Academy Awards

14th Academy Awards

February 26, 1942Biltmore HotelFilms from 194126 categories
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Best Picture Winner

How Green Was My Valley

How Green Was My Valley

Best Picture

Director: John Ford

Studio: 20th Century Fox

At the turn of the century, a Welsh mining family weathers hardship and heartbreak as the community changes around them.

From the Worthy Podcast

The setting and design of a film. Location, location, location

“Location, location, location” is a common phrase that can be applied to a large number of things in life. For film though, it is one of the most crucial aspects. A setting within a film can be the spark in the audience's imaginations that brings them into the story. It gives context and history to the characters to make you believe that the setting lives within reality.

That setting can be the backlot of a Hollywood studio made to look like the oceans in the midst of an epic sea battle or the farms of New Zealand transformed into the rolling hills of the Shire or the never ending deserts of Tunisia that place you on a planet in a galaxy far, far away.

Having the right setting and location of a film is the basis for the style, look and creative feel of a film that allows the filmmakers to utilize that specific space in order to tell that story

So my first question is what is a setting within any film that immediately pulled you into the story?

Examples:

All Categories (26)

Outstanding Motion Picture

How Green Was My Valley20th Century-Fox
Winner
Blossoms in the DustMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Citizen KaneMercury
Here Comes Mr. JordanColumbia
Hold Back the DawnParamount
One Foot in HeavenWarner Bros.
Sergeant YorkWarner Bros.
SuspicionRKO Radio
The Little FoxesSamuel Goldwyn Productions
The Maltese FalconWarner Bros.

Actor

Gary CooperSergeant York {"Alvin C. York"}
Winner
Cary GrantPenny Serenade {"Roger Adams"}
Orson WellesCitizen Kane {"Charles Foster Kane"}
Robert MontgomeryHere Comes Mr. Jordan {"Joe Pendleton"}
Walter HustonAll That Money Can Buy {"Mr. Scratch"}

Actor In A Supporting Role

Donald CrispHow Green Was My Valley {"Mr. Morgan"}
Winner
Charles CoburnThe Devil and Miss Jones {"John P. Merrick"}
James GleasonHere Comes Mr. Jordan {"Max Corkle"}
Sydney GreenstreetThe Maltese Falcon {"Kaspar Gutman"}
Walter BrennanSergeant York {"Pastor Posier Pile"}

Actress

Joan FontaineSuspicion {"Lina McLaidlaw"}
Winner
Barbara StanwyckBall of Fire {"Sugarpuss O'Shea"}
Bette DavisThe Little Foxes {"Regina Hubbard Giddens"}
Greer GarsonBlossoms in the Dust {"Edna Gladney"}
Olivia de HavillandHold Back the Dawn {"Emmy Brown"}

Actress In A Supporting Role

Mary AstorThe Great Lie {"Sandra Kovak"}
Winner
Margaret WycherlySergeant York {"Mother York"}
Patricia CollingeThe Little Foxes {"Birdie Hubbard"}
Sara AllgoodHow Green Was My Valley {"Mrs. Morgan"}
Teresa WrightThe Little Foxes {"Alexandra Giddens"}

Directing

How Green Was My ValleyJohn Ford
Winner
Citizen KaneOrson Welles
Here Comes Mr. JordanAlexander Hall
Sergeant YorkHoward Hawks
The Little FoxesWilliam Wyler

Writing (Original Screenplay)

Citizen KaneHerman J. Mankiewicz, Orson Welles
Winner
Sergeant YorkAbem Finkel, Harry Chandlee, Howard Koch, John Huston
Tall, Dark and HandsomeKarl Tunberg, Darrell Ware
The Devil and Miss JonesNorman Krasna
Tom, Dick and HarryPaul Jarrico

Writing (Original Story)

Here Comes Mr. JordanHarry Segall
Winner
Ball of FireBilly Wilder, Thomas Monroe
Meet John DoeRichard Connell, Robert Presnell
Night TrainGordon Wellesley
The Lady EveMonckton Hoffe

Writing (Screenplay)

Here Comes Mr. JordanSidney Buchman, Seton I. Miller
Winner
Hold Back the DawnCharles Brackett, Billy Wilder
How Green Was My ValleyPhilip Dunne
The Little FoxesLillian Hellman
The Maltese FalconJohn Huston

Cinematography (Black-And-White)

How Green Was My ValleyArthur Miller
Winner
Citizen KaneGregg Toland
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeJoseph Ruttenberg
Here Comes Mr. JordanJoseph Walker
Hold Back the DawnLeo Tover
Sergeant YorkSol Polito
Sun Valley SerenadeEdward Cronjager
SundownCharles Lang
That Hamilton WomanRudolph Maté
The Chocolate SoldierKarl Freund

Cinematography (Color)

Blood and SandErnest Palmer, Ray Rennahan
Winner
Aloma of the South SeasWilfred M. Cline, Karl Struss, William Snyder
Billy the KidWilliam V. Skall, Leonard Smith
Blossoms in the DustKarl Freund, W. Howard Greene
Dive BomberBert Glennon
Louisiana PurchaseHarry Hallenberger, Ray Rennahan

Music (Music Score Of A Dramatic Picture)

All That Money Can BuyBernard Herrmann
Winner
Back StreetFrank Skinner
Ball of FireAlfred Newman
Cheers for Miss BishopEdward Ward
Citizen KaneBernard Herrmann
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeFranz Waxman
Hold Back the DawnVictor Young
How Green Was My ValleyAlfred Newman
King of the ZombiesEdward Kay
Ladies in RetirementMorris Stoloff, Ernst Toch
LydiaMiklos Rozsa
Mercy IslandCy Feuer, Walter Scharf
Sergeant YorkMax Steiner
So Ends Our NightLouis Gruenberg
SundownMiklos Rozsa
SuspicionFranz Waxman
Tanks a MillionEdward Ward
That Uncertain FeelingWerner Heymann
The Little FoxesMeredith Willson
This Woman Is MineRichard Hageman

Music (Scoring Of A Musical Picture)

DumboFrank Churchill, Oliver Wallace
Winner
All-American Co-EdEdward Ward
Birth of the BluesRobert Emmett Dolan
Buck PrivatesCharles Previn
Ice-CapadesCy Feuer
Sun Valley SerenadeEmil Newman
SunnyAnthony Collins
The Chocolate SoldierHerbert Stothart, Bronislau Kaper
The Strawberry BlondeHeinz Roemheld
You'll Never Get RichMorris Stoloff

Art Direction (Black-And-White)

How Green Was My ValleyArt Direction: Richard Day, Nathan Juran; Interior Decoration: Thomas Little
Winner
Citizen KaneArt Direction: Perry Ferguson, Van Nest Polglase; Interior Decoration: Al Fields, Darrell Silvera
Hold Back the DawnArt Direction: Hans Dreier, Robert Usher; Interior Decoration: Sam Comer
Ladies in RetirementArt Direction: Lionel Banks; Interior Decoration: George Montgomery
Sergeant YorkArt Direction: John Hughes; Interior Decoration: Fred MacLean
Sis Hopkins
THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL NOMINATION. Nomination withdrawn by Republic Studios.
SundownArt Direction: Alexander Golitzen; Interior Decoration: Richard Irvine
That Hamilton WomanArt Direction: Vincent Korda; Interior Decoration: Julia Heron
The Flame of New OrleansArt Direction: Martin Obzina, Jack Otterson; Interior Decoration: Russell A. Gausman
The Little FoxesArt Direction: Stephen Goosson; Interior Decoration: Howard Bristol
The Son of Monte CristoArt Direction: John DuCasse Schulze; Interior Decoration: Edward G. Boyle
When Ladies MeetArt Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Randall Duell; Interior Decoration: Edwin B. Willis

Art Direction (Color)

Blossoms in the DustArt Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Urie McCleary; Interior Decoration: Edwin B. Willis
Winner
Blood and SandArt Direction: Richard Day, Joseph C. Wright; Interior Decoration: Thomas Little
Louisiana PurchaseArt Direction: Raoul Pene du Bois; Interior Decoration: Stephen A. Seymour

Special Effects

I Wanted WingsPhotographic Effects by Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings; Sound Effects by Louis Mesenkop
Winner
A Yank in the R.A.F.Photographic Effects by Fred Sersen; Sound Effects by E. H. Hansen
Aloma of the South SeasPhotographic Effects by Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings; Sound Effects by Louis Mesenkop
Dive BomberPhotographic Effects by Byron Haskin; Sound Effects by Nathan Levinson
THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL NOMINATION. Originally announced as a nominee on February 9, 1942, but sometime between the 10th and the 19th of February, this title was dropped and replaced by another Warner Bros. production, The Sea Wolf, with the same people credited for the nomination. There is no explanation in the files as to why this replacement was made.
Flight CommandPhotographic Effects by A. Arnold Gillespie; Sound Effects by Douglas Shearer
That Hamilton WomanPhotographic Effects by Lawrence Butler; Sound Effects by William H. Wilmarth
The Invisible WomanPhotographic Effects by John Fulton; Sound Effects by John Hall
The Sea WolfPhotographic Effects by Byron Haskin; Sound Effects by Nathan Levinson
Not originally one of the nominees announced on February 9, 1942. Dive Bomber, another Warner Bros. production, was on the list, but sometime between the 10th and 19th of February, the Dive Bomber nomination was replaced by The Sea Wolf, with the same people credited for the achievement. There is no explanation in the files as to why the replacement was made.
Topper ReturnsPhotographic Effects by Roy Seawright; Sound Effects by Elmer Raguse

Film Editing

Sergeant YorkWilliam Holmes
Winner
Citizen KaneRobert Wise
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeHarold F. Kress
How Green Was My ValleyJames B. Clark
The Little FoxesDaniel Mandell

Sound Recording

That Hamilton WomanGeneral Service Sound Department, Jack Whitney, Sound Director
Winner
Appointment for LoveUniversal Studio Sound Department, Bernard B. Brown, Sound Director
Ball of FireSamuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director
Citizen KaneRKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Aalberg, Sound Director
How Green Was My Valley20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department, E. H. Hansen, Sound Director
Sergeant YorkWarner Bros. Studio Sound Department, Nathan Levinson, Sound Director
SkylarkParamount Studio Sound Department, Loren Ryder, Sound Director
The Chocolate SoldierMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director
The Devil Pays OffRepublic Studio Sound Department, Charles Lootens, Sound Director
The Men in Her LifeColumbia Studio Sound Department, John Livadary, Sound Director
Topper ReturnsHal Roach Studio Sound Department, Elmer Raguse, Sound Director

Documentary (Short Subject)

Churchill's IslandNational Film Board of Canada
Winner
A Place to LivePhiladelphia Housing Association
Adventure in the BronxFilm Associates
BomberUnited States Office for Emergency Management Film Unit
Christmas under FireBritish Ministry of Information
Letter from HomeBritish Ministry of Information
Life of a ThoroughbredTruman Talley, Producer
Norway in RevoltThe March of Time
Russian SoilAmkino
Soldiers of the SkyTruman Talley, Producer
War Clouds in the PacificNational Film Board of Canada

Special Award

To Rey Scott for his extraordinary achievement in producing Kukan, the film record of China's struggle, including its photography with a 16mm camera under the most difficult and dangerous conditions.
Winner
IRVING G. THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARD
To Leopold Stokowski and his associates for their unique achievement in the creation of a new form of visualized music in Walt Disney's production, Fantasia, thereby widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as an art form.
To The British Ministry of Information for its vivid and dramatic presentation of the heroism of the RAF in the documentary film, Target for Tonight.
To Walt Disney, William Garity, John N. A. Hawkins and the RCA Manufacturing Company for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of Fantasia.
Walt Disney

Scientific Or Technical Award (Class II)

To ELECTRICAL RESEARCH PRODUCTS DIVISION OF WESTERN ELECTRIC CO., INC., for the development of the precision integrating sphere densitometer. [Laboratory]
Winner
To RCA MANUFACTURING COMPANY for the design and development of the MI-3043 Uni-directional microphone. [Sound]

Scientific Or Technical Award (Class III)

To RAY WILKINSON and the PARAMOUNT STUDIO LABORATORY for pioneering in the use of and for the first practical application to release printing of fine grain positive stock. [Film]
Winner
To CHARLES LOOTENS and the REPUBLIC STUDIO SOUND DEPARTMENT for pioneering the use of and for the first practical application to motion picture production of CLASS B push-pull variable area recording. [Sound]
To DOUGLAS SHEARER and the METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIO SOUND DEPARTMENT, and to LOREN RYDER and the PARAMOUNT STUDIO SOUND DEPARTMENT for pioneering the development of fine grain emulsions for variable density original sound recording in studio production. [Sound]
To PARAMOUNT PICTURES, INC., and 20TH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORP. for the development and first practical application to motion picture production of an automatic scene slating device. [Stage Operations]
To WILBUR SILVERTOOTH and the PARAMOUNT STUDIO ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT for the design and computation of a relay condenser system applicable to transparency process projection, delivering considerably more usable light. [Special Photographic]

Music (Song)

"The Last Time I Saw Paris" from Lady Be GoodMusic by Jerome Kern; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Winner
"Baby Mine" from DumboMusic by Frank Churchill; Lyrics by Ned Washington
"Be Honest With Me" from Ridin' on a RainbowMusic and Lyrics by Gene Autry and Fred Rose
"Blues In The Night" from Blues in the NightMusic by Harold Arlen; Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Of Company B" from Buck PrivatesMusic by Hugh Prince; Lyrics by Don Raye
"Chattanooga Choo Choo" from Sun Valley SerenadeMusic by Harry Warren; Lyrics by Mack Gordon
"Dolores" from Las Vegas NightsMusic by Lou Alter; Lyrics by Frank Loesser
"Out Of The Silence" from All-American Co-EdMusic and Lyrics by Lloyd B. Norlind
"Since I Kissed My Baby Goodbye" from You'll Never Get RichMusic and Lyrics by Cole Porter

Short Subject (Cartoon)

Lend a PawWalt Disney, Producer
Winner
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company BWalter Lantz, Producer
Hiawatha's Rabbit HuntLeon Schlesinger, Producer
How War CameColumbia
Rhapsody in RivetsLeon Schlesinger, Producer
Rhythm in the RanksGeorge Pal, Producer
SupermanMax Fleischer, Producer
The Night before ChristmasMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Rookie BearMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Truant Officer DonaldWalt Disney, Producer

Short Subject (One-Reel)

Of Pups and PuzzlesMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Winner
Army ChampionsPete Smith, Producer
Beauty and the BeachParamount
Down on the FarmParamount
Forty Boys and a SongWarner Bros.
Kings of the TurfWarner Bros.
Sagebrush and Silver20th Century-Fox

Short Subject (Two-Reel)

Main Street on the March!Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Winner
Alive in the DeepWoodard Productions, Inc.
Forbidden PassageMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Gay ParisianWarner Bros.
The Tanks Are ComingUnited States Army
WorthyWorthy

The breakdown of every Best Picture winner from past to present.

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