The Best of the Nighthawk Awards: The 1930′s

The animated film that really started it all: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Before diving into the Best Pictures of 1939, I’ll cover the decade at a glance with my own awards.

1930 – 1939

Total Films I’ve Seen:  460

Films That Make the Top 5 in a Category:  35

Best Film Not to Make the Top 5 in Any Category:  Scarface

Film of the Decade:  The Wizard of Oz

Worst Film of the Decade:  Oliver Twist (1932)

Worst Best Picture Nominee of the Decade:  Cleopatra

Worst Film of the Decade made by a Top 100 Director:  Jamaica Inn

 

The History of the Academy Awards: Best Picture – 1930-1931

Richard Dix and Irene Dunne were both Oscar nominated for Cimarron (1931) which won Best Picture. None of it was deserved.

The 4th Academy Awards, for the year of August 1, 1930 to July 31, 1931, with the nominations announced on October 5, 1931 and the awards ceremony held on November 10, 1931.

Best Picture:  Cimarron

• The Front Page
• Trader Horn
• Skippy
• East Lynne

Most Surprising Omission:  A Free Soul

Best Eligible Film Not Nominated:  City Lights

Rank (out of 82): Among Best Picture Years:  #81

 

The History of the Academy Awards: Best Picture – 1929-1930

The haunting final shot of All Quiet on the Western Front, easily the best film of 1930.

The 3rd Academy Awards for the film year of August 1, 1929 to July 31, 1930.  The nominations were announced on September 19, 1930 and the awards were held on November 5, 1930.

Best Production:  All Quiet on the Western Front

• Disraeli
• The Big House
  
• The Love Parade
• The Divorcee

Most Surprising Omission:  Anna Christie

Best Eligible Film Not Nominated:  City Girl

Rank (out of 82) Among Best Picture Years:  #76

 

The Year in Film: 1930 – 1931

My Top 10:

1. City Lights
   

   Charlie Chaplin in the final, touching scene in City Lights

2. Dracula
3. The Three Penny Opera
4. Le Million
5. Earth
6. The Public Enemy
7. Waterloo Bridge
8. The Front Page
9. Little Caesar
10. Woman in the Moon

 

The Year in Film: 1929 – 1930

My Top 10:

The final poignant moment in All Quiet on the Western Front

1. All Quiet on the Western Front
2. City Girl
3. Arsenal
4. Hell’s Angels
5. The General Line
6. Under the Roofs of Paris
7. The Great Gabbo
8. Anna Christie
9. Blackmail
10. Diary of a Lost Girl