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 – 1931-1932

Grand Hotel won Best Picture in 1932 without nominations for either John Barrymore or Greta Garbo.

The 5th Academy Awards, for the film year of August 1, 1931 to July 31, 1932.  The nominations were announced on October 12, 1932 and the ceremony was held on November 18, 1932.

Best Picture:  Grand Hotel

• Five Star Final
• Shanghai Express
• Arrowsmith
• Bad Girl
• One Hour With You
• The Smiling Lieutenant
  
• The Champ

Most Surprising Omission:  Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Best Eligible Film Not Nominated:  Scarface

Rank (out of 82) Among Best Picture Years:  #80

 

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 Year in Film: 1931 – 1932

My Top 10:

Paul Muni as Tony, the crazed gangster and Ann Dvorak as his sister in Scarface

1. Scarface
2. Vampyr
3. Frankenstein
4. A Nous la Liberte
5. Horse Feathers
6. Freaks
7. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
8. Wooden Crosses
9. What Price Hollywood
10. Grand Hotel

 

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