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Co far as the screen is concerned, 1940 will go down as being notable for pictures which showed the grimmer side of life. To a very large extent, notably in the first three months of the year, romance gave way to realism. Charles IVi/son, William Holden, jane Bryan, Flora Robson and George Raft in “Invisible Stripes.'' j. Edward Bromberg, Joan Crawford, Paul Lukas, Clark Gable, Albert Dekker and John Ar ledge in " Strange Cargo." Some of the biggest box-office successes were made from famous books which were not only best sellers, but which could claim high literary merit. “The Grapes of Wrath,” “Of Mice and Men," written by the great novelist John Steinbeck, and “ Gone With the Wind," by Margaret Mitchell. This book had sold two million copies before it was screened. A very powerful picture was “Strange Cargo," dealing with convicts on an island in the Caribbean Sea. Though the name Devil’s Island was not mentioned, the conditions in the convict settlement were the same as those on that notorious prison, and the methods of escaping men were similar. This was one of those films that have a great value in reforming conditions in convict prisons, such as was the case with that famous picture, " I Am a Fugitive From the Chain Gang." The latter film aroused the conscience of the American nation and certainly paved the way to many much-needed reforms. “ Strange Cargo ” had Clark Gable, Joan Crawford and Ian Hunter in the principal roles, with such sound actors as Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre in support. Both “ The Stars Look Down " and “ The Proud Valley ” were British films. Both pictures told of the perils and hardships undergone by coal miners. " The Proud Valley ” was notable for having as its star Paul Robeson, who sang magnificently. The tragedy in both these fine films was lightened by the noble acts of self-sacrifice by the miners in times Michael Redgrave, Edward Rigby. George Carney and Desmond Tester in “ The Stars Look Down."