1934 Oscars

Awards - Below is the list of nominees with the winner at the top and my choice underlined. Outstanding Production

Cavalcade – Winfield Sheehan for Fox Film Co.

42nd Street – Darryl F. Zanuck for Warner Bros.

A Farewell to Arms – Adolph Zukor for Paramount Publix

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang – Hal B. Wallis for Warner Bros.

Lady for a Day – Frank Capra for Columbia

Little Women – Merian C. Cooper and Kenneth Macgowan for RKO Pictures

The Private Life of Henry VIII – Alexander Korda for London Films

She Done Him Wrong – William LeBaron for Paramount Publix

Smilin' Through – Irving Thalberg for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

State Fair – Winfield Sheehan for Fox Film Co.

My favourite movie for the year wasn't nominated for Best Picture. My favourite movie was Gold Diggers of 1933 (7.8/10). Great acting, great dance sequences, great singing, good chemistry, and some great cinematography. I smiled the whole way through and was thoroughly entertained.

My top three movies for the year were 1) Gold Diggers of 1933, 2) Little Women, and 3) One Way Passage.

Worst Picture

The movie that won Best Picture at the Oscars won the award for the Worst Picture in my mind for 1934. Cavalcade. Boring and ridiculous with terrible acting. I couldn't wait for it to be over! I rated this one a measly 4.6/10.

Best Director

Frank Lloyd – Cavalcade

Frank Capra – Lady for a Day

George Cukor – Little Women

I am so impressed that George Cukor gave every actress room to shine and to highlight Kate's amazing performance. Such an enjoyable watch.

Best Actor

Charles Laughton – The Private Life of Henry VIII as Henry VIII

Leslie Howard – Berkeley Square as Peter Standish

Paul Muni – I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang as James Allen

Big snaps for Paul Muni as he did an incredible job, but there was something about Charles' performance that was so nuanced and engaging.

Best Actress

Katharine Hepburn – Morning Glory as Eva Lovelace

May Robson – Lady for a Day as Apple Annie

Diana Wynyard – Cavalcade as Jane Marryot

May Robson was fantastic and would win out of the nominees but I think Katherine Hepburn's performance as Jo March in Little Women was one of the best acting performances I've seen so far so I'll give her the award albeit for a different film. She was engaging and I couldn't take my eyes off her.

Best Original Story

One Way Passage – Robert Lord

The Prizefighter and the Lady – Frances Marion

Rasputin and the Empress – Charles MacArthur

While melodramatic and over the top, I agree with the win for One Way Passage. The ending was superb.

Best Adaptation

Little Women – Victor Heerman and Sarah Y. Mason, based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott

Lady for a Day – Robert Riskin, based on the story "Madame la Gimp" by Damon Runyon

State Fair – Paul Green and Sonya Levien, based on the novel by Phil Strong

Tough one as these were all fantastic plots and well done, but I agree that Little Women was the best book to movie adaptation.

Best Art Direction

Cavalcade – William S. Darling

A Farewell to Arms – Hans Dreier and Roland Anderson

When Ladies Meet – Cedric Gibbons

For me, it was Gold Diggers of 1933. Such beautiful artisan film-making.

Best Cinematography

A Farewell to Arms – Charles Lang

Reunion in Vienna – George J. Folsey

Sign of the Cross – Karl Struss

Again, Gold Diggers for me!

Best Live Action Short Subject, Comedy

So This Is Harris! –Louis Brock and RKO Pictures

Mister Mugg – Warren Doane and Universal Studios

A Preferred List – Louis Brock and RKO Pictures

I only got to see So This is Harris! and I absolutely hated it. As I said in the review for that movie, if you want a good short comedy, go watch Duck Soup in 20 minute snippets!

Best Live Action Short Subject, Novelty

Krakatoa – Joe Rock and Educational Pictures

Menu – Pete Smith and MGM

The Sea – Educational Pictures

I only got to see Menu which was quite fun but I won't disagree with the Academy because I know Krakatoa would have been much more interesting.

Best Short Subject, Cartoon

The Three Little Pigs – Walt Disney and United Artists

Building a Building – Walt Disney and United Artists

The Merry Old Soul – Walter Lantz and Universal Studios

My favourite cartoon for this year as The Merry Old Soul because it was clever! I loved the movie "cameos" and it was quite funny.

Best Sound Recording

A Farewell to Arms – Franklin Hansen

42nd Street – Nathan Levinson

Gold Diggers of 1933 – Nathan Levinson

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang – Nathan Levinson

No surprises here - Gold Digger again!