People have long used films to escape to other worlds and lives.

Here are 8 of the best escapist wartime fantasies - starting with Dumbo.

The praise a war film receives often stems from how realistic its perceived to be.

Some of the strongest pieces of sheer cinematic escapism were made during World War II.

You watch it, and you get lost within it.

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2.

Weather-Beaten Melodywas made by little-known animator Hans Fischerkoesen.

I dont know what Goebbels made of it; I cant think that it pleased his propaganda machine much.

But it really moves me now, and maybe it gave people at the time a sense of hope.

Together they had a simmering chemistry that worked in the melodramatic storylines and clinches they performed.

These goings-on were designed to transport you to another time and place without engaging your brain much.

It did really well at the box office, and was nominated for four Academy Awards.

I Know Where Im Going!

(1945)

Romantic escapism is so difficult to do well.

It needs chemistry, and surprise, and sweetness, and that strange sense of fate.

But I think Powell and Pressburger might have hated to hear it described as such.

And we secretly believe that no audience does.

But it also takes me away to Scotland in a way that no other film has managed.

This is the ninth of her ten screen outings with Mickey Rooney and it was a box office smash.

I dont think she was ever better.

Putting on an amateur musical using whatever they can find around the place usually sorts whatever the issue is.

InGirl Crazyits the possible closure of a school because of lack of funds.

And maybe, when Garland sings Embraceable You, it just might.

He torments her and she hits him with a rock.

Its loads of fun, and George Sanders and Anthony Quinn pop up as pirate captains too.

He was only 44, and had been a hero to many, onscreen and off.

Stanwyck drives the action, and is so funny, and sexy, and determined.

Henry Fonda is just stunned by her.

Its interesting how horror movies are as much as an escape to audiences to romance, or fantasy.

We all still crave escapism; the Marvel universe alone is proof of that.

These tricks might be getting old in years, but they look as fresh as ever.