy  
Kiki’s Delivery Service**

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### Author: ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)
#### Post date: [December 22, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1939-versus-1989-in-film/707942/3 "2014-12-22T21:40:56Z")

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You can’t leave out Rules of the Game bro. It’s, like, the greatest film ever made.

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### Author: ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [December 23, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1939-versus-1989-in-film/707942/4 "2014-12-23T04:42:59Z")

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No matter how many great movies come from 1989, nothing can compare to 1939. These were the 1939 Academy Award nominations:

Dark Victory  
Gone With the Wind  
Goodbye, Mr. Chips  
Love Affair  
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington  
Ninotchka  
Of Mice and Men  
Stagecoach  
The Wizard of Oz  
Wuthering Heights