21st Annual Academy Awards Results and Commentary (1949)

©A.M.P.A.S.®

• Date of Ceremony: Thursday, March 24, 1949
• For films released in: 1948
• Host(s): George Montgomery

• Nominations List

Other years:

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Actor George Montgomery hosted the 21st Annual Academy Awards at the Academy Theatre on Thursday, March 24, 1949.

Jane Wyman’s character in Johnny Belinda was a deaf-mute, so her Best Actress win marked the first time since the silent movie days that a performance with no lines had been honored.

The ceremony also marked the first time that costume design was being honored.

Of note for the evening was the fact that two British movies, Hamlet and The Red Shoes, won six Oscars including Best Picture for Hamlet and Best Actor for Laurence Olivier’s performance of the titular character.

Results

Best Motion Picture

• Hamlet
  J. Arthur Rank-Two Cities Films

Best Directing

• The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
  John Huston

Best Actor

• Hamlet
  Laurence Olivier

Best Actress

• Johnny Belinda
  Jane Wyman

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

• The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
  Walter Huston

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

• Key Largo
  Claire Trevor

Special Foreign Language Film Award

• Monsieur Vincent
  Note: …voted by the Academy Board of Governors as the most outstanding foreign language film released in the United States during 1948.

Best Art Direction (Black-and-White)

• Hamlet
  Roger K. Furse [Art Direction] and Carmen Dillon [Set Decoration]

Best Art Direction (Color)

• The Red Shoes
  Hein Heckroth [Art Direction] and Arthur Lawson [Set Decoration]

Best Cinematography (Black-and-White)

• The Naked City
  William Daniels

Best Cinematography (Color)

• Joan of Arc
  Joseph Valentine, William V. Skall and Winton Hoch

Best Costume Design (Black-and-White)

• Hamlet
  Roger K. Furse

Best Costume Design (Color)

• Joan of Arc
  Dorothy Jeakins and Karinska

Best Documentary (Feature)

• The Secret Land
  Orville O. Dull

Best Documentary (Short Subject)

• Toward Independence
  United States Army

Best Film Editing

• The Naked City
  Paul Weatherwax

Best Music (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture)

• The Red Shoes
  Brian Easdale

Best Music (Scoring of a Musical Picture)

• Easter Parade
  Johnny Green and Roger Edens

Best Music (Song)

• The Paleface "Buttons and Bows"
  Jay Livingston [Music and Lyrics by] and Ray Evans [Music and Lyrics by]

Best Short Subject (Cartoon)

• The Little Orphan
  Fred Quimby

Best Short Subject (One-reel)

• Symphony of a City
  Edmund H. Reek

Best Short Subject (Two-reel)

• Seal Island
  Walt Disney

Best Sound Recording

• The Snake Pit
  20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department and Thomas T. Moulton [Sound Director]

Best Special Effects

• Portrait of Jennie
  Paul Eagler [Special Visual Effects by], J. McMillan Johnson [Special Visual Effects by], Russell Shearman [Special Visual Effects by], Clarence Slifer [Special Visual Effects by], Charles Freeman [Special Audible Effects by] and James G. Stewart [Special Audible Effects by]

Best Writing (Screenplay)

• The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
  John Huston

Best Writing (Motion Picture Story)

• The Search
  Richard Schweizer and David Wechsler

Special Award

• Ivan Jandl
  Note: …for the outstanding juvenile performance of 1948, as “Karel Malik” in The Search.
• Sid Grauman
  Note: …master showman, who raised the standard of exhibition of motion pictures.
• Adolph Zukor
  Note: …a man who has been called the father of the feature film in America, for his services to the industry over a period of forty years.
• Walter Wanger
  Note: …for distinguished service to the industry in adding to its moral stature in the world community by his production of the picture Joan of Arc.
• Jean Hersholt
  Note: …in recognition of his service to the Academy during four terms as president.

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

• Jerry Wald

Scientific or Technical Award (Class II)

• Victor Caccialanza, Maurice Ayers and Paramount Studio Set Construction Department
  Note: …for the development and application of “Paralite”, a new lightweight plaster process for set construction.
• Nick Kalten, Louis J. Witte and 20th Century-Fox Studio Mechanical Effects Department
  Note: …for a process of preserving and flame-proofing foliage.

Scientific or Technical Award (Class III)

• Marty Martin, Jack Lannon, Russell Shearman and RKO Radio Studio Special Effects Department
  Note: …for the development of a new method of simulating falling snow on motion picture sets.
• A.J. Moran and Warner Bros. Studio Electrical Department
  Note: …for a method of remote control for shutters on motion picture arc lighting equipment.