Academy Award Losers, 1912-1939

Great Performances in the Oscar Hall of Shame, Vol. 1

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by Jordan R. Young

Type

Essays

Subject

Festivals

Keywords

Academy Awards, actors

Publishing date

2012

Publisher

Past Times Publishing

Collection

Past Times Film Close-Up

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Ebook • 86 pages

ISBN

-

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Book Presentation:
How could Barbara Stanwyck, Judy Garland, Myrna Loy, Louise Brooks and other luminary actresses of the movies’ golden age fail to win a competitive Oscar? How could such legends as Buster Keaton, Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, or Peter Lorre never once achieve such honors?

Many of the movies’ best actors never won the ultimate recognition, the Academy Award, and many more were never even nominated. In an alternate and more equitable universe, things might have been different—especially for actors of color like Louise Beavers and Dorothy Dandridge.

The Oscar Hall of Shame is crammed with iconic movie performances that failed to merit a nomination. One of the most beloved films of all time, “The Wizard of Oz,” boasts no fewer than seven legendary performances yet received not a single acting nomination. This book attempts to offer some perspective, from the point of view of a show business historian and lifelong movie aficionado.

Although most of the actors of the silent era did their finest work before the Academy Award were first presented in 1928, the honorees in this book begin in 1912 and extend to 1939. The Academy failed to consider performers in short subjects, or recognize anyone in the supporting category until 1936; the book does not follow these constraints. (1940-1959 will be covered in a projected Vol. 2; and 1960-1979 in Vol. 3.)

Bonus features include lists of Top Ten Losers in Each Category; and the author’s picks for the Worst Performance in Academy Award History as well as the Worst Performance in a Non-Oscar Winning Role.

About the Author:
Jordan R. Young is a show business historian, theatre critic and playwright whose work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other publications. His books include Reel Characters: Great Movie Character Actors; Acting Solo: The Art and Craft of Solo Performance; The Beckett Actor; Spike Jones Off the Record; and The Laugh Crafters: Comedy Writing in Radio and TV's Golden Age. He has written special material for the Grammy Awards and has served as a consultant for BBC Radio. His plays have been produced in Hollywood and Off Off Broadway.

Press Reviews:
"Congratulations for writing a book that is overdue! About great performances that did not win awards." --Peggy Webber McClory