A curator's collection: Oscar Through the Years Part One 1934

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Oscar Through the Years Part One 1934 - 1973

I rarely watch the Academy Awards anymore but I'm glad they exist so that I know who's who, who's in and out, whose star is shining and whose has dimmed. And which artists are compiling enduring bodies of work worthy of public notice.

For every Hollywood motion picture actor who boards the bus bound for stardom, another must get off. That explains the dimming stars of Macauley Caulkin, Ali McGraw, Linda Blair, Mira Sorvino, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Yasmin Bleeth, Rocky Stallone and so many other former luminaries whose lights inexplicably faded despite their overarching talent.

Then there are the performers in the clips below who took the front row seats and through one performance after another, announced to the world, "I'm the brightest star in the firmament and I'm not going anywhere."

TO BE CONTINUED ...

Prelude: There have been any number of mistakes and oversights in the awards Some of the most notorious are selectively noted. Speaking of Notorious, a special acknowledgement must be made for two of Hollywood's greatest superstars, who were shut out snubbed despite their remarkable career long achievements.

A five time nominee, Alfred Hitchcock never received an Oscar nod. That's as mysterious as many of his greatest flicks. These clips from the best of Hitch show the error of Oscar's Ways.

And then there was Marilyn. Most often dismissed as a ditzy light weight, she was not only a deft and skilled comedienne, but an emerging dramatic talent - and may have been the brightest star of all.

The Roll Call

1934 Oscar Winners