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1940

Experience over nine decades of the Oscars from 1927 to 2024

The 12th Academy Awards | 1940
Coconut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel
Thursday, February 29, 1940
Honoring movies released in 1939
Highlights
Special Award
Image

Judy Garland, with presenter Mickey Rooney

Cinematography
Image
Gone with the Wind

Ernest Haller

Irving G. Thalberg Award
Image

David O. Selznick, with presenter Ernest Martin Hopkins

Memorable Moments
Hattie McDaniel
Image

Supporting Actress winner for Gone with the Wind, posing with an Oscar statuette with presenter Fay Bainter

Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester
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Arriving at the Oscars

Victor Fleming
Image

Best Directing winner for Gone with the Wind

WINNERS & NOMINEES
Actor
Winner
Robert Donat
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Nominees
Clark Gable
Gone with the Wind
Nominees
Laurence Olivier
Wuthering Heights
Nominees
Mickey Rooney
Babes in Arms
Nominees
James Stewart
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Actor in a Supporting Role
Winner
Thomas Mitchell
Stagecoach
Nominees
Brian Aherne
Juarez
Nominees
Harry Carey
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Nominees
Brian Donlevy
Beau Geste
Nominees
Claude Rains
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Actress
Winner
Vivien Leigh
Gone with the Wind
Nominees
Bette Davis
Dark Victory
Nominees
Irene Dunne
Love Affair
Nominees
Greta Garbo
Ninotchka
Nominees
Greer Garson
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Actress in a Supporting Role
Winner
Hattie McDaniel
Gone with the Wind
Nominees
Olivia de Havilland
Gone with the Wind
Nominees
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Wuthering Heights
Nominees
Edna May Oliver
Drums along the Mohawk
Nominees
Maria Ouspenskaya
Love Affair
Art Direction
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Lyle Wheeler
Nominees
Beau Geste
Hans Dreier, Robert Odell
Nominees
Captain Fury
Charles D. Hall
Nominees
First Love
Jack Otterson, Martin Obzina
Nominees
Love Affair
Van Nest Polglase, Al Herman
Nominees
Man of Conquest
John Victor Mackay
Nominees
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Lionel Banks
Nominees
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Anton Grot
Nominees
The Rains Came
William Darling, George Dudley
Nominees
Stagecoach
Alexander Toluboff
Nominees
The Wizard of Oz
Cedric Gibbons, William A. Horning
Nominees
Wuthering Heights
James Basevi
Cinematography (Black-and-White)
Winner
Wuthering Heights
Gregg Toland
Nominees
Stagecoach
Bert Glennon
Cinematography (Color)
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Ernest Haller, Ray Rennahan
Nominees
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Sol Polito, W. Howard Greene
Directing
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Victor Fleming
Nominees
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Sam Wood
Nominees
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Frank Capra
Nominees
Stagecoach
John Ford
Nominees
Wuthering Heights
William Wyler
Film Editing
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Hal C. Kern, James E. Newcom
Nominees
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Charles Frend
Nominees
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Gene Havlick, Al Clark
Nominees
The Rains Came
Barbara McLean
Nominees
Stagecoach
Otho Lovering, Dorothy Spencer
Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
Winner
David O. Selznick
Music (Original Score)
Winner
The Wizard of Oz
Herbert Stothart
Nominees
Dark Victory
Max Steiner
Nominees
Eternally Yours
Werner Janssen
Nominees
Golden Boy
Victor Young
Nominees
Gone with the Wind
Max Steiner
Nominees
Gulliver's Travels
Victor Young
Nominees
The Man in the Iron Mask
Lud Gluskin, Lucien Moraweck
Nominees
Man of Conquest
Victor Young
Nominees
Nurse Edith Cavell
Anthony Collins
Nominees
Of Mice and Men
Aaron Copland
Nominees
The Rains Came
Alfred Newman
Nominees
Wuthering Heights
Alfred Newman
Music (Scoring)
Winner
Stagecoach
Richard Hageman, Frank Harling, John Leipold, Leo Shuken
Nominees
Babes in Arms
George E. Stoll, Roger Edens
Nominees
First Love
Charles Previn
Nominees
The Great Victor Herbert
Phil Boutelje, Arthur Lange
Nominees
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Alfred Newman
Nominees
Intermezzo
Lou Forbes
Nominees
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Dimitri Tiomkin
Nominees
Of Mice and Men
Aaron Copland
Nominees
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Nominees
She Married a Cop
Cy Feuer
Nominees
Swanee River
Louis Silvers
Nominees
They Shall Have Music
Alfred Newman
Nominees
Way Down South
Victor Young
Music (Song)
Winner
The Wizard of Oz
Over The Rainbow in "The Wizard of Oz" Music by Harold Arlen; Lyrics by E. Y. Harburg
Nominees
Gulliver's Travels
Faithful Forever in "Gulliver's Travels" Music by Ralph Rainger; Lyrics by Leo Robin
Nominees
Second Fiddle
I Poured My Heart Into A Song in "Second Fiddle" Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Nominees
Love Affair
Wishing in "Love Affair" Music and Lyrics by Buddy de Sylva
Outstanding Production
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Selznick International Pictures
Nominees
Dark Victory
Warner Bros.-First National
Nominees
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Nominees
Love Affair
RKO Radio
Nominees
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Columbia
Nominees
Ninotchka
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Nominees
Of Mice and Men
Hal Roach (production company)
Nominees
Stagecoach
Walter Wanger (production company)
Nominees
The Wizard of Oz
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Nominees
Wuthering Heights
Samuel Goldwyn Productions
Short Subject (Cartoon)
Winner
The Ugly Duckling
Walt Disney, Producer
Nominees
Detouring America
Warner Bros.
Nominees
Peace on Earth
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Nominees
The Pointer
Walt Disney, Producer
Short Subject (One-reel)
Winner
Busy Little Bears
Paramount
Nominees
Information Please
RKO Radio
Nominees
Prophet without Honor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Nominees
Sword Fishing
Warner Bros.
Short Subject (Two-reel)
Winner
Sons of Liberty
Warner Bros.
Nominees
Drunk Driving
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Nominees
Five Times Five
RKO Radio
Sound Recording
Winner
When Tomorrow Comes
Universal Studio Sound Department, Bernard B. Brown, Sound Director
Nominees
Balalaika
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director
Nominees
Gone with the Wind
Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director
Nominees
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Denham Studio Sound Department, A. W. Watkins, Sound Director
Nominees
The Great Victor Herbert
Paramount Studio Sound Department, Loren L. Ryder, Sound Director
Nominees
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
RKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Aalberg, Sound Director
Nominees
Man of Conquest
Republic Studio Sound Department, Charles L. Lootens, Sound Director
Nominees
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Columbia Studio Sound Department, John Livadary, Sound Director
Nominees
Of Mice and Men
Hal Roach Studio Sound Department, Elmer A. Raguse, Sound Director
Nominees
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Warner Bros. Studio Sound Department, Nathan Levinson, Sound Director
Nominees
The Rains Came
20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department, E. H. Hansen, Sound Director
Special Award
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Special Award
Special Effects
Winner
The Rains Came
Fred Sersen, E. H. Hansen
Nominees
Gone with the Wind
John R. Cosgrove, Fred Albin, Arthur Johns
Nominees
Only Angels Have Wings
Roy Davidson, Edwin C. Hahn
Nominees
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Byron Haskin, Nathan Levinson
Nominees
Topper Takes a Trip
Roy Seawright
Nominees
Union Pacific
Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings, Loren Ryder
Nominees
The Wizard of Oz
A. Arnold Gillespie, Douglas Shearer
Writing (Original Story)
Winner
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Lewis R. Foster
Nominees
Bachelor Mother
Felix Jackson
Nominees
Love Affair
Mildred Cram, Leo McCarey
Nominees
Ninotchka
Melchior Lengyel
Nominees
Young Mr. Lincoln
Lamar Trotti
Writing (Screenplay)
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Sidney Howard
Nominees
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
R. C. Sherriff, Claudine West, Eric Maschwitz
Nominees
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Sidney Buchman
Nominees
Ninotchka
Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Walter Reisch
Nominees
Wuthering Heights
Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht

B

Babes in Arms
2 NOMINATIONS
  • Actor - Mickey Rooney
  • Music (Scoring) - George E. Stoll, Roger Edens
Bachelor Mother
1 NOMINATION
  • Writing (Original Story) - Felix Jackson
Balalaika
1 NOMINATION
  • Sound Recording - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director
Beau Geste
2 NOMINATIONS
  • Actor in a Supporting Role - Brian Donlevy
  • Art Direction - Hans Dreier, Robert Odell
Busy Little Bears
1 WIN, 1 NOMINATION
  • * Short Subject (One-reel) - Paramount

C

Captain Fury
1 NOMINATION
  • Art Direction - Charles D. Hall

D

Dark Victory
3 NOMINATIONS
  • Actress - Bette Davis
  • Music (Original Score) - Max Steiner
  • Outstanding Production - Warner Bros.-First National
Detouring America
1 NOMINATION
  • Short Subject (Cartoon) - Warner Bros.
Drums along the Mohawk
1 NOMINATION
  • Actress in a Supporting Role - Edna May Oliver
Drunk Driving
1 NOMINATION
  • Short Subject (Two-reel) - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

E

Eternally Yours
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Original Score) - Werner Janssen

F

First Love
2 NOMINATIONS
  • Art Direction - Jack Otterson, Martin Obzina
  • Music (Scoring) - Charles Previn
Five Times Five
1 NOMINATION
  • Short Subject (Two-reel) - RKO Radio

G

Golden Boy
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Original Score) - Victor Young
Gone with the Wind
14 NOMINATIONS, 9 WINS
  • * Actress - Vivien Leigh
  • * Actress in a Supporting Role - Hattie McDaniel
  • * Art Direction - Lyle Wheeler
  • * Cinematography (Color) - Ernest Haller, Ray Rennahan
  • * Directing - Victor Fleming
  • * Film Editing - Hal C. Kern, James E. Newcom
  • * Outstanding Production - Selznick International Pictures
  • * Special Award - Special Award
  • * Writing (Screenplay) - Sidney Howard
  • Actor - Clark Gable
  • Actress in a Supporting Role - Olivia de Havilland
  • Music (Original Score) - Max Steiner
  • Sound Recording - Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director
  • Special Effects - John R. Cosgrove, Fred Albin, Arthur Johns
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
7 NOMINATIONS, 1 WIN
  • * Actor - Robert Donat
  • Actress - Greer Garson
  • Directing - Sam Wood
  • Film Editing - Charles Frend
  • Outstanding Production - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • Sound Recording - Denham Studio Sound Department, A. W. Watkins, Sound Director
  • Writing (Screenplay) - R. C. Sherriff, Claudine West, Eric Maschwitz
The Great Victor Herbert
2 NOMINATIONS
  • Music (Scoring) - Phil Boutelje, Arthur Lange
  • Sound Recording - Paramount Studio Sound Department, Loren L. Ryder, Sound Director
Gulliver's Travels
2 NOMINATIONS
  • Music (Original Score) - Victor Young
  • Music (Song) - Faithful Forever in "Gulliver's Travels" Music by Ralph Rainger; Lyrics by Leo Robin

H

The Hunchback of Notre Dame
2 NOMINATIONS
  • Music (Scoring) - Alfred Newman
  • Sound Recording - RKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Aalberg, Sound Director

I

Information Please
1 NOMINATION
  • Short Subject (One-reel) - RKO Radio
Intermezzo
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Scoring) - Lou Forbes

J

Juarez
1 NOMINATION
  • Actor in a Supporting Role - Brian Aherne

L

Love Affair
6 NOMINATIONS
  • Actress - Irene Dunne
  • Actress in a Supporting Role - Maria Ouspenskaya
  • Art Direction - Van Nest Polglase, Al Herman
  • Music (Song) - Wishing in "Love Affair" Music and Lyrics by Buddy de Sylva
  • Outstanding Production - RKO Radio
  • Writing (Original Story) - Mildred Cram, Leo McCarey

M

The Man in the Iron Mask
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Original Score) - Lud Gluskin, Lucien Moraweck
Man of Conquest
3 NOMINATIONS
  • Art Direction - John Victor Mackay
  • Music (Original Score) - Victor Young
  • Sound Recording - Republic Studio Sound Department, Charles L. Lootens, Sound Director
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
10 NOMINATIONS, 1 WIN
  • * Writing (Original Story) - Lewis R. Foster
  • Actor - James Stewart
  • Actor in a Supporting Role - Harry Carey, Claude Rains
  • Art Direction - Lionel Banks
  • Directing - Frank Capra
  • Film Editing - Gene Havlick, Al Clark
  • Music (Scoring) - Dimitri Tiomkin
  • Outstanding Production - Columbia
  • Sound Recording - Columbia Studio Sound Department, John Livadary, Sound Director
  • Writing (Screenplay) - Sidney Buchman

N

Ninotchka
4 NOMINATIONS
  • Actress - Greta Garbo
  • Outstanding Production - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • Writing (Original Story) - Melchior Lengyel
  • Writing (Screenplay) - Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Walter Reisch
Nurse Edith Cavell
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Original Score) - Anthony Collins

O

Of Mice and Men
4 NOMINATIONS
  • Music (Original Score) - Aaron Copland
  • Music (Scoring) - Aaron Copland
  • Outstanding Production - Hal Roach (production company)
  • Sound Recording - Hal Roach Studio Sound Department, Elmer A. Raguse, Sound Director
Only Angels Have Wings
1 NOMINATION
  • Special Effects - Roy Davidson, Edwin C. Hahn

P

Peace on Earth
1 NOMINATION
  • Short Subject (Cartoon) - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Pointer
1 NOMINATION
  • Short Subject (Cartoon) - Walt Disney, Producer
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
5 NOMINATIONS
  • Art Direction - Anton Grot
  • Cinematography (Color) - Sol Polito, W. Howard Greene
  • Music (Scoring) - Erich Wolfgang Korngold
  • Sound Recording - Warner Bros. Studio Sound Department, Nathan Levinson, Sound Director
  • Special Effects - Byron Haskin, Nathan Levinson
Prophet without Honor
1 NOMINATION
  • Short Subject (One-reel) - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

R

The Rains Came
5 NOMINATIONS, 1 WIN
  • * Special Effects - Fred Sersen, E. H. Hansen
  • Art Direction - William Darling, George Dudley
  • Film Editing - Barbara McLean
  • Music (Original Score) - Alfred Newman
  • Sound Recording - 20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department, E. H. Hansen, Sound Director

S

Second Fiddle
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Song) - I Poured My Heart Into A Song in "Second Fiddle" Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
She Married a Cop
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Scoring) - Cy Feuer
Sons of Liberty
1 WIN, 1 NOMINATION
  • * Short Subject (Two-reel) - Warner Bros.
Stagecoach
7 NOMINATIONS, 2 WINS
  • * Actor in a Supporting Role - Thomas Mitchell
  • * Music (Scoring) - Richard Hageman, Frank Harling, John Leipold, Leo Shuken
  • Art Direction - Alexander Toluboff
  • Cinematography (Black-and-White) - Bert Glennon
  • Directing - John Ford
  • Film Editing - Otho Lovering, Dorothy Spencer
  • Outstanding Production - Walter Wanger (production company)
Swanee River
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Scoring) - Louis Silvers
Sword Fishing
1 NOMINATION
  • Short Subject (One-reel) - Warner Bros.

T

They Shall Have Music
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Scoring) - Alfred Newman
Topper Takes a Trip
1 NOMINATION
  • Special Effects - Roy Seawright

U

The Ugly Duckling
1 WIN, 1 NOMINATION
  • * Short Subject (Cartoon) - Walt Disney, Producer
Union Pacific
1 NOMINATION
  • Special Effects - Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings, Loren Ryder

W

Way Down South
1 NOMINATION
  • Music (Scoring) - Victor Young
When Tomorrow Comes
1 WIN, 1 NOMINATION
  • * Sound Recording - Universal Studio Sound Department, Bernard B. Brown, Sound Director
The Wizard of Oz
5 NOMINATIONS, 2 WINS
  • * Music (Original Score) - Herbert Stothart
  • * Music (Song) - Over The Rainbow in "The Wizard of Oz" Music by Harold Arlen; Lyrics by E. Y. Harburg
  • Art Direction - Cedric Gibbons, William A. Horning
  • Outstanding Production - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • Special Effects - A. Arnold Gillespie, Douglas Shearer
Wuthering Heights
8 NOMINATIONS, 1 WIN
  • * Cinematography (Black-and-White) - Gregg Toland
  • Actor - Laurence Olivier
  • Actress in a Supporting Role - Geraldine Fitzgerald
  • Art Direction - James Basevi
  • Directing - William Wyler
  • Music (Original Score) - Alfred Newman
  • Outstanding Production - Samuel Goldwyn Productions
  • Writing (Screenplay) - Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht

Y

Young Mr. Lincoln
1 NOMINATION
  • Writing (Original Story) - Lamar Trotti
No Films Found