We are on a journey to discover the sci-fi and fantasy movies that won the Oscar Award, from 1929 until today in the five main categories (Best Picture, director, actor, actress and screenplay).
The Story so far:
1933 – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1942 – Here Comes Mister Jordan
1957 – The Red Balloon
In 1965 Bob Hope was chosen to present the ceremony and was given an Honorary Award for his service to the Academy and the motion picture industry. To the surprise of the audience at home, the Awards were finally broadcast in colour, showing the glitz in all its glory. The 37th Academy Awards ceremony took place on Monday, April 5, 1965 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, for movies released in 1964.
Best Actress: Julie Andrews – Mary Poppins
While My Fair Lady was scooping up all the prizes, the fantastic tale of Mary Poppins managed to win 5 Oscars. Julie Andrews had been hesitant at first, to take on the role of the singing nanny, as she was really hoping to land the role of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. Having loved and watched both, I think the casting it’s perfect as it is – I adore Audrey Hepburn, but she would not have been right as Mary Poppins, not physically nor charismatically. And speaking of miscasting, Dick Van Dyke is still not sure he was the best choice for this movie (neither are we), but he still says it was the best movie he ever did.
Interesting facts and behind the scenes about the writer of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, can be learned through Saving Mr Banks, with Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. In it, Travers is brought to reflects on her childhood (Mary Poppin’s Mr Banks is based on her own father) after meeting Walt Disney, who wants to bring the English nanny to the large screen, but has to fight with its stubborn author to do it.
As the sales of her book dwindle, Traverse had no choice but to sell the movie rights to Disney in 1961. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Oscar Run: Sci-fi 1 – Fantasy 3
