My picks--if some of my dates are off, well, just mentally put 'em where they belong:

1940:The Thief of Bagdad

Runners Up:Rebecca, Philadelphia Story

1941:Citizen Kane

1942:Casablanca

The Magnificent Ambersons, The Palm Beach Story

1943:Shadow of a Doubt

The Seventh Victim

1944:Double Indemnity

Laura, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, To Have and Have Not, Since You Went Away

1945:Lost Weekend

Leave Her to Heaven, Detour, , Picture of Dorian Grey

1946:Best Years of Our Lives

The Big Sleep, Great Expectations, Notorious

1947:Out of the Past

1948:Treasure of Sierra Madre

Key Largo, The Lady from Shanghai

1949:The Third Man

The Fountainhead, The Heiress