13th Academy Awards

The13th Academy Awardswere held on February 27, 1941, to honor films released in1940.This was the first year that sealed envelopes were used to keep the names of the winners secret.The accounting firm ofPrice Waterhousewas hired to count the ballots, after voting results in1939were leaked by theLos Angeles Times.The gathering was addressed over the radio by PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt.

13th Academy Awards
Date	February 27, 1941
Site	Biltmore Bowl,Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles,California
Hosted by	Bob Hope
Highlights
Best Picture	Rebecca
Most awards	The Thief of Bagdad(3)
Most nominations	Rebecca(11)

Walter Brennan's victory for his performance inThe Westernermade him the first person to win an Academy Award more than twice.

Best Original Screenplaywas introduced at this ceremony, alongsideBest Screenplay,which would eventually become Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Story.

Independent producerDavid O. Selznick,who had produced the previous year's Best Picture winnerGone with the Wind(1939), produced the film with the most nominations again this year,Rebecca(11), and campaigned heavily for its win.The film won Best Picture, making Selznick the first to produce two consecutive winners; its only other win was for Best Cinematography (Black and White), marking the last time to date a film would win Best Picture but not win for either directing, acting, or writing.

The film's distributor,United Artists,was the last of the original film studios (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Columbia, 20th Century-Fox, Warner Bros., RKO Radio, Universal, and Paramount) to win Best Picture.Rebeccawas the first American film directed byAlfred Hitchcock,and the only one of his films to winBest Picture.Hitchcock had two films nominated for Best Picture, the other beingForeign Correspondent,and two other directors also had two films in the running: Sam Wood (Our TownandKitty Foyle) and John Ford (The Long Voyage HomeandThe Grapes of Wrath,which won Best Director).

Pinocchiowas the first animated feature film to win competitive Oscars, forBest Original ScoreandBest Original Song,starting a long tradition of animated films winning in these categories.The Thief of Bagdadreceived the most Oscars of the evening (3), the first time a film not nominated for Best Picture won the most awards. This andPinocchiowere the first films not nominated for Best Picture to receive multiple awards in Oscar history.

Winners and nominees

David O. Selznick;Best Picture winner

John Ford;Best Director winner

James Stewart;Best Actor winner

Ginger Rogers;Best Actress winner

Walter Brennan;Best Supporting Actor winner

Jane Darwell;Best Supporting Actress winner

Pete Smith;Best Live Action Short Subject, One-Reel winner

Cedric Gibbons;Best Art Direction, Black-and-White co-winner

Bob Hope;Honorary Academy Award recipient

Awards

Nominees were announced on February 10, 1941. Winners are listed first and highlighted inboldface.

Outstanding Production Rebecca–David O. SelznickforSelznick InternationalandUnited Artists‡ All This, and Heaven Too–Jack L. Warner,Hal B. Wallis,andDavid LewisforWarner Bros. Foreign Correspondent–Walter Wangerfor Walter Wanger Productions and United Artists The Grapes of Wrath–Darryl F. ZanuckandNunnally Johnsonfor20th Century Fox The Great Dictator–Charles Chaplinfor Charlie Chaplin Productions and United Artists Kitty Foyle– David Hempstead forRKO Radio The Letter– Hal B. Wallis for Warner Bros. The Long Voyage Home–John FordforArgosy Films,Walter Wanger Productions, and United Artists Our Town–Sol Lesserfor Sol Lesser Productions and United Artists The Philadelphia Story–Joseph L. MankiewiczforMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer	Best Director John Ford–The Grapes of Wrath‡ Sam Wood–Kitty Foyle William Wyler–The Letter George Cukor–The Philadelphia Story Alfred Hitchcock–Rebecca
Best Actor James Stewart–The Philadelphia Storyas Macaulay "Mike" Connor‡ Charles Chaplin–The Great Dictatoras The Barber/Adenoid Hynkel Henry Fonda–The Grapes of WrathasTom Joad Raymond Massey–Abe Lincoln in IllinoisasAbraham Lincoln Laurence Olivier–Rebeccaas Maximilian de Winter	Best Actress Ginger Rogers–Kitty Foyleas Kitty Foyle‡ Bette Davis–The Letteras Leslie Crosbie Joan Fontaine–Rebeccaas the second Mrs de Winter Katharine Hepburn–The Philadelphia Storyas Tracy Samantha Lord Martha Scott–Our Townas Emily Webb
Best Supporting Actor Walter Brennan–The WesternerasJudge Roy Bean‡ Albert Bassermann–Foreign Correspondentas Van Meer William Gargan–They Knew What They Wantedas Joe Jack Oakie–The Great Dictatoras Benzino Napaloni James Stephenson–The Letteras Howard Joyce	Best Supporting Actress Jane Darwell–The Grapes of WrathasMa Joad‡ Judith Anderson–RebeccaasMrs. Danvers Ruth Hussey–The Philadelphia Storyas Elizabeth Imbrie Barbara O'Neil–All This, and Heaven TooasFrancoise "Fanny" Sebastiani de-Praslin Marjorie Rambeau–Primrose Pathas Mamie Adams
Best Original Screenplay The Great McGinty–Preston Sturges‡ Angels Over Broadway–Ben Hecht Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet– Norman Burnstine, Heinz Herald, andJohn Huston Foreign Correspondent–Charles BennettandJoan Harrison The Great Dictator–Charles Chaplin	Best Screenplay The Philadelphia Story–Donald Ogden Stewart,based onthe playbyPhilip Barry‡ The Grapes of Wrath–Nunnally Johnson,based onthe novelbyJohn Steinbeck Kitty Foyle–Dalton Trumbo,based onthe novelbyChristopher Morley The Long Voyage Home–Dudley Nichols,based on the playsThe Moon of the Caribees,In the Zone,Bound East for Cardiff,andThe Long Voyage HomebyEugene O'Neill Rebecca–Robert E. SherwoodandJoan Harrison,based onthe novelbyDaphne du Maurier
Best Original Story Arise, My Love–Benjamin GlazerandJohn S. Toldy‡ Comrade X–Walter Reisch Edison, the Man–Hugo ButlerandDore Schary My Favorite Wife–Leo McCarey,Samuel Spewack,andBella Spewack The Westerner–Stuart N. Lake	Best Live Action Short Subject, One-Reel Quicker'n a Wink–Pete SmithandMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer‡ London Can Take It!–Warner Bros. More About Nostradamus–Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Siege–RKO Radio
Best Live Action Short Subject, Two-Reel Teddy, the Rough Rider–Warner Bros.‡ Eyes of the Navy–Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Service with the Colors– Warner Bros.	Best Short Subject – Cartoons The Milky Way–Rudolf Ising,Fred QuimbyandMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer‡ Puss Gets the Boot– Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer A Wild Hare–Leon SchlesingerandWarner Bros.
Best Original Score Pinocchio–Leigh Harline,Paul SmithandNed Washington‡ Arizona–Victor Young Dark Command– Victor Young The Fight for Life–Louis Gruenberg The Great Dictator–Meredith Willson The House of the Seven Gables–Frank Skinner The Howards of Virginia–Richard Hageman The Letter–Max Steiner The Long Voyage Home– Richard Hageman The Mark of Zorro–Alfred Newman My Favorite Wife–Roy Webb North West Mounted Police– Victor Young One Million B.C.–Werner R. Heymann Our Town–Aaron Copland Rebecca–Franz Waxman The Thief of Bagdad–Miklós Rózsa Waterloo Bridge–Herbert Stothart	Best Scoring Tin Pan Alley–Alfred Newman‡ Arise, My Love–Victor Young Hit Parade of 1941–Cy Feuer Irene–Anthony Collins Our Town–Aaron Copland The Sea Hawk–Erich Wolfgang Korngold Second Chorus–Artie Shaw Spring Parade–Charles Previn Strike Up the Band–Georgie StollandRoger Edens
Best Original Song "When You Wish Upon a Star"fromPinocchio– Music byLeigh Harline;Lyrics byNed Washington‡ "Down Argentine Way" fromDown Argentine Way– Music byHarry Warren;Lyrics byMack Gordon "I'd Know You Anywhere" fromYou'll Find Out– Music byJimmy McHugh;Lyrics byJohnny Mercer "It's a Blue World" fromMusic in My Heart– Music and Lyrics byChet ForrestandBob Wright "Love of My Life" fromSecond Chorus– Music byArtie Shaw;Lyrics byJohnny Mercer "Only Forever" fromRhythm on the River– Music byJames V. Monaco;Lyrics byJohnny Burke "Our Love Affair" fromStrike Up the Band– Music and Lyrics byRoger EdensandArthur Freed "Waltzing in the Clouds" fromSpring Parade– Music byRobert Stolz;Lyrics byGus Kahn "Who Am I?" fromHit Parade of 1941– Music byJule Styne;Lyrics byWalter Bullock	Best Sound Recording Strike Up the Band–Douglas Shearer‡ Behind the News–Charles L. Lootens Captain Caution–Elmer Raguse The Grapes of Wrath–E. H. Hansen The Howards of Virginia–Jack Whitney Kitty Foyle–John O. Aalberg North West Mounted Police–Loren L. Ryder Our Town–Thomas T. Moulton The Sea Hawk–Nathan Levinson Spring Parade–Bernard B. Brown Too Many Husbands–John P. Livadary
Best Art Direction, Black-and-White Pride and Prejudice–Cedric GibbonsandPaul Groesse‡ Arise, My Love–Hans DreierandRobert Usher Arizona–Lionel BanksandRobert Peterson The Boys from Syracuse–John Otterson Dark Command–John Victor Mackay Foreign Correspondent–Alexander Golitzen Lillian Russell–Richard DayandJoseph C. Wright My Favorite Wife–Van Nest PolglaseandMark-Lee Kirk My Son, My Son!–John DuCasse Schulze Our Town–Lewis J. Rachmil Rebecca–Lyle R. Wheeler The Sea Hawk–Anton Grot The Westerner–James Basevi	Best Art Direction, Color The Thief of Bagdad–Vincent Korda‡ Bitter Sweet–Cedric GibbonsandJohn S. Detlie Down Argentine Way–Richard DayandJoseph C. Wright North West Mounted Police–Hans DreierandRoland Anderson
Best Cinematography, Black-and-White Rebecca–George Barnes‡ Abe Lincoln in Illinois–James Wong Howe All This, and Heaven Too–Ernest Haller Arise, My Love–Charles Lang Boom Town–Harold Rosson Foreign Correspondent–Rudolph Maté The Letter–Tony Gaudio The Long Voyage Home–Gregg Toland Spring Parade–Joseph Valentine Waterloo Bridge–Joseph Ruttenberg	Best Cinematography, Color The Thief of Bagdad–Georges Périnal‡ Bitter Sweet–Oliver T. Marshand Allen Davey The Blue Bird–Arthur C. MillerandRay Rennahan Down Argentine Way–Leon ShamroyandRay Rennahan North West Mounted Police–Victor MilnerandW. Howard Greene Northwest Passage– Sidney Wagner andWilliam V. Skall
Best Film Editing North West Mounted Police–Anne Bauchens‡ The Grapes of Wrath–Robert L. Simpson The Letter–Warren Low The Long Voyage Home– Sherman Todd Rebecca–Hal C. Kern	Best Special Effects The Thief of Bagdad– Photographic Effects:Lawrence W. Butler;Sound Effects:Jack Whitney‡ The Blue Bird– Photographic Effects:Fred Sersen;Sound Effects:Edmund H. Hansen Boom Town– Photographic Effects:A. Arnold Gillespie;Sound Effects:Douglas Shearer The Boys from Syracuse– Photographic Effects:John P. Fulton;Sound Effects:Bernard B. BrownandJoe Lapis Dr. Cyclops– Photographic Effects:Farciot EdouartandGordon Jennings Foreign Correspondent– Photographic Effects:Paul Eagler;Sound Effects:Thomas T. Moulton The Invisible Man Returns– Photographic Effects: John P. Fulton; Sound Effects: Bernard B. Brown andWilliam Hedgcock The Long Voyage Home– Photographic Effects:R. T. LaytonandRay Binger;Sound Effects: Thomas T. Moulton One Million B.C.– Photographic Effects:Roy Seawright;Sound Effects:Elmer A. Raguse Rebecca– Photographic Effects:Jack Cosgrove;Sound Effects:Arthur Johns The Sea Hawk– Photographic Effects:Byron Haskin;Sound Effects:Nathan Levinson Swiss Family Robinson– Photographic Effects:Vernon L. Walker;Sound Effects:John O. Aalberg Typhoon– Photographic Effects: Farciot Edouart and Gordon Jennings; Sound Effects: Loren L. Ryder Women in War– Photographic Effects:Howard J. Lydecker,William BradfordandEllis J. Thackery;Sound Effects:Herbert Norsch

Academy Honorary Awards

• Bob Hope"in recognition of his unselfish services to the Motion Picture Industry".
• ColonelNathan Levinson"for his outstanding service to the industry and the Army during the past nine years, which has made possible the present efficient mobilization of the motion picture industry facilities for the production of Army Training Films".

Ceremony information

For the first time, names of all winners remained secret until the moment they received their awards, a practice that has continued ever since.Franklin D. Rooseveltgave a six-minute direct radio address to the attendees from theWhite House.It is the first time an American president participated in the event.

Multiple nominations and awards

Films with multiple nominations

Nominations	Film
11	Rebecca
7	The Grapes of Wrath
	The Letter
6	Foreign Correspondent
	The Long Voyage Home
	Our Town
	The Philadelphia Story
5	The Great Dictator
	Kitty Foyle
	North West Mounted Police
4	Arise, My Love
	The Sea Hawk
	Spring Parade
	The Thief of Bagdad
3	All This, and Heaven Too
	Down Argentine Way
	My Favorite Wife
	Strike Up the Band
	The Westerner
2	Abe Lincoln in Illinois
	Arizona
	Bitter Sweet
	The Blue Bird
	Boom Town
	The Boys from Syracuse
	Dark Command
	Hit Parade of 1941
	The Howards of Virginia
	One Million B.C.
	Pinocchio
	Second Chorus
	Waterloo Bridge

Films with multiple awards

Awards	Film
3	The Thief of Bagdad
2	The Grapes of Wrath
The Philadelphia Story
Pinocchio
Rebecca

See also

• 1940 in film