60 Years of Oscar Winners (1955-1979)
60 YEARS OF OSCARS:
WHAT MOVIES WON VS. WHAT MOVIES SHOULD HAVE WON?
PART 1 OF 3 (1955-1979)
Sorry to say, I’ve lost much of my interest and most of my affection for Academy Awards. Has any cultural institution become so utterly uninteresting and embarrassingly lacking in social significance?
Indeed, I lament the decline of Oscar night — coming up next weekend — with a deep personal sadness. It used to be one of my favorite nights of the year. For most of my life, I loved the Oscars. But for many reasons, which I may write about later, the Academy Awards just don’t mean much to me anymore.
Still, that doesn’t change traditions and a fascinating history that’s not only been controversial many times, but has also reflected who we are and what society aspires to, sometimes in the most embarrassing fashion.
Let’s take the “BEST PICTURE” winner each year. What follows is this: I’ll give my opinion not only on if the Oscar winner stands up over time, but also comment on what movie from that same year should have won. I’ve also included some of the “underappreciated” films that deserved more nominations and awards and were overlooked at the time.
Let’s go in chronological order and see where you agree, or disagree–and please feel free to do so!:
1955: ON THE WATERFRONT
The great Elia Kazan film is a deserving winner, though one could argue THE CAINE MUTINY is just as good. Edge to Brando and a daring film for its time–exposing corruption in unions and ushering in a new era of movies which would become artistic expressions of social and political commentary and reflection. They got this one RIGHT.
1956: MARTY
I love Ernest Borgnine, but MARTY wasn’t worthy of “Best Picture.” REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE was the most groundbreaking movie of the year, still remembered today for a turning point where teens and younger people became the primary movie-target demographic. They got this one WRONG.
1957: AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
This is a terrible choice, which will be increasingly common by the Academy for the next decade with voting contingent painfully behind the times and disconnected with a looming revolution in cinema and culture. Competing nominees — GIANT, THE KING AND I, and most notably THE TEN COMMANDMENTS were all much better films from this year. Even non-believers like me can watch THE TEN COMMANDMENTS nearly seven decades later and root for Charlton Heston as Moses to save the tribe. This was an appalling mistake. They got this one dreadfully WRONG.
1958: THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI
What a great film that stands the test of time. Two legal dramas, 12 ANGRY MEN and WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, which were also nominated, would have been Oscar worthy any other year, but THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI remains a masterpiece. They got this one RIGHT.
1959: GIGI
This was a surprisingly weak year in movies, though GIGI swept in all nine categories in which it was nominated. I admit having never seen GIGI (a musical) so I probably shouldn’t comment. THE YOUNG LIONS, an epic war movie was certainly Oscar worthy, as was VERTIGO, the Hitchcock thriller. I’ll grade this as UNDECIDED given I have a lapse in my knowledge of GIGI.
1960: BEN-HUR
No one can argue this winner. Astounding film in every way. SOME LIKE IT HOT might have won had it not been for “Ben.” They got this one RIGHT.
1961: THE APARTMENT
I don’t like this winner. Ancient historically-themed movies may have become tiresome to some Oscar voters by this point, but SPARTACUS remains an astounding movie (I saw this on a retro-big-screen anniversary showing a few years ago and felt like a kid again). EXODUS, which I have no regard for politically, was also Oscar worthy this year. THE APARTMENT ranks as the third best picture that year, at best. My personal preference would have been INHERIT THE WIND, with Spencer Tracy. They got this one WRONG.
1962: WEST SIDE STORY
I’m not sure that a legendary a Broadway musical deserves to be judged by the same metrics of comparison as an original film made from scratch. Sure, WEST SIDE STORY is a fantastic stage show — but how much added energy or brilliance did filmmakers bring to an existing project? I’m on the fence, here. THE HUSTLER and JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBERG were much better films. I’d call my two choices absolute masterpieces of cinema. I agree WEST SIDE STORY is a wonderful musical and a very good film, not it’s not in the class of either of my preferences. They got this one WRONG.
1963: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
I saw this on the 25th anniversary re-release in a movie theater (1988) and was absolutely blown away. It must be seen on the big screen. A landmark epic. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD would normally win any other year, but it was up against an international box office and critical smash. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–REQUIM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT
1964: TOM JONES
No, it’s not the mid-sixties “Tom Jones” you’re probably thinking about. This is admittedly another legendary film I’ve never seen. So, I’ll tread with some trepidation. CLEOPATRA belongs in the discussion, but the much darker film from that year that still haunts me to this day is HUD, with Paul Newman. That’s a daring movie with some troubling entanglements for movie goers, especially back then. I’d vote for HUD, but again — my qualifications are incomplete. UNDECIDED. Best underappreciated film of the year–FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
1965: MY FAIR LADY
I love this musical as a stage show, but absolutely loathe this movie. Rex Harrison is dreadful. A wasteful fart. Much like WEST SIDE STORY, here’s the pre-packaged product from a successful stage production, yet filmmakers add little to the experience. Sure. the lead AUDREY HEPBURN is wonderful, and the songs are catchy. But give me DR. STRANGELOVE as best picture of all the movies made in 1964. I don’t even think MY FAIR LADY is the best musical from this year — MARY POPINS was, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. They got this one WRONG. Badly WRONG. Best underappreciated film of the year–FAIL-SAFE
1966: THE SOUND OF MUSIC
It’s hard to argue with this winner, though again — musicals need to add something beyond the stage experience (to its credit, THE SOUND OF MUSIC does add lots of magic). DR. ZHIVAGO would be worthy most years, but went up against tough competition. I really loved THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX from this year, which remains an underrated film. I can’t argue with the winner here, given all the accolades for one of the truly great musicals, plus its legacy 60+ years later. It still plays yearly on commercial TV. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–THE BEDFORD INCIDENT / THE CINCINNATI KID
1967: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
I saw this winner a few years ago for the first time and was underwhelmed. As for what should have won, I’ve never made it through WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOLF? all the way, though Taylor and Burton are electric. In a painfully lackluster year in film so far as weak nominees, I’d go with THE SAND PEBBLES, which is very good. But the standout movie made in 1966 was THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY, which is one of the greatest movie westerns ever made and has evolved into an epic film. They got this one WRONG. Best underappreciated film of the year–WAIT UNTIL DARK.
1968: IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT
Here’s an astounding year in movies, so it’s impossible to pick just one from perhaps half a dozen great films. THE GRADUATE, BONNIE AND CLYDE, GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER, and the edgy and provocative crime masterpiece with Steiger and Portier are all worthy. So too is COOL HAND LUKE. I can’t argue with the winner–any of the top five here are deserving. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–THE PARTY (Peter Sellers).
1969: OLIVER!
What an embarrassment. Hard to believe this predictable musical production beat out so many truly great films. First, let me say PLANET OF THE APES was massively underrated for the time but remains a sci-fi masterpiece. That was the most clever and shocking movie of the year and it should have won. BULLITT, the great police drama is a worthy nominee, as was FUNNY GIRL and THE ODD COUPLE. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, the Sergio Leone epic should also have been in the running. OLIVER! was an abysmal pick. Head shaking. They got this one dead WRONG. Best underappreciated film of the year–WHERE EAGLES DARE, a great war thriller.
1970: MIDNIGHT COWBOY
This was a controversial winner, but in a dramatic reversal from previous years also revealed Oscar voters were finally catching up to the changing times. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID was the clear popular favorite with audiences. but MIDNIGHT COWBOY was the film that shattered barriers and broke down old outdated moral codes. EASY RIDER may belong in the discussion, yet THE WILD BUNCH may stand up as the best film of the year, in retrospect. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–GOODBYE, COLUMBUS
1971: PATTON
I watched PATTON again a few weeks ago on TCM, which was probably the 20th time I’ve seen it. It remains a classic. PATTON was an odd winner given the era and mass protests. It may have been a throwback to traditional tastes in entertainment, but it’s worthy of the statue. M*A*S*H* and LITTLE BIG MAN would round out my top-three. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN
1972: THE FRENCH CONNECTION
No argument with this gritty NYC police caper winning, which remains a riveting investigation and chase from start to finish. THE LAST PICTURE SHOW deserves the runner-up spot, with my third-place vote going to FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, which is an excellent adaptation of the beloved stage musical. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–CARNAL KNOWLEDGE
1973: THE GODFATHER
A slam dunk. One of the greatest films ever made, still talked about and revered half a century later. DELIVERANCE ranks in the top-three. I’ve never been a fan of CABARET, but that might belong in the conversation, also. I can name 25 outstanding films from this year (thanks Wiki), but the Coppola masterpiece can’t be rivaled. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–FRITZ THE CAT (the X-rated cartoon movie)
1974: THE STING
Great to see a comedy win Best Picture, a rarity. Everything about this caper works, so it’s another solid pick and easy choice as the winner. THE EXORCIST came out that year, which I only recently saw for the first time. I understand why it was so frightening at the time, but I was not impressed. SERPICO and PAPILLON came out in 1973, and deserve a place in the top-five. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE / COPS AND ROBBERS / CINDERELLA LIBERTY
1975: THE GODFATHER II
Like it’s predecessor, this one’s easy. CHINATOWN also won several awards, though I’ve always thought the story was overwrought and the movie never appealed to me. If ever there was a great 1-2 punch in the same year, it should go to Mel Brooks for writing/directing/releasing both YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN and BLAZING SADDLES within a nine-month span. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT / FOXY BROWN (one of my favorite guilty pleasure films of all time!)
1976: ONE FLEW OVER THE CUKOO’S NEST
Again, another easy slam-dunk movie pick. DOG DAY AFTERNOON is perhaps the runner up. This was the JAWS year, which was about to change movies and revenue models forever. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR
1977: ROCKY
This year was sick great. Just jaw-dropping. Outstanding nominees, but NETWORK should have won. ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN and TAXI DRIVER and BOUND FOR GLORY and MARATHON MAN, too? And, THE BAD NEWS BEARS (one of the greatest sports movies ever). An amazing year in film. They got this one WRONG, but it’s very close. Best underappreciated film of the year–CARRIE.
1978: ANNIE HALL
Oscar voters get almost everything in the 1970s right, including this year–known for the quirky Woody Allen/Diane Keaton love story. STAR WARS came out, followed at the end of the year by CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND–foreshadowing another soon-to-be seismic futuristic shift in movies. They got this one RIGHT. Best underappreciated film of the year–SLAP SHOT
1979: THE DEER HUNTER
Tough call here. Post-Vietnam era films were a big thing in the late 70s and early 80s, and this is one of the best (though, it’s unnecessarily long in my opinion). COMING HOME had similar subject matter, and I believe is a slightly better film mostly because it’s told from the perspective of those families who had to suffer war, while at home. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS is easily top-five but also dark subject matter that wasn’t going to win for best picture. Oh, and ANIMAL HOUSE and UP IN SMOKE were released within a few months of each other? Wow. They got this one HALF RIGHT. I could go wither way with DEER HUNTER or COMING HOME. Best underappreciated film of the year–maybe INTERIORS (a complete reversal by Woody Allen from previous year’s ANNIE HALL, which is sober, serious,and stunning film)
This is a fun multi-tasking project. Feel free to comment an add your own from this period (before 1979).
NOTE: In Part 2 and 3, I’ll comment on the years 1980 to 2001 and 2002 to 2025.
[Photo from MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969), the ultimate buddy movie and lowlife rhapsody.]
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