AWARDS 1935 to 1939

In this five year span of time, 2,280 movies were released for audiences, 1937 led with 495 movies. Not listed during this era are the wonderful Thin Man series starring William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Asta, the dog. On a trival note, my grandmother wanted to name me Myrna. Oh my, to be named for such a neat lady. I would have been okay with it if I could have had a airdale, too!

1935
* Mutiny on the Bounty
Clark Gable wins best actor for Mutiny on the Bounty
Bette Davis wins best actress for Dangerous


1936
* The Great Ziegfeld
Actress: Luise Rainer, The Great Ziegfeld


1937
*The Life of Emile Zola
Luise Rainer, The Good Earth
Spencer Tracy, Captains Courageous


1938
* You Can't Take It With You
Spencer Tracy Boys Town
Bette Davis, Jezebel


1939
*Gone With the Wind Winner of best movie
Clark Gable nominated
Vivien Leigh, Gone With the Wind, actress
Hattie McDaniel, Gone With the Wind, supporting actress

Additional 1940 flicks, are any of them your favorite?

Good bye Mr. Chips, Robert Donat, best actor, Greer Garson, Nominated.
A shy British teacher named Mr. Chipping (Robert Donat) who devotes his life to teaching his boys after the death of his lovely, energetic American wife Katherine (Greer Garson). Story is told in flash backs.



Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, James Stewart, Nominated. The governor of an unnamed state, Hubert "Happy" Hopper has to pick a replacement for deceased US Senator, Sam Foley. His corrupt political boss, Jim Taylor pressures Hopper to choose his handpicked stooge, while popular committees want a reformer. The governor's children want him to select Jefferson Smith, played by Jimmy Stewart, the head of the Boy Rangers. Unable to make up his mind, Hopper decides to flip a coin. When it lands on its side – and next to a newspaper story on one of Smith's accomplishments – he chooses Smith, calculating that his wholesome image will please the people while his naiveté will make him easy to manipulate.


Of Mice and Men
A novella by John Steinbeck turned movie. "In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other." John Steinbeck.


Ninotcka, Greta Garbo, nominated. Aspecial envoy whose goal is to go through with the jewelry sale and bring back the three men. Rigid and stern at first, Ninotcka slowly becomes seduced by the West and the Count, who falls in love with her.


The Wizard of Oz, Song: Over the Rainbow,” wins. Stars include Judy Garland, Bert Lahr as the lion, Billie Burke as Glinda, Clara Blandick as Auntie Em, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Jack Haley as the Woodsman, and Frank Morgan as the professor and the Wizard. Follow the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy and Toto in the family musical classic that made Judy Garland a star, complete with Technicolor sparkle, magnificent costumes, and musical numbers like Over the Rainbow that became instant standards. Lions and tigers and bear, oh my!


Wuthering Heights, Laurence Olivier, nominated. A traveler named Lockwood is caught in the snow and stays at the estate of Wuthering Heights, where the housekeeper, Ellen Dean sits down to tell him the story in flashback. In the early 19th century, the original owner of Wuthering Heights, Mr. Earnshaw played by Leo G Carroll brings home an orphan from Liverpool named Heathcliff. Though son Hindley Earnshaw despises the boy, daughter Catherine develops a close kinship with Heathcliff that blossoms into love. When Mr. Earnshaw dies, Cathy and Heathcliff grow up together on the Moors and seem destined for happiness, even though Hindley forces Heathcliff to work as a stable boy.

Babes in Arms. Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, nominated, as two young children of vaudevillian parents who aren't included in their parents travels, so they set out to produce a show of their own.

I love The Wizard of Oz, it is a yearly tribute for me. And I watch it with the child like heart and as if I have neither seen it before. Hope you do too!

e