Best Picture Nominees Who Lost Out

 

 Each year the Oscar’s are full of surprises.  This year was no exception with “Crash” winning the Academy Award for Best Picture over “Brokeback Mountain”, which was considered the favorite going in to the night’s telecast.  There have been a number of movie favorites that have been nominated for Best Picture but failed to take home the Oscar.

 

Wizard of Oz (1939)

This movie favorite won Oscars for music at the 12th Annual Academy Awards.  The award for Best Picture went to “Gone With The Wind”.

 

Grapes of Wrath and Philadelphia Story (1940)

Both movies were contenders for Best Picture at the 13th Academy Awards.  “Grapes of Wrath” won Oscars for directing and Best Actress Jane Darwell while “Philadelphia Story” won for Best Screenplay and Best Actor Jimmy Stewart.  It was Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rebecca”, however, that won the top prize.

 

Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles would win the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for 1941’s “Citizen Kane”.  But the Oscar for Best Picture at the 14th Annual Academy Awards went to “How Green Was My Valley”.

 

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

Although the story of George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) is a holiday favorite, it didn’t win any Oscars at the 19th Academy Awards.  The Best Picture statuette went to “The Best Years of Our Lives”.

 

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Edmund Gwenn won a Best Actor Oscar for his role as Kris Kringle.  “Miracle on 34th Street” also picked up two writing Oscars at the 20th Academy Awards but the Best Picture prize went to “Gentleman’s Agreement”.

 

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

At the 24th Academy Awards, “A Streetcar Named Desire” won Oscars for Art Direction, Best Supporting Actor Karl Malden, Best Supporting Actress Kim Hunter and Best Actress Vivien Leigh.  But the Best Picture Oscar went to “An American in Paris”.

 

Shane (1953)

“Shane” won the Oscar for Best Cinematography at the 26th Academy Awards.  “From Here to Eternity” went on to win Best Picture.

 

Ten Commandments, Giant and The King & I (1956)

Each of these movies was a contender for Best Picture at the 29th Academy Awards.  “Ten Commandments” won the Oscar for Special Effects, “Giant” won for Best Director and “The King and I” won awards for Art Direction, Costume Design, Music, Sound and Best Actor Yul Brynner.  However, the Best Picture at the evening’s festivities went to “Around the World in 80 Days”.

 

To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)

Gregory Peck won the Best Actor Oscar at the 35th Academy Awards for his role as Atticus Finch in “To Kill A Mockingbirg”.  The film also garnered an Art Direction Oscar but the Best Picture award went to “Lawrence of Arabia”.

 

Cleopatra (1963)

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starred in “Cleopatra” which won Oscars for Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design and Special Effects at the 36th Academy Awards.  The film “Tom Jones” went on to win Best Picture.

 

Deliverance (1972)

Although “Deliverance” was up for several Oscars at the 45th Academy Awards, it was shut out in every category, including Best Picture which went to “The Godfather”.

 

The Exorcist and American Graffiti (1973)

Although both movies were up for Best Picture, it was “The Sting” that won the top award at the 46th Academy Awards.  “The Exorcist” did win awards for sound and writing.

 

Jaws (1975)

The Great White bit into the competition when it came to Film Editing, Musical Score and Sound at the 48th Academy Awards.  But the Best Picture Oscar eventually went to “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”.

 

Star Wars (1977)

George Lucas’ first movie of the franchise was nominated for several Oscars at the 50th Academy Awards.  “Star Wars” won for Art Direction, Film Editing, Sound, Costume Design, Music, Visual Effects and a Special Award for sound.  But “Annie Hall” took home the Best Picture Oscar.

 

On Golden Pond and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

At the 54th Academy Awards, “On Golden Pond” picked up Oscars for Writing, Best Actor Henry Fonda and Best Actress Katharine Hepburn.  “Raiders of the Lost Ark” won awards for Art Direction, Film Editing, Sound, Visual Effects and another Special Award for Sound effects.  But it was “Chariots of Fire” that picked up the evening’s Best Picture prize.

 

E.T. – Extra Terrestrial (1982)

Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.” remains a favorite film for many moviegoers.  At the 55th Academy Awards it picked up Oscars for Music, Sound and Visual Effects.  But when the Best Picture winner was revealed, it was “Gandhi” that walked away with the Oscar.

 

Ghost (1990)

Whoopi Goldberg won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in “Ghost” which also garnered a writing honor at the 63rd Academy Awards.  It eventually lost out to “Dances with Wolves” for Best Picture.

 

Pulp Fiction and Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Both movies were up for several honors at the 67th Academy Awards.  “Pulp Fiction” went on to win an Oscar for Writing but both lost to “Forrest Gump” in the Best Picture category.

 

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

“Saving Private Ryan” was a favorite going into the 71st Academy Awards.  It won Oscars for Cinematography, Film Editing, Sound, Sound Effects and Best Director Steven Spielberg.  But it was “Shakespeare in Love” that walked away with the award for Best Picture.

 

Sixth Sense and Green Mile (1999)

“Sixth Sense” starring Bruce Willis and “Green Mile” with Tom Hanks were up for a number of honors at the 72nd Academy Awards.  Both movies, however, walked away empty handed in all categories including Best Picture which went to “American Beauty”.

 

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Two Towers (2002)

Peter Jackson’s first two installments of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy were both nominated for Best Picture.  At the 74th Academy Awards, “Fellowship of the Ring” won for Cinematography, Musical Score, Makeup and Visual Effects.  However, it was “A Beautiful Mind” that walked away with the Best Picture Oscar that evening.  The following year, at the 75th Academy Awards, “The Two Towers”, won for Sound Editing and Visual Effects.  But it was “Chicago” that walked away with the Best Picture Oscar.  However, the third installment, 2003’s “Return of the King” won the coveted award the following year.

 

Aviator (2004)

This biopic film featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes was a front runner going into the 77th Academy Awards.  Over the course of the evening, the movie picked up Oscars for Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing and Best Supporting Actress Cate Blanchett.  However, it was “Million Dollar Baby” that walked away with Best Picture.

 

See Also:  Oscar Nominated Actors and Actresses, 2006 Oscar Winners and Love Gone Wrong Films!

 

These films are available at Amazon.com and Half.com!

 

© 2006 by Tammy Cordani.  To use the above content you must first obtain written permission.  Please contact Tammy Cordani.  All rights reserved.

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