Make Way For Tomorrow (1937) - Leo McCarey 

Amidst my numerous factoids about the Oscars this one was a curious entry for many years. Leo McCarey won his first best director Oscar for the hit comedy The Awful Truth, remember that in the 1930's it was still possible for a director to be rewarded for comedy. When he won he said thanks but they gave it to him for the wrong film. Released earlier that year was Make Way For Tomorrow that rare American film about the elderly with "stars" like Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi. The general idea could be that American's just don't like movies about the elderly and I challenge you to think of any good ones to get recognition (Driving Miss Daisy the very rare film that got Oscar recognition, although one can argue about the quality of that film). The story is a direct inspiration for Ozu's Tokyo Story and bold as it might be I think McCarey's film is better. McCarey was known as a comedic director for most of his career, at least in the early years and despite a depressing story throughout he finds ways of getting us to laugh, sometimes awkwardly at his characters. In a equally humorous and uncomfortable scene the rocking of Lucy's chair disrupts a bridge demonstration and McCarey uses the sound of it to accentuate how loud it might be. You can't help but chuckle but also flinch at the disruption you know she's causing. An absolutely incredible film and I hope one damn day that it gets released.