12th Academy Awards
Date	February 29, 1940
Site	A banquet at the Coconut Grove, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles.
Preshow	N/A
Host	Bob Hope
Producer	N/A
Director	N/A
Duration	N/A

The 12th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1939, were held on February 29, 1940 at a banquet in the "Coconut Grove", Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. They were hosted by Bob Hope. fairuse GWTW original poster This work is copyrighted. ... February 29 is the 60th day of a leap year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 306 days remaining. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... The Ambassadors Cocoanut Grove circa the late 1950s. ... Bob Hope receiving an (honorary) Oscar For other uses, see Bob Hope (disambiguation). ... See also: 1938 in film 1939 1940 in film 1930s in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events Movie historians and film buffs often look back on the year 1939 as the greatest year in film history. ... February 29 is the 60th day of a leap year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 306 days remaining. ... The Ambassadors Cocoanut Grove circa the late 1950s. ... Bob Hope receiving an (honorary) Oscar For other uses, see Bob Hope (disambiguation). ...

David O. Selznick's Gone with the Wind received the most nominations of the year, with thirteen. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Wuthering Heights, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Stagecoach, Love Affair, The Wizard of Oz, The Rains Came, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Ninotchka, Of Mice and Men and Dark Victory were among the films with multiple nominations. David O. Selznick David Oliver Selznick (May 10, 1902–June 22, 1965), was one of the icon Hollywood producers of the Golden Age. ... Gone with the Wind is a 1939 film adapted from Margaret Mitchells 1936 novel of the same name. ... Mr. ... This article is about the film. ... Goodbye, Mr. ... Stagecoach is a 1939 Western which tells the tale of Oprah Winfrey and some strangers thrown in a castle made of shoddy clothing on a stagecoach which is attacked by Dr Phil and the Bandits. ... There is also a musical group named Love Affair. ... The Wizard of Oz is the title of several films based on the L. Frank Baum book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: (1921), director unknown (1925), directed by Larry Semon (1939), directed by Victor Fleming, Richard Thorpe and King Vidor. ... The Rains Came is the title of novel by Louis Bromfield and the 1939 20th Century Fox film version which followed it. ... The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), is a romantic drama film based on the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I (played by Bette Davis) and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (played by Errol Flynn). ... Ninotchka is a 1939 American film by Ernst Lubitsch Garbos first comedy, launched with the tagline Garbo laughs! Storyline Three Russians, Iranoff, Buljanoff and Kopalski, are sent to Paris to sell jewelry confiscated from the aristocracy during the Russian Revolution. ... Of Mice and Men is a novel by John Steinbeck, first published in 1937, which tells the tragic story of George and Lennie, two displaced Anglo migrant farm workers in California during the Great Depression (1929-1939). ... DVD cover showing Bette Davis. ...

The lead up to the awards ceremony

Prior to the announcement of nominations, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Gone with the Wind were the two films most widely tipped to receive a significant number of nominations. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington premiered in Washington with a premier party hosted by the National Press Club who found that themselves portrayed unfavourably in the film; the film's themes of political corruption was condemned, with the film being denounced in the U.S. Senate. Joseph P. Kennedy, the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain urged President Theodore Roosevelt and the studio head Harry Cohn to cease showing the film overseas because "it will cause our allies to view us in an unfavourable light". Among those who campaigned in favour of the film, were Hedda Hopper who declared it "as great as Lincoln's Gettysburg speech", while Sheilah Graham called it the "best talking picture ever made". Screen Book magazine stated that it "should win every Academy Award". Frank Capra, the director, and James Stewart, the film's star were considered front runners to win awards. The National Press Club is an association of journalists based in Washington, DC. It is well-known for its gatherings with invited speakers, including many presidential candidates and other influential politicians. ... Joseph Joe Patrick Kennedy, Sr. ... Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. ... Harry Cohn (July 23, 1891–February 27, 1958), sometimes nicknamed King Cohn, was president and production director of Columbia Pictures. ... Hedda Hopper (May 2, 1885 – February 1, 1966) was an American actress and gossip columnist. ... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... The only known photo of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg (seated, center), taken about noon, just after Lincoln arrived and some three hours before he spoke. ... Frank Capra Frank Capra (May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an American film director and a major creative force behind a number of highly popular films. ... Jimmy Stewart, photo by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 James Maitland Jimmy Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was a highly acclaimed American film and stage actor, best known for his homebred, idealistic screen persona. ...

Gone with the Wind premiered in December 1939 with a Gallup poll taken shortly before its release concluding that 56.5 million people intended to see the film. The New York Film Critics Award was given to Wuthering Heights after thirteen rounds of balloting had left the voters deadlocked between Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Gone with the Wind. The press were divided in their support for the nominated actors. Time Magazine favoured Vivien Leigh and used her portrait for their Christmas 1939 edition, and the Hollywood Reporter predicted a possible win by Leigh and Laurence Olivier with the comment that they "are, for the moment, just about the most sacred of all Hollywood's sacred cows". West Coast newspapers, particularly in Los Angeles, predicted Bette Davis would win for Dark Victory. Observing that Davis had achieved four box office successes during the year, one paper wrote, "Hollywood will stick by it's favourite home-town girl, Bette Davis". A Gallup poll is an opinion poll frequently used by the mass media for representing public opinion. ... (Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... Vivien Leigh photographed in 1958 Vivien Leigh (November 5, 1913 – July 8, 1967) was an English actress who achieved outstanding success in theatre and cinema. ... Laurence Olivier, as photographed in 1939 by Carl Van Vechten The Right Honourable Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM, KBE (May 22, 1907 – July 11, 1989) was an Oscar winning English actor and director, esteemed by many as the greatest actor of the 20th century. ... This article is about the actress; there is also a singer named Betty Davis. ...

The ceremony

The director Frank Capra was the incumbent President of the Academy, and in a first for Academy Awards ceremonies, sold the rights for the event to be filmed. Warner Brothers obtained the rights, for $30,000 to film the banquet and the presentation of the awards, to use as a short, and it was shot by the cinematographer, Charles Rosher. Variety Magazine noted that the stars in attendance were conscious of being filmed at the event for the first time, and that the event was marked by glamour with fashion conscious actress wearing the best of gowns, furs and jewellery. Frank Capra Frank Capra (May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an American film director and a major creative force behind a number of highly popular films. ... Warner Bros. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Charles Rosher (November 17, 1885 - January 15, 1974) is a two-time Academy Award-winning cinematographer from the early days of silent films through the 1950s. ... Variety is a daily magazine for the entertainment industry. ...

Despite a promise to withhold the results of the voting, by the time the final guests were arriving, the Los Angeles Times had already printed a substantially accurate list of winners, with many of the nominees learning before the ceremony who had won. Among these were Clark Gable and Bette Davis who knew they had not won in their respective categories before entering the ceremony. The Los Angeles Times (also known as the LA Times) is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California and distributed throughout the western United States. ... Clark Gable with 8th AF in Britain, 1943 Clark Gable (February 1, 1901–November 16, 1960) was an American film actor and the biggest box office star of the early sound film era. ... This article is about the actress; there is also a singer named Betty Davis. ...

Following the banquet, Frank Capra opened procedings at 11pm with a short speech before introducing Bob Hope, making his first appearance as host of the awards. Looking at a table laden with awards awaiting presentation, he quipped, "I feel like I'm in Bette Davis' living room". Mickey Rooney presented a special juvenille award to Judy Garland, who then performed Over the Rainbow, a "Best Song" nominee from The Wizard of Oz. Bob Hope receiving an (honorary) Oscar For other uses, see Bob Hope (disambiguation). ... Actor Mickey Rooney speaks at the Pentagon in 2000 during a ceremony honoring the USO. Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule, Jr. ... Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969), born Frances Ethel Gumm, was an American film actress considered by many to be one of the greatest singing stars of Hollywoods Golden Era of musical film. ...

As the evening progressed, Gone with the Wind won the majority of awards, and Bob Hope remarked to David O. Selznick, "David, you should have brought roller skates". Making a speech, Selznick paused to extend praise and gratitude to Olivia de Havilland, a "Best Supporting Actress" nominee, and made it clear in his speech that he knew she had not won. Fay Bainter presented the awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, prefacing her presentation of the latter award with the knowing comment, "It is a tribute to a country where people are free to honor noteworthy achievements regardless of creed, race or color". Hattie McDaniel became the first black performer to win an Academy Award, and in expressing her gratitude promised to be "a credit to my race" before bursting into tears. Olivia de Havilland was among those to make their way to McDaniel's table to offer congratulations, though it was reported that de Havilland then fled to the kitchen, where she burtst into tears. The press reported that an irritated Irene Mayer Selznick followed her, and told her to return to their table and stop making a fool of herself. Olivia Mary de Havilland (born July 1, 1916) is a two-time Academy Award-winning Japanese-born American film actress. ... Fay Bainter (December 7, 1891 – April 16, 1968) was an American actress. ... Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1895 – October 26, 1952) was the first African American to be nominated and to win an Oscar for her supporting role of Mammy in the 1939 epic movie Gone with the Wind. ... Irene Mayer Selznick (April 2, 1907 - October 10, 1990) was an American theatrical producer. ...

Robert Donat, the winner for "Best Actor" was one of three nominated actors not present (the others were Irene Dunne and Greta Garbo). Accepting the award for Donat, Spencer Tracy said that he was sure Donat's win was welcomed by "the entire motion-picture industry", before presenting the "Best Actress" award to Vivien Leigh. The press noted that Bette Davis was among those waiting to congratulate Leigh as she returned to her table. Friedrich Robert Donath (March 18, 1905 – June 9, 1958) was a distinguished English film and stage actor of English, Polish and German descent. ... Irene Dunne in Love Affair (1939) Irene Dunne (December 20, 1898 - September 4, 1990), was born Irene Marie Dunn in Louisville, Kentucky. ... Greta Garbo (September 18, 1905 – April 15, 1990) was a Swedish actress and a recipient of an Honorary Oscar for her unforgettable screen performances. ... Spencer Tracy Spencer Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American film actor who appeared in 74 films from 1930 to 1967. ... Vivien Leigh photographed in 1958 Vivien Leigh (November 5, 1913 – July 8, 1967) was an English actress who achieved outstanding success in theatre and cinema. ... This article is about the actress; there is also a singer named Betty Davis. ...

Post awards discussion

Further controversy erupted following the ceromony, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that Leigh had won over Davis by the smallest of margins, and that Donat had likewise won over James Stewart by a small number of votes. This led Academy officials to examine ways that the voting process, and more importantly, the results, would remain secret in future years. They considered the Los Angeles Times publication of such details as a breach of faith. Jimmy Stewart, photo by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 James Maitland Jimmy Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was a highly acclaimed American film and stage actor, best known for his homebred, idealistic screen persona. ...

Hattie McDaniel received considerable attention from the press, with Daily Variety writing, "Not only was she the first of her race to receive an Award, but she was also the first Negro ever to sit at an Academy banquet".

Carole Lombard was quoted as comforting Gable after his loss, with the comment "don't worry, Pappy. We'll bring one home next year". Gable replied that he felt this had been his last chance, to which Lombard was said to have replied, "Not you, you self-centred bastard. I meant me." Carole Lombard Carole Lombard (October 6, 1908 – January 16, 1942) was an American actress. ...

Major Winners and nominees

This is a breakdown of only major winners. For a complete list of nominees and winners, see: 12th Academy Awards nominees and winners

Best Film

The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the awards are voted on by other people within the industry. ... Gone with the Wind is a 1939 film adapted from Margaret Mitchells 1936 novel of the same name. ... David O. Selznick David Oliver Selznick (May 10, 1902–June 22, 1965), was one of the icon Hollywood producers of the Golden Age. ...

Acting

The Academy Award for Best Actor is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Friedrich Robert Donath (March 18, 1905 – June 9, 1958) was a distinguished English film and stage actor of English, Polish and German descent. ... Goodbye, Mr. ... The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Vivien Leigh photographed in 1958 Vivien Leigh (November 5, 1913 – July 8, 1967) was an English actress who achieved outstanding success in theatre and cinema. ... Gone with the Wind is a 1939 film adapted from Margaret Mitchells 1936 novel of the same name. ... The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Major Sir Thomas Livingston Mitchell (June 16, 1792-1855), surveyor and explorer of south-eastern Australia, was born at Grangemouth in Stirlingshire, Scotland. ... Stagecoach is a 1939 Western which tells the tale of Oprah Winfrey and some strangers thrown in a castle made of shoddy clothing on a stagecoach which is attacked by Dr Phil and the Bandits. ... The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Hattie McDaniel (June 10, 1895 – October 26, 1952) was the first African American to be nominated and to win an Oscar for her supporting role of Mammy in the 1939 epic movie Gone with the Wind. ... Gone with the Wind is a 1939 film adapted from Margaret Mitchells 1936 novel of the same name. ...

Writing

The Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best script not based upon previously published material. ... Mr. ... The Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay is one of the Academy Awards, the most prominent film awards in the United States. ... Sidney Coe Howard, born June 26, 1891 in Oakland, California, United States – died August 23, 1939 in Tyringham, Massachusetts, was a playwright and screenwriter who became the first person to win both a Pulitzer Prize and an Academy Award. ... Gone with the Wind is a 1939 film adapted from Margaret Mitchells 1936 novel of the same name. ...

Achievement in Directing

• Victor Fleming - Gone with the Wind

The Academy Award for Directing is an accolade given to the person that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences feels was best director of the past year. ... Victor Fleming (February 23, 1883 - January 6, 1949) (sometimes Vic Fleming) was an American film director. ... Gone with the Wind is a 1939 film adapted from Margaret Mitchells 1936 novel of the same name. ...

Special honors

• Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award: David O. Selznick

The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award is awarded periodically (although not every year) at the Academy Awards ceremonies to Creative producers, whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production. ... David O. Selznick David Oliver Selznick (May 10, 1902–June 22, 1965), was one of the icon Hollywood producers of the Golden Age. ...

Films with five or more nominations

Thirteen

• Gone with the Wind (won eight)

Ten Gone with the Wind is a 1939 film adapted from Margaret Mitchells 1936 novel of the same name. ...

• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (won one)

Eight Mr. ...

• Wuthering Heights (won one)

Seven This article is about the film. ...

• Goodbye Mr. Chips (won one)
• Stagecoach (won two)

Six Goodbye, Mr. ... Stagecoach is a 1939 Western which tells the tale of Oprah Winfrey and some strangers thrown in a castle made of shoddy clothing on a stagecoach which is attacked by Dr Phil and the Bandits. ...

• Love Affair (won none)
• The Rains Came (won one)
• The Wizard of Oz (won two)

Five There is also a musical group named Love Affair. ... The Rains Came is the title of novel by Louis Bromfield and the 1939 20th Century Fox film version which followed it. ... The Wizard of Oz is the title of several films based on the L. Frank Baum book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: (1921), director unknown (1925), directed by Larry Semon (1939), directed by Victor Fleming, Richard Thorpe and King Vidor. ...

• The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (won none)

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), is a romantic drama film based on the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I (played by Bette Davis) and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (played by Errol Flynn). ...

Academy Award ceremony presenters in sequence of awards presented

Darryl Simon Michael Barnes (September 5, 1902–December 22, 1979) was a producer, writer, actor and director who played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors (the length of his career being rivalled only by that of Adolph Zukor). ... Bob Hope receiving an (honorary) Oscar For other uses, see Bob Hope (disambiguation). ... Actor Mickey Rooney speaks at the Pentagon in 2000 during a ceremony honoring the USO. Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule, Jr. ... Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969), born Frances Ethel Gumm, was an American film actress considered by many to be one of the greatest singing stars of Hollywoods Golden Era of musical film. ... Mervyn LeRoy (October 15, 1900 - September 13, 1987) was an American film director, producer and sometime actor. ... Sinclair Lewis Sinclair Lewis (February 7, 1885 — January 10, 1951) was an American novelist and playwright. ... Jean Hersholt (July 12, 1886 - June 2, 1956) was an Danish actor. ... Conrad Nagel Conrad Nagel, born March 16, 1897 in Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa, was a noted screen actor and matinee idol of the silent era and beyond. ... Ernest Martin Hopkins served as the 11th President of Dartmouth College, 1916-1945. ... Irving Grant Thalberg (May 30, 1899 - September 14, 1936) was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. ... Walter Wanger (July 11, 1894 - November 18, 1968) was an important American film producer. ... Douglas Fairbanks is a name shared by two actors, father and son: Douglas Fairbanks (1883-1939) and his son, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. ... Fay Bainter (December 7, 1891 – April 16, 1968) was an American actress. ... Spencer Tracy Spencer Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American film actor who appeared in 74 films from 1930 to 1967. ...

See also

• Academy Awards
• List of Academy Awards ceremonies