The Oscars go to War

The Academy at wartime. During the more than seventy year history of The American Motion Picture Academy Awards, this country has been through World War II, Korea, Vietnam, The Gulf War and now the war against terrorism. Hollywood itself experienced its adolescence and ‘came of age’ during the First World War and wartime has given many great movies their subtext. From The Birth Of A Nation to Black Hawk Down the changing attitudes of the populace has been reflected, over the years, in the movies and stars we embrace when at war.

Nineteen forty-two. With Pearl Harbor still an open wound the academy has its first year of movies to vote on which were made since the war began. A glimpse at a list of the winners that year is all it takes to gauge the Academy’s (and the countries') emotional state. Greer Garson -of the infamous 8-minute acceptance speech- won for her role as Mrs. Miniver. This story of a British family living in London during the Blitz also won Best Picture, Supporting Actress, Screenplay and, for William Wyler, Best Director. Best Actor, the one award that kept Mrs. Miniver from sweeping the big five, went to gangster turned hoofer James Cagney as George M. Cohan in Yankee Doodle Dandy, quite possibly the most patriotic movie ever made. Times were, indeed, simpler then.

Nineteen fifty-three. War in Korea. For the most part the country, and the academy, remains united. However, with the shadow of McCarthyism looming large, more than a hint of disillusionment is evident in that years honored winners. From Here To Eternity was the night's big winner. Garnering awards for Director, Picture, Screenplay and both supporting acting categories for Donna Reed and Frank Sinatra in his comeback role as Maggio. ‘Eternity’ told of the events leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor but with a decidedly darker tone than was then common. William Holden was the Best Actor winner that year for Stalag 17. Another WWII drama, this one set in a German prisoner of war camp. Holden’s character embodies the cynicism that had begun to infect the national psyche as a result of the cold war.

Nineteen sixty-nine. Vietnam, Saigon, Tet-Offensive. Flower Power, Counter-Culture, Peace Rally. Fifteen years after Korea the country was divided more than at any time since the Civil War. With old-fashioned conservative patriotism on one side and the rebellious sex, drugs and rock-n-roll hippie movement on the other. With one notable exception the academy that year embraced the youth movement. John Wayne’s win for True Grit is the only concession to the old guard. Midnight Cowboy sets Hollywood on its ear, winning Picture, Director and Screenplay and influencing the tone and content of movies for the next half a decade. Gig Young wins Supporting Actor for his role in the subversive They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?. Starring Hanoi Jane herself, Miss Fonda. Don’t trust anyone over thirty.

Nineteen ninety-one. War in the Middle East, George Bush in the White House. The country and the academy seem almost indifferent. There are no huge displays of patriotism yet neither are there the anti-war rallys that were so popular during the sixties and seventies. Silence Of The Lambs becomes only the third movie in history to win the five most coveted awards: Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor, Actress (the other two, by the way, were It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest). Jack Palance wins supporting actor for the comedy City Slickers and supporting actress goes to Mercedes Ruehl for The Fisher King. In fact the only political movie nominated that year is Oliver Stone's controversial JFK which takes home only one award for Editing.

Two thousand-two. War in the Middle East, George W. Bush in the White House. Things seem to have come full circle. Once again we have been attacked by a foreign entity. Patriotism is back in vogue and as long as we have this common enemy the country and the academy will remain united. The Lord Of The Rings will, I think, walk away the night's big winner on March 24th. It embodies heroism and the sometimes necessary battle against evil, which is very much in the minds and hearts of peaceful people everywhere.