Year: 1945
Nominees: "Double Indemnity," "Gaslight," "Going My Way," "Since You Went Away," "Wilson"
What won: "Going My Way"
What should have: "Double Indemnity" or "Gaslight"
Why: The year was 1944 and you can't blame the voters for wanting some lighter fare during wartime.  "Going My Way," starring Bing Crosby as a young priest —and a singing one at that—beat Billy Wilder's steamy  film noir "Double Indemnity" and the mystery-thriller "Gaslight," although the latter's star, Ingrid Bergman, did snag the Best Actress award.  Close to 70 years later, the latter two are classics, while "Going My Way" remains a fun, but fairly insignificant, trifle.

- Melinda Newman