Academy Awards: The 80th Anniversary Edition

Back in 1997, I noticed the Academy Awards were honoring the 69 years of its history in one awesome montage. Best Picture winners were shown from the very beginning of this prestigious award ceremony to the 1996 Oscar winner, The English Patient. Thinking back, I realized I should commemorate the 80th Anniversary for myself.

This list is one that took me about 5 days to finish. I had help from certain websites. While writing and compiling the list, I remembered a few things. Namely, one being that Alfred Hitchock - the same man who gave us such timeless classics as North by Northwest, Psycho, Vertigo and Rear Window never received the Oscar for Best Director. Stanley Kubrick, a filmmaker whose career has inspired many others to date never received that same award statue. You might say that this is not just an oversight or snub, but these are major dishonors. However, looking over the list again, I must say The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have made some great decisions over the years. Look for yourselves.

1927 - 1928

Wings won Best Picture. The contenders were The Racket, Seventh Heaven, The Way of All Flesh and The Last Command.

Emil Jannings, a Swiss actor won Best Actor for The Way of All Flesh and The Last Command. The contenders were Richard Barthelmess in The Noose and The Patent Leather Kid.

Special note: Charles Chaplin was originally announced as a nominee in The Circus, but the Academy pulled him in order to give him the special Honorary Award instead.

Janet Gaynor or should I say, Laura Augusta Gainor won Best Actress for Seventh Heaven, Street Angel and Sunrise. The contenders were Louise Dresser in A Ship Comes In, and Gloria Swanson for Sadie Thompson.

Best Director for a drama went to the mystical romanticist, Frank Borzage (Seventh Heaven). The contenders were Herbert Brenon for Sorrell and Son, and King Vidor for The Crowd.

Best Director for a comedy went to Lewis Milestone or should I say, Lev Milstein for Two Arabian Knights. The contender was Ted Wilde for Speedy.

Special note: Again, Charlie Chaplin for The Circus was cut out of this category to get the Honorary Award.

1928-1929

The Broadway Melody won Best Picture. The contenders were Alibi, Hollywood Revue, In Old Arizona, and The Patriot.

Warner Baxter or Warner Leroy Baxter won Best Actor for In Old Arizona. The contenders were George Bancroft in Thunderbolt, Chester Morris in Alibi, Paul Muni in The Valiant, and Lewis Stone in The Patriot.

Canadian motion picture star, Mary Pickford won Best Actress for Coquette. The contenders were Ruth Chatterton in Madame X, Betty Compson in The Barker, Jeanne Eagels in The Letter, Corinne Griffith in The Divine Lady, and Bessie Love in Broadway Melody.

Best Writing went to Hans Kraly for The Patriot. The contenders were Tom Barry for In Old Arizona and The Valiant, Elliott Clawson for The Cop, The Leatherneck, Sal of Singapore, and Skyscraper, Hans Kraly for The Last of Mrs. Cheney, Josephine Lovett for Our Dancing Daughters, and Bess Meredyth for A Woman of Affairs and Wonder of Women.

Best Cinematography went to Clyde De Vinna for White Shadows in the South Seas. The contenders were George Barnes for Our Dancing Daughters, Arthur Edeson for In Old Arizona, Ernest Palmer for Four Devils and Street Angel, and John Seitz for The Divine Lady.

Best Director went to Frank Lloyd, one of the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for The Divine Lady. He was also considered for Drag and Weary River. The contenders were Lionel Barrymore for Madame X, Harry Beaumont for Broadway Melody, Irving Cummings for In Old Arizona, and Ernst Lubitsch for The Patriot.

1929-1930

All Quiet on the Western Front won Best Picture. The contenders were The Big House, Disraeli, The Divorcee, and The Love Parade.

Best Actor went to the English filmmaker/actor/author/playwright, George Arliss for Disraeli. The contenders were George Arliss for The Green Goddess, Wallace Beery for The Big House, Maurice Chevalier for The Big Pond, Maurice Chevalier again for The Love Parade, Ronald Colman for Bulldog Drummond, Ronald Colman for Condemned, and Lawrence Tibbett for The Rogue Song.

Norma Shearer took home the Best Actress award for The Divorcee. The contenders were Nancy Carroll for The Devil's Holiday, Ruth Chatterton for Sarah and Son, Greta Garbo for Anna Christie, Greta Garbo again for Romance, Norma Shearer again for Their Own Desire, and Gloria Swanson for The Trespasser.

Best Director went to Lewis Milestone for All Quiet On The Western Front. The contenders were Clarence Brown for Anna Christie, Robert Z. Leonard for The Divorcee, Ernst Lubitsch for The Love Parade and King Vidor for Hallelujah.

1930-1931

Cimarron got Best Picture of the Year. The contenders were East Lynne, The Front Page, Skippy, and Trader Horn.

Lionel Barrymore got the Oscar for Best Actor in A Free Soul. The contenders were Jackie Cooper for Skippy, Richard Dix for Cimarron, Fredric March for The Royal Family of Broadway, and Adolphe Menjou for The Front Page.

Best Actress went to Marie Dressler for Min and Bill. The contenders were Marlene Dietrich in Morocco, Irene Dunne in Cimarron, Ann Harding in Holiday, and Norma Shearer for A Free Soul.

Best Director went to Norman Taurog for Skippy. The contenders were Clarence Brown for A Free Soul, Lewis Milestone for The Front Page, Wesley Ruggles for Cimarron, and Josef von Sternberg for Morocco.

1931-1932

Grand Hotel received the Oscar for Best Picture. The contenders were Arrowsmith, Bad Girl, The Champ, Five Star Final, One Hour With You, Shanghai Express, and The Smiling Lieutenant.

Fredric March took home Best Actor for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and so did Wallace Berry for The Champ. That's right, it was a tie. Alfred Lunt in The Guardsman was their only contender.

Helen Hayes received Best Actress for The Sin of Madelon Claudet. The contenders were Marie Dressler in Emma, and Lynn Fontanne for The Guardsman.

Special note: A special award was given to Walt Disney for creating Mickey Mouse.

Best Director went to Frank Borzage for Bad Girl. The contenders were King Vidor for The Champ, and Josef von Sternberg for Shanghai Express.

1932-1933

Cavalcade won Best Picture. The contenders were A Farewell to Arms, 42nd Street, I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang, Lady for a Day, Little Women, The Private Life of Henry VIII, She Done Him Wrong, Smilin' Through, and State Fair.

Best Actor went to Charles Laughton for The Private Life of Henry VIII. The contenders were Leslie Howard for Berkeley Square, and Paul Muni for I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang.

Katharine Hepburn took home the Oscar for Best Actress in Morning Glory. The contenders were May Robson for Lady for a Day, and Diana Wynyard for Cavalcade.

Best Director went to Frank Lloyd for Cavalcade. The contenders were Lady For a Day, and George Cukor for Little Women.

1934

Best Picture was awarded to It Happened One Night. The contenders were The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Cleopatra, Flirtation Walk, The Gay Divorcee, Here Comes the Navy, The House of Rothschild, Imitation of Life, One Night of Love, The Thin Man, Viva Villa!, and The White Parade.

Clark Gable won Best Actor for It Happened One Night. The contenders were Frank Morgan in Affairs of Cellini, and William Powell in The Thin Man.

Best Actress went to Claudette Colbert for It Happened One Night. Incidentally when she started filming It Happened One Night, Claudette considered it to be the worst thing she had ever done. After she saw the movie completely put together, her opinion quickly changed. Her only competition was Grace Moore in One Night of Love, and Norma Shearer in The Barretts of Wimpole Street.

Finally, Frank Capra took home Best Director for It Happened One Night. The contenders were Victor Schertzinger for One Night of Love, and W.S. Van Dyke for The Thin Man.

1935

Mutiny on the Bounty took Best Picture. The contenders were Alice Adams, The Broadway Melody of 1936, Captain Blood, David Copperfield, The Informer, Lives of a Bengal Lancer, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Les Miserables, Naughty Marietta, Ruggles of Red Gap and Top Hat.

Best Actor went to Victor McLagen in The Informer. The contenders were Clark Gable for Mutiny on the Bounty, Charles Laughton for Mutiny on the Bounty, and Franchot Tone in Mutiny on the Bounty.

Bette Davis took home the Oscar for Best Actress in Dangerous. The contenders were Elisabeth Bergner for Escape Me Never, Claudette Colbert for Private Worlds, Katharine Hepburn for Alice Adams, Miriam Hopkins for Becky Sharp, and Merle Oberon for The Dark Angel.

Best Director went to John Ford for The Informer. The contenders were Michael Curtiz for Captain Blood, Henry Hathaway for Lives of a Bengal Lancer, and Frank Lloyd for Mutiny on the Bounty.

1936

Best Picture went to The Great Ziegfeld. The contenders were Anthony Adverse, Dodsworth, Libeled Lady, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Romeo and Juliet, San Francisco, The Story of Louis Pasteur, A Tale of Two Cities, and Three Smart Girls.

Best Actor went to Paul Muni for The Story of Louis Pasteur. The contenders were Gary Cooper in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Walter Huston in Dodsworth, William Powell in My Man Godfrey, and Spencer Tracy in San Francisco.

Best Actress went to Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld. The contenders were Irene Dunne in Theodora Goes Wild, Gladys George in Valiant Is the Word for Carrie, Carole Lombard for My Man Godrey, and Norma Shearer for Romeo and Juliet.

Best Supporting Actor went to Walter Brennan for Come and Get It. The contenders were Mischa Auer in My Man Godfrey, Stuart Erwin in Pigskin Parade, Basil Rathbone in Romeo and Juliet, and Akim Tamiroff in The General Died at Dawn.

Gale Sondergaard won Best Supporting Actress in Anthony Adverse. The contenders were Beulah Bondi in The Gorgeous Hussy, Alice Brady in My Man Godfrey, Bonita Granville in These Three and Maria Ouspenskaya in Dodsworth.

Best Director was awarded to Frank Capra for Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. The contenders were Gregory La Cava for My Man Godfrey, Robert Z. Leonard for The Great Ziegfeld, W.S. Van Dyke for San Francisco, and William Wyler for Dodsworth.

1937

Best Picture went to The Life of Emile Zola. The contenders were The Awful Truth, Captains Courageous, Dead End, The Good Earth, In Old Chicago, Lost Horizon, One Hundred Men and

Spencer Tracy was awarded Best Actor for Captains Courageous. The contenders were Charles Boyer in Conquest, Fredric March in A Star is Born, Robert Montgomery in Night Must Fall, Paul Muni in The Life of Emile Zola.a Girl, Stage Door, and A Star is Born.

Best Actress went to Luise Rainer for The Good Earth. The contenders were

Joseph Schildkraut got Best Supporting Actor for The Life of Emile Zola. The contenders went to Ralph Bellany in The Awful Truth, Thomas Mitchell for The Hurricane, H. B. Warner in Lost Horizon, and Roland Young in Topper.

Best Supporting Actress was awarded to Alice Brady for In Old Chicago. The contenders were Andrea Leeds in Stage Door, Anne Shirley for Stella Davis, Claire Trevor in Dead End, and May Whitty in Night Must Fall.Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth, Greta Garbo in Camille, Janet Gaynor in A Star is Born, Barbara Stanwyck in Stella Dallas.

Best Director went to Leo McCarey for The Awful Truth. The contenders were William Dieterle for The Life of Emile Zola, Sidney Franklin for The Good Earth, Gregory La Cava for Stage Door, and William Wellmann for A Star is Born.

1938

Best Picture went You Can't Take It With You. The contenders were The Adventurers of Robin Hood, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Boys Town, The Citadel, Four Daughters, Grand Illusion, Jezebel, Pygmalion, and Test Pilot.

Best Actor went to

Bette Davis was

Best Supporting Actor was given to Walter Brennan in Kentucky. The contenders were John Garfield in Four Daughters, Gene Lockhart in Algiers, Robert Morley in Marie Antoinette, and Basil Rathbone in If I Were King.

Fay Bainter received Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel. The contenders were Beulah Bondi in Of Human Hearts, Billie Burke in Merrily We Live, Spring Byington in You Can't Take it With You, and Miliza Korjus in The Great Waltz.Spencer Tracy in Boys Town. The contenders were Charles Boyer for Algiers, James Cagney in Angels With Dirty Faces, Robert Donat in The Citadel, and Leslie Howard in Pygmalion. awarded Best Actress for Jezebel. The contenders were Fay Bainter in White Banners, Wendy Hiller in Pygmalion, Norma Shearer in Marie Antoinette, and Margaret Sullavan in Three Comrades.

Best Director went to Frank

1939 (One of the truly greatest years in the history of the Academy Awards)

Gone With The Wind won Best Picture. The contenders were Dark Victory, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Love Affair, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Ninotchka, Of Mice and Men, Stagecoach, The Wizard of Oz, and Wuthering Heights.

Robert Donat won Best Actor in Goodbye, Mr. Chips. It wouldn't be my first pick. The contenders were Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind, Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights, Mickey Rooney in Babes in Arms, and James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Best Actress went to Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind. The contenders were Bette Davis for Dark Victory, Irene Dunne in Love Affair, Greta Garbo in Ninotchka, and Greer Garson for Goodbye, Mr. Chips.

Thomas Mitchell in Stagecoach won Best Supporting Actor. The contenders were Brian Aherne in Juarez, Harry Carey in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Brian Donlevy in Beau Geste, and Claude Rains in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Best Supporting Actress went to Hattie McDaniel in Gone With The Wind. This one should've been a tie between Hattie and her Gone With The Wind contender, Olivia de Havilland if you ask me. The other contenders were Geraldine Fitzgerald in Wuthering Heights, Edma May Olivier in Drums Along the Mohawk, and Maria Ouspenskaya in Love Affair.Capra for You Can't Take It With You. The contenders were Michael Curtiz for Angels With Dirty Faces, Michael Curtiz for Four Daughters, Norman Taurog for Boys Town, and King Vidor for The Citadel.

Victor Fleming received Best Director for Gone With The Wind. The contenders were Frank Capra for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, John Ford for Stagecoach, Sam Wood for Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and William Wyler for Wuthering Heights.

1940

Rebecca won Best Picture. The contenders were All this, and Heaven Too, Foreign Correspondent, The Grapes of Wrath, The Great Dictator, Kitty Foyle, The Letter, The Long Voyage Home, Our Town, and The Philadelphia Story.

James Stewart in The Philadelphia Story won Best Actor. The contenders were Charles Chaplin in The Great Dictator, Henry Fonda in The Grapes of Wrath, Raymond Massey in Abe Lincoln in Illinois, and Laurence Olivier in Rebecca.

Best Actress went to Ginger Rogers in Kitty Foyle. The contenders were Bette Davis in The Letter, Joan Fontaine in Rebecca, Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story, and Martha Scott in Our Town.

Best Supporting Actor went to Walter Brennan in The Westerner. The contenders were Albert Basserman in Foreign Correspondent, William Gargan in They Knew What They Wanted, Jack Oakie in The Great Dictator, and James Stephenson in The Letter.

Best Supporting Actress went to Jane Darwell in The Grapes of Wrath. The contenders were Judith Anderson in Rebecca, Ruth Hussey in The Philadelphia Story, Barbara O'Neil in All This, and Heaven Too, and Marjorie Rambeau in Primrose Path.

John Ford took home Best Director for The Grapes of Wrath. In my opinion, this should've been a tie with Ford's contender, Alfred Hitchcock for Rebecca. The other contenders were George Cukor for The Philadelphia Story, Sam Wood for Kitty Foyle, and William Wyler for The Letter.

1941

How Green Was My Valley won Best Picture. Many people think of this decision to be an insult, beating out "the greatest movie ever made," Citizen Kane. The other contenders were Blossoms in the Dust, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Hold Back the Dawn, The Little Foxes, The Maltese Falcon, One Foot in Heaven, Sergeant York, and Suspicion.

Best Actor was awarded to Gary Cooper in Sergeant York. The contenders were Cary Grant in Penny Serenade, Walter Huston in All That Money Can Buy, Robert Montgomery in Here Comes Mr. Jordan, and Orson Welles in Citizen Kane.

Best Actress went to Joan Fontaine in Suspicion. The contenders were Bette Davis in The Little Foxes, Olivia de Havilland in Hold Back the Dawn, Greer Garson for Blossoms in the Dust, and Barbara Stanwyck for Ball of Fire.

Best Supporting Actor went to Donald Crisp for How Green Was My Valley. The contenders were Walter Brennan in Sergeant York, Charles Coburn in The Devil and Miss Jones, James Gleason in Here Comes Mr. Jordan, and Sydney Greenstreet for The Maltese Falcon.

Mary Astor won Best Supporting Actress for The Great Lie. The contenders were Sara Allgood in How Green Was My Valley, Patricia Collinge in The Little Foxes, Teresa Wright in The Little Foxes, and Margaret Wycherly in Sergeant York.

Best Director went to John Ford for How Green Was My Valley. The contenders were Alexander Hall for Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Howard Hawks for Sergeant York, Orson Welles for Citizen Kane and William Wyler for The Little Foxes.

1942

Mrs. Miniver got Best Picture. The contenders were The Invaders, Kings Row, The Magnificent Ambersons, The Pied Piper, The Pride of the Yankees, Random Harvest, The Talk of the Town, Wake Island, and Yankee Doodle Dandy.

James Cagney won Best Actor for Yankee Doodle Dandy. The contenders were Ronald Colman in Random Harvest, Gary Cooper in The Pride of the Yankees, Walter Pidgeon in Mrs. Miniver, and Monty Woolley in The Pied Piper.

Best Actress went to Greer Garson for Mrs. Miniver. The contenders were Bette Davis in Now, Voyager, Katharine Hepburn for Woman of the Year, Rosalind Russell in My Sister Eileen, and Teresa Wright in The Pride of the Yankees.

Van Heflin won Best Supporting Actor in Johnny Eager. The contenders were William Bendix in Wake Island, Walter Huston in Yankee Doodle Dandy, Frank Morgan in Tortilla Flat, and Henry Travers for Mrs. Miniver.

Best Supporting Actress went to Teresa Wright for Mrs. Miniver. The contenders were Gladys Cooper in Now, Voyager, Agnes Moorehead in The Magnificent Ambersons, Susan Peters in Random Harvest, and Dame May Whitty in Mrs. Miniver.

Best Director went to William Wyler for Mrs. Miniver. The contenders were Michael Curtiz for Yankee Doodle Dandy, John Farrow for Wake Island, Mervyn LeRoy for Random Harvest and Sam Wood for Kings Row.

1943

Casablanca received Best Picture of the year. The contenders were For Whom the Bell Tolls, Heaven Can Wait, The Human Comedy, In Which We Serve, Madame Curie, The More the Merrier, The Ox-Bow Incident, The Song of Bernadette, and Watch on the Rhine.

Best Actor was given to Paul Lukas in Watch on the Rhine. The contenders were Humphrey Bogart for Casablanca, Gary Cooper in For Whom the Bell Tolls, Walter Pidgeon for Madame Curie, and Mickey Rooney in The Human Comedy.

Jennifer Jones won Best Actress for The Song of Bernadette. The contenders were Jean Arthur for The More the Merrier, Ingrid Bergman in For Whom the Bell Tolls, Joan Fontaine in The Constant Nymph, and Greer Garson in Madame Curie.

Best Supporting Actor was awarded to Charles Coburn in The More the Merrier. The contenders were Charles Bickford in The Song of Bernadette, J. Carrol Naish in Sahara, Claude Rains in Casablanca, and Akim Tamiroff in For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Katina Paxinou went home with Best Supporting Actress in For Whom the Bell Tolls. The contenders were Gladys Cooper in The Song of Bernadette, Paulette Goddard in So Proudly We Hail, Anne Revere in The Song of Bernadette, and Lucile Watson in Watch on the Rhine.

Best Director went to Michael Curtiz for Casablanca. The contenders were Clarence Brown for "The Human Comedy", Henry King for "The Song of Bernadette", Ernst Lubitsch for "Heaven Can Wait", and George Stevens for The More the Merrier.

1944

Best Picture went to Going My Way. The contenders were Double Indemnity, Gaslight, Since You Went Away and Wilson.

Bing Crosby won Best Actor for Going My Way. The contenders were Charles Boyer in Gaslight, Barry Fitzgerald in Going My Way, Cary Grant in None But the Lonely Heart, and Alexander Knox in Wilson.

Best Actress went to Ingrid Bergman for Gaslight. The contenders were Claudette Colbert in Since You Went Away, Bette Davis in Mr. Skeffington, Greer Garson in Mrs. Parkington, and Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity.

Barry Fitzgerald won Best Supporting Actor for Going My Way. The contenders were Hume Cronyn in The Seventh Cross, Claude Rains in Mr. Skeffington, Clifton Webb in Laura, and Monty Woolley in Since You Went Away.

Best Supporting Actress was awarded to Ethel Barrymore for None But the Lonely Heart. The contenders were Jennifer Jones in Since You Went Away, Angela Lansbury in Gaslight, Aline MacMahon in Dragon Seed, and Agnes Moorehead in Mrs. Parkington.

Best Director went to Leo McCarey for Going My Way. The contenders were Alfred Hitchcock for Lifeboat, Henry King for Wilson, Otto Preminger for Laura, and Billy Wilder for Double Indemnity.

1945

Best Picture went to The Lost Weekend. The contenders were Anchors Aweigh, The Bells of St. Mary's, Mildred Pierce, and Spellbound.

Ray Milland won Best Actor for The Lost Weekend. The contenders were Bing Crosby for The Bells of St. Mary's, Gene Kelly for Anchors Aweigh, Gregory Peck in The Keys of the Kingdom, and Cornel Wilde in A Song to Remember.

Best Actress was awarded to Joan Crawford in Mildred Pierce. The contenders were Ingrid Bergman for The Bells of St. Mary's, Greer Garson for The Valley of Decision, Jennifer Jones in Love Letters, and Gene Tierney in Leave Her to Heaven.

James Dunn went home with Best Supporting Actor for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. The contenders were Michael Chekhov in Spellbound, John Dall in The Corn Is Green, Robert Mitchum in The Story of G.I. Joe, and J. Carrol Naish in A Medal for Benny.

Best Supporting Actress went to Anne Revere in National Velvet. The contenders were Eve Arden in Mildred Pierce, Ann Blyth in Mildred Pierce, Angela Lansbury in The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Joan Lorring in The Corn Is Green.

Best Director went to Billy Wilder for The Lost Weekend. The contenders were Clarence Brown for "National Velvet", Alfred Hitchcock for Spellbound, Leo McCarey for The Bells of St. Mary's, and Jean Renoir for The Southerner.

1946

The Best Years of Our Lives was awarded Best Picture of the year. The contenders were Henry V, It's A Wonderful Life, The Razor's Edge, and The Yearling.

Best Actor went to Fredric March in The Best Years of Our Lives. The contenders were Laurence Olivier in Henry V, Larry Parks in The Jolson Story, Gregory Peck in The Yearling, and James Stewart in It's A Wonderful Life.

Olivia De Havilland won Best Actress for To Each His Own. The contenders were Celia Johnson in Brief Encounter, Jennifer Jones in Duel in the sun, Rosalind Russell in Sister Kenny, and Jane Wynman in The Yearling.

Harold Russell won Best Supporting Actor for The Best Years of Our Lives. The contenders were Charles Coburn in "The Green Years", William Demarest in "The Jolson Story", Claude Rains in Notorious, and Clifton Webb in The Razor's Edge.

Best Supporting Actress went to Anne

Best Director was awarded to William Wyler for The Best Years of Our Lives. The contenders were Clarence Brown for The Yearling, Frank Capra for It's A Wonderful Life, David Lean for Brief Encounter, and Robert Siodmak for The Killers.

1947

Best Picture went to Gentleman's Agreement. The contenders were The Bishop's Wife, Crossfire, Great Expectations, and Miracle on 34th Street.

Best Actor went to Ronald Colman for A Double Life. The contenders were John Garfield in Body and Soul, Gregory Peck in Gentleman's Agreement, William Powell in Life With Father, and Michael Redgrave in Mourning Becomes Electra.

Loretta Young won Best Actress for The Farmer's Daughter. The contenders were Joan Crawford in Possessed, Susan Hayward in Smash Up - The Story of a Woman, Dorothy McGuire in Gentleman's Agreement, and Rosalind Russell in Mourning Becomes Electra.

Edmund Gwenn took home Best Supporting Actor for Miracle on 34th Street. The contenders were Charles Bickford in The Farmer's Daughter, Thomas Gomez in Ride the Pink Horse, Robert Ryan in Crossfire, and Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death.

Best Supporting Actress went to Celeste Holm for Gentleman's Agreement. The contenders were Ethel Barrymore in The Paradine Case, Gloria Grahame in Crossfire, Marjorie Main in The Egg and I, and Anne Revere in Gentleman's Agreement.

Best Director went to Elia Kazan for Gentleman's Agreement. The contenders were George Cukor for A Double Life, Edward Dmytryk for Crossfire, Henry Koster for The Bishop's Wife, and David Lean for Great Expectations.

1948

Best Picture: Hamlet

Best Actor: Laurence Olivier in Hamlet

Best Actress: Jane Wynman in Johnny Belinda

Best Supporting Actor: Walter Huston in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Best Supporting Actress: Claire Trevor in Key Largo

Best Director: John Huston for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

1949

Best Picture: All the King's Men

Best Actor: Broderick Crawford in All the King's Men

Best Actress: Olivia De Havilland in The Heiress

Best Supporting Actor: Dean Jagger in Twelve O'Clock High

Best Supporting Actress: Mercedes McCambridge in All the King's Men

Best Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz for A Letter to Three WivesBaxter for The Razor's Edge. The contenders were Ethel Barrymore in The Spiral Staircase, Lillian Gish in Duel in the Sun, Flora Robson in Saratoga Trunk, and Gale Sondergaard in Anna and the King of Siam.

1950

Best Picture: All About Eve

Best Actor: Jose Ferrer in Cyrano de Bergerac

Best Actress: Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday

Best Supporting Actor: George Sanders in All About Eve

Best Supporting Actress: Josephine Hull in Harvey

Best Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz for All About Eve

Special note: All About Eve is one of only two movies to have been nominated for 14 Academy Awards. The other is Titanic.

1951

Best Picture: An American in Paris

Best Actor: Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen

Best Actress: Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire

Best Supporting Actor: Karl Malden in A Streetcar Named Desire

Best Supporting Actress: Kim Hunter in A Streetcar Named Desire

Best Director: George Stevens for A Place in The Sun

1952

Best Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth

Best Actor: Gary Cooper in High Noon

Best Actress: Shirley Booth in Come Back, Little Sheba

Best Supporting Actor: Anthony Quinn in Viva Zapata!

Best Supporting Actress: Gloria Grahame in The Bad and the Beautiful

Best Director: John Ford for The Quiet Man

1953

Best Picture: From Here to Eternity

Best Actor: William Holden in Stalag 17

Best Actress: Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday

Best Supporting Actor: Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity

Best Supporting Actress: Donna Reed in From Here to Eternity

Best Director: Fred Zinnemann for From Here to Eternity

1954

Best Picture: On the Waterfront

Best Actor: Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront

Best Actress: Grace Kelly in The Country Girl

Best Supporting Actor: Edmond O'Brien in The Barefoot Contessa

Best Supporting Actress: Eva Marie Saint in On The Waterfront

Best Director: Elia Kazan for On The Waterfront

1955

Best Picture: Marty

Best Actor: Ernest Borgnine in Marty

Best Actress: Anna Magnani in The Rose Tattoo

Best Supporting Actor: Jack Lemmon in Mister Roberts

Best Supporting Actress: Jo Van Fleet in East of Eden

Best Director: Delbert Mann for Marty

1956

Best Picture: Around the World in 80 Days

Best Actor: Yul Brynner in The King and I

Best Actress: Ingrid Bergman in Anastasia

Best Supporting Actor: Anthony Quinn in Lust for Life

Best Supporting Actress: Dorothy Malone in Written on the Wind

Best Director: George Stevens for Giant

1957

Best Picture: The Bridge On The River Kwai

Best Actor: Alec Guinness in The Bridge On The River Kwai

Best Actress: Joanne Woodward in The Three Faces of Eve

Best Supporting Actor: Red Buttons in Sayonara

Best Supporting Actress: Miyoshi Umeki in Sayonara

Best Director: The Bridge On The River Kwai

1958

Best Picture: Gigi

Best Actor: David Niven in Separate Tables

Best Actress: Susan Hayward in I Want to Live

Best Supporting Actor: Burl Ives in The Big Country

Best Supporting Actress: Wendy Killer in Separate Tables

Best Director: Vincente Minnelli for Gigi

1959

Best Picture: Ben-Hur

Best Actor: Charlton Heston in Ben-Hur

Best Actress: Simone Signoret in Room at the Top

Best Supporting Actor: Hugh Griffith in Ben-Hur

Best Supporting Actress: Shelley Winters in The Diary of Anne Frank

Best Director: William Wyler for Ben-Hur

Special note: Ben-Hur is one of three movies to win 11 Oscars. The other two are Titanic and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

1960

Best Picture: The Apartment

Best Actor: Burt Lancaster in Elmer Gantry

Best Actress: Elizabeth Taylor in Butterfield 8

Best Supporting Actor: Peter Ustinov in Spartacus

Best Supporting Actress: Shirley Jones in Elmer Gantry

Best Director: Billy Wilder for The Apartment

1961

Best Picture: West Side Story

Best Actor: Maximilian Schell in Judgment at Nuremberg

Best Actress: Sophia Loren in Two Women

Best Supporting Actor: George Chakris in West Side Story

Best Supporting Actress: Rita Moreno in West Side Story

Best Director: Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise for West Side Story

1962

Best Picture: Lawrence of Arabia

Best Actor: Gregory Peck for To Kill a Mockingbird

Best Actress: Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker

Best Supporting Actor: Ed Begley in Sweet Bird of Youth

Best Supporting Actress: Patty Duke in The Miracle Worker

Best Director: David Lean for Lawrence of Arabia

1963

Best Picture: Tom Jones

Best Actor: Sidney Poitier in Lilies of the Field

Best Actress: Patricia Neal in Hud

Best Supporting Actor: Melvyn Douglas in Hud

Best Supporting Actress: Margaret Rutherford in The V.I.P.'s

Best Director: Tony Richardson for Tom Jones

1964

Best Picture: My Fair Lady

Best Actor: Rex Harrison for My Fair Lady

Best Actress: Julie Andrews for Mary Poppins

Best Supporting Actor: Peter Ustinov in Topkapi

Best Supporting Actress: Lila Kedrova for Zorba the Greek

Best Director: George Cukor for My Fair Lady

1965

Best Picture: The Sound of Music

Best Actor: Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou

Best Actress: Julie Christie for Darling

Best Supporting Actor: Martin Balsam for A Thousand Clowns

Best Supporting Actress: Shelley Winters for A Patch of Blue

Best Director: Robert Wise for The Sound of Music

1966

Best Picture: A Man for All Seasons

Best Actor: Paul Scofield in A Man for All Seasons

Best Actress: Elizabeth Taylor in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Supporting Actor: Walter Matthau in The Fortune Cookie

Best Supporting Actress: Sandy Dennis in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Best Director: Fred Zinnemann for A Man for All Seasons

1967

Best Picture: In the Heat of the Night

Best Actor: Rod Steiger for In the Heat of the Night

Best Actress: Katharine Hepburn in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Best Supporting Actor: George Kennedy in Cool Hand Luke

Best Supporting Actress: Estelle Parsons in Bonnie and Clyde

Best Director: Mike Nichols for The Graduate

1968

Best Picture: Oliver!

Best Actor: Cliff Robertson in Charly

Best Actress: Katharine Hepburn for The Lion in Winter

Best Supporting Actor: Jack Albertson in The Subject Was Roses

Best Supporting Actress: Ruth Gordon in Rosemary's Baby

Best Director: Sir Carol Reed for Oliver!

1969

Best Picture: Midnight Cowboy

Best Actor: John Wayne in True Grit

Best Actress: Maggie Smith in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

Best Supporting Actor: Gig Young in They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

Best Supporting Actress: Goldie Hawn in Cactus Flower

Best Director: John Schlesinger for Midnight Cowboy

1970

Best Picture: Patton

Best Actor: George C. Scott in Patton

Best Actress: Glenda Jackson for Women in Love

Best Supporting Actor: John Mills for Ryan's Daughter

Best Supporting Actress: Helen Hayes in Airport

Best Director: Franklin Schaffner for Patton

1971

Best Picture: The French Connection

The contenders: A Clockwork Orange, Fiddler on the Roof, The Last Picture Show and Nicholas and Alexandra

Best Actor: Gene Hackman for The French Connection

The contenders: Peter Finch for Sunday, Bloody Sunday, Walter Matthau for Kotch, George C. Scott for The Hospital, and Topol in Fiddler on the Roof

Best Actress: Jane Fonda in Klute

The contenders: Julie Christie in McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Glenda Jackson in Sunday, Bloody Sunday, Vanessa Redgrave in Mary, Queen of Scots, and Janet Suzman in Nicholas and Alexandra

Best Supporting Actor: Ben Johnson in The Last Picture Show

The contenders: Jeff Bridges in The Last Picture Show, Leonard Frey in Fiddler on the Roof, Richard Jaeckel in Sometimes a Great Notion, and Roy Scheider in The French Connection

Best Supporting Actress: Cloris Leachman in The Last Picture Show

The contenders: Ann-Margaret in Carnal Knowledge, Ellen Burstyn in The Last Picture Show, Barbara Harris in Who is Harry Kellerman, and Why is He Saying These Terrible Things About Me?, and Margaret Leighton in The Go-Between

Best Director: William Friedkin for The French Connection

The contenders: Peter Bogdanovich for The Last Picture Show, Norman Jewison for Fiddler on the Roof, Stanley Kubrick for A Clockwork Orange, and John Schlesinger for Sunday, Bloody Sunday

1972

Best Picture: The Godfather

The contenders: Cabaret, Deliverance, The Emigrants and Sounder

Best Actor: Marlon Brando in The Godfather

The contenders: Michael Caine in Sleuth, Laurence Olivier in Sleuth, Peter O'Toole in The Ruling Class, and Paul Winfield in Sounder

Best Actress: Liza Minnelli in Cabaret

The contenders: Diana Ross in Lady Sings The Blues, Maggie Smith in Travels With My Aunt, Cicely Tyson in Sounder, and Liv Ullmann in The Emigrants

Best Supporting Actor: Joel Grey in Cabaret

The contenders: Eddie Albert in The Heartbreak Kid, James Caan in The Godfather, Robert Duvall in The Godfather and Al Pacino in The Godfather

Best Supporting Actress: Eileen Heckart in Butterflies Are Free

The contenders: Jeannie Berlin in The Heartbreak Kid, Geraldine Page in Pete 'n' Tillie, Susan Tyrrell in Fat City, and Shelley Winters in The Poseidon Adventure

Best Director: Bob Fosse for Cabaret

The contenders: John Boorman for Deliverance, Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather, Joseph L. Mankiewicz for Sleuth, and Jan Troell for The Emigrants

1973

Best Picture: The Sting

The contenders: American Graffiti, Cries and Whispers, The Exorcist and A Touch of Class

Best Actor: Jack Lemmon in Save the Tiger

The contenders: Marlon Brando in Last Tango in Paris, Jack Nicholson in The Last Detail, Al Pacino in Serpico, and Robert Redford in The Sting

Best Actress: Glenda Jackson in A Touch of Class

The contenders: Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist, Marsha Mason in Cinderella Liberty, Barbara Steisand in The Way We Were, and Joanne Woodward in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams

Best Supporting Actor: John Houseman in The Paper Chase

The contenders: Vincent Gardenia in Bang the Drum Slowly, Jack Gilford in Save the Tiger, Jason Miller in The Exorcist and Randy Quaid in The Last Detail

Best Supporting Actress: Tatum O'Neil in Paper Moon

The contenders: Linda Blair in The Exorcist, Candy Clark in American Graffiti, Madeline Kahn in Paper Moon, and Sylvia Sidney in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams

1974

Best Picture: The Godfather, Part II

The contenders: Chinatown, The Conversation, Lenny, and The Towering Inferno

Best Actor: Art Carney in Harry and Tonto

The contenders: Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express, Dustin Hoffman in Lenny, Jack Nicholson in Chinatown, and Al Pacino in The Godfather, Part II

Best Actress: Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

The contenders: Diahann Carroll in Claudine, Faye Dunaway in Chinatown, Valerie Perrine in Lenny, and Gena Rowlands in A Woman Under the Influence

Best Supporting Actor: Robert De Niro in The Godfather, Part II

The contenders: Fred Astaire in The Towering Inferno, Jeff Bridges in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Michael V. Gazzo in The Godfather, Part II, and Lee Strasberg in The Godfather, Part II

Best Supporting Actress: Ingrid Bergman in Murder on the Orient Express

The contenders: Valentina Cortese in Day for Night, Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles, Diane Ladd in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and Talia Shire in The Godfather, Part II

Best Director: Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather, Part II

The contenders: John Cassavetes for A Woman Under the Influence, Bob Fosse for Lenny, Roman Polanski for Chinatown, and Francois Truffaut for Day for Night

1975

Best Picture: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

The contenders: Barry Lyndon, Dog Day Afternoon, Jaws, and Nashville

Best Actor: Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

The contenders: Walter Matthau in The Sunshine Boys, Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon, Maximilian Schell in The Man in the Glass Booth, and James Whitmore in Give 'Em Hell, Harry!

Best Actress: Louise Fletcher in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

The

Best Supporting Actor: George Burns in The Sunshine Boys

The contenders: Brad Dourif in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Burgess Meredith in The Day of the Locust, Chris Sarandon in Dog Day Afternoon, and Jack Warden in Shampoo

Best Supporting Actress: Lee Grant in Shampoo

The contenders: Ronee Blakley in Nashville, Sylvia Miles in Farewell, My Lovely, Lily Tomlin in Nashville, and Brenda Vaccaro in Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough

Best Director: Milos Forman for One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest

The contenders: Robert Altman for Nashville, Federico Fellini for Amarcord, Stanley Kubrick for Barry Lyndon, and Sidney Lumet for Dog Day Afternoon

1976

Best Picture: Rocky

The contenders: All the President's Men, Bound for Glory, Network, and Taxi Driver

Best Actor: Peter Finch in Network

The contenders: Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver, Giancarlo Giannini in Seven Beauties, William Holden in Network, and Sylvester Stallone in Rocky

Best Actress: Faye Dunaway in Network

The contenders: Marie-Christine Barrault in Cousin, Cousine, Talia Shire in Rocky, Sissy Spacek in Carrie, and Liv Ullmann in Face to Face

Best Supporting Actor: Jason Robards in All the President's Men

The contenders: Ned Beatty in Network, Burgess Meredith in Rocky, Laurence Olivier in Marathon Man and Burt Young in Rocky

Best Supporting Actress: Beatrice Straight in Network

The contenders: Jane Alexander in All the President's Men, Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver, Lee Grant in Voyage of the Damned, and Piper Laurie in Carrie

Best Director: John G. Avildsen for Rocky

The contenders: Ingmar Bergman for Face to Face, Sydney Lumet for Network, Alan J. Pakula for All the President's Men, and Lina Wertmuller for Seven Beauties

Many may disagree, but 1977 was the year of Star Wars. Just the fact that Annie Hall beat the most successful movie of its time - a true phenomenon in every sense of the word - raises some questions about the Academy's credibility in my mind.

1977

Best Picture: Annie Hall

The contenders: The Goodbye Girl, Julia, Star Wars, and Turning Point

Best Actor: Richard Dreyfuss in The Goodbye Girl

The contenders: Woody Allen in Annie Hall, Richard Burton in Equus, Marcello Mastroianni in A Special Day, and John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever

Best Actress: Diane Keaton for Annie Hall

The contenders: Anne Bancroft in The Turning Point, Jane Fonda in Julia, Shirley MacLaine in The Turning Point, and Marsha Mason in The Goodbye Girl

Best Supporting Actor: Jason Robards in Julia

The contenders: Mikhail Baryshnikov in The Turning Point, Peter Firth in Equus, Alec Guinness in Star Wars, and Maximilian Schell in Julia

Best Supporting Actress: Vanessa Redgrave in Julia

The contenders: Leslie Browne in The Turning Point, Quinn Cummings in The Goodbye Girl, Melinda Dillon in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Tuesday Weld in Looking for Mr. Goodbar

Best Director: Woody Allen for Annie Hall

The contenders: George Lucas for Star Wars, Herbert Ross for The Turning Point, Steven Spielberg for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Fred Zinnemann for Julia

1978

Best Picture: The Deer Hunter

The contenders: Coming Home, Heaven Can Wait, Midnight Express and An Unmarried Woman

Best Actor: Jon Voight in Coming Home

The contenders: Warren Beatty in Heaven Can Wait, Gary Busey in The Buddy Holly Story, Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter, and Laurence Olivier in The Boys From Brazil

Best Actress: Jane Fonda in Coming Home

The contenders: Ingrid Bergman in Autumn Sonata, Ellen Burstyn in Same Time, Next Year, Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman, and Geraldine Page in Interiors

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter

The contenders: Bruce Dern in Coming Home, Richard Farnsworth in Comes a Horseman, John Hurt in Midnight Express, and Jack Warden in Heaven Can Wait

Best Supporting Actress: Maggie Smith for California Suite

The contenders: Dyan Cannon in Heaven Can Wait, Penelope Milford in Coming Home, Maureen Stapleton in Interiors, and Meryl Streep in The Deer Hunter

Best Director: Michael Cimino for The Deer Hunter

The contenders: Woody Allen for Interiors, Hal Ashby for Coming Home, Warren Beatty and Buck Henry for Heaven Can Wait, and Alan Parker for Midnight Express

1979

Best Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer

The contenders: All That Jazz, Apocalypse Now, Breaking Away, and Norma Rae

Best Actor: Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer

The contenders: Jack Lemmon in The China Syndrome, Al Pacino in ...And Justice For All, Roy Scheider in All That Jazz, and Peter Sellers in Being There

Best Actress: Sally Field in Norma Rae

The contenders: Jill Clayburgh in Starting Over, Jane Fonda in The China Syndrome, Marsha Mason in Chapter Two, and Bette Midler in "The Rose"

Best Supporting Actor: Melvyn Douglas in Being There

The contenders: Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now, Frederic Forrest in The Rose, Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer, and Mickey Rooney in The Black Stallion

Best Supporting Actress: Meryl Streep in Kramer vs. Kramer

The contenders: Jane Alexander in Kramer vs. Kramer, Barbarie Barrie in Breaking Away, Candice Bergen in Starting Over, and Mariel Hemingway in Manhattan

Best Director: Robert Benton for Kramer vs. Kramer

The contenders: Francis Ford Coppola for Apocalypse Now, Bob Fosse for All That Jazz, Edouard Molinaro for La Cage Aux Folles, and Peter Yates for Breaking Away

1980

Best Picture: Ordinary People

The contenders: Coal Miner's Daughter, The Elephant Man, Raging Bull and Tess

Best Actor: Robert De Niro in Raging Bull

The contenders: Robert Duvall in The Great Santini, John Hurt in The Elephant Man, Jack Lemmon in Tribute, and Peter O'Toole in The Stunt Man

Best Actress: Sissy Spacek in Coal Miner's Daughter

The contenders: Ellen Burstyn in Resurrection, Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin, Mary Tyler Moore in Ordinary People, and Gena Rowlands in Gloriacontenders: Isabelle Adjani in The Story of Adele H., Ann-Margret in Tommy, Glenda Jackson in Hedda, and Carol Kane in Hester Street

Best Supporting Actor: Timothy Hutton in Ordinary People

The

Best Supporting Actress: Mary Steenburgen in Melvin & Howard

The contenders: Eileen Brennan in Private Benjamin, Eva Le Gallienne in Resurrection, Cathy Moriarty in Raging Bull, and Diana Scarwid in Inside Moves

Best Director: Robert Redford for Ordinary People

The contenders: David Lynch for The Elephant Man, Roman Polanski for Tess, Richard Rush for The Stunt Man, and Martin Scorsese for Raging Bull

Again, we come to one year in which I have to object to a few of the Academy's choices. For one thing, I do not think Chariots of Fire deserved the Best Picture award over Steven Spielberg's action-adventure masterpiece, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

1981

Best Picture: Chariots of Fire

The contenders: Atlantic City, On Golden Pond, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Reds

Best Actor: Henry Fonda in On Golden Pond

The contenders: Warren Beatty in Reds, Burt Lancaster in Atlantic, Dudley Moore in Arthur, and Paul Newman in Absence of Malice

Best Actress: Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond

The contenders: Diane Keaton in Reds, Marsha Mason in Only When I laugh, Susan Sarandon in Atlantic City, and Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman

Best Supporting Actor: John Gielgud in Arthur

The contenders: James Coco in Only When I Laugh, Ian Holm in Chariots of Fire, Jack Nicholson in Reds, and Howard E. Rollins, Jr. in Ragtime

Best Supporting Actress: Maureen Stapleton in Reds

The contenders: Melinda Dillon in Absence of Malice, Jane Fonda in On Golden Pond, Joan Hackett in Only When I Laugh, and Elizabeth McGovern in Ragtime

Best Director: Warren Beatty for Reds

The contenders: Hugh Hudson for Chariots of Fire, Louis Malle for Atlantic City, Mark Rydell for On Golden Pond, and Steven Spielberg for Raiders of the Lost Ark

Again, the decisions of the 1982 Academy Awards are objectionable. Since it broke records and won the hearts of millions, Spielberg's E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial deserved Best Picture over Gandhi. But that's my personal opinion.

1982

Best Picture: Gandhi

The contenders: E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial, Missing, Tootsie, and The Verdict

Best Actor: Ben Kingsley in Gandhi

The contenders: Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie, Jack Lemmon in Missing, Paul Newman in The Verdict, and Peter O'Toole in My Favorite Year

Best Actress: Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice

The contenders: Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria, Jessica Lange in Frances, Sissy Spacek in Missing, and Debra Winger in An Officer and a Gentleman

Best Supporting Actor: Louis Gossett, Jr. in An Officer and a Gentleman

The contenders: Charles Durning in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, John Lithgow in The World According to Garp, James Mason in The Verdict, and Robert Preston in Victor/Victoriacontenders: Judd Hirsch in Ordinary People, Michael O'Keefe in The Great Santini, Joe Pesci in Raging Bull and Jason Robards in Melvin and Howard

Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Lange in Tootsie

The

Best Director: Richard Attenborough for Gandhi

The contenders: Sidney Lumet for The Verdict, Wolfgang Petersen for Das Boot, Sydney Pollack for Tootsie, and Steven Spielberg for E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial

1983contenders: Glenn Close in The World According to Garp, Teri Garr in Tootsie, Kim Stanley in Frances, and Lesley Ann Warren in Victor/Victoria

Best Picture: Terms of Endearment

The contenders: The Big Chill, The Dresser, The Right Stuff, and Tender Mercies

Best Actor: Robert Duvall in Tender Mercies

The

Best Actress: Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment

The contenders: Jane Alexander in Testament, Meryl Streep in Silkwood, Julie Walters in Educating Rita, and Debra Winger in Terms of Endearmentcontenders: Michael Caine in Educating Rita, Tom Conti in Reuben, Reuben, Tom Courtenay in The Dresser, and Albert Finney in The Dresser

Best Supporting Actor: Jack Nicholson in Terms of Endearment

The contenders: Charles Durning in To Be or Not to Be, John Lithgow in Terms of Endearment, Sam Shepard in The Right Stuff, and Rip Torn in Cross Creek

Best Supporting Actress: Linda Hunt in The Year of Living Dangerously

The

Best Director: James L. Brooks for Terms of Endearment

The contenders: Bruce Beresford for Tender Mercies, Ingmar Bergman for Fanny and Alexander, Mike Nichols for Silkwood, and Peter Yates for The Dresser

1984

Best Picture: Amadeus

The contenders: The Killing Fields, A Passage to India, Places in the Heart, and A Soldier's Story

Best Actor: F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus

The contenders: Jeff Bridges in Starman, Albert Finney in Under the Volcano, Tom Hulce in Amadeus, and Sam Waterston in The Killing Fields

Best Actress: Sally Field in Places in the Heart

The contenders: Judy Davis in A Passage to India, Jessica Lange in Country, Vanessa Redgrave in The Bostonians, and Sissy Spacek in The Rivercontenders: Cher in Silkwood, Glenn Close in The Big Chill, Amy Irving in Yentl, and Alfre Woodard in Cross Creek

Best Supporting Actor: Haing S. NGor in The Killing Fields

The

Best Supporting Actress: Peggy Ashcroft in A Passage to India

The contenders: Glenn Close in The Natural, Lindsay Crouse in Places in the Heart, Christine Lahti in Swing Shift, and Geraldine Page in The Pope of Greenwich Village

Best Director: Milos Forman for Amadeus

The contenders: Woody Allen for Broadway Danny Rose, Robert Benton for Places in the Heart, Roland Joffe for The Killing Fields, and David Lean for A Passage to India

1985

Best Picture: Out of Africa

The contenders: The Color Purple, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Prizzi's Honor, and Witness

Best Actor: William Hurt in Kiss of the Spider Woman

The contenders: Harrison Ford in Witness, James Garner in Murphy's Romance, Jack Nicholson in Prizzi's Honor, and Jon Voight in Runaway Train

Best Actress: Geraldine Page in The Trip to Bountiful

The contenders: Anne Bancroft in Agnes of God, Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple, Jessica Lange in Sweet Dreams, and Meryl Streep in Out of Africa

Best Supporting Actor: Don Ameche in Cocoon

The contenders: Klaus Maria Brandauer in Out of Africa, William Hickey in Prizzi's Honor, Robert Loggia in Jagged Edge, and Eric Roberts in Runaway Train

Best Supporting Actress: Anjelica Huston in Prizzi's Honor

The contenders: Margaret Avery in The Color Purple, Amy Madigan in Twice in a Lifetime, Meg Tilly in Agnes of God, and Oprah Winfrey in The Color Purple

Best Director: Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa

The contenders: Hecter Babenco for Kiss of the Spider Woman, John Huston for Prizzi's Honor, Akira Kurosawa for Ran, and Peter Weir for Witness

In 1986, I believe there were a few omissions in the 1986 roster for Best Picture. One of them is James Cameron's sci-fi masterpiece, Aliens. However, it did receive the first nomination for Best Actress in its genre. Aliens is worth consideration for that major award but not the top prize? Incidentally, I believe Best Actress should've gone to Sigourney Weaver.

1986

Best Picture: Platoon

The contenders: Children of a Lesser God, Hannah and Her Sisters, The Mission, and A Room with a Viewcontenders: Adolph Caesar in A Soldier's Story, John Malkovich in Places in the Heart, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita in The Karate Kid, and Ralph Richardson in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes

Best Actor: Paul Newman in The Color of Money

The contenders: Dexter Gordon in 'Round Midnight, Bob Hoskins in Mona Lisa, William Hurt in Children of a Lesser God, and James Woods in Salvador

Best Actress: Marlee Matlin in Children of a Lesser God

The contenders: Jane Fonda in The Morning After, Sissy Spacek in Crimes of the Heart, Kathleen Turner in Peggy Sue Got Married, and Sigourney Weaver in Aliens

Best Supporting Actor: Michael Caine in Hannah and Her Sisters

The

Best Supporting Actress: Dianne Wiest in Hannah and Her Sisters

The contenders: Tess Harper in Crimes of the Heart, Piper Laurie in Children of a Lesser God, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio in The Color of Money, and Maggie Smith in A Room with a Viewcontenders: Tom Berenger in Platoon, Willem Dafoe in Platoon, Denholm Elliott in A Room with a View, and Dennis Hopper in Hoosiers

Best Director: Oliver Stone for Platoon

The

1987

Best Picture: The Last Emperor

The contenders: Broadcast News, Fatal Attraction, Hope and Glory, and Moonstruck

Best Actor: Michael Douglas in Wall Street

The contenders: William Hurt in Broadcast News, Marcello Mastroianni in Dark Eyes, Jack Nicholson in Ironweed, and Robin Williams in Good Morning, Vietnam

Best Actress: Cher in Moonstruck

The contenders: Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, Holly Hunter in Broadcast News, Sally Kirkland in Anna, and Meryl Streep in Ironweed

Best Supporting Actor: Sean Connery in The Untouchables

The contenders: Albert Brooks in Broadcast News, Morgan Freeman in Street Smart, Vincent Gardenia in Moonstruck, and Denzel Washington in Cry Freedom

Best Supporting Actress: Olympia Dukakis in Moonstruck

The contenders: Norma Aleandro in Gaby - a True Story, Anne Archer in Fatal Attraction, Anne Ramsey in Throw Momma From the Train, and Ann Sothern in The Whales of August

Best Director: Bernardo Bertolucci for The Last Emperor

The contenders: John Boorman for Hope and Glory, Lasse Hallstrom for My Life as a Dog, Norman Jewison for Moonstruck, and Adrian Lyne for Fatal Attraction

1988

Best Picture: Rain Man

The contenders: The Accidental Tourist, Dangerous Liaisons, Mississippi Burning, and Working Girl

Best Actor: Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man

The contenders: Gene Hackman in Mississippi Burning, Tom Hanks in Big, Edward James Olmos in Stand and Deliver, and Max von Sydow in Pelle the Conqueror

Best Actress: Jodie Foster in Accused

The contenders: Glenn Close in Dangerous Liaisons, Melanie Griffith in Working Girl, Meryl Streep in A Cry in the Dark, and Sigourney Weaver in Gorillas in the Mist

Best Supporting Actor: Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda

The contenders: Alec Guinness in Little Dorritt, Martin Landau in Tucker: the Man and His Dream, River Phoenix in Running on Empty, and Dean Stockwell in Married to the Mob

Best Supporting Actress: Geena Davis in The Accidental Tourist

The contenders: Joan Cusack in Working Girl, Frances McDormand in Mississippi Burning, Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Liaisons, and Sigourney Weaver in Working Girl

Best Director: Barry Levinson for Rain Man

The contenders: Charles Crichton for A Fish Called Wanda, Mike Nichols for Working Girl, Alan Parker for Mississippi Burning, and Martin Scorsese for The Last Temptation of Christ

In 1989, many people would have to disagree with the Academy's Best Picture choice. But given the other nominees, I really don't have an opinion. Where's the Civil War masterpiece, Glory?

1989

Best Picture: Driving Miss Daisy

The contenders: Born on the Fourth of July, Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams, and My Left Foot

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot

The contenders: Kenneth Branagh in Henry V, Tom Cruise in Born on the Fourth of July, Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy, and Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society

Best Actress: Jessica Tandy in Driving Miss Daisy

The contenders: Isabelle Adjani in Camille Claudel, Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine, Jessica Lange in Music Box, and Michelle Pfeiffer in The Fabulous Baker Boys

Best Supporting Actor: Denzel Washington in Glory

The contenders: Danny Aiello in Do the Right Thing, Dan Aykroyd in Driving Miss Daisy, Marlon Brando in A Dry White Season, and Martin Landau in Crimes and Misdemeanors

Best Supporting Actress: Brenda Fricker in My Left Foot

The contenders: Anjelica Huston in Enemies, a Love Story, Lena Olin in Enemies, a Love Story, Julia Roberts in Steel Magnolias, and Dianne Wiest in Parenthoodcontenders: Woody Allen for Hannah and Her Sisters, James Ivory for A Room with a View, Roland Joffe for The Mission, and David Lynch for Blue Velvet

Best Director: Oliver Stone for Born on the Fourth of July

The

Now on to a decade in which I believe the Academy really shined. With a few exceptions, awards and nominations were given to all the right people and all the right movies. I just wish James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgment Day was taken more seriously. But in my mind, the 1990s were like the second coming for the Golden Age of Hollywood.

1990

Best Picture: Dances With Wolves

The contenders: Awakenings, Ghost, The Godfather, Part III, and GoodFellas

Best Actor: Jeremy Irons in Reversal of Fortune

The contenders: Kevin Costner in "Dances With Wolves", Robert De Niro in "Awakenings", Gerard Depardieu in "Cyrano de Bergerac", Richard Harris in "The Field"

Best Actress: Kathy Bates in Misery

The contenders: Anjelica Huston in The Grifters, Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge, and Joanne Woodward in Mr. and Mrs. Bridge

Best Supporting Actor: Joe Pesci in Goodfellas

The contenders: Bruce Davison in Longtime Companion, Andy Garcia in The Godfather, Part III, Graham Greene in Dances With Wolves, and Al Pacino in Dick Tracy

Best Supporting Actress: Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost

The contenders: Annette Bening in The Grifters, Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas, Diane Ladd in Wild at Heart, and Mary McDonnell in Dances With Wolves

Best Director: Kevin Costner for Dances With Wolves

The contenders: Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather, Part III, Stephen Frears for The Grifters, Barbet Schroeder for Reversal of Fortune, and Martin Scorsese for GoodFellas

1991

Best Picture: The Silence of the Lambs

The contenders: Beauty and the Beast, Bugsy, JFK, and The Prince of Tidescontenders: Woody Allen for Crimes and Misdemeanors, Kenneth Branagh for Henry V, Jim Sheridan for My Left Foot, and Peter Weir for Dead Poets Society

Best Actor: Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs

The

Best Actress: Jodie Foster in The Silence of the Lambs

The contenders: Geena Davis in Thelma & Louise, Laura Dern in Rambling Rose, Bette Midler in For the Boys, and Susan Sarandon in Thelma & Louisecontenders: Warren Beatty in Bugsy, Robert De Niro in Cape Fear, Nick Nolte in The Prince of Tides, and Robin Williams in The Fisher King

Best Supporting Actor: Jack Palance in City Slickers

The

Best Supporting Actress: Mercedes Ruehl in The Fisher King

The contenders: Diane Ladd in Rambling Rose, Juliette Lewis in Cape Fear, Kate Nelligan in The Prince of Tides, and Jessica Tandy in Fried Green Tomatoes

Best Director: Jonathon Demme for The Silence of the Lambs

The contenders: Barry Levinson for Bugsy, Ridley Scott for Thelma & Louise, John Singleton for Boyz N the Hood, and Oliver Stone for JFKcontenders: Tommy Lee Jones in JFK, Harvey Keitel in Bugsy, Ben Kingsley in Bugsy, and Michael Lerner in Barton Fink
1992

Best Picture: Unforgiven
The contenders: The Crying Game, A Few Good Men, Howards End, and Scent of a Woman
Best Actor: Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman
The contenders: Robert Downey, Jr. in Chaplin, Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven, Stephen Rea in The Crying Game, and Denzel Washington in Malcolm X
Best Actress: Emma Thompson in Howards End
The contenders: Catherine Deneuve in Indochine, Mary McDonnell in Passion Fish, Michelle Pfeiffer in Love Field, and Susan Sarandon in Lorenzo's Oil
Best Supporting Actor: Gene Hackman in Unforgiven
The contenders: Jaye Davidson in The Crying Game, Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, Al Pacino in Glengarry Glen Ross, and David Paymer in Mr. Saturday Night
Best Supporting Actress: Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny
The contenders: Judy Davis in Husbands and Wives, Joan Plowright in Enchanted April, Vanessa Redgrave in Howards End, and Miranda Richardson in Damage
Best Director: Clint Eastwood for Unforgiven
The contenders: Robert Altman for The Player, Martin Brest for Scent of a Woman, James Ivory for Howards End, and Neil Jordan for The Crying Game

1993

Best Picture: Schindler's List
The contenders: The Fugitive, In the Name of the Father, The Piano, and The Remains of the Day
Best Actor: Tom Hanks in Philadelphia
The contenders: Daniel Day-Lewis in In the Name of the Father, Laurence Fishburne in What's Love Got to Do With It, Anthony Hopkins in The Remains of the Day, Liam Neeson in Schindler's List
Best Actress: Holly Hunter in The Piano
The contenders: Angela Bassett in What's Love Got to Do With It, Stockard Channing in Six Degrees of Separation, Emma Thompson in The Remains of the Day, and Debra Winger in Shadowlands
Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive
The contenders: Leonardo DiCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List, John Malkovich for In the Line of Fire, and Pete Postlethwaite in In the Name of the Father
Best Supporting Actress: Anna Paquin in The Piano
The contenders: Holly Hunter in The Firm, Rosie Perez in Fearless, Winona Ryder in The Age of Innocence, and Emma Thompson for In the Name of the Father
Best Director: Steven Spielberg for Schindler's List
The contenders: Robert Altman for Short Cuts, Jane Campion for The Piano, James Ivory for The Remains of the Day, and Jim Sheridan for In the Name of the Father

1994

Best Picture: Forrest Gump
The contenders: Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show and The Shawshank Redemption
Best Actor: Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump
The contenders: Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption, Nigel Hawthorne in The Madness of King George, Paul Newman in Nobody's Fool, and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction
Best Actress: Jessica Lange in Blue Sky
The contenders: Jodie Foster in Nell, Miranda Richardson in Tom and Viv, Winona Ryder in Little Women, and Susan Sarandon in The Client
Best Supporting Actor: Martin Landau in Ed Wood
The contenders: Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction, Chazz Palminteri in Bullets Over Broadway, Paul Scofield in Quiz Show, and Gary Sinise in Forrest Gump
Best Supporting Actress: Dianne Wiest in Bullets Over Broadway
The contenders: Rosemary Harris in Tom and Viv, Helen Mirren in The Madness of King George, Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, and Jennifer Tilly in Bullets Over Broadway
Best Director: Robert Zemeckis for Forrest Gump
The contenders: Woody Allen for Bullets Over Broadway, Krzysztof Kieslowski for Red, Robert Redford for Quiz Show, and Quentin Tarantino for Pulp Fiction

1995

Best Picture: Braveheart
The contenders: Apollo 13, Babe, Il Postino, and Sense and Sensibility
Best Actor: Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas
The contenders: Richard Dreyfuss in Mr. Holland's Opus, Anthony Hopkins in Nixon, Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking, and Massimo Troisi in "Il Postino
Best Actress: Susan Surandon in Dead Man Walking
The contenders: Elisabeth Shue in Leaving Las Vegas, Sharon Stone in Casino, Meryl Streep in The Bridges of Madison County, and Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility
Best Supporting Actor: Kevin Spacey in The Usual Suspects
The contenders: James Cromwell in Babe, Ed Harris in Apollo 13, Brad Pitt in 12 Monkeys, and Tim Roth in Rob Roy
Best Supporting Actress: Mira Sorvino in Mighty Aphrodite
The contenders: Joan Allen in Nixon, Kathleen Quinlan in Apollo 13, Mare Winningham in Georgia, and Kate Winslet in Sense and Sensibility
Best Director: Mel Gibson for Braveheart
The contenders: Mike Figgis for Leaving Las Vegas, Chris Noonan for Babe, Michael Radford for Il Postino, and Tim Robbins for Dead Man Walking

1996

Best Picture: The English Patient
The contenders: Fargo, Jerry Maguire, Secrets and Lies, and Shine
Best Actor: Geoffrey Rush in Shine
The contenders: Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire, Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient, Woody Harrelson in The People vs. Larry Flynt, and Billy Bob Thornton in "Sling Blade
Best Actress: Frances McDormand in Fargo
The contenders: Brenda Blethyn in Secrets and Lies, Diane Keaton in Marvin's Room, Kristin Scott Thomas in The English Patient, and Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves
Best Supporting Actor: Cuba Gooding Jr. in Jerry Maguire
The contenders: William H. Macy in Fargo, Armin Mueller-Stahl in Shine, Edward Norton in Primal Fear, and James Woods in Ghosts of Mississippi
Best Supporting Actress: Juliette Binoche in The English Patient
The contenders: Joan Allen in The Crucible, Lauren Bacall in The Mirror Has Two Faces, Barbara Hershey in Portrait of a Lady, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste in Secrets and Lies
Best Director: Anthony Minghella for The English Patient
The contenders: Joel Coen for Fargo, Milos Forman for The People vs. Larry Flynt, Scott Hicks for Shine, and Mike Leigh for Secrets and Lies

1997

Best Picture: Titanic
The contenders: L.A. Confidential, As Good As It Gets, Good Will Hunting, and The Full Monty
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets
The contenders: Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting, Dustin Hoffman in Wag the Dog, Robert Duvall in The Apostle, and Peter Fonda in Ulee's Gold
Best Actress: Helen Hunt in As Good As It Gets
The contenders: Judi Dench in (Her Majesty) Mrs. Brown, Helena Bonham Carter in The Wings of the Dove, Kate Winslet in Titanic, and Julie Christie in Afterglow
Best Supporting Actor: Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting
The contenders: Robert Forster in Jackie Brown, Anthony Hopkins in Amistad, Greg Kinnear in As Good As It Gets, and Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights
Best Supporting Actress: Kim Basinger in L.A. Confidential
The contenders: Joan Cusack for In and Out, Minnie Driver in Good Will Hunting, Julianne Moore in Boogie Nights, and Gloria Stuart in Titanic
Best Director: James Cameron for Titanic
The contenders: Peter Cattaneo for The Full Monty, Atom Egoyan for The Sweet Hereafter, Curtis Hanson for L.A. Confidential, and Gus Van Sant for Good Will Hunting

1998

Best Picture: Shakespeare in Love
The contenders: Elizabeth, Life is Beautiful (Best Foreign Language Film winner), Saving Private Ryan, and The Thin Red Line
Best Actor: Roberto Benigni in Life is Beautiful
The contenders: Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan, Ian McKellen in Gods and Monsters, Nick Nolte in Affliction, and Edward Norton in American History X
Best Actress: Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love
The contenders: Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth, Fernanda Montenegro in Central Station, Meryl Streep in One True Thing, and Emily Watson in Hilary and Jackie
Best Supporting Actor: James Coburn in Affliction
The contenders: Robert Duvall in A Civil Action, Ed Harris in The Truman Show, Geoffrey Rush in Shakespeare in Love, and Billy Bob Thornton in A Simple Plan
Best Supporting Actress: Judy Dench in Shakespeare in Love
The contenders: Kathy Bates in Primary Colors, Brenda Blethyn in Little Voice, Rachel Griffiths in Hilary and Jackie, and Lynn Redgrave in Gods and Monsters
Best Director: Steven Spielberg for Saving Private Ryan
The contenders: Roberto Benigni for Life is Beautiful, John Madden for Shakespeare in Love, Terrence Malick for The Thin Red Line, and Peter Weir for The Truman Show

1999

Best Picture: American Beauty
The contenders: The Cider House Rules, The Green Mile, The Insider, and The Sixth Sense
Best Actor: Kevin Spacey in American Beauty
The contenders: Russell Crowe in The Insider, Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story, Sean Penn in Sweet and Lowdown, and Denzel Washington in The Hurricane
Best Actress: Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry
The contenders: Annette Bening in American Beauty, Janet McTeer in Tumbleweeds, Julianne Moore in The End of the Affair, and Meryl Streep in Music of the Heart
Best Supporting Actor: Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules
The contenders: Tom Cruise in Magnolia, Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile, Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense
Best Supporting Actress: Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted
The contenders: Toni Collette in The Sixth Sense, Catherine Keener in Being John Malkovich, Samantha Morton in Sweet and Lowdown, and Chloe Sevigny in Boys Don't Cry
Best Director: Sam Mendes for American Beauty
The contenders: Spike Jonze for Being John Malkovich, Lasse Hallstrom for The Cider House Rules, Michael Mann for The Insider, and M. Night Shyamalan for The Sixth Sense

2000

Best Picture: Gladiator
Best Actor: Russell Crowe in Gladiator
Best Actress: Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich
Best Supporting Actor: Benicio Del Toro in Traffic
Best Supporting Actress: Marcia Gay Harden in Pollock
Best Director: Steven Soderbergh for Traffic

2001

Best Picture: A Beautiful Mind
Best Animated Feature Film: Shrek
Best Actor: Denzel Washington in Training Day
Best Actress: Halle Berry in Monster's Ball
Best Supporting Actor: Jim Broadbent in Iris
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Connelly in A Beautiful Mind
Best Director: Ron Howard for A Beautiful Mind

2002

Best Picture: Chicago
Best Animated Feature Film: Spirited Away
Best Actor: Adrien Brody for The Pianist
Best Actress: Nicole Kidman in The Hours
Best Supporting Actor: Chris Cooper for Adaptation
Best Supporting Actress: Catharine Zeta-Jones in Chicago
Best Director: Roman Polanski for The Pianist

2003

Best Picture:The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Best Animated Feature Film: Finding Nemo
Best Actor: Sean Penn in Mystic River
Best Actress: Charlize Theron in Monster
Best Supporting Actor: Tim Robbins in Mystic River
Best Supporting Actress: Renee Zellweger in Cold Mountain
Best Director: Peter Jackson for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

2004

Best Picture: Million Dollar Baby
Best Animated Feature Film: The Incredibles
Best Actor: Jamie Foxx for Ray
Best Actress: Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby
Best Supporting Actor: Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett in The Aviator
Best Director: Clint Eastwood for Million Dollar Baby

2005

Best Picture: Crash
Best Animated Feature Film: Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of The Were-Rabbit
Best Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line
Best Supporting Actor: George Clooney in Syriana
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz in The Constant Gardener
Best Director: Ang Lee for Brokeback Mountain

2006

Best Picture: The Departed
Best Animated Feature Film: Happy Feet
Best Actor: Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland
Best Actress: Helen Mirren in The Queen
Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls
Best Director: Martin Scorsese for The Departed

2007 Nominees

Picture: Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country for Old Men, and There Will Be Blood
Animated Feature Film: Persepolis, Ratatouille, and Surf's Up
Actor: George Clooney in Michael Clayton, Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood, Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Tommy Lee Jones for In the Valley of Elah, and Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises
Actress: Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Julie Christie in Away From Her, Marion Cotillard in La Vie en Rose, Laura Linney in The Savages, and Ellen Page in Juno
Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men, Hal Holbrook for Into the Wild, Philip Seymour Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War, and Tom Wilkinson in Michael Clayton
Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There, Ruby Dee in American Gangster, Saoirse Ronan in Atonement, Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone, and Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton
Director: Julian Schnabel for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Jason Reitman for Juno, Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen for No Country for Old Men, and Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood

As we come to a close, let me say that I think Oscar has shined brighter. The prestigious Best Picture honor that so many have craved has eluded the wrong people, been bestowed upon the right people and sat there, ready for one brilliant mind to claim it. Which one of the films nominated for the 2007 Academy Awards will be counted among the 79 that won before it in this illustrious list?