Best Music: 1950s

Best Original Score:

1950: Sunset Blvd. (Franz Waxman)

Oscar winner: Sunset Blvd. (Franz Waxman)

1951: A Christmas Carol (Richard Addinsell)

Oscar winner: A Place in the Sun (Franz Waxman)

Was this nominated?: No

1952: Sudden Fear (Elmer Bernstein)

Oscar winner: High Noon (Dimitri Tiomkin)
Was this nominated?: No

1953: Julius Caesar (Miklos Rozsa)

Oscar winner: Lili (Bronislau Kaper)

Was this nominated?: Yes

1954: On the Waterfront (Leonard Bernstein)

Oscar winner: The High and the Mighty (Dimitri Tiomkin)

Was this nominated?: Yes

1955: East of Eden (Leonard Rosenman)

Oscar winner: Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (Alfred Newman)

Was this nominated?: No

1956: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Carmen Dragon)

Oscar winner: Around the World in 80 Days (Victor Young)

Was this nominated?: No

1957: Sweet Smell of Success (Elmer Bernstein)

Oscar winner: The Bridge on the River Kwai (Malcolm Arnold)

Was this nominated?: No

1958: Vertigo (Bernard Herrmann)

Oscar winner: The Old Man and the Sea (Dimitri Tiomkin)

Was this nominated?: No

1959: North by Northwest (Bernard Herrmann)

Oscar winner: Ben-Hur (Miklos Rozsa)

Was this nominated?: No

Best Original Song:

1950: "Biddidi-Bobbidi-Boo" - Cinderella

Oscar winner: "Mona Lisa" - Captain Carey, U.S.A.

Was this nominated?: Yes

1951: "The Unbirthday Song" - Alice in Wonderland

Oscar winner: "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" - Here Comes the Groom
Was this nominated?: No

1952: "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin')" - High Noon+

Oscar winner: "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin')" - High Noon
 

1953: "You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly!" - Peter Pan+

Oscar winner: "Secret Love" - Calamity Jane

Was this nominated?: No
 

1954: "The Man That Got Away" - A Star is Born+

Oscar winner: "Three Coins in the Fountain" - Three Coins in the Fountain

Was this nominated?: Yes
 

1955: "Bella Notte" - The Lady and the Tramp+

Oscar winner: "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing" - Love is a Many-Splendored Thing

Was this nominated?: No
 

1956: "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" - The Man Who Knew Too Much

Oscar winner: "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" - The Man Who Knew Too Much

 

1957: "An Affair to Remember" - An Affair to Remember

Oscar winner: "All the Way" - The Joker Is Wild
Was this nominated?: Yes
 

1958: "Almost in Your Arms" - Houseboat

Oscar winner: "Gigi" - Gigi
Was this nominated?: Yes
 

1959: "My Rifle, My Pony and Me" - Rio Bravo

Oscar winner: "High Hopes" - A Hole in the Head

Was this nominated?: No

+ Possible spoilers in the High Noon, Peter Pan, The Lady and the Tramp, and A Star is Born clips

Updated: 7/24/14