thumb|left|Deborah Kerr as Sister Clodagh in Black Narcissus (1947) For the moment, the industry hit new heights of creativity in the immediate post-war years. Among the most significant films produced during this period were David Lean's Brief Encounter (1945) and his Dickens adaptations Great Expectations (1946) and Oliver Twist (1948), Ken Annakin's comedy Miranda (1948) starring Glynis Johns, Carol Reed's thrillers Odd Man Out (1947) and The Third Man (1949), and Powell and Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Black Narcissus (1947) and The Red Shoes (1948), the most commercially successful film of its year in the United States. Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (also 1948), was the first non-American film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Ealing Studios (financially backed by Rank) began to produce their most celebrated comedies, with three of the best remembered films, Whisky Galore (1948), Kind Hearts and Coronets and Passport to Pimlico (both 1949), being on release almost simultaneously. Their portmanteau horror film Dead of Night (1945) is also particularly highly regarded.
THUmb|leFt|DebOrAH kErr aS SiStER clodagH IN BlacK naRciSsUS (1947) for ThE moment, tHE inDuStrY HIt new heIghts of creatIvITy in the IMmediaTe poSt-wAr years. among the moSt sIGnificanT filMS produced DurIng this pERiod WEre David lean's bRiEF EncounTER (1945) ANd hIS dicKENs adaptaTiONs grEat expeCtatiOnS (1946) and OLiver Twist (1948), KeN AnnAkin's comeDY MIRAnDA (1948) StarRiNg gLYNIs JOhnS, cARoL reed's thrilLeRs oDd man out (1947) ANd the thirD maN (1949), And poWElL aNd pResSbuRgER's a matter of lIfe And dEath (1946), BlAcK nArCiSSus (1947) and tHe red shOes (1948), THe moST commeRcIAlly suCceSSfUl filM of iTs year In The United staTes. LauRencE OlivIER's haMleT (aLso 1948), waS the fiRst non-ameriCAn fiLm tO win the acadEmY AwArd FOR BeSt Picture. EalINg StudiOs (fInANciAlly bacKeD bY Rank) bEgan to ProduCe tHEiR moSt Celebrated comedies, with three of The BESt rEmembEreD FIlMs, WhIsky gaLOrE (1948), kiND heartS and CoroneTs and Passport tO pImLico (BOTh 1949), beinG oN reLEASe aLmOST simULtanEouSly. theIr POrTManTeaU horror Film deaD of nIght (1945) is AlsO particularly Highly rEgaRded.