Did you know? Do you know? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. If you do, don’t spoil it for the uninitiated. For over 80 years, the Academy Awards has essentially become the benchmark for film achievement. Each year, the most acclaimed movies are assembled together to determine which (and who) are the “best”, and while that description is ultimately subjective, one cannot deny the rich history of the Oscars. A history with surprises, emotional breakdowns, and memorable moments, it is easy to know and recite the most common tidbits.
But what about the secret stuff? The facts that go unsung, are not as popular, but they are at the very least intriguing. So the next time you’re playing trivia, trying to impress your friends, or going for that million dollar game show prize, you may have some extra ammunition with these fascinating Oscar facts.
- 1. Released in 1927, the same year the Academy Awards were created, The Jazz Singer was a milestone in cinema. While not the first film to introduce sound, The Jazz Singer was the first full-length “talkie” feature film, and it easily popularized the use of sound in cinema with its potential. With a huge breakthrough coinciding with the first ever Oscar Ceremony, it only makes sense for The Jazz Singer to sweep the awards, right? WRONG. The film was only nominated for best writing. It wasn’t nominated for best picture, because it would have looked unfair to be judged against silent films. It did win a Special Award for pioneering and revolutionizing the industry…so that’s something.
- 2. Speaking of the first Academy Award ceremony, it was the only time the Oscars were not broadcasted, and probably the only time the ceremony was 5 minutes long (winners were announced three months prior).
- 3. The most nominated portrayal of the same historical figure is King Henry VIII (3).
- 4. When it comes to the record for the most Oscars, look no further than Mr. Walt Disney, who won 26 Oscars, was nominated for a record 59 and won a record 4 in one night (1954).
- 5. Daniel Day-Lewis is the only actor to win three Best Actor Oscars: My Left Foot (1989), There Will Be Blood (2007), and Lincoln (2012)
- 6. The record for most nominations in any category without a win is a whopping 20 for sound mixer Kevin O’Connell.
Sources:
http://www.filmsite.org/aa27.html
http://www.filmsite.org/jazz.html
http://www.filmsite.org/aa69.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/who-has-won-the-most-oscars.html
