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1957 Academy Awards. Yes, it was different then. The awards were different – the ceremony was different – the movies were different – the actors were different – the hair styles were different. It was only five years since they were first televised and the first year they were televised in color. But this was the radio version – yes, radio was still important, and not wanting to take backseat to television in something as culturally important as this, there had to be a radio version. This one was narrated by veteran actor Robert Wagner, and since it was live, everything was off the cuff and there was nothing slick or rehearsed about it.
But it was the awards that were important – the show was secondary. It was the actors, the movies, the producers, directors, scripts, art direction, costumes and musical scores which were important – because that’s what everyone came to see, and The Academy Awards were still all the club members getting together and having one night out of the year to howl.
So who won what in 1957?
Best Picture: Around The World in 80 Days
Best George Stevens: Giant
Best Actor: Yul Brynner (The King and I)
Best Actress: Ingrid Bergman (Anastasia)
Best Supporting Actor: Anthony Quinn (Lust For Life)
Best Supporting Actress: Dorothy Malone (Written On The Wind)
Best Original Screenplay: Albert Lamorisse (The Red Balloon)
Best Adapted Screenplay: S.J. Perlman, James Poe, John Farrow (Around The World In 80 Days)
Best Story: Dalton Trumbo (The Brave One)
Best Foreign Language Film: La Strada
Best Dramatic or Comedy Score: Around The World In 80 Days
Best Musical Score: The King and I
Yes, it was different then – and it all came in under 2 hours, and it was broadcast live from the RKO/Pantages Theatre.
A splendid time was had by all – and you get to hear the whole thing, as everyone else heard over their radios, on March 27, 1957, thanks to the NBC Radio Network.
