| 18th Academy Awards | |
|---|---|
| Date | March 7, 1946 |
| Site | Grauman's Chinese Theatre,Hollywood,California, USA |
| Hosted by | James Stewart Bob Hope |
| Highlights | |
| Best Picture | The Lost Weekend |
| Most awards | The Lost Weekend (4) |
| Most nominations | The Bells of St. Mary's (8) |
The18th Academy Awards were held on March 7, 1946, atGrauman's Chinese Theatre to honor the films of1945. Being the first Oscars after the end ofWorld War II, the ceremony returned to the glamour of the prewar years; notably, the plaster statuettes that had been used during the war were replaced by bronze statuettes with gold plating and an elevated base.
Despite the optimistic postwar mood, directorBilly Wilder's grim and socially significant dramaThe Lost Weekend won the major awards ofBest Picture andBest Director, as well as two other awards. It was the first film to win both Best Picture and thePalme d'Or at theCannes Film Festival.Best Actress nomineeJoan Crawford was absent due to illness.[1][2]
This was the first year in which every film nominated for Best Picture won at least one Oscar, and also the first time a sequel (The Bells of St. Mary's) was nominated for Best Picture.
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Nominations announced on January 27, 1946. Winners are listed first and highlighted inboldface.[3]
| Awards | Film |
|---|---|
| 4 | The Lost Weekend |
| 2 | National Velvet |
