1936 CinSpec Awards

Romeo and Juliet (1936) vs. Romeo and Juliet (1968)

Both versions of William Shakespeare's play were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. (SPOILERS)

Oscar Oddity #11: My Man Godfrey (1936)

This classic screwball comedy received awards recognition upon its original release, and the acclaim has continued to the present. However, it was not nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Out of 10 nominees, it was not recognized. Now, that itself isn't very odd, unless you look at the film's other nominations.

Double Feature: Libeled Lady (1936) and Jezebel (1938)

Libeled Lady:

Jack Conway's star-loaded screwball comedy is loaded with talent, featuring William Powell, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy, and Jean Harlow. The film pits Powell vs. Loy as an ex-reporter and his tabloid target, with Tracy as a newspaper editor and Harlow as his loyal fiance. Although the film is not a canonical classic, it is an enjoyable feature with a few laughs and a fine cast.

The film received a single nomination for Best Picture, while other classic films like Modern Times and My Man Godfrey were unfortunately snubbed in the Best Picture category. It lost its only nomination to a better film (The Great Ziegfeld, which also stars Powell and Loy), but I would recommend it to classic movie fans.

Jezebel:

Bette Davis gives an Oscar-winning performance as Julie, a spoiled Southern girl, in William Wyler's classic melodrama. After driving away her beloved (Henry Fonda), Julie is forced to shed her pride and sense of entitlement, humbling herself as she strives to regain his love. Davis, not surprisingly, gives one of her best performances in this movie.

The film received nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress (Fay Bainter), Best Cinematography, and Best Music (Scoring). Again, Davis won for her performance, as did Fay Bainter, but the film lost in its three other categories.