Saturday, February 26, 2011

1941 Oscar Winners


Today in 1942 - A big banquet, Biltmore Hotel style, was the setting for Hollywood’s 14th Academy Awards.
Dinner guests were addressed by the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt. Mr. Roosevelt, heard via radio, thanked the film industry for its WWII defense preparedness work.
The final course served up Oscars in sealed envelopes (the first time) to John Ford (Best Director, How Green Was My Valley); Gary Cooper (Best Actor, Sergeant York); Joan Fontaine (Best Actress, Suspicion); Mary Astor (Best Supporting Actress, The Great Lie) and Donald Crisp (Best Supporting Actor: How Green Was My Valley.
All toasted the Best Picture of the Year, How Green Was My Valley. This was the third Best Director statuette presented to John Ford. He received his second, a year earlier for The Grapes of Wrath, and the first for the 1935 film, The Informer.


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