Terrence Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 For some reason, it seems to be very difficult for an actor to be nominated for an Oscar for a musical. Of course, there have been exceptions, such as Topol, Debbie Reynolds, Ron Moody, Jean Hagen, and James Cagney. But there are so many others that I feel should have been nominated. Two that come to mind are Audrey Hepburn for "My Fair Lady" and Ava Gardner for "Show Boat." Who are some of your favorites that you feel should have received a nomination? Terrence. Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted July 17, 2006 Share Posted July 17, 2006 "...there are so many others that I feel should have been nominated. Two that come to mind are Audrey Hepburn for 'My Fair Lady' and Ava Gardner for 'Show Boat'... Theory 1: I wonder if these two were ignored because they didn't sing for themselves? Both lip synched to the playbacks of other singers (Marni Nixon and Annette Warren, respectively). Would they have gotten it if they had beautiful voices that were used? Theory 2: I wonder if they were ignored because Hollywood sentiment wished that Julie Andrews would have been cast as Eliza Doolittle, and Lena Horne as Julie LaVerne? Interesting that Debbie Reynolds' foray to the Oscar circle was beat out by another musical actress: Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins. Link to post Share on other sites
sandykaypax Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Of course, Catherine Zeta-Jones won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Velma Kelly in CHICAGO. I believe that Queen Latifah and Renee Zellweger were nominated as well...too lazy to go look it up! Sandy K Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 You're correct SKP: Catherine Zeta-Jones won the Supporting Actress award for playing Velma Kelly. She was up against Queen Latifah, also from Chicago. Other Chicago actors that were nominated were John C. Reilly and Ren?e Zellweger. Other Oscarites: 2005: Joanquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon Walk the Line 2001: Nicole Kidman Moulin Rouge 1999: Sean Penn and Samantha Morton Sweet and Lowdown 1986: Dexter Gordon Round Midnight 1984: Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham Amadeus 1983: Amy Irving Yentl 1982: Charles Durning The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Robert Preston, Lesley Ann Warren and Julie Andrews Victor/Victoria 1979: Roy Scheider All That Jazz Bette Midler The Rose 1977: Mikhail Barishnikov The Turning Point 1972: Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli Cabaret Diana Ross Lady Sings the Blues 1971: Topol and Leonard Frey Fiddler on the Roof 1968: Ron Moody and Jack Wild Oliver! Daniel Massey Star! Barbra Streisand and Key Medford Funny Girl 1967: Carol Channing Thoroughly Modern Millie 1965: Julie Andrews and Peggy Wood The Sound of Music 1964: Rex Harrison and Stanley Holloway My Fair Lady Julie Andrews Mary Poppins Debbie Reynolds The Unsinkable Molly Brown 1961: George Chakiris and Rita Moreno West Side Story 1959: Jack Lemmon Some Like It Hot 1956: Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr The King and I 1955: Eleanor Parker Interrupted Melody Peggy Lee Pete Kelly's Blues 1954: James Mason and Judy Garland A Star is Born Dorothy Dandridge Carmen Jones 1953: Leslie Caron Lili Marjorie Rambeau Torch Song 1952: Susan Hayward and Thelma Ritter With a Song in My Heart Jean Hagen Singin' in the Rain 1948: Dan Dailey When My Baby Smiles at Me 1945: Gene Kelly Anchors Away Cornel Wilde A Song to Remember 1944: Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald (twice!) Going My Way 1942: James Cagney and Walter Huston Yankee Doodle Dandy 1939: Mickey Rooney Babes in Arms 1938: Miliza Korjus The Great Waltz 1937: Alice Brady In Old Chicago 1936: Spencer Tracy San Francisco Stuart Erwin Pigskin Parade Luise Rainer The Great Ziegfeld 1934: Grace Moore One Night of Love These were just the competitive acting nominations (and award winners), of course. Special awards were given to other, such as the juvenile awards to Shirley Temple, Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, etc. Link to post Share on other sites
sandykaypax Posted July 20, 2006 Share Posted July 20, 2006 Wow, there were a lot more noms from musicals than I thought! It seems like there were less back in the golden age, compared to the sheer amount of musicals that were produced back then. Sandy K Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 There were some surprises for me as well. Stuart Erwin, for example, nominated for Supporting Actor in Pigskin Parade. I think this film is pretty much forgotten as a B-picture over on the Twentieth-Century Fox lot. It's primarily known as Judy Garland's first full-length picture, but had an amazing cast of characters who became very successful later: Ann Miller, Betty Grable, Tony Martin, Alan Ladd. I never knew it was nominated for anything. Was also surprised that Dan Dailey was nominated. Link to post Share on other sites
jdb1 Posted July 22, 2006 Share Posted July 22, 2006 It's odd, isn't it? On the one hand, you get the impression that the Academy doesn't think of musicals as "real" award-worthy cinema, yet nominations are made in what may seem the most un-award-worthy places. It's as they say: It's all politics. I stopped watching that farce decades ago. Link to post Share on other sites
Terrence Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 I'm pleased that so many had opinions on this subject. By the way, I've thought of a couple more that definitely should have been nominated. From "The Music Man": Robert Preston and Hermione Gingold. Two very funny performances. I hadn't thought about Audrey Hepburn and Ava Gardner not receiving nominations because of their singing being dubbed in. Perhaps that had something to do with it. One can only wonder. And poor Ava Gardner! "Show Boat" was one of the very few opportunities she had to prove that she really could act! Well, as they say, that's Hollywood. Terrence. Link to post Share on other sites
annelindley Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I tried to explain this to friends a long time ago, but they thought I was nuts so I'm going to state my views and see if any of you get what I'm trying to say. To me there are two different kinds of musicals. One kind is a movie with songs in it just for the sake of having a song, it has nothing to do with the story, like all of Elvis' movies, or Yankee Doodle Dandy. To me this should be called a movie with songs or something similar. The second kind is a true musical where the songs explain the scene, such as 'I'm Gonna Wash that man right Outta my Hair', When Nellie Forbush decides not to see the Frenchman again in South Pacific, or 'Getting to know You' when the teacher meets the Kings' children in The King and I. The songs in the latter are expressing feelings and plans in musical form instead of using words alone. If you think about the words of songs in the truly great musicals like West Side Story, Oklahoma, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, etc. you might get what I'm trying to say. That's my explanation of the difference between a 'musical' and 'a movie with songs in it'. Does anyone have any opinions or other ideas? Link to post Share on other sites
JackBurley Posted August 3, 2006 Share Posted August 3, 2006 I get your drift. Some "movies with songs in it" are revues. Backstage musicals are usually revues. They all have their place; it's just a matter of different styles... Link to post Share on other sites
heidigunn Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 This is actually in reply to the original post. Many people have been nominated and won for musical parts, but few movies themselves have been chosen for Best picture which I think is a shame. If you consider all that goes into a musical, not just acting, but choreography, music, sets, design for both streetwear and the musical spots, and so much more. Technically, I think musicals, especially ones like Moulin Rouge and Chicago (hated both) and the old ones, Oklahoma, South Pacific, Flower Drum Song etc. deserved a whole lot more attention from Oscar than they received, for the whole movie, not just one or two roles. Link to post Share on other sites
mgm16 Posted October 21, 2006 Share Posted October 21, 2006 I couldn't agree more about the two different kinds of musicals. I think that it is a lot more difficult to have to sing, dance, and act all with the same emotion(s). If a whole cast can do this and make it believable then the movie deserves as much credit as possible. Link to post Share on other sites
Cinemascope Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Excellent list, Jack. Guess we should add Jennifer Hudson's Academy Award-winning supporting performance in Dreamgirls (2006). Link to post Share on other sites
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