Kings Row (1942)

Primarily featuring the perspective of future doctor Robert Cummings, the film follows a group of childhood companions as they grow up amongst the secrets and scandals in the titular small town. Also featuring Charles Coburn and Claude Rains in supporting roles, it showcases what is possibly the best film performance of Ronald Reagan’s entire screen career. Unsurprisingly the adapted material was greatly neutered by the Hays Code from the source novel as it apparently features references to incest and homosexuality, The film surprisingly still manages to include themes of euthanasia, mental illness, and blatant malpractice.  

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White