The Pittsburgh Press (January 10, 1947)
‘Oscar’ nominations in order!
E. Johnson names a few prospects
By Erskine Johnson
HOLLYWOOD – The Academy Awards are just around the corner – and already there’s talk of changing the rules for next year.
For the first time in Oscars’ history, two outstanding performances may handicap an actor or actress in the final voting this year.
Gregory Peck could conceivably be cheated out of an award because his votes will be split between “The Yearling” and “Duel in the Sun.”
A similar situation exists for Olivia de Havilland, who came through with crack performances in “To Each His Own” and “The Dark Mirror.”
According to the present rules, the votes are not combined, whereas they really should be.
Peck is in more of a spot than is Olivia, with both MGM and Selznick plugging him for an award. Olivia is being ballyhooed by Paramount, which has arranged for the reissued of “To Each His Own” in order to call attention to her performance.
Only 1,700 votes
But even with such a situation, the balloting this year promises to give a more honest picture of Hollywood’s greatest achievements of the past year than ever before was possible. For the first time, the voting will be confined to the 1,700 actual members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, instead of embracing the industry at large.
The academy’s membership is composed largely of past Oscar winners. Previous balloting included all of the various guilds in Hollywood – a total of 11,000 votes, easily swayed by publicity and easily “organized” into studio cliques.
The nomination ballots will be mailed on January 17, with the nominations to be announced February 3. Final ballots will be mailed February 24, with the 11 major winners slated to received their Oscars at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium on the night of March 13.
For the first time, the public will share in the festivities. The Shrine Auditorium seats 6,800. Thirty-five hundred seats will be sold to Mr. and Mrs. Moviegoer.
Chief interest in the voting, of course, will center on the best picture of the year.
It’s Greg and Olivia
“The Yearling,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and “The Best Years of Our Lives,” we think, will battle it out to a close finish.
Although “Duel in the Sun” and “The Razor’s Edge” are doing tremendous business, due to circus publicity campaigns, neither is in the same class with these three.
They don’t award Oscars for publicity campaigns. But maybe they should. Sometimes the campaigns are better than the pictures.
As we said before, Gregory Peck will be a leading contender in the race for the best male-acting performance. Jimmy Stewart’s work in “It’s a Wonderful Life” and Frederic March’s performance in “The Best Years” will be the competition to beat.
For the best feminine performance, Olivia de Havilland should win for “To Each His Own.” Jennifer Jones may have a more spectacular and difficult role in “Duel,” but it was beyond her talents.
Clarence Brown is our choice for the best direction award, for “The Yearling.” The film’s beauty and simplicity, and the patience and skill behind the performance of Claude Jarman Jr., a 10-year-old who had ever acted before, constitute a great tribute to Brown’s ability.
And speaking of Claude, there should be a special juvenile award for his performance. And a special award, too, for the work of the handless veteran in the Goldwyn picture.