Showbiz History: Hamlet vs Johnny Belinda and A Beautiful Mind vs. four brilliant films
Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 8:30AM Today, March 24th, in Oscar history only. Four ceremonies have held on this day.
1949 The 21st Academy Awards are held honoring the films of 1948. We discussed this race a handful of years ago on the Smackdown. Johnny Belinda led the nominations with 12 but it was Laurence Olivier's Hamlet that emerged as the Best Picture winner and took home 3 other Oscars as well. It's actually a fairly interesting Oscar year given the variety of genres in the Best Picture shortlist...
- Hamlet (Shakespearean adaptation)
- Johnny Belinda (Broadway transfer / true story disability drama)
- The Red Shoes (dance musical)
- The Snake Pit (mental health drama / memoir)
- The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (western adventure)
Who would you have voted for?
1986 The 58th Academy Awards are held honoring the films of 1985. Out of Africa emerges as the big winner taking 7 Oscars and The Color Purple ties The Turning Point (1977) as Oscar's biggest loser with 11 nominations and no wins. This year is special to me for Oscar training wheel purposes as it's the very first time I was able to see all five Best Picture nominees before the ceremony (and maybe the only time in the 80s?); I can't recall exactly how this happened as I was not allowed to see R rated movies but my parents must have broken that rule for Witness (was it the power of Harrison Ford?). Kiss of the Spider-Woman and Prizzi's Honor I definitely did not see with the parents so they must have been sneakily rented on VHS (that sounds right since they were both summer releases in '85 and were maybe on video by then?
Do you have a special memory of your first year seeing every Best Picture nominee?
Best Actor and Best Actress of 1996: Geoffrey Rush (Shine) and Frances McDormand (Fargo)
1997 The 69th Academy Awards are held honoring the films of 1996. The English Patient led the nomination and came home with the most wins (9) including Best Picture. It didn't even feel close with the other nominees. This year was famous at the time for being "the indie year" in that, amongst the Best Picture nominees, only Jerry Maguire was a major studio release. On this same night both Frances McDormand and Joel Coen win their first Oscars (Best Actress and Best Screenplay for Fargo). Joel has collected three more in the years since and McDormand a second. If Nomadland takest Best Picture and Best Actress in April, that household will have 8 (GULP) Oscars, His & Hers quadruples x 2.
2002 The 74th annual Academy Awards are held honoring the films of 2001. This ceremony has the dubious distinction of being the longest of all time clocking in at 4 hours and 23 minutes. It's less notable dubious achievement is giving Best Picture to the worst film in the lineup, A Beautiful Mind. That's less notable because Oscar has done that heaps of times, don'cha know!
In more compelling news this was quite a historic night since it was the first time in history that both lead acting statues went to black actors, Denzel Washington (Training Day) and Halle Berry (Monsters Ball). That hasn't yet happened again but it's only a matter of time.
Oscar approved birthdays today...
Happy 44th to two time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (The Help, Zero Dark Thirty). We love Jess as you know but it sure is taking a long time for that third nomination. Might it be via 2021's The Eyes of Tammy Faye?
Happy 58th to Oscar nominated documentarian Andrew Jarecki (Capturing the Friedmans)
Happy 66th to Oscar winning documentarian Charles Ferguson (Inside Job, No End in Sight)
Happy 82nd to three time Best Costume Design nominee Bob Mackie (Lady Sings the Blues, Funny Lady, Pennies from Heaven). Sadly he never won but he has a Tony and nine Emmys. So there. Last summer we were thrilled to host the costume designer Daniel Orlandi here at the blog and he shared "5 Things I Learned From Bob Mackie" since he had began his showbiz career working for Mackie.
Today in 1945 Oscar winning screenwriter and director Curtis Hanson (La Confidential) was born in Reno Nevada. Other key films: The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, River Wild, Wonder Boys.
Today in 1930 Oscar nominee and major 1960s movie star Steve McQueen (The Sand Pebbles) who was born in Indiana. He died relatively young, at just 50, of lung cancer thought to be caused by repeated asbestos exposure while he was in the US marines. Oscar only cared about him once but other famous films included: Bullitt, The Towering Inferno, Papillon, The Magnificent Seven, The Getaway, and Love with the Proper Stranger.
Today in 1901 Ub Iwerks, one of the key figures in both animation and visual effects history is born in Kansas City. He was nominated for 1 Oscar (visual effects for The Birds) and also received two special awards from the Academy in the 1960s for technical innovations. His best known work was with Walt Disney as he was hugely important to the early Mickey Mouse shorts and the visual effects work on numerous features, both animated and live-action.
Reader Comments (28)
Also recently watched all 5 1985 Best Pic nominees. Not a terrible lineup, and no real stinkers, but nothing I’d really rewatch often. I’d rank them:
1. Witness (the most entertaining through and through; along with Blow Out, part of a mini 80s trend of murders at the Philly train station)
2. Color Purple (some great, lived-in performances. Needed to be 30 mins shorter. Oprah and Whoopi deserved gold)
3. Kiss of the Spider Woman (William Hurt was really the Oscar magnet of the 80s.. felt like he was in a Best Pic nominee every year)
4. Prizzi’s Honor (plot felt familiar and wooden, not sure Anjelica deserved an Oscar for this)
5. Out of Africa (was expecting much worse, but well-acted. Too slow and little happens)
1948 was a great field. My personal fifth place won, but all quality pictures in their ways.
1985 similarly strong. I'm missing the winner and can't imagine it beating The Color Purple in my book. I just rewatched The Kiss Of The Spider Woman and that film holds up. Witness is great too and Prizzi's Honor has Huston and Turner which is more than enough.
1996 Fargo reigns supreme. The rest are good films and the ranking is purely up to personal taste.
2001 A Beautiful Mind is the weakest, but much more conventional than the other nominees, so I can understand a group like the Oscars voting for it. I really liked Halle Berry and her film so was happy with the win even though that is sacrilege to say on this blog.
Love me some Bob Mackie. Wasn't there a guest contibutor on this blog who worked for Mackie and I think implied an affair with him?
I would have chosen The Red Shoes in '49 and Witness in '85.
What made the Oscars so long in 2002? I know I didn't watch that year. Were the speeches that long? Did the host do a million bits? Four and a half hours seems extreme ... and I don't typically mind long telecasts.
Happy bday to Jessica Chastain. It really is taking some time for her to come back to the oscar race, she should've been nominated at least two more times and won one.
The 2001 Academy Awards felt major. In addition to Halle and Denzel winning, Sidney was also honored that night. It just felt like a real moment for the industry to recognize Black actors. Whoopi was also excellent as a host - I'll always remember her entrance.
And, even though Halle isn't the perfect winner, it's hard to begrudge her a win given that all other ladies have one Oscar. I do wish that Gene Hackman had been nominated. He was brilliant.
1948: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, a classic for the ages. As much as I like The Red Shoes, it will never rise higher than a distant second.
1985: Prizzi's Honor. John Huston again, this time he was robbed. Sure wish Brazil had been nominated.
1996: The English Patient, but I do wonder sometimes if it holds up.
2001: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. By far the strongest section of the trilogy, which I thought got weaker as it went along.
As I commented on that other Best Picture post recently, 1948 has one of the best line-ups ever. I’d have to rewatch them all to pick a winner—Johnny Belinda is a sentimental favorite, since it’s the first one I saw on TV as a kid, The Red Shoes the one I’ve seen most recently.
2001 was also the post-9/11 ceremony, so there were tributes to New York movies and the great documentary-like segments shot by Errol Morris (worth watching on youtube). It was a really well-done ceremony that didn't feel long at all.
The English Patient and A Beautiful Mind are both terrible winner.
And just think that in Ron Howard's year some movies called Gosford Park, Mulholland Dr. and The man who wasn't there were around. Thanks gawd I didn't followed the Oscars in the editions from 1997 to 2002. Except American Beauty they made a bunch of creepy choices
Juan : agreed. Berry's performance is incredible in Monster's Ball. Her drunk scene is the best I have seen on film.
I'm personally really hoping for Pedro's parents to have 8 Oscars. It couldn't happen to a more fun couple as far as I'm concerned!
I'm pretty sure Frances McDormand would've been nominated as a supporting actress if Fargo were to be released these days.
The Red Shoes.
And Halle Berry's Elie Saab was one of the best Oscars dresses of all time. Perfect for her.
Since The Fallen Idol, my personal choice for 1948, wasn't nominated I would have been glad to see The Red Shoes take the prize though The Treasure of Sierra Madre is equally worthy.
My first year seeing all the nominees before the ceremony was 1977. It was disappointing since only my choice for supporting actress won-Vanessa Redgrave who caused quite an uproar with her acceptance speech. To be honest Vanessa was only my choice out of the nominees, the unnominated Joan Blondell in Opening Night is who I would have preferred to see up there with an Oscar in her hand.
My choice for BP-Close Encounters wasn't even nominated and a film I flat out hated-Annie Hall won.
Steve McQueen is very good in The Sand Pebbles but the nomination feels like a culmination acknowledgement for his growth up to that point with worthy work in The Great Escape, Baby the Rain Must Fall, Soldier in the Rain and The Cincinnati Kid preceding it. I think his relaxed, seemingly effortless performing style and infamously thorny personality and temper worked against him. He could have easily been nominated for Papillion, Junior Bonner and perhaps Bullitt.
2001's 'In the Bedroom' is one of my personal favorite films, and I would have voted for it to win Best Picture as well as Best Actor for Tom Wilkinson and Best Actress for Sissy Spacek. The latter was already an Oscar winner and I am usually of the spread the wealth mentality, but I believe she is one of the few actors who genuinely deserves a second trophy.
I screened 1985's 'Witness' lately and it really holds up. Always thought it was strange Kelly McGillis did not get more awards traction for that film--category confusion perhaps?
What always impressed me about 1948 was a lineup with three movies featuring strong female leads. Because of my love for Powell/Pressburger films, The Red Shoes is genius in my book and Moira Shearer is perfect.. However, I also appreciate The Snake Pit and Olivia de Havilland once again diving deep into a strong role, while Jane Wyman is at her best with Johnny Belinda, which I've always liked since seeing it long ago on TV.
In defense of Out of Africa and The English Patient, along with other films of this type, they were made for the big screen, not small ones. The deliberate pacing in particular was meant to draw a viewer into the visual beauty, set a specific tone and set up the story without being rushed, which works when sitting in a dark theater with no distractions. Much like David Lean epics, these films didn't rely on computer effects or drone technology to capture the beauty of their settings, and it truly makes a difference. I've always felt these films suffer when seen on TV, no matter how big of a screen you have. People check texts, pause to grab a snack or take the dog out for a walk. I waited years to see Lawrence of Arabia until I could do so in a theater. I'm so glad I did, and I still remember the experience. I doubt I would have appreciated the arrival on horseback of Omar Sharif, for example, had I only watched it at home. I loved The English Patient when I first saw it in 1996 and still love it today.
My choices:
1948 The treasure of the Sierra Madre
1985 Witness (but my favorite film of the year is The purple rose of Cairo)
1996 Fargo
2001 Gosford Park (A beautiful mind isn't a bad movie but it's a terrible winner)
My Best Picture Five of 2001:
The Devil's Backbone
Gosford Park
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Moulin Rouge!
Mulholland Drive
I think that, honestly, i have better, way better taste than AMPAS.
I remember being blown away by The Snake Pit when I watched it.
1985 I can't stand Prizzi's Honor for starters and one of Jack's worst nominations,I like all the other films and love all the ladies in TCP even the non nominated ones.
In an internet world how had I never seen Halle's Oscar Shoes.Rumour has it she is on Oscar form in Bruised that's coming to Netflix later this year,could she win twice.
Juan -- that guest contributor is mentioned right under the photo of Mackie!
Tony -- i wish i had been.
BGK -- totally hear you on why some epics of the past aren't working for new audiences. i cannot imagine watching LAWRENCE OF ARABIA on tv. I have seen it only once in one of the largest screens ive ever seen in an anniversary rerelease in a space that wasn't usually for movies but for touring broadway shows outfitted with a simply giant screen and the movie felt so overwhelming. It flew by.
Amy -- i remember at the time thinking THE TWO TOWERS was the best but i agree now that they get progressively weaker. And i think that's because they're so repetitive by nature with all the walking and overheard shots of hobbits marching and all the big setpiece battles and all the ring bits of disappearing.
Joe G -- yeah it was a major night. I SOOOO miss having Honorary Oscars on the show. Trying to imagine that night without the Sidney Poitier tribute is totally depressing.
1948 I would have been a sucker for Johnny Belinda. Though as a dance fan, I love the timelessness of The Red Shoes.
1985, no question I would have favored Kiss of the Spider Woman. 2nd choice Prizzi's Honor. Great work from Jack, Angelica and Kathleen.
Steve McQueen was a favorite crush of mine. At least he wound up with Ali McGraw (or am I just imagining that coupling?).
My first year seeing all the Best Picture nominees was 1982, and (not surprisingly) my least favorite won. My vote would've gone to Tootsie.
It still smarts that Kathleen Turner, the true heart of Prizzi's Honor, wasn't nominated.
@ Nate, regarding Frances: You beat me to it! Also, there wouldn't be controversy over whether William H. Macy should be considered lead. He didn't belong in supporting; the entire cast, including Frances, is directly/indirectly supporting him!
I pretend Halle's Oscar is for Losing Isaiah. That one scene where she reveals she threw her baby away stands as her most powerful cinematic moment.
1948- The red shoes
1986- Prizzi's Honor
1997-The English Patient
2001- Moulin Rouge (with Gosford Park as an extremely close second , though i would certainly vote for it for Director, Screenplay and Supporting Actress (for the divine Dame Maggie)
First year i watched all best picture nominees was 1989 , at age 13 . Dangerous Liaisons was (and still is ) by faaaar my favorite of the line up and i've been rooting for Glenn Close ever since...
1948-The Red Shoes should've won. It remains this gorgeous and groundbreaking film that I still like to re-watch whenever I get the chance.
1985-Witness-A film that I grew up on and still love.
1996-Fargo-A film that is still hilarious though I do like The English Patient
2001-Moulin Rouge-That should've won the Best Picture as that is just insane in a fun way. It's in my top 10 films of 2001.
My top 5 films of 2001:
1. Ghost World
2. Mulholland Dr.
3. Dogtown & Z-Boys
4. Spirited Away
5. Amelie
I'm going to mention the photos: Halle Berry is fantastic, liking the pixie cut and outstanding dress. Jessica Chastain, what a pretty woman she is, resembles Bryce Dallas Howard, also in "The Help." Cher, in another amazing Bob Mackie creation, quite risqué .Is Daniel Craig the new Steve McQueen? I found "The English Patient" a fascinating film, taken aback at how the Ralph Fiennes character ended up (Yikes!) - also memorable was Juliette Binoche deservedly beating favorite Lauren Bacall (a career Oscar?) in support. Could it happen again in the Glenn Close race this year?
@Jackson, it already happened in the Glenn Close race in 2019. There's no clear favorite this year so it seems a repeat is unlikely.
1991 was my first Oscars, and by 1994 I was doing the work to see all the best pictures before the ceremony.