Academy Awards Aces
The first ever Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards (more commonly known as the Oscars) took place on this day in 1929. The 80th Awards Ceremony takes place this weekend, so we’ve brought you some Oscar facts from our database. Thank you, thank you all so much…
Most Oscar nominated films
In a single year, two actors have had roles in three films nominated for Best Picture.
Of the ten films nominated for the title in 1940, Thomas Mitchell (USA) had starred in Gone with the Wind (USA 1939) as Gerald O'Hara, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (USA 1939) as Diz Moore and Stagecoach (1939) as Dr. Josiah Boone.
Of the five films up for nomination for the 2002 Academy Awards, John C. Reilly (USA) had appeared in Chicago (USA/Can 2002) as Amos Hart, Gangs of New York (USA/Ger/It/UK/Neth) as 'Happy' Jack Mulraney and The Hours (USA 2003) as Dan Brown.
Longest speech accepting an Oscar award
The longest speech lasted 5 min 30 sec and was made by Greer Garson (UK, 1903-1996) at the 1942 Academy Awards held on 4 March 1943, after receiving Best Actress award for her title role in Mrs Miniver (USA 1942).
Most Oscar nominations - living person
The composer John Williams (USA) (b. 8 February 1932) has had 44 Academy Award nominations from 1968 - 2006, making him the most nominated living person
Longest list of people thanked by an Oscar award winner
The longest roster of people thanked by an Oscar winner was the 27 named by Olivia de Havilland (UK/USA) (b. Japan, 1 July 1916) when she won Best Actress as 'Josephine Norris' in To Each His Own (USA 1946) at the 1946 Academy Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium, Hollywood, California, USA on 13 March 1947.
Earliest person to refuse an Oscar award
The earliest refusal of an Oscar was made by Dudley Nichols (USA), screenwriter of The Informer (USA 1935) at the 1935 Academy Awards held at Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, USA, on 5 March 1936. The reason was because of a union boycott of the awards that year.
18 February 2008