THE BISHOP’S WIFE (1947)

Cary Grant is an angel who appears in the life of a tightly-wound workaholic bishop, but ends up attracted to his wife in a movie that is effortlessly charming, but also simultaneously so weightless that it seems on the verge of evaporation.

MONSIEUR VERDOUX (1947)

This “comedy of murders” starring Charlie Chaplin as a serial killer was a scandalous flop in the US but has since been re-evaluated.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

The ultimate feel-good movie, or harrowing exercise in existential angst? Possibly both.

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)

James Dean’s most famous role, in the movie that kind of invented being a teenager.