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 – 1932-1933

A widely reviled Best Picture winner: Diana Wynyard and Clive Brook in Cavalcade (1933)

The 6th Academy Awards, for the period from August 1, 1932 to December 31, 1933.  The nominations were announced on February 26, 1934 and the awards ceremony was held on March 16, 1934.

Best Picture:  Cavalcade

• I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
• The Private Life of Henry VIII
  
• Little Women
• Lady for a Day
• State Fair
• A Farewell to Arms
• Smilin’ Through
• 42nd Street
• She Done Him Wrong

Most Surprising Omission:  Trouble in Paradise

Best Eligible Film Not Nominated:  M

Best Eligible U.S. Film Not Nominated:  King Kong

Rank (out of 82) Among Best Picture Years:  #75

 

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 Year in Film: 1932 – 1933

My Top 10:

Peter Lorre in Fritz Lang's brilliant M

1. M
2. King Kong
3. Duck Soup
4. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
5. The Invisible Man
6. The Blood of a Poet
7. The Mummy
8. Little Women
9. Dinner at Eight
10. The Private Life of Henry VIII

 

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