Despite the conflicts of World War II, the forties brought Hollywood unprecedented prosperity. Paramount concentrated on films of the escapist variety, and prospered to the tune of over $13 million in profit – and in 1946, crested to a stratospheric $39 million, easily the biggest profit ever registered by any film company.
In addition to its commercial success, the forties proved to be a time of critical acclaim for Paramount films. In 1944, Paramount won its second Best Picture Academy Award® for Leo McCarey’s GOING MY WAY. The very next year, Billy Wilder’s THE LOST WEEKEND took the top prize.