Comments on: Oscar’s Oddities – Part 1 http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/ MovieMorlocks.com is the official blog for Turner Classic Movies (TCM). No topic is too obscure or niche to be excluded from our film discussions. And we welcome your comments on our blogs and bloggers. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:12:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Dean Treadway http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-8023 Dean Treadway Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:30:35 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-8023 These days, the category has become more consistant and/or predictable, but for the longest time, the Costume Design category, was been the one category you could look to for surprises. I love that LEGS DIAMOND (which I watched recently on VHS and enjoyed) got a nom. A few more of my surprising (not always underserved) favorites in this category? 1986: Pirates (failed Polanski movie with big production values, with costumes by Anthony Powell 1985: The Journey of Natty Gann (Relatively obscure Disney movie with early performance by John Cusack; costumes by Albert Wolsky 1983: Heart Like a Wheel -- William Ware Theiss (Best Racing Jumpsuit? Bonnie Bedelia didn't get a Best Actress nomination for Shirley Muldowney / racetrack set drama, but William Ware Theiss' 50s-to-80s costumes did.) 1982: Tron (One of my all time favorite nominations: Elois Jenssen and Rosanna Norton weird, glowing outfits from the computer-generated Disney classic). 1980: When Time Ran Out (another Irwin Allen disaster movie costume nomination for Paul Zastupnevich, who also scored for THE SWARM, THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974), and THE POSIEDON ADVENTURE (1972), ALL of which are unusual choices, to say the least.) 1979: Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (William Ware Theiss strikes again with this now-rarely shown prequel, with Tom Bereneger and William Katt in the Newman/Redford roles.) 1978: Caravans (Afgan/Pakastani border epic with Anthony Quinn and Michael Sarrazin; costumed by Renie Conley) 1977: The Other Side of Midnight (very trashy soaper based on Sidney Sheldon novel, with Irene Sharaff frocks) 1971: What's the Matter with Helen? (A childhood old-ladies-at-each-other's-throats horror fave of mine, directed by Curtis Harrington, with Debbie Reynolds, Shelley Winters, and Agnes Moorehead; Morton Haack costumed it) 1968: Planet of the Apes (perhaps my favorite Costume nomination of all time! Morton Haack does it again!) 1966: Mandragola (Danilo Donati is a perrennial in this category, but who's seen this?) 1965: Morituri (Moss Mabry) and A Rage to Live (Howard Shoup) (Despite presence of Brando and Brenner in the former, it's certainly not Best Costume material, and A RAGE TO LIVE looks like another nymphomaniac picture like CLAUDELLE INGLISH, this time with Suzanne Pleshette! Hey, I wanna see that!) These days, you might get a 12 MONKEYS, a MILK, or a 102 DALMATIANS every once in a while, but most of the nominations are predictably deserved. 1960 through 1986 was really a golden age for outside-the-mainstream thinking in this category. Again, great article! These days, the category has become more consistant and/or predictable, but for the longest time, the Costume Design category, was been the one category you could look to for surprises. I love that LEGS DIAMOND (which I watched recently on VHS and enjoyed) got a nom. A few more of my surprising (not always underserved) favorites in this category?

1986: Pirates (failed Polanski movie with big production values, with costumes by Anthony Powell
1985: The Journey of Natty Gann (Relatively obscure Disney movie with early performance by John Cusack; costumes by Albert Wolsky
1983: Heart Like a Wheel — William Ware Theiss (Best Racing Jumpsuit? Bonnie Bedelia didn’t get a Best Actress nomination for Shirley Muldowney / racetrack set drama, but William Ware Theiss’ 50s-to-80s costumes did.)
1982: Tron (One of my all time favorite nominations: Elois Jenssen and Rosanna Norton weird, glowing outfits from the computer-generated Disney classic).
1980: When Time Ran Out (another Irwin Allen disaster movie costume nomination for Paul Zastupnevich, who also scored for THE SWARM, THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974), and THE POSIEDON ADVENTURE (1972), ALL of which are unusual choices, to say the least.)
1979: Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (William Ware Theiss strikes again with this now-rarely shown prequel, with Tom Bereneger and William Katt in the Newman/Redford roles.)
1978: Caravans (Afgan/Pakastani border epic with Anthony Quinn and Michael Sarrazin; costumed by Renie Conley)
1977: The Other Side of Midnight (very trashy soaper based on Sidney Sheldon novel, with Irene Sharaff frocks)
1971: What’s the Matter with Helen? (A childhood old-ladies-at-each-other’s-throats horror fave of mine, directed by Curtis Harrington, with Debbie Reynolds, Shelley Winters, and Agnes Moorehead; Morton Haack costumed it)
1968: Planet of the Apes (perhaps my favorite Costume nomination of all time! Morton Haack does it again!)
1966: Mandragola (Danilo Donati is a perrennial in this category, but who’s seen this?)
1965: Morituri (Moss Mabry) and A Rage to Live (Howard Shoup) (Despite presence of Brando and Brenner in the former, it’s certainly not Best Costume material, and A RAGE TO LIVE looks like another nymphomaniac picture like CLAUDELLE INGLISH, this time with Suzanne Pleshette! Hey, I wanna see that!)

These days, you might get a 12 MONKEYS, a MILK, or a 102 DALMATIANS every once in a while, but most of the nominations are predictably deserved. 1960 through 1986 was really a golden age for outside-the-mainstream thinking in this category.

Again, great article!

]]> By: morlockjeff http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-7381 morlockjeff Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:36:08 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-7381 Paul, You are correct according to Variety. It was a hit in relation to its cost. It's curious that the film is rarely mentioned or shown today. Paul,

You are correct according to Variety. It was a hit in relation to its cost. It’s curious that the film is rarely mentioned or shown today.

]]> By: Paul http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-7378 Paul Sun, 22 Feb 2009 13:33:17 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-7378 "Thoroughly Modern Millie" was Universal Studio's top-moneymaking film until 1970's "Airport" taking in more than thirty million dollars at the box-office. I saw it as a pre-teen in 1968 in the Boston area where it played as a "roadshow" release for almost a year. Not sure where you got the under 1 million dollar figure but check with Variety to confirm the above. “Thoroughly Modern Millie” was Universal Studio’s top-moneymaking film until 1970’s “Airport” taking in more than thirty million dollars at the box-office. I saw it as a pre-teen in 1968 in the Boston area where it played as a “roadshow” release for almost a year. Not sure where you got the under 1 million dollar figure but check with Variety to confirm the above.

]]> By: Jeff http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-7315 Jeff Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:22:50 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-7315 Mullitt3d, I didn't know about that one. Priceless. That one is even crazier than Last Year at Marienbad. Mullitt3d,

I didn’t know about that one. Priceless. That one is even crazier than Last Year at Marienbad.

]]> By: Mike Gebert http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-7314 Mike Gebert Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:13:13 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-7314 Hey, that's a kick-ass score! I admire the music branch for honoring it despite what it's in (and Monogram knew it was good, too, I've seen at least one Monogram picture where it was reused...) Hey, that’s a kick-ass score! I admire the music branch for honoring it despite what it’s in (and Monogram knew it was good, too, I’ve seen at least one Monogram picture where it was reused…)

]]> By: Jason http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-7309 Jason Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:57:34 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-7309 Believe it or not, Monogram's King of the Zombies scored a nomination for its score. Mantan Moreland's work in it, however, was sadly ignored by the Academy. Believe it or not, Monogram’s King of the Zombies scored a nomination for its score. Mantan Moreland’s work in it, however, was sadly ignored by the Academy.

]]> By: Mullitt3d http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-7308 Mullitt3d Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:01:26 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-7308 What about Kenneth Branagh's 1997 'best adapted screenplay' nomination for his production of HAMLET? The production was famed for, if nothing else, not cutting a single word of Shakespeare's original text. Way to go Ken! What about Kenneth Branagh’s 1997 ‘best adapted screenplay’ nomination for his production of HAMLET? The production was famed for, if nothing else, not cutting a single word of Shakespeare’s original text. Way to go Ken!

]]> By: Vincent http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-7307 Vincent Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:17:38 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-7307 I believe "The Swarm" was Fred MacMurray's final movie. (Not the most graceful of exits.) I believe “The Swarm” was Fred MacMurray’s final movie. (Not the most graceful of exits.)

]]> By: Movie_Dearest http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-7303 Movie_Dearest Mon, 16 Feb 2009 06:32:19 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-7303 Carol Channing actually won the Golden Globe for "Millie" that year. "Raspberries!" One of the oddest nominees ever has to be Jocelyne LaGarde for Best Supporting Actress as "Queen Malama" in "Hawaii" (1966). She was not an actress and had to learn all her English dialogue phonetically. So much for the art of acting ... Great post, looking forward to part 2. - kch Carol Channing actually won the Golden Globe for “Millie” that year.

“Raspberries!”

One of the oddest nominees ever has to be Jocelyne LaGarde for Best Supporting Actress as “Queen Malama” in “Hawaii” (1966). She was not an actress and had to learn all her English dialogue phonetically. So much for the art of acting …

Great post, looking forward to part 2.

- kch

]]> By: Stacia http://moviemorlocks.com/2009/02/14/oscar%e2%80%99s-oddities-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comment-7297 Stacia Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:28:59 +0000 http://moviemorlocks.com/?p=7370#comment-7297 Fun! Oh boy, I can't wait for the second one. In fact, I think I know a certain little science fiction musical romantic comedy that may end up on that list. P.S. Carol Channing deserves an Oscar for being Carol Channing. There, I said it. Fun! Oh boy, I can’t wait for the second one. In fact, I think I know a certain little science fiction musical romantic comedy that may end up on that list.

P.S. Carol Channing deserves an Oscar for being Carol Channing. There, I said it.

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