Robert Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies and Oscarologist extraordinaire (he's author of "80 Years of Oscar") would NOT like to thank the members of the Academy for some of their more glaring oversights.
More than 68 years after the fact, he still can't believe that in 1940 Henry Fonda was passed over for best actor in "The Grapes of Wrath" -- "I can't think of a better screen performance in the 1940s, can you?" -- in favor of James Stewart in "The Philadelphia Story." But then, he says by phone from his New York apartment today, Jimmy Stewart's performance the prior year in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" was passed over in favor of Robert Donat's in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips."
Of the best-picture contenders who were robbed, Osborne believes that the most egregious year was 1951 when "An American in Paris" edged out "A Place in the Sun" and "A Streetcar Named Desire." So embarassed was "Paris" ' studio, M-G-M, says Osborne, "That it took out an advertisement showing its shamefaced mascot, Leo the Lion, confessing, "Honestly, we were just standing in the Sun waiting for a Streetcar."
Osborne has a theory as to why some of the most beloved Hollywood figures -- including Fred Astaire, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Alfred Hitchcock and Barbara Stanwyck -- never won competitive Oscars. "They were always so good. Often, the ones who win have often been mediocre and are honored when they surpass themselves."
Not only does Osborne's convivial Oscar chat anticipate Thursday's announcement of the Academy Award nominations, it also anticipates TCM's "31 Days of Oscar," its annual monthlong program devoted to movies that either were nominated for or won statuettes. "31 Days" begins on February 1 and will mark the TCM premieres of nominees that include "Carnal Knowledge" (1971), "Boyz N the Hood" (1991) and "Bugsy" (same year).
Your nominations for the movies, actor, actress or director that got robbed?
Jeez, where to start? How about Denzel Washington's Malcolm X losing out on Best Actor to Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman, with neither the film being nominated for Best Picture nor Spike Lee for Best Director? And one that just bugs me all the time -- Kathy Bates in Primary Colors, losing to eight minutes of Judi Dench.— Adam B.- I don't remember who was up against Whoopi Goldberg's performance in "Ghost," but all of them got robbed.— Nutburgers
- In 1999, Washington's terrific perf in "The Hurricane" lost to Kevin Spacey's mannered one in "American Beauty." Inexplicably, in 1936 Luise Rainer took best actress in "The Good Earth" -- edging out Greta Garbo's classic turn as "Camille" and Barbara Stanwyck's as "Stella Dallas." And I don't care how much "The Greatest Show on Earth" inspired Steven Spielberg: I can't belive it took best picture over "High Noon" and "The Quiet Man," both infintely superior films.— carrierickey
- So many virtuous people go unrewarded by Oscar! One question among many: Are you talking about people who nominated and then lose to somebody else, or about those who go entirely unnominated? I still bristle at the thought of the Johnny Mercer/John Williams title song for "The Long Goodbye" going unnominated -- but then what can you say for any body of voters who would prefer "Sweeet Leilani" to "They Can't Take That Away From Me"? You could say much the same for voters who chose Wesley Ruggles' "Cimarron" over Milestone's "The Front Page" or Donna Reed's performance in "From Here To Eternity" over Thelma Ritter's "Pickup On South Street."— chris schneider
- Worst two snubs in recent memory: 1990 Goodfellas loses Best Picture to Dances with Wolves, and 1998 Saving Private Ryan loses Best Picture to Shakespeare in Love.— Ni Boo
- Jimmy Stewart didn't lose to Gable in 1939. They both lost to Robert Donat for Goodbye, Mr. Chips.— edwardcopeland
- Edward -- You're absolutely right. My mistake, not Mr. Osborne's.— carrierickey
- Raging Bull losing out to Ordinary People for Best Picture in 1980. Rocky for Best Picture over Taxi Driver, All the Presidents Men, AND Network in 1976. Titanic over LA Confidential.— Philly Ray
- How about most of Tom Cruise's performances. Rainman, Risky Business, Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire? Was there anyone who didn't notice that he makes his supporting actors better?? Cuba Gooding and Dustin Hoffman both nailing oscars!! Perhaps its his politics or Scientology beliefs. Still no excuse for ignoring fine performances.— cyberpenn
- How about most of Tom Cruise's performances. Rainman, Risky Business, Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire? Was there anyone who didn't notice that he makes his supporting actors better?? Cuba Gooding and Dustin Hoffman both nailing oscars!! Perhaps its his politics or Scientology beliefs. Still no excuse for ignoring fine performances.— cyberpenn
- Let's see... George Chakiris has an Oscar for "West Side Story" and Goldie Hawn has one for "Cactus Flower." But Cary Grant never won one. Yeesh. Robert Osborne sums up the Oscar travesty perfectly when he comments, "..the ones who win have often been mediocre and are honored when they surpass themselves." Hitchock's best direction - for "Vertigo" - was not nominated. The movie itself was not only not nominated but actually demonized by the opinion makers of the day. Nicholson's best performance - in "Carnal Knowledge" - was not nominated. Monroe's best performance - in "The Misfits" - was not nominated. Clift's best performance (a supporting one) - in "Judgment at Nuremberg" - was nominated but a no-win. (He lost to Chakiris.) Susannah York's best performance (a supporting one) - in "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" - was nominated but a no-win. 9She lost to Hawn.) Yeesh.— Pash
- Let's see... George Chakiris has an Oscar for "West Side Story" and Goldie Hawn has one for "Cactus Flower." But Cary Grant never won one. Yeesh. Robert Osborne sums up the Oscar travesty perfectly when he comments, "..the ones who win have often been mediocre and are honored when they surpass themselves." Hitchock's best direction - for "Vertigo" - was not nominated. The movie itself was not only not nominated but actually demonized by the opinion makers of the day. Nicholson's best performance - in "Carnal Knowledge" - was not nominated. Monroe's best performance - in "The Misfits" - was not nominated. Clift's best performance (a supporting one) - in "Judgment at Nuremberg" - was nominated but a no-win. (He lost to Chakiris.) Susannah York's best performance (a supporting one) - in "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" - was nominated but a no-win. 9She lost to Hawn.) Yeesh. --Joe— Pash
Comment removed.
Cary Grant never won? Heck, even Al Gore has an Oscar. It is all who you know.- Crash over Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture. It wasn't even close. What a bunch of homophobic creeps.— Liberty4All
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