Sheetsadams seems to be busy this week,
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Classic Film
PygmyLion — 1 month ago(March 04, 2026 06:47 PM)
Sheetsadams seems to be busy this week,
As he says,
The idea is this: what if the nominees for Best Picture each year weren't nominated? Which films should have taken their place in that scenario? Pick your alternate selections for Best Picture and, if you wish, mention anybody who you feel was overlooked in any other category. No need to confine yourself to the types of films which typically get nominated or to English-language cinema. If you missed the previous years, they can be found on the classic film board.
The 15th academy awards includes film released in the USA in 1942. That being said, Casablanca, which is commonly list as a 1942 file, was the winner of the 16th academy award. (Also
In Which We Serve
is in the 16th academy awards list).
The Nominees were:
Mrs. Miniver
– William Wyler (winner)
49th Parallel – Michael Powell
Kings Row - Sam Wood
The Magnificent Ambersons - Orson Welles
The Pied Piper - Irving Pichel
The Pride of the Yankees - Sam Wood
Random Harvest - Mervyn LeRoy
The Talk of the Town - George Stevens
Wake Island - John Farrow
Yankee Doodle Dandy - Michael Curtiz
This is a pretty strong list.
————————
Other movies from which to consider:
One of Our Aircraft is Missing - Michael Powell
Holiday Inn - Marke Sandrich
Moontide - Archie Mayo, Fritz Lang
To Be or Not to Be - Ernst Lubitsch
Now, Voyager - Irving Rapper
The Palm Beach Story - Preston Sturgis
Saboteur - Alfred Hitchcock
The Man Who Came to Dinner - William Keighley
Woman of the Year - George Stevens
This Gun for Hire - Frank Tuttle
The Major and the Minor - Billy Wilder
My Sister Eileen - Alexander Hall
Desperate Journey - Raoul Walsh
Johnny Eager - Mervyn LeRoy (1941)
The initial list looks pretty good until one starts looking at some of the movies left out. -
sheetsadam1 — 1 month ago(March 04, 2026 07:05 PM)
Thanks for reminding me! I knew I'd forgotten something!
The only ones I'd add to your list would be Disney's
Bambi
and the Val Lewton horror production
Cat People
, both genres historically overlooked by the Academy.
I think it would be down to
The Magnificent Ambersons
and
The Man Who Came to Dinner
for me.
The Major and the Minor
is one of the few Billy Wilder films I haven't watched. I probably should get on that sometime.
"Praise be to Allah." - President Donald J. Trump, Easter Sunday 04/05/2026 -
PygmyLion — 1 month ago(March 04, 2026 07:15 PM)
It is tough to figure out which list
The Man Who Came to Dinner
belongs on, 14th or 15th. It received no Oscar nominations. Some places list it as 1941 and others as 1942. It was shown in a few places in late December 1941, but it's official US release date seems to be Jan 24, 1942. -
PygmyLion — 1 month ago(March 04, 2026 07:54 PM)
Sullivan's Travels
is another movie like that. We considered it in the 14th Academy awards. While
Sullivan's Travels
was shown in one locale in Dec 1941, it's official release date in the US was Feb 6, 1942. So probably it should be with the 15th academy awards. -
sheetsadam1 — 1 month ago(March 04, 2026 07:14 PM)
Billy Wilder was the GOAT
That is a statement I'll agree with, even without having seen
The Major and the Minor
. I'll definitely be mentioning
Five Graves to Cairo
next week.
"Praise be to Allah." - President Donald J. Trump, Easter Sunday 04/05/2026 -
PygmyLion — 1 month ago(March 05, 2026 01:04 AM)
My 10 nominees would be
Mrs. Miniver
To Be or Not to Be
Random Harvest
Kings Row
The Magnificent Ambersons
The Pride of the Yankees
Saboteur
49th Parallel
Moontide
Holiday Inn
[ Sullivan's Travels, if it were considered a 1942 movie]
I would go with
Mrs. Miniver
as the top film of the year.