| 21st Academy Awards | |
|---|---|
| Date | March 24, 1949 |
| Site | Academy Awards Theatre,West Hollywood,California, USA |
| Hosted by | Robert Montgomery[1] |
| Highlights | |
| Best Picture | Hamlet |
| Most awards | Hamlet (4) |
| Most nominations | Johnny Belinda (12) |
The21st Academy Awards were held on March 24, 1949, honoring the films of1948. The ceremony was moved from the Shrine Auditorium to the Academy's own theater, primarily because the major Hollywood studios had withdrawn their financial support in order to address rumors that they had been trying to influence voters.[2] This year marked the first time a non-Hollywood production (Laurence Olivier'sHamlet) won Best Picture, and the first time an individual (Olivier) directed himself in an Oscar-winning performance.
TheAcademy Award for Best Costume Design was introduced this year.[1] LikeBest Cinematography andBest Set Decoration, it was split into Color and Black & White categories.
John Huston directed his father,Walter Huston, to theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Howard inThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre, a unique accomplishment. The Huston family won three Oscars that evening (John won forBest Director andBest Screenplay, both for the same film).Humphrey Bogart's lack of a nomination for Best Actor has been since considered one of the Academy's greatest slights.[3][4]
Joan of Arc set a record by receiving seven nominations without being nominated for Best Picture; this stood untilThey Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) received nine nominations at the42nd Academy Awards without one for Best Picture.Walter Wanger, producer of the film, was not pleased to see the film avoid a Best Picture nomination, and turned down a special Oscar designed to make up for this slight.[5]
Hamlet became the fifth film to win Best Picture without a screenwriting nomination; the next to do so would beThe Sound of Music at the38th Academy Awards.Jane Wyman became the first performer since the silent era to win an Oscar for a performance with no lines;[4]Johnny Belinda was the fourth film to receivenominations in all four acting categories.
In addition,Johnny Belinda set the record for most Oscars lost with 11 (1 for 12). It has since been tied withBecket (1 for 12),The Turning Point (0 for 11),The Color Purple (0 for 11),The Power of the Dog (1 for 12), andEmilia Pérez (2 for 13).
I Remember Mama received four acting nominations but not one for Best Picture, tying the record set byMy Man Godfrey in1936. Two more films to date have tied this record:Othello (1965) andDoubt (2008).
Nominees were announced on February 10, 1949. Winners are listed first and highlighted inboldface.[6]
| Awards | Film |
|---|---|
| 4 | Hamlet |
| 3 | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre |
| 2 | Joan of Arc |
| The Naked City | |
| The Red Shoes |
