Last night I wached Just Like Heaven. It kinda had the old-time feel-good feel to it (at least to me) and so today, since it was a lazy rainy day I went out and rented *Harvey *and watched it. It was a lot of fun and I have decided to catch up on all the old feel-good movies that I’ve missed. I have seen (of course) Miricle on 34th St and Its a Wonderful Life and We’re No Angels and now Harvey.
Tell me your favorites. (OK, 3 of those are Christmas movies, but they don’t have to be.)
It’s a Wonderful Life, Meet Me in St. Louis, Since You Went Away, The More the Merrier, Genevieve, The Band Wagon, Buck Privates Come Home (Abbott & Costello), The Palm Beach Story, The African Queen, Marty, Roman Holiday, The Trouble With Harry, On the Town, Auntie Mame, Miracle in Milan, Passport to Pimlico, The Shop Around the Corner, Tight Little Island (Whisky Galore!), Life With Father, Cheaper by the Dozen, Monkey Business, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, I Was a Male War Bride, Father of the Bride, You Can’t Take It With You.
Feel good = musicals (generally)
Singin’ in the Rain, The Music Man, , Flower Drum Song, Kiss Me Kate, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma!, The Court Jester ("The pellet with the poison’s . . . "), **The Band Wagon, Easter Parade, On the Town, The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, **
Non musicals:
The Time of Their Lives (Abbott and Costello)
**A Night in Casablanca ** (The Marx Brothers last good film).
Harvey
Some Like It Hot
Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
The Sting; Father Goose; The Long, Long Trailer; Way Out West; The Philadelphia Story; The Freshman (1925); My Best Girl; Hello, Dolly!; Thoroughly Modern Millie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s; It Happened One Night; What’s Up, Doc?; Libeled Lady; Some Like It Hot; Sleeper; Sullivan’s Travels; Born Yesterday; Lady for a Day; Pocketful of Miracles; Cat Ballou.
Some of Frank Capra’s stuff has already been mentioned here (It’s a Wonderful Life, It Happened One Night); he’s usually good for a feel-good message movie.
You might also like some Leo McCarey stuff – he’s the guy who directed “Going My Way,” “The Bells of St Mary’s,” and “Duck Soup,” among others.
Barefoot in the Park; Darling Lili; The Egg and I; The Happiest Millionaire; Little Women (1949); Champagne for Caesar; Little Miss Marker (1934); Ninotchka; His Girl Friday.
Dr. Seuss, Hans Conried and Stanley Kramer.
Ahem. The thread title specifically lists the decades being the 1940s and 1950s. May I suggest looking things up at http://www.imdb.com before listing movies from 1925, the 1930s or the 1960s?
Oh, I was quite aware of the years of release of all those movies (I’m one of the most prolific contributors to the IMDb). But I had already suggested plenty from the 1940s and 1950s. I think that Khadaji would enjoy the additional titles I gave. An “old-timey feel good movie” is just as good from 1925 as it is from 1973.
Upon hearing that I watched Jimmy Stewart in Harvey, my friend suggest I see “It’s Christmas” - also with Jimmy Stewart. 
Adam’s Rib
Pat & Mike
Desk Set
Philadelphia Story
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
My Favorite Wife
The Bishop’s Wife
Road to Rio/Zanzibar/Morocco
Daddy Long Legs
Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Operation Petticoat
Houseboat…
I’m sure I’ll think of more. Back in a bit.
Most of my favorites have been mentioned, but I’ll add Sabrina and Arsenic and Old Lace.