Film Data for 1939

The Film Daily's Ten Best Pictures 

1) Goodbye, Mr. Chips- 472 votes 

2) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington- 433 

3) Pygmalion (1938)- 349 

4) Wuthering Heights- 283 

5) Dark Victory- 280 

6) The Women- 254 

7) The Wizard of Oz- 244

8) Juarez- 216 

9) Stanley & Livingston- 213

10) The Old Maid- 166 

The Honor Roll- 

11) Stagecoach- 153 

12) Young Mr. Lincoln- 152 

13) Babes in Arms- 135 

14) Love Affair- 128 

15) Union Pacific- 112 

16) On Borrowed Time- 111 

17) Bachelor Mother- 93 

18) Gunga Din- 82 

      Nurse Edith Cavell- 82 

20) The Rains Came- 77 

21) Jesse James- 69 

22) The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle- 68 

23) The Beachcomber (1938)- 67 

24) Idiot's Delight- 60 

25) The Story of Alexander Graham Bell- 59 

 26) The Great Waltz (1938)- 56 

27) Four Feathers- 52 

28) The Lady Vanishes (1938)- 47 

29) Only Angels Have Wings- 46 

30) Beau Geste- 40 

31) Golden Boy- 38

Newspaper Film Critics of America Poll (Source: The Film Daily 1940 Annual)

First-place votes received 75 points. Second-place votes received 50 points. Third-place votes received 25 points.

Best Picture 

1) Goodbye, Mr. Chips- 22,775 points 

2) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington- 14,755 points 

3) Wuthering Heights- 6,950 points 

Best Actor 

1) Robert Donat in Goodbye, Mr. Chips- 23,200 points 

2) James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington- 14,150 points 

3) Spencer Tracy in Stanley & Livingston- 7,825 points 

Best Actress 

1) Bette Davis in Dark Victory- 23,175 points 

2) Greta Garbo in Ninotchka- 9,750 points 

3) Rosalind Russell in The Women 9,725 points 

Best Supporting Actor 

1) Thomas Mitchell in Stagecoach- 14,125 points 

2) Brian Aherene in Juarez- 12,125 points 

3) Akim Tamiroff in Disputed Passage- 7,750 points 

Best Supporting Actress 

1) Greer Garson in Goodbye, Mr. Chips- 15,650 points 

2) Rosalind Russell in The Women- 12,350 points 

3) Alice Brady in Young Mr. Lincoln- 8,600 points 

"Young Actor Most Likely to Win Greatest Fame in 1940" 

1) Jeffery Lynn- 15,825 points 

2) Eddie Albert- 9,925 points 

3) John Howard- 8,825 points 

"Young Actress Most Likely to Win Greatest Fame in 1940" 

1) Maureen O'Hara 13,075 

2) Linda Darnell- 12,575 

3) Lana Turner- 10,925

New York Film Critics Awards (Winners announced on December 27, 1939. Awards presented on January 7, 1940 at the Rainbow Room in New York. The ceremony was broadcast live by NBC radio. Sources: Tom O'Neil's Movie Awards, 2001 and Donald Lyons, "The Lights of New York," Film Comment, March-April, 1993)

Best Picture

Wuthering Heights (won on XIV ballot)

Runner-ups: Gone with the Wind and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

On ballot I, Gone with the Wind had 6 votes, Wuthering had 4 votes and Mr. Smith had 3 votes.

On ballot V, Gone with the Wind and Mr. Smith had 6 votes apiece, and Wuthering had 4 votes.

On ballot VI, Wuthering had 7 votes and Gone with the Wind had 5 votes.

On ballot VII, Gone with the Wind and Wuthering both had 7 votes. 

Best Director

John Ford, Stagecoach (12 votes on ballot II)

Runner-up:  Ernst Lubitsch, Ninotchka (3 votes)

Best Actor

James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (won on ballot III)

Runner-up: Robert Donat in Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Best Actress

Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (won on ballot II)

Runner-up: Greta Garbo in Ninotchka

Best Foreign Film

Harvest

National Board of Review (Voting results announced on December 24, 1939. Source: Tom O'Neil's Movie Awards).

Best Picture

Confessions of a Nazi Spy

Rest of the Top Ten (Listed in order of preference):

Wuthering Heights

Stagecoach

Ninotchka

Young Mr. Lincoln

Crisis

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

The Roaring Twenties

U-Boat 29

Best Acting (Listed in alphabetical order):

James Cagney, The Roaring Twenties

Bette Davis, Dark Victory and The Old Maid

Geraldine Fitzgerald, Dark Victory and Wuthering Heights

Henry Fonda, Young Mr. Lincoln

Jean Gabin, Port of Shadows

Greta Garbo, Ninotchka

Francis Lederer, Confessions of a Nazi Spy

Paul Lukas, Confessions of a Nazi Spy

Thomas Mitchell, Stagecoach

Laurence Olivier, Wuthering Heights

Flora Robson, We Are Not Alone

Michel Simon, Port of Shadows, The End of a Day

Best Foreign Film

Port of Shadows (France)

The Academy Awards (Nominations announced on February 11, 1940. Awards were presented on February 29, 1940 at the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Sources Tom O'Neil's Movie Awards and Mason Wiley and Damien Bona's Inside Oscar). (Winners in bold print). 

Best Picture

Dark Victory, Warner Bros. Produced by David Lewis.

Gone with the Wind, Selznick, MGM. Produced by David O. Selznick.

Goodbye, Mr. Chips, MGM (British). Produced by Victor Saville.

Love Affair, RKO Radio. Produced by Leo McCarey

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Columbia. Produced by Frank Capra.

Ninotchka, MGM. Produced by Sidney Franklin.

Of Mice and Men Roach, UA. Produced by Lewis Milestone.

Stagecoach, Wanger, UA. Produced by Walter Wanger.

The Wizard of Oz, MGM. Produced by Mervyn LeRoy.

Wuthering Heights, Goldwyn, UA. Produced by Samuel Goldwyn.

Best Director

Frank Capra for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Columbia).

Victor Fleming for Gone with the Wind (Selznick, MGM).

John Ford for Stagecoach (Wanger, UA).

Sam Wood for Goodbye, Mr. Chips (MGM) (British).

William Wyler for Wuthering Heights (Goldwyn, UA).

Best Actor

Robert Donat in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (MGM) (British).

Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind (Selznick, MGM).

Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights (Goldwyn, UA).

Mickey Rooney in Babes in Arms (MGM).

James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Columbia).

Best Actress

Bette Davis in Dark Victory (Warner Bros.)

Irene Dunne in Love Affair (RKO Radio).

Greta Garbo in Ninotchka (MGM). 

Greer Garson in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (MGM) (British).

Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (Selznick, MGM).

Best Supporting Actor

Brian Aherne in Juarez (Warner Bros.).

Harry Carey in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Columbia).

Brian Donlevy in Beau Geste (Paramount). 

Thomas Mitchell in Stagecoach (Wanger, UA).

Claude Rains in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (Columbia).

Best Supporting Actress

Olivia de Havilland in Gone with the Wind (Selznick, MGM).

Geraldine Fitzgerald in Wuthering Heights (Goldwyn, UA).

Hattie McDaniel in Gone with the Wind (Selznick, MGM).

Edna Mae Oliver in Drums Along the Mohawk (20th Century-Fox).

Maria Ouspenskaya in Love Affair (RKO Radio).

Writing (Original Story)

Bachelor Mother, RKO Radio. Felix Jackson.

Love Affair, RKO Radio. Mildred Cram and Leo McCarey.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Columbia. Lewis R. Foster.

Ninotchka, MGM. Melchior Lengyel.

Young Mr. Lincoln, 20th Century-Fox. Lamar Trotti.

Writing (Screenplay)

Gone with the Wind, Selznick, MGM. Sidney Howard.

Goodbye, Mr. Chips, MGM (British). Eric Maschwitz, R.C. Sherriff and Claudine West. 

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Columbia. Sidney Buchman.

Ninotchka, MGM. Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch and Billy WIlder.

Wuthering Heights, Goldwyn, UA. Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.

Best Interior Decoration

Beau Geste, Paramount. Hans Dreier and Robert Odell.

Captain Fury, Roach, UA. Charles D. Hall.

Gone with the Wind, Selznick, MGM. Lyle Wheeler.

Love Affair, RKO Radio. Van Nest Polglase and Al Herman.

Man of Conquest, Republic. John Victor Mackay.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Columbia. Lionel Banks.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Warner Bros. Anton Grot.

The Rains Came, 20th Century-Fox. William Darling and George Dudley.

Stagecoach, Wanger, UA. Alexander Toluboff.

The Wizard of Oz, MGM. Cedric Gibbons and William A. Horning.

Wuthering Heights, Goldwyn, UA. James Basevi.

Best Cinematography (Black-and-White)

First Love, Universal. Joseph Valentine.

The Great Victor Herbert, Paramount. Victor Milner.

Gunga Din, RKO Radio. Joseph H. August.

Intermezzo: A Love Story, Selznick, UA. Gregg Toland.

Juarez, Warner Bros. Tony Gaudio.

Lady of the Tropics, MGM. Norbert Brodine

Only Angels Have Wings, Columbia. Joseph Walker.

The Rains Came, 20th Century-Fox. Arthur Miller.

Stagecoach, Wanger, UA. Bert Glennon.

Wuthering Heights, Goldwyn, UA. Gregg Toland.

Best Cinematography (Color)

Drums Along the Mohawk, 20th Century-Fox. Ray Rennahan and Bert Glennon.

Four Feathers, Denham, UA. Georges Perinal and Osmond Borradaile.

Gone with the Wind, Selznick, MGM. Ernest Haller and Ray Rennahan.

The Mikado, Universal. William V. Skall.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Warner Bros. Sol Polito and W. Howard Greene. 

The Wizard of Oz, MGM. Hal Rosson.

Film Editing

Gone with the Wind, Selznick, MGM. Hal C. Kern and James E. Newcom.

Goodbye, Mr. Chips, (MGM) (British). Charles Frend.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Columbia. Gene Havlick and Al Clark.

The Rains Came, 20th Century-Fox. Barbara McLean.

Stagecoach, Wanger, UA. Otho Lovering and Dorothy Spencer.

Best Song

"Faithful Forever"(Gulliver's Travels, Paramount); Music by Ralph Rainger. Lyrics by Leo Robin.

"I Poured My Heart into a Song" (Second Fiddle, 20th Century-Fox); Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin.

"Over the Rainbow" (The Wizard of Oz, MGM); Music by Harold Arlen. Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg.

"Wishing" (Love Affair, RKO Radio); Music and Lyrics by Buddy De Sylva.

Best Score

Babes in Arms, MGM. Roger Edens and George E. Stoll.

First Love, Universal. Charles Previn.

The Great Victor Herbert, Paramount. Phil Boutelje and Arthur Lange.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, RKO Radio. Alfred Newman.

Intermezzo: A Love Story, Selznick, UA. Lou Forbes.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Columbia. Dimitri Tiomkin.

Of Mice and Men Roach, UA. Aaron Copeland.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Warner Bros. Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

She Married a Cop, Republic. Cy Feuer.

Stagecoach, Walter Wanger, UA. Richard Hageman, Frank Harling, John Leipold and Leo Shuken.

Swanee River, 20th Century-Fox. Louis Silvers.

They Shall Have Music, Goldwyn, UA. Alfred Newman.

Way Down South, Lesser, RKO Radio. Victor Young.

Best Original Score

Dark Victory, Warner Bros. Max Steiner.

Eternally Yours, Walter Wanger, UA. Werner Janssen.

Golden Boy, Columbia. Victor Young.

Gone with the Wind, Selznick, MGM. Max Steiner.

Gulliver's Travels, Paramount. Victor Young.

The Man in the Iron Mask, Small, UA. Lud Gluskin and Lucien Moraweck.

Man of Conquest, Republic. Victor Young.

Nurse Edith Cavell, RKO Radio. Anthony Collins.

Of Mice and Men Roach, UA. Aaron Copeland.

The Rains Came, 20th Century-Fox. Alfred Newman.

The Wizard of Oz, MGM. Herbert Stothart.

Wuthering Heights, Goldwyn, UA. Alfred Newman.

Best Sound Recording

Balalaika, MGM. Douglas Shearer.

Gone with the Wind, Selznick, MGM. Thomas T. Moulton

Goodbye, Mr. Chips, MGM (British). A. W. Watkins.

The Great Victor Herbert, Paramount. Loren Ryder.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, RKO Radio. John Aalberg.

Man of Conquest, Republic. C. L. Lootens.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Columbia. John Livadary.

Of Mice and Men Roach, UA. Elmer Raguse.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Warner Bros. Nathan Levinson.

The Rains Came, 20th Century-Fox. E. H. Hansen.

When Tomorrow Comes, Universal. Bernard B. Brown.

Best Special Effects

Gone with the Wind, Selznick, MGM.  Photographic: John R. Cosgrove. Sound: Fred Albin and Arthur Johns.

Only Angels Have Wings, Columbia. Photographic: Roy Davidson. Sound: Edwin C. Hahn.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Warner Bros.  Photographic: Byron Haskin. Sound: Nathan Levinson.

The Rains Came, 20th Century-Fox.  Photographic: E.H. Hansen. Sound: Fred Sersen.

Topper Takes a Trip, Roach, UA. Roy Seawright.

Union Pacific, Paramount. Photographic: Farciot Edouart and Gordon Jennings. Sound: Loren Ryder.

The Wizard of Oz, MGM.  Photographic: A. Arnold Gillespie. Sound: Douglas Shearer.

Best Short Subject Cartoon

Detouring America, Warner Bros.

Peace on Earth, MGM.

The Pointer, Walt Disney, RKO Radio.

The Ugly Duckling, Walt Disney, RKO Radio.

Best One-Reel Short Subject

Busy Little Bears, Paramount (Paragraphics).

Information Please, RKO Radio.

Prophet Without Honor, MGM (Miniatures).

Sword Fishing, Warner Bros. (Vitaphone Varieties).

Best Two-Reel Short Subject

Drunk Driving, MGM (Crime Doesn't Pay).

Five Times Five, RKO Radio (Special).

Sons of Liberty, Warner Bros. (Historical Featurette).

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

David O. Selznick.

Special Awards

Douglas Fairbanks (Commemorative Award)- recognizing the unique and outstanding contribution of Douglas Fairbanks, first president of the Academy, to the international development of the motion picture (statuette).

The Motion Picture Relief Fund- acknowledging the outstanding services to the industry during the past year of the Motion Picture Relief Fund and its progressive leadership. Presented to Jean Hersholt, President; Ralph Morgan, Chairman of the Executive Committee; Ralph Block, First Vice-President; Conrad Nagel (plaques).

Judy Garland for her outstanding performance as a screen juvenile during the past year (miniature statuette).

William Cameron Menzies for outstanding achievement in the use of color for the enhancement of dramatic mood in the production of Gone with the Wind (plaque).

The Technicolor Company for its contribution in successfully bringing three-color feature production to the screen (statuette).

Scientific or Technical Awards

Class I (Statuette)

None.

Class II (Plaque)

None.

Class III (Citation)

George Anderson of Warner Bros. Studio for an improved positive head for sun arcs.

John Arnold of MGM Studio for the MGM mobile camera crane.

Thomas T. Moulton, Fred Albin and the Sound Department of the Samuel Goldwyn Studio for the origination and application of the Delta db test to sound recording in motion pictures.

Farciot Edouart, Joseph E. Robbins, William Rudolph and Paramount Pictures, Inc., for the design and construction of a quiet portable treadmill.

Emery Huse and Ralph B. Atkinson of Eastman Kodak Co., for their specifications for chemical analysis of photographic developers and fixing baths.

Harold Nye of Warner Bros. Studio for a miniature incandescent spot lamp.

A. J. Tondreau of Warner Bros. Studio for the design and manufacture of an improved sound track printer.

Multiple Award for important contributions in cooperative development of new improved Process Projection Equipment:

    F.R. Abbott, Haller Belt, Alan Cook and Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. for faster projection lenses.

    

    Mitchell Camera Co. for a new type process projection head.

    Mole-Richardson Co. for a new type automatically controlled projection arc lamp.

    Charles Handley, David Joy and National Carbon Co. for improved and more stable high-intensity       carbons.

    Winton Hoch and Technicolor Motion Picture Corp. for an auxiliary optical system.

    Don Musgrave and Selznick International Pictures, Inc., for pioneering in the use of coordinated           equipment in the production of Gone with the Wind.

Venice Film Festival (Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg)

Best Foreign Film:

(Not awarded this year)

Best Italian Film:

Abuna Messias, Goffredo Alessandrini

Best Cameraman:

Ubaldo Arata, Derniere Jeunesse

Cups of the Biennial:

La Fin du Jour

Robert Koch, der Bekampfer

Four Feathers

Glad dig i din ungdom and En handfull Ris

Selection of Swedish films as a whole

Special Mention Awards:

Margarita, Armando y su Padre

Tulak Macoun

Jeunes Filles en Detresse

Veertig Jaaren

Bors Istvan

The Golden Harvest of the Wilwatersrand

The Mikado

The New York Times Ten Best List (Listed in chronological order. Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg).

Made for Each Other

Stagecoach

Wuthering Heights

Dark Victory

Juarez

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

The Women

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Ninotchka

Gone With the Wind

The Top Box-Office Hits of 1939 (According to Variety. Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg. Totals were not listed.)

1939 films listed on the 1938/39 list:

Dodge City

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Gunga Din

The Hardys Ride High

Jesse James

Juarez

Stagecoach

Three Smart Girls Grow Up

Union Pacific

1939 Films listed on the 1939/40 list:

Another Thin Man

Babes in Arms

Destry Rides Again

Drums Along the Mohawk

Gone with the Wind

Gulliver's Travels

Hollywood Cavalcade

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Ninotchka

The Old Maid

The Rains Came

The Women

Ten Big Pictures of 1939 (Source: Box Office Digest 1940 Annual, with estimated gross listed):

1) Jesse James- $3,250,000

2) Gunga Din- $3,100,000

3) Mr. Smith Goes to Washington- $2,700,000

4) The Rains Came- $2,600,000

5) Babes in Arms- $2,550,000

6) Dodge City- $2,400,000

7) The Women- $2,400,000

8) Goodbye, Mr. Chips- $2,300,000

9) The Wizard of Oz- $2,300,000

10) Drums Along the Mohawk- $2,200,000

The Top Ten Box-Office Stars of 1939 (according to Quigley Publishing's poll of film exhibitors)
1) Mickey Rooney

2) Tyrone Power

3) Spencer Tracy

4) Clark Gable

5) Shirley Temple

6) Bette Davis

7) Alice Faye

8) Errol Flynn

9) James Cagney

10) Sonja Henie

The Next Fifteen:

11) Bing Crosby

12) Deanna Durbin

13) Jane Withers

14) Robert Taylor

15) Wallace Beery

16) Myrna Loy

17) Bob Burns

18) Gary Cooper

19) Jeanette MacDonald

20) Don Ameche

21) Ginger Rogers

22) Henry Fonda

23) Paul Muni

24) Irene Dunne

25) Cary Grant

The Top Ten Western Stars of 1939 (according to Quigley Publishing's poll of film exhibitors)

1) Gene Autry

2) William Boyd

3) Roy Rogers

4) George O'Brien

5) Charles Starrett

6) Three Mesquiteers

7) Tex Ritter

8) Buck Jones

9) John Wayne

10) Bob Baker

The Top Ten Box-Offices Stars of 1939 in Britain (according to The Motion Picture Herald)

British Stars:

1) George Formby

2) Gracie Fields

3) Robert Donat

4) Will Hay

5) Anna Neagle

6) Leslie Howard

7) Charles Laughton 

8) Gordon Harker

9) Ralph Richardson

10) Will Fyffe

International Stars:

1) Deanna Durbin

2) Mickey Rooney

3) Shirley Temple

4) Robert Taylor

5) Jeanette MacDonald

6) Spencer Tracy

7) Errol Flynn

8) George Formby

9) Nelson Eddy

10) Gary Cooper

Harvard Lampoon's Movie Worst Awards (Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg)

Ten Worst Pictures:

The Rains Came

Hollywood Cavalcade

Winter Carnival

St. Louis Blues

Five Little Peppers

Bad Little Angel

The Fighting 69th

Idiot's Delight

20,000 Men a Year

The Man in the Iron Mask

Worst Actor:

Tyrone Power, The Rains Came

Worst Actress:

Norma Shearer, Idiot's Delight

Most Consistently Bad Performances:

Dorothy Lamour

Don Ameche

Most Colossal Flop:

The Wizard of Oz

Film Data for 1938

The Film Daily's Ten Best Pictures of 1938 (poll of 536 film critics and reviewers) 

1) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)- 419 votes 

2) You Can't Take it with You- 372 

3) Alexander's Ragtime Band- 324 

4) Boy's Town- 313 

5) Marie Antoinette- 287 

6) In Old Chicago (1937)- 243 

7) The Adventures of Robin Hood- 218 

8) The Citadel- 210 

9) Love Finds Andy Hardy- 180 

10) The Hurricane (1937)- 172 

The Honor Roll: 

11) Four Daughters- 168 

12) Test Pilot- 142 

13) Jezebel- 115 

14) If I Were King- 89 

15) Wells Fargo (1937)- 84 

16) Algiers- 79 

      Three Comrades- 79 

18) Mad About Music- 77 

19) Suez- 64 

20) Of Human Hearts- 60 

21) The Buccaneer- 54 

22) A Man to Remember- 50 

23) White Banners- 47 

24) Holiday- 46 

      Tovarich- 46 

26) The Sisters- 44 

27) Nothing Sacred (1937)- 41 

28) The Firefly (1937)- 39 

29) Brother Rat- 38 

      Men With Wings- 38 

      That Certain Age- 38

New York Film Critics Awards (Winners announced on January 3, 1939. Awards presented on January 8, 1939 at the Rainbow Room in New York. Sources: Tom O'Neil's Movie Awards, 2001 and Donald Lyons, "The Lights of New York," Film Comment, March-April, 1993)

Best Picture

The Citadel (won on ballot VI)

Runner-up: The Lady Vanishes

Best Director

Alfred Hitchcock, The Lady Vanishes (won on ballot I)

Best Actor

James Cagney, Angel with Dirty Faces (won on ballot IX)

Best Actress

Margaret Sullavan, Three Comrades (won on ballot IV)

Runner-up: Wendy Hiller in Pygmalion

Best Foreign Film

Grand Illusion (France)

Special Award

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

National Board of Review (Voting results announced on December 15, 1938. Source: Tom O'Neil's Movie Awards).

Best Picture

The Citadel

Rest of the Top Ten (Listed in order of preference):

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

The Beachcomber

To the Victor

Sing, You Sinners

The Edge of the World

Of Human Hearts

Jezebel

South Riding

Three Comrades

Best Acting (Listed in alphabetical order):

Lew Ayres, Holiday and Young Dr. Kildare

Pierre Blanchar, Harry Baur, Louis Jouvet, Raimu in Un Carnet de Bal

James Cagney, Angels with Dirty Faces

Joseph Calleia, Algiers

Chico, The Adventures of Chico

Robert Donat, The Citadel

Pierre Fresnay, Jean Gabin, Dita Parlo, Eric von Stroheim, Grand Illusion

Will Fyffe, To the Victor

John Garfield, Four Daughters

Wendy Hiller, Pygmalion

Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, The Beachcomber

Robert Morley, Marie Antoinette

Ralph Richardson, South Riding, The Citadel

Margaret Sullavan, Three Comrades

Spencer Tracy, Boys Town

The Academy Awards (Nominations announced on February 5, 1939. Awards were presented on February 23, 1939 the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Sources Tom O'Neil's Movie Awards and Mason Wiley and Damien Bona's Inside Oscar)

Best Picture

The Adventures of Robin Hood, Warner Bros. Produced by Hal B. Wallis, with Henry Blanke.

Alexander's Ragtime Band, 20th Century-Fox. Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, with Harry Joe Brown.

Boy's Town, MGM. Produced by John W. Considine, Jr.

The Citadel, MGM (British). Produced by Victor Saville.

Four Daughters, Warner Bros.-First National. Produced by Hal B. Wallis, with Henry Blanke.

Grand Illusion, R.A.O., World Pictures (French). Produced by Frank Rollmer and Albert Pinkovitch.

Jezebel, Warner Bros. Produced by Hal B. Wallis, with Henry Blanke.

Pygmalion, MGM (British). Produced by Gabriel Pascal.

Test Pilot, MGM. Produced by Louis D. Lighton.

You Can't Take It with You, Columbia. Produced by Frank Capra.

Best Director

Frank Capra for You Can't Take It with You (Columbia).

Michael Curtiz for Angels with Dirty Faces (Warner Bros.).

Michael Curtiz for Four Daughters (Warner Bros.).

Norman Taurog for Boy's Town (MGM) (British).

King Vidor for The Citadel (MGM) (British). 

Best Actor

Charles Boyer in Algiers (Wanger, UA).

James Cagney in Angels with Dirty Faces (Warner Bros.).

Robert Donat in The Citadel (MGM) (British).

Leslie Howard in Pygmalion (MGM) (British).

Spencer Tracy in Boy's Town (MGM).

Best Actress

Fay Bainter in White Banners (Warner Bros.)

Bette Davis in Jezebel (Warner Bros.)

Wendy Hiller in Pygmalion (MGM) (British).

Norma Shearer in Marie Antoinette (MGM).

Margaret Sullavan in Three Comrades (MGM). 

Best Supporting Actor

Walter Brennan in Kentucy (20th Century-Fox).

John Garfield in Four Daughters (Warner Bros.).

Gene Lockhart in Algiers (Wanger, UA).

Robert Morley in Marie Antoinette (MGM).

Basil Rathbone in If I Were King (Paramount).

Best Supporting Actress

Fay Bainter in Jezebel (Warner Bros.)

Beulah Bondi in Of Human Hearts (MGM).

Billie Burke in Merrily We Live (Roach, MGM).

Spring Byington in You Can't Take It with You (Columbia).

Miliza Korjus in The Great Waltz (MGM).

Writing (Original Story)

Alexander's Ragtime Band, 20th Century-Fox. Irving Berlin

Angels with Dirty Faces, Warner Bros. Rowland Brown.

Blockade, Wanger, UA. John Howard Lawson.

Boy's Town, MGM. Eleanore Griffin and Dore Schary.

Test Pilot, MGM. Frank Wead.

Writing (Screenplay)

Boy's Town, MGM. John Meehan and Dore Schary.

The Citadel, MGM (British). Ian Dalrymple, Elizabeth Hill and Frank Wead

Four Daughters, Warner Bros.-First National. Lenore Coffee and Julius J. Epstein.

Pygmalion, MGM (British). George Bernard Shaw; adaptation by Ian Dalrymple, Cecil Lewis and W.P. Lipscomb.

You Can't Take It with You, Columbia. Robert Riskin.

Best Interior Decoration

The Adventures of Robin Hood, Warner Bros. Carl J. Weyl.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Selznick, UA. Lyle Wheeler.

Alexander's Ragtime Band, 20th Century-Fox. Bernard Herzbrun and Boris Leven.

Algiers, Wanger, UA. Alexander Toluboff.

Carefree, RKO Radio. Van Nest Polglase.

Goldwyn Follies, Goldwyn, UA. Richard Day.

Holiday, Columbia. Stephen Goosson and Lionel Banks.

If I Were King, Paramount. Hans Dreier and John Goodman.

Mad About Music, Universal. Jack Otterson.

Marie Antoinette, MGM. Cedric Gibbons.

Merrily We Live, Roach, MGM. Charles D. Hall

Best Cinematography 

Algiers, Wanger, UA. James Wong Howe.

Army Girl, Republic. Ernest Miller and Harry Wild.

The Buccaneer, Paramount. Victor Milner.

The Great Waltz, MGM. Joseph Ruttenberg.

Jezebel, Warner Bros. Ernest Haller.

Mad About Music, Universal. Joseph Valentine.

Merrily We Live, Roach, MGM. Norbert Brodine.

Suez, 20th Century-Fox. Peverell Marley.

Vivacious Lady, RKO Radio. Robert de Grasse.

You Can't Take It with You, Columbia. Joseph Walker.

The Young in Heart, Selznick, UA. Leon Shamroy.

Film Editing

The Adventures of Robin Hood, Warner Bros. Ralph Dawson.

Alexander's Ragtime Band, 20th Century-Fox. Barbara McLean.

The Great Waltz, MGM. Tom Held.

Test Pilot, MGM. Tom Head.

You Can't Take It with You, Columbia. Gene Havlick. 

Best Song

"Always and Always" (Mannequin, MGM); Music by Edward Ward. Lyrics by Chet Forrest and Bob Wright.

"Change Partners and Dance with Me" (Carefree, RKO Radio); Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin.

"The Cowboy and the Lady" (The Cowboy and the Lady, Goldwyn, UA); Music by Lionel Newman. Lyrics by Arthur Quenzer.

"Dust" (Under Western Stars, Republic); Music and Lyrics by Johnny Marvin.

"Jeepers Creepers" (Going Places, Warner Bros.); Music by Harry Warren. Lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

"Merrily We Live" (Merrily We Live, Roach, MGM); Music by Phil Craig. Lyrics by Arthur Quenzer.

"A Mist Over the Moon" (The Lady Objects, Columbia); Music by Ben Oakland. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

"My Own" (That Certain Age, Universal); Music by Jimmy McHugh. Lyrics by Harold Adamson.

"Now It Can Be Told" (Alexander's Ragtime Band, 20th Century-Fox); Music and Lyrics Irving Berlin.

"Thanks for the Memory" (Big Broadcast of 1938, Paramount); Music by Ralph Rainger. Lyrics by Leo Robin.

Best Score

Alexander's Ragtime Band, 20th Century-Fox. Alfred Newman.

Carefree, RKO Radio. Victor Baravalle.

Girls School, Columbia. Morris Stoloff and Gregory Stone.

Goldwyn Follies, Goldwyn, UA. Alfred Newman.

Jezebel, Warner Bros. Max Steiner

Mad About Music, Universal. Charles Previn and Frank Skinner.

Storm Over Bengal, Republic. Cy Feuer.

Sweethearts, MGM. Herbert Stothart.

Tropic Holiday, Paramount. Boris Morros.

The Young in Heart, Selznick, UA. Franz Waxman.

Best Original Score

The Adventures of Robin Hood, Warner Bros. Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

Army Girl, Republic. Victor Young.

Blockade, Wanger, UA. Werner Janssen.

Blockheads, Roach, UA. Marvin Hatley.

Breaking the Ice, RKO Radio. Victor Young.

The Cowboy and the Lady, Goldwyn, UA. Alfred Newman.

If I Were King, Paramount. Richard Hageman.

Marie Antoinette, MGM. Herbert Stothart.

Pacific Liner, RKO Radio. Russell Bennett.

Suez, 20th Century-Fox. Louis Silvers.

The Young in Heart, Selznick, UA. Franz Waxman.

Best Sound Recording

Army Girl, Republic. Charles Lootens. 

The Cowboy and the Lady, Goldwyn, UA. Thomas Moulton.

Four Daughters, Warner Bros. Nathan Levinson.

If I Were King, Paramount. L.L. Ryder.

Merrily We Live, Roach, MGM. Elmer Raguse.

Sweethearts, MGM. Douglas Shearer.

Suez, 20th Century-Fox. Edmund Hansen.

That Certain Age, Universal. Bernard B. Brown.

Vivacious Lady, RKO Radio. James Wilkinson.

You Can't Take It with You, Columbia. John Livadary. 

Best Short Subject Cartoon

Brave Little Tailor, Disney, RKO Radio.

Mother Goose Goes Hollywood, Disney, RKO Radio.

Ferdinand the Bull, Disney, RKO Radio.

Good Scouts, Disney, RKO Radio.

Hunky and Spunky, Paramount. 

Best One-Reel Short Subject

The Great Heart, MGM (Miniatures).

That Mothers Might Live, MGM (Miniatures).

Timber Toppers, 20th Century-Fox (Ed Thorgensen-Sports).

Best Two-Reel Short Subject

Declaration of Independence, Warner Bros. (Historical Featurette).

Swingtime in the Movies, Warner Bros. (Broadway Brevities).

They're Always Caught, MGM (Crime Doesn't Pay).

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

Hal B. Wallis.

Special Awards

Deanna Durbin and Mickey Rooney for their significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth, and as juvenile players setting a high standard of ability and achievement (miniature statuette trophies).

Harry M. Warner in recognition of patriotic service in the production of historical short subjects presenting significant episodes in the early struggle of the American people for liberty (scroll). 

Walt Disney for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, recognized as a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field for the motion picture cartoon (one statuette- seven miniature statuettes).

Oliver Marsh and Allen Davey for the color cinematography of the MGM production Sweethearts (plaques).

For outstanding achievement in creating special photographic and sound effects in the Paramount production Spawn of the North: special effects by Gordon Jennings, assisted by Jan Domela, Dev Jennings, Irmin Roberts and Art Smith; transparencies by Farciot Edouart, assisted by Loyal Griggs; sound effects by Loren Ryder, assisted by Harry Mills, Louis H. Mesenkop and Walter Oberst (plaques).

Scientific or Technical Awards

Class I (Statuette)

None.

Class II (Plaque)

None.

Class III (Citation)

John Aalberg and the RKO Radio Studio Sound Dept. for the application of compression to variable area recording in motion picture productions.

Byron Haskin and the Special Effects Dept. of Warner Bros. Studio for pioneering the development and for the first practical application to motion picture production of the triple head background projector.

Venice Film Festival (Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg)

Best Foreign Film:

Olympia, Leni Riefenstahl

Best Italian Film:

Lucianno Serra Pilota, Goffredo Alessandrini

Great Art Trophy:

Walt Disney, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Best Direction:

Karl Ritter, Urlaub auf Ehreuwort

Marcel Carne, Le Quai des Brumes

Best Actor:

Leslie Howard, Pygmalion

Best Actress:

Norma Shearer, Marie Antoinette

Best Acting:

The Rage of Paris

Hanno Rapito Un Uomo

Der Mustergatte

Best Technique:

Goldwyn Follies

Sotto la Croce del Sud

Best Story:

Break the News

Geniusz Sceny

Special Mention Medals:

En kvinnas ansikte

Vivacious Lady

Alla en el Rancho Grande

Fahrendes Volk

Jezebel

The New York Times Ten Best List (Listed in chronological order. Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg.)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

The Citadel

To the Victor

Pygmalion

A Slight Case of Murder

Three Comrades

The Lady Vanishes

The Adventures of Robin Hood

A Man to Remember

Four Daughters

The Top Box-Office Hits of 1938 (According to Variety. Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg. Totals were not listed.)

1938 Films listed on the 1937/38 list:

The Adventures of Robin Hood

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Buccaneer

The Gold of the Golden West

The Goldwyn Follies

Happy Landing

Holiday

Test Pilot

1938 Films listed on the 1938/39 list:

Angels with Dirty Faces

Boys Town

Out West with the Hardys

Pygmalion

Sweethearts

That Certain Age

You Can't Take It with You

The Top Ten Box-Office Stars of 1938 (according to Quigley Publishing's poll of film exhibitors)
1) Shirley Temple

2) Clark Gable

3) Sonja Henie

4) Mickey Rooney

5) Spencer Tracy

6) Robert Taylor

7) Myrna Loy

8) Jane Withers

9) Alice Faye

10) Tyrone Power

The Next Fifteen:

11) Gary Cooper

12) Wallace Beery

13) Bing Crosby

14) Jeanette MacDonald

15) Deanna Durbin

16) Don Ameche

17) Dorothy Lamour

18) Ginger Rogers

19) Nelson Eddy

20) Bob Burns

21) Errol Flynn

22) Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy

23) Irene Dunne

24) Paul Muni

25) William Powell

The Top Ten Western Stars of 1938 (according to Quigley Publishing's poll of film exhibitors)

1) George Autry

2) William Boyd

3) Buck Jones

4) George O'Brien

5) Three Mesquiteers

6) Charles Starrett

7) Bob Steele

8) Smith Ballew

9) Tex Ritter

10) Dick Foran

The Top Ten Box-Offices Stars of 1938 in Britain (according to The Motion Picture Herald)

British Stars:

1) George Formby

2) Gracie Fields

3) Will Hay

4) Jessie Matthews

5) Sandy Powell

6) Jack Buchanan

7) Charles Laughton 

8) Anna Neagle

9) Will Fyffe

10) George Arliss

International Stars:

1) Shirley Temple

2) Jeanette MacDonald

3) Spencer Tracy

4) Clark Gable

5) George Formby

6) Deanna Durbin

7) Robert Taylor

8) Ronald Colman

9) Gary Cooper

10) William Powell

Film Data for 1937

The Film Daily's Ten Best Pictures of 1937 (poll of 545 film critics and reviewers. Comprised of films released from November 1, 1936 to October 31, 1937. Source: The Film Daily 1938 Year Book)

1) The Life of Emile Zola- 453 votes

2) The Good Earth- 424 votes

3) Captains Courageous- 380 votes

4) Lost Horizon- 325 votes

5) A Star is Born- 287 votes

6) Romeo and Juliet (1936)- 251 votes

7) Stage Door- 235 votes

8) Dead End- 197 votes

9) Winterset (1936)- 165 votes

10) The Awful Truth- 160 votes

The Honor Roll (films with 10 or more votes):

11) Lloyds of London (1936)- 154 votes

12) 100 Men and a Girl- 152 votes

13) The Prisoner of Zenda- 146 votes

14) Camille- 121 votes

      Maytime- 121 votes

16) Conquest- 107 votes

17) Night Must Fall- 84 votes

18) Stella Dallas- 74 votes

      Theodora Goes Wild (1936)- 74 votes

20) The Plainsman (1936)- 69 votes

21) Topper- 67 votes

22) Make Way for Tomorrow- 65 votes

      Rembrandt (1936)- 65 votes

24) They Won't Forget- 57 votes

25) Three Smart Girls (1936)- 56 votes

26) I Met Him in Paris- 50 votes

27) Heidi- 41 votes

28) One in a Million (1936)- 39 votes

29) The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)- 36 votes

30) The Prince and the Pauper- 31 votes

      Thin Ice- 31 votes

32) After the Thin Man (1936)- 30 votes

      Kid Galahad- 30 votes

34) Black Legion- 22 votes

      Parnell- 22 votes

36) Marked Woman- 21 votes

37) Green Light- 20 votes

38) Walt Disney Revue- 19

      The Emperor's Candlesticks- 19 votes

      Souls at Sea- 19 votes

41) Elephant Boy- 17 votes

42) The Road Back- 15 votes

      Three Men on a Horse (1936)- 15 votes

      Wake Up and Live- 15 votes

45) Wee Willie Winkie- 14 votes

46) Come and Get It (1936)- 13 votes

      Maid of Salem- 13 votes

      Seventh Heaven- 13 votes

      Slave Ship- 13 votes

      Waikiki Wedding- 13 votes

51) Ali Baba Goes to Town-11 votes

      Double Wedding- 11 votes

      The Garden of Allah (1936)- 11 votes

      Quality Street- 11 votes

     Vogues of 1938- 11 votes

56) Easy Living- 10 votes

      Love is News- 10 votes

National Board of Review (Winners announced on December 30, 1937. Source: Tom O'Neil's Movie Awards, 2001)

Best Picture

Night Must Fall

Rest of the Top Ten (Listed in order of preference):

The Life of Emile Zola

Black Legion

Camille

Make Way for Tomorrow

The Good Earth

They Won't Forget

Captains Courageous

A Star is Born

Stage Door

List based on popular appeal (Source: The 1938 Film Daily Year Book, which stated "On the basis of popular appeal the Review Committee of the National Board have chosen the following:")

The Good Earth

The Life of Emile Zola

Captains Courageous

Lost Horizon

Stage Door

A Star is Born

Dead End

The Prisoner of Zenda

Conquest

Camille

Best Acting (Listed in alphabetical order):

Harry Baur, The Golem

Humphrey Bogart, Black Legion

Charles Boyer, Conquest

Nikolai Cherkassov, Baltic Deputy

Danielle Darrieux, Mayerling

Greta Garbo, Camille

Robert Montgomery, Night Must Fall

Maria Ouspenskaya, Conquest

Luise Rainer, The Good Earth

Joseph Schildkraut, The Life of Emile Zola

Dame May Whitty, Night Must Fall

Mathias Wieman, The Eternal Mask

Best Foreign Film

The Eternal Mask (Austria/Switzerland)

Runners-up (in order of preference)

The Lower Depths (France)

Baltic Deputy (U.S.S.R.)

Mayerling (France)

The Spanish Earth (Spain)

Golgotha (France)

Elephant Boy (U.K.)

Rembrandt (U.K.) Also on 1936 list. 

Janosik (Czechoslovakia)

The Wedding of Palo (Greenland/Denmark)

New York Film Critics Awards (Winners announced on December 30, 1937. Awards presented on January 9th, 1938 at the Rainbow Room in New York. Source: Tom O'Neil's Movie Awards, 2001 and Donald Lyons, "The Lights of New York," Film Comment, March-April, 1993)

Best Picture

The Life of Emile Zola (won on ballot II)

Runner-up: Captains Courageous

Best Director

Gregory LaCava for Stage Door (won on ballot I)

Runner-up: Victor Fleming for Captains Courageous

Best Actor

Paul Muni in The Life of Emile Zola (won on ballot XII)

Runner-up: Spencer Tracy in Captains Courageous

Best Actress

Greta Garbo in Camille (won on ballot XII)

Runner-up: Katharine Hepburn in Stage Door

Best Foreign Film

Mayerling (France)

The Academy Awards (Nominations announced on February 6, 1938. Awards were presented on March 10, 1938 the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Sources Tom O'Neil's Movie Awards and Mason Wiley and Damien Bona's Inside Oscar)

Best Picture

The Awful Truth, Columbia. Produced by Leo McCarey, with Everett Riskin.

Captains Courageous, MGM. Produced by Louis D. Lighton.

Dead End, Goldwyn, UA. Produced by Samuel Goldwyn, with Merritt Hulbert.

The Good Earth, MGM. Produced by Irving Thalberg, with Albert Lewin.

In Old Chicago, 20th Century-Fox. Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, with Kenneth MacGowan.

The Life of Emile Zola, Warner Bros. Produced by Henry Blanke. 

Lost Horizon, Columbia. Produced by Frank Capra. 

100 Men and a Girl, Universal. Produced by Charles R. Rogers, with Joe Pasternak.

Stage Door, RKO Radio. Produced by Pando S. Berman.

A Star is Born, Selznick International, UA. Produced by David O' Selznick.

Best Director

William Dieterle for The Life of Emile Zola (Warner Bros.).

Sidney Franklin for The Good Earth (MGM).

Gregory La Cava for Stage Door (RKO Radio).

Leo McCarey for The Awful Truth (Columbia).

William Wellman for A Star is Born (Selznick International, UA).

Best Actor

Charles Boyer in Conquest (MGM).

Fredric March in A Star is Born (Selznick International, UA).

Robert Montgomery in Night Must Fall (MGM).

Paul Muni in The Life of Emile Zola (Warner Bros.).

Spencer Tracy in Captains Courageous (MGM).

Best Actress

Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth (RKO Radio).

Greta Garbo in Camille (MGM).

Janet Gaynor in A Star is Born (Selznick International, UA).

Luise Rainer in The Good Earth (MGM).

Barbara Stanwyck in Stella Dallas (Goldwyn, UA). 

Best Supporting Actor

Ralph Bellamy in The Awful Truth (RKO Radio).

Thomas Mitchell in The Hurricane (Goldwyn, UA).

Joseph Schildkraut in The Life of Emile Zola (Warner Bros.).

H.B. Warner in Lost Horizon (Columbia).

Roland Young in Topper (Roach, MGM).

Best Supporting Actress

Alice Brady in In Old Chicago (20th Century-Fox).

Andrea Leeds in Stage Door (RKO Radio).

Anne Shirley in Stella Dallas (Goldwyn, UA). 

Claire Trevor in Dead End (Goldwyn, UA).

Dame Mae Whitty in Night Must Fall (MGM).

Best Assistant Director 

C.C. Coleman, Jr. for Lost Horizon (Columbia).

Russ Saunders for The Life of Emile Zola (Warner Bros.).

Eric Stacey for A Star is Born (Selznick International, UA).

Hal Walker for Souls at Sea (Paramount).

Robert Webb for In Old Chicago (20th Century-Fox).

Writing (Original Story)

Black Legion, Warner Bros. Robert Lord.

In Old Chicago, 20th Century-Fox. Niven Busch.

The Life of Emile Zola, Warner Bros. Heinz Herald and Geza Herczeg.

100 Men and a Girl, Universal. Hans Kraly.

A Star is Born, Selznick International, UA. William A. Wellman and Robert Carson.

Writing (Screenplay)

The Awful Truth, Columbia. Vina Delmar.

Captains Courageous, MGM. Marc Connolly, John Lee Mahin and Dale Van Every.

The Life of Emile Zola, Warner Bros. Heinz Herald, Geza Herczeg and Norman Reilly Raine.

Stage Door, RKO Radio. Morris Ryskind and Anthony Veiller.

A Star is Born, Selznick International, UA. Alan Campbell, Robert Carson and Dorothy Parker.

 

Best Interior Decoration

Conquest, MGM. Cedric Gibbons and William Horning.

A Damsel in Distress, RKO Radio. Carroll Clark.

Dead End, Goldwyn, UA. Richard Day.

Every Day's a Holiday, Major Prods., Paramount. Wiard Ihnen.

The Life of Emile Zola, Warner Bros. Anton Grot.

Lost Horizon, Columbia. Stephen Goosson.

Manhattan Merry-Go-Round, Republic. John Victor MacKay.

The Prisoner of Zenda, Selznick, UA. Lyle Wheeler.

Souls at Sea, Paramount. Hans Dreier and Roland Anderson.

Vogues of 1938, Wanger, UA. Alexander Toluboff.

Wee Willie Winkie, 20th Century-Fox. William S. Darling and David Hall.

You're a Sweetheart, Universal. Jack Otterson.

Best Cinematography 

Dead End, Goldwyn, UA. Gregg Toland.

The Good Earth, MGM. Karl Freund.

Wings over Honolulu, Universal. Joseph Valentine.

Film Editing

The Awful Truth, Columbia. Al Clark.

Captains Courageous, MGM. Elmo Vernon.

The Good Earth, MGM. Basil Wrangell.

Lost Horizon, Columbia. Gene Havlick and Gene Milford.

100 Men and a Girl, Universal. Bernard W. Burton.

Best Song

"Remember Me" (Mr. Dodd Takes the Air, Warner Bros.); Music by Harry Warren. Lyrics by Al Dubin.

"Sweet Leilani" (Waikiki Wedding, Paramount); Music and Lyrics by Harry Owens.

"That Old Feeling" (Vogues of 1938, Wanger, UA); Music by Sammy Fain. Lyrics by Lew Brown.

"They Can't Take That Away from Me" (Shall We Dance, RKO Radio); Music by George Gershwin. Lyrics by Ira Gershwin.

"Whispers in the Dark" (Artists and Models, Paramount); Music by Frederick Hollander. Lyrics by Leo Robin.

Best Score

The Hurricane, Samuel Goldwyn Studio Music Dept., Alfred Newman, head. Score by Alfred Newman.

In Old Chicago, 20th Century-Fox Studio Music Dept., Louis Silvers, head. Score: no composer credit.

The Life of Emile Zola, Warner Bros. Studio Music Dept., Leo Forbstein, head. Score by Max Steiner.

Lost Horizon, Columbia Studio Music Dept., Morris Stoloff, head. Score by Dimitri Tiomkin.

Make a Wish, Principal Productions: Lesser, RKO Radio. Dr. Hugo Riesenfield, musical director. Score by Dr. Hugo Riesenfield.

Maytime, MGM Studio Music Dept., Nat W. Finston, head. Score by Herbert Stothart.

100 Men and a Girl, Universal Studio Music Dept., Charles Previn, head. Score: no composer credit.

Portia on Trial, Republic Studio Music Dept., Alberto Colombo, head. Score by Alberto Colombo.

The Prisoner of Zenda, Selznick International Pictures Music Dept., Alfred Newman, musical director. Score by Alfred Newman.

Quality Street, RKO Radio Studio Music Dept., Roy Webb, musical director. Score by Roy Webb.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt Disney Studio Music Dept., Leigh Harline, head. Score by Frank Churchill, Leigh Harline and Paul J. Smith.

Something to Sing About, Grand National Studio Music Dept., C. Bakaleinikoff, musical director. Score by Victor Schertzinger.

Souls at Sea, Paramount Studio Music Dept., Boris Morros, head. Score by W. Franke Harling and Milan Roder. 

Way Out West, Hal Roach Studio Music Dept., Marvin Hatley, head. Score by Marvin Hatley. 

Best Sound Recording

The Girl Said No, Grand National. A. E. Kaye.

Hitting a New High, RKO Radio. John Aalberg.

The Hurricane, Goldwyn, UA. Thomas Moulton.

In Old Chicago, 20th Century-Fox. E.H. Hansen.

The Life of Emile Zola, Warner Bros. Nathan Levinson.

Lost Horizon, Columbia. John Livadary.

Maytime, MGM. Douglas Shearer.

100 Men and a Girl, Universal. Homer Tasker.

Best Dance Direction

Busby Berkeley for "The Finale" number from Varsity Show (Warner Bros.).

Bobby Connolly for "Too Marvelous for Words" number from Ready Willing and Able (Warner Bros.).

Dave Gould for "All God's Children Got Rhythm" number from A Day at the Races (MGM).

Sammy Lee for "Swing Is Here to Stay" number from Ali Baba Goes to Town (20th Century-Fox).

Harry Losee for "Prince Igor Suite" number from Thin Ice (20th Century-Fox). 

Hermes Pan for "Fun House" number from Damsel in Distress (RKO Radio).  

Leroy Prinz for "Luau" number from Waikiki Wedding (Paramount). 

Best Short Subject Cartoon

Educated Fish, Paramount.

The Little Match Girl, Charles Mintz, Columbia.

The Old Mill, Walt Disney, RKO Radio.

Best One-Reel Short Subject

A Night at the Movies, MGM (Robert Benchley).

Private Life of the Gannetts, Educational. 

Romance of Radium, Pete Smith, MGM (Pete Smith Specialties). 

Best Two-Reel Short Subject

Deep South, RKO Radio (Radio Musical Comedies).

Should Wives Work, RKO Radio (Leon Errol Comedies).

Torture Money, MGM (Crime Doesn't Pay).

Best Color Short Subject

The Man Without a Country, Warner Bros. (Broadway Brevities).

Penny Wisdom, Pete Smith, MGM (Pete Smith Specialties).

Popular Science J-7-1, Paramount.

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

Darryl F. Zanuck.

Special Awards

Mack Sennett for lasting contribution to the comedy technique of the screen, the basic principles of which are as important today as when they were first put into practice, the Academy presents a Special Award to that master of fun, discoverer of stars, sympathetic, kindly, understanding comedy genius- Mack Sennett (statuette).

Edgar Bergen for his outstanding comedy creation, Charlie McCarthy (wooden statuette).

The Museum of Modern Art Film Library for its significant work in collecting films dating from 1895 to the present and for the first time making available to the public the means of studying the historical and aesthetic development of the motion picture as one of the major arts (scroll certificate). 

W. Howard Greene for the color photography of A Star is Born. (This Award was recommended by a committee of leading cinematographers after viewing all the color pictures made during the year- plaque).

Scientific or Technical Awards

Class I (Statuette)

Agfa ANSCO Corp. for Agfa Supreme and Agfa Ultra Speed pan motion picture negatives. 

Class II (Plaque)

Walt Disney Prods., Ltd., for the design and application to production of the Multi-Plane Camera.

Eastman Kodak Co. for two fine-grain duplicating film stocks.

Farciot Edouart and Paramount Pictures, Inc., for the development of the Paramount dual screen transparency camera setup.

Douglas Shearer and the MGM Studio Sound Department for a method of varying the scanning width of variable density sound tracks (squeeze tracks) for the purpose of obtaining an increased amount of noise reduction.

Class III (Citation)

John Arnold and the MGM Studio Camera Department for their improvement of the semi-automatic follow focus device and its application to all of the camera used by the MGM Studio. 

John Livadary, Director of Sound Recording for Columbia Pictures Corp., for the application of the biplanar light valve to motion picture sound recording.

Thomas T. Moulton and the United Artists Studio Sound Department for the application to motion picture sound recording of volume indicators which have peak reading response and linear decibel scales. 

RCA Manufacturing Co., Inc., for the introduction of the modulated high-frequency method of determining optimum photographic processing conditions for variable width sound tracks. 

Joseph E. Robbins and Paramount Pictures, Inc., for an exceptional application of acoustic principles to the sound-proofing of gasoline generators and water pumps.

Douglas Shearer and the MGM Studio Sound Department for the design of the film drive mechanism as incorporated in the ERPI 1010 reproducer. 

Venice Film Festival (Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg)

Best Foreign Film:

Un Carnet de Bal, Julien Duvivier

Best Italian Film:

Scipione l'Africano, Carmine Gallone

Best Direction:

Robert Flaherty, Zoltan Korda, Elephant Boy

Best Actor:

Emil Jannings, Der Herrscher

Best Actress:

Bette Davis, Marked Woman and Kid Galahad

Best Artistic Ensemble:

La Grande Illusion

Best Film With Colonial Subject:

Sentinelle di Bronzo, Romolo Marcellini

Best Screenplay:

Sacha Guitry, Les Peries de la Couronne

Best Photography:

Peverell Marley, Winterset

Best Scientific Film:

Martin Rikli, Rontgenstrahlen

Best Animated Cartoon:

Walt Disney, Hawaiian Holiday; Music Land; Old Mill; Alpine Climbers; Country Cousin; Mickey's Polo Team

Best Documentary:

Walter Ruttman, Mannesmann

Best Film Interpreting Natural and Artistic Beauties:

Luis Trenker, Condottieri

Best First Screening:

Victoria the Great, Herbert Wilcox

The New York Times Ten Best List (Listed in chronological order. Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg.)

The Life of Emile Zola

The Good Earth

Stage Door

Captains Courageous

They Won't Forget

Make Way for Tomorrow

I Met Him in Paris

A Star is Born

Camille

Lost Horizon

The Top Box-Office Hits of 1937 (According to Variety. Source: Film Facts, 1980, edited by Cobbett Steinberg. Totals were not listed.)

1937 Films listed on the 1936/37 list:

Artists and Models

Captains Courageous

The Good Earth

Green Light

I Met Him in Paris

The Last of Mrs. Cheyney

Lost Horizon

Love is News

Maytime

Mountain Music

The Road Back

Shall We Dance

Slave Ship

A Star is Born

Swing High, Swing Low

Wake Up and Live

Wee Willie Winkie

You Can't Have Everything

1937 Films listed on the 1937/38 list:

The Firefly

The Hurricane

In Old Chicago

Rosalie

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Wells Fargo

Ten Big Pictures of 1937 (Source: National Box Office Digest Annual, May 1938, with estimated gross listed):

1) A Star is Born- $3,650,000

2) Saratoga- $3,550,000

3) After the Thin Men (1936)- $3,350,000

4) The Awful Truth- $2,550,000 (not a typo- entered at #4 with $2,550,000)

5) Waikiki Wedding- $3,300,000

6) The Plainsman (1936)- $3,250,000

7) Thin Ice- $3,200,000

8) Maytime- $3,200,000

9) Lost Horizon- $3,150,000

10) One in a Million (1936)- $2,800,000

The Top Ten Box-Office Stars of 1937 (according to Quigley Publishing's poll of film exhibitors)
1) Shirley Temple

2) Clark Gable

3) Robert Taylor

4) Bing Crosby

5) William Powell

6) Jane Withers

7) Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers

8) Sonja Henie

9) Gary Cooper

10) Myrna Loy

The Next Fifteen:

11) Bob Burns

12) Martha Raye

13) Jeanette MacDonald

14) Dick Powell

15) Wallace Beery

16) Joan Crawford

17) Joe E. Brown

18) Spencer Tracy

19) Claudette Colbert

20) Eleanor Powell

21) Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy

22) Jack Benny

23) Nelson Eddy

24) William Powell & Myrna Loy

25) Bob Burns & Martha Raye

The Top Ten Western Stars of 1937 (according to Quigley Publishing's poll of film exhibitors)

1) George Autry

2) William Boyd

3) Buck Jones

4) Dick Foran

5) George O'Brien

6) Tex Ritter

7) Bob Steele

8) The Three Mesquiteers

9) Charles Starrett

10) Ken Maynard

The Top Ten Box-Offices Stars of 1937 in Britain (according to The Motion Picture Herald)

British Stars:

1) Gracie Fields

2) George Formby

3) Jessie Matthews

4) Will Hay

5) Jack Buchanan

6) George Arliss

7) Charles Laughton & Tom Walls (tie)

8) Anna Neagle

9) Jack Hulbert

10) Paul Robeson

International Stars:

1) Shirley Temple

2) Clark Gable

3) Gracie Fields

4) Gary Cooper

5) George Formby

6) William Powell

7) Jeanette MacDonald

8) Robert Taylor

9) Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers

10) Laurel & Hardy