Judy Garland, with presenter Mickey Rooney
1940
The 12th Academy Awards | 1940
Coconut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel
Thursday, February 29, 1940
Honoring movies released in 1939
Memorable Moments
Winners & Nominees
Actor in a Supporting Role
Winner
Thomas Mitchell
Stagecoach
Nominees
Brian Aherne
Juarez
Harry Carey
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Brian Donlevy
Beau Geste
Claude Rains
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Actress in a Supporting Role
Winner
Hattie McDaniel
Gone with the Wind
Nominees
Olivia de Havilland
Gone with the Wind
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Wuthering Heights
Edna May Oliver
Drums along the Mohawk
Maria Ouspenskaya
Love Affair
Directing
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Victor Fleming
Nominees
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Sam Wood
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Frank Capra
Stagecoach
John Ford
Wuthering Heights
William Wyler
Film Editing
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Hal C. Kern, James E. Newcom
Nominees
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Charles Frend
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Gene Havlick, Al Clark
The Rains Came
Barbara McLean
Stagecoach
Otho Lovering, Dorothy Spencer
Actor
Winner
Robert Donat
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Nominees
Clark Gable
Gone with the Wind
Laurence Olivier
Wuthering Heights
Mickey Rooney
Babes in Arms
James Stewart
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Actress
Winner
Vivien Leigh
Gone with the Wind
Nominees
Bette Davis
Dark Victory
Irene Dunne
Love Affair
Greta Garbo
Ninotchka
Greer Garson
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Art Direction
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Lyle Wheeler
Nominees
Beau Geste
Hans Dreier, Robert Odell
Captain Fury
Charles D. Hall
First Love
Jack Otterson, Martin Obzina
Love Affair
Van Nest Polglase, Al Herman
Man of Conquest
John Victor Mackay
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Lionel Banks
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Anton Grot
The Rains Came
William Darling, George Dudley
Stagecoach
Alexander Toluboff
The Wizard of Oz
Cedric Gibbons, William A. Horning
Wuthering Heights
James Basevi
Writing (Original Story)
Winner
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Lewis R. Foster
Nominees
Bachelor Mother
Felix Jackson
Love Affair
Mildred Cram, Leo McCarey
Ninotchka
Melchior Lengyel
Young Mr. Lincoln
Lamar Trotti
Special Award
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Special Award
Outstanding Production
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Selznick International Pictures
Nominees
Dark Victory
Warner Bros.-First National
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Love Affair
RKO Radio
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Columbia
Ninotchka
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Of Mice and Men
Hal Roach (production company)
Stagecoach
Walter Wanger (production company)
The Wizard of Oz
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Wuthering Heights
Samuel Goldwyn Productions
Sound Recording
Winner
When Tomorrow Comes
Universal Studio Sound Department, Bernard B. Brown, Sound Director
Nominees
Balalaika
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director
Gone with the Wind
Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Denham Studio Sound Department, A. W. Watkins, Sound Director
The Great Victor Herbert
Paramount Studio Sound Department, Loren L. Ryder, Sound Director
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
RKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Aalberg, Sound Director
Man of Conquest
Republic Studio Sound Department, Charles L. Lootens, Sound Director
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Columbia Studio Sound Department, John Livadary, Sound Director
Of Mice and Men
Hal Roach Studio Sound Department, Elmer A. Raguse, Sound Director
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Warner Bros. Studio Sound Department, Nathan Levinson, Sound Director
The Rains Came
20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department, E. H. Hansen, Sound Director
Short Subject (Cartoon)
Winner
The Ugly Duckling
Walt Disney, Producer
Nominees
Detouring America
Warner Bros.
Peace on Earth
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Pointer
Walt Disney, Producer
Music (Scoring)
Winner
Stagecoach
Richard Hageman, Frank Harling, John Leipold, Leo Shuken
Nominees
Babes in Arms
George E. Stoll, Roger Edens
First Love
Charles Previn
The Great Victor Herbert
Phil Boutelje, Arthur Lange
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Alfred Newman
Intermezzo
Lou Forbes
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Dimitri Tiomkin
Of Mice and Men
Aaron Copland
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
She Married a Cop
Cy Feuer
Swanee River
Louis Silvers
They Shall Have Music
Alfred Newman
Way Down South
Victor Young
Music (Song)
Winner
The Wizard of Oz
Over The Rainbow in "The Wizard of Oz" Music by Harold Arlen; Lyrics by E. Y. Harburg
Nominees
Gulliver's Travels
Faithful Forever in "Gulliver's Travels" Music by Ralph Rainger; Lyrics by Leo Robin
Second Fiddle
I Poured My Heart Into A Song in "Second Fiddle" Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Love Affair
Wishing in "Love Affair" Music and Lyrics by Buddy de Sylva
Writing (Screenplay)
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Sidney Howard
Nominees
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
R. C. Sherriff, Claudine West, Eric Maschwitz
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Sidney Buchman
Ninotchka
Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Walter Reisch
Wuthering Heights
Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht
Short Subject (One-reel)
Winner
Busy Little Bears
Paramount
Nominees
Information Please
RKO Radio
Prophet without Honor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Sword Fishing
Warner Bros.
Short Subject (Two-reel)
Winner
Sons of Liberty
Warner Bros.
Nominees
Drunk Driving
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Five Times Five
RKO Radio
Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
Winner
David O. Selznick
Music (Original Score)
Winner
The Wizard of Oz
Herbert Stothart
Nominees
Dark Victory
Max Steiner
Eternally Yours
Werner Janssen
Golden Boy
Victor Young
Gone with the Wind
Max Steiner
Gulliver's Travels
Victor Young
The Man in the Iron Mask
Lud Gluskin, Lucien Moraweck
Man of Conquest
Victor Young
Nurse Edith Cavell
Anthony Collins
Of Mice and Men
Aaron Copland
The Rains Came
Alfred Newman
Wuthering Heights
Alfred Newman
Cinematography (Black-and-White)
Winner
Wuthering Heights
Gregg Toland
Nominees
Stagecoach
Bert Glennon
Cinematography (Color)
Winner
Gone with the Wind
Ernest Haller, Ray Rennahan
Nominees
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Sol Polito, W. Howard Greene
Special Effects
Winner
The Rains Came
Fred Sersen, E. H. Hansen
Nominees
Gone with the Wind
John R. Cosgrove, Fred Albin, Arthur Johns
Only Angels Have Wings
Roy Davidson, Edwin C. Hahn
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Byron Haskin, Nathan Levinson
Topper Takes a Trip
Roy Seawright
Union Pacific
Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings, Loren Ryder
The Wizard of Oz
A. Arnold Gillespie, Douglas Shearer
B
Babes in Arms
2 NominationsMusic (Scoring) - George E. Stoll, Roger Edens
Actor - Mickey Rooney in "Babes in Arms"
Bachelor Mother
1 NominationWriting (Original Story) - Felix Jackson
Balalaika
1 NominationSound Recording - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director
Beau Geste
2 NominationsActor in a Supporting Role - Brian Donlevy in "Beau Geste"
Art Direction - Hans Dreier, Robert Odell
Busy Little Bears
1 Win, 1 Nomination* Short Subject (One-reel) - Paramount
C
Captain Fury
1 NominationArt Direction - Charles D. Hall
D
Dark Victory
3 NominationsActress - Bette Davis in "Dark Victory"
Music (Original Score) - Max Steiner
Outstanding Production - Warner Bros.-First National
Detouring America
1 NominationShort Subject (Cartoon) - Warner Bros.
Drums along the Mohawk
1 NominationActress in a Supporting Role - Edna May Oliver in "Drums along the Mohawk"
Drunk Driving
1 NominationShort Subject (Two-reel) - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
E
Eternally Yours
1 NominationMusic (Original Score) - Werner Janssen
F
First Love
2 NominationsMusic (Scoring) - Charles Previn
Art Direction - Jack Otterson, Martin Obzina
Five Times Five
1 NominationShort Subject (Two-reel) - RKO Radio
G
Golden Boy
1 NominationMusic (Original Score) - Victor Young
Gone with the Wind
14 Nominations, 9 WinsActor - Clark Gable in "Gone with the Wind"
Special Effects - John R. Cosgrove, Fred Albin, Arthur Johns
Music (Original Score) - Max Steiner
Actress in a Supporting Role - Olivia de Havilland in "Gone with the Wind"
Sound Recording - Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director
* Cinematography (Color) - Ernest Haller, Ray Rennahan
* Film Editing - Hal C. Kern, James E. Newcom
* Actress in a Supporting Role - Hattie McDaniel in "Gone with the Wind"
* Art Direction - Lyle Wheeler
* Outstanding Production - Selznick International Pictures
* Writing (Screenplay) - Sidney Howard
* Special Award - Special Award
* Directing - Victor Fleming
* Actress - Vivien Leigh in "Gone with the Wind"
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
7 Nominations, 1 WinFilm Editing - Charles Frend
Sound Recording - Denham Studio Sound Department, A. W. Watkins, Sound Director
Actress - Greer Garson in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips"
Outstanding Production - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Writing (Screenplay) - R. C. Sherriff, Claudine West, Eric Maschwitz
Directing - Sam Wood
* Actor - Robert Donat in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips"
The Great Victor Herbert
2 NominationsSound Recording - Paramount Studio Sound Department, Loren L. Ryder, Sound Director
Music (Scoring) - Phil Boutelje, Arthur Lange
Gulliver's Travels
2 NominationsMusic (Song) - Faithful Forever in "Gulliver's Travels" Music by Ralph Rainger; Lyrics by Leo Robin
Music (Original Score) - Victor Young
H
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
2 NominationsMusic (Scoring) - Alfred Newman
Sound Recording - RKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Aalberg, Sound Director
I
Information Please
1 NominationShort Subject (One-reel) - RKO Radio
Intermezzo
1 NominationMusic (Scoring) - Lou Forbes
J
Juarez
1 NominationActor in a Supporting Role - Brian Aherne in "Juarez"
L
Love Affair
6 NominationsActress - Irene Dunne in "Love Affair"
Actress in a Supporting Role - Maria Ouspenskaya in "Love Affair"
Writing (Original Story) - Mildred Cram, Leo McCarey
Outstanding Production - RKO Radio
Art Direction - Van Nest Polglase, Al Herman
Music (Song) - Wishing in "Love Affair" Music and Lyrics by Buddy de Sylva
M
The Man in the Iron Mask
1 NominationMusic (Original Score) - Lud Gluskin, Lucien Moraweck
Man of Conquest
3 NominationsArt Direction - John Victor Mackay
Sound Recording - Republic Studio Sound Department, Charles L. Lootens, Sound Director
Music (Original Score) - Victor Young
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
11 Nominations, 1 WinActor in a Supporting Role - Claude Rains in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
Outstanding Production - Columbia
Sound Recording - Columbia Studio Sound Department, John Livadary, Sound Director
Music (Scoring) - Dimitri Tiomkin
Directing - Frank Capra
Film Editing - Gene Havlick, Al Clark
Actor in a Supporting Role - Harry Carey in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
Actor - James Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"
Art Direction - Lionel Banks
Writing (Screenplay) - Sidney Buchman
* Writing (Original Story) - Lewis R. Foster
N
Ninotchka
4 NominationsWriting (Screenplay) - Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Walter Reisch
Actress - Greta Garbo in "Ninotchka"
Writing (Original Story) - Melchior Lengyel
Outstanding Production - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Nurse Edith Cavell
1 NominationMusic (Original Score) - Anthony Collins
O
Of Mice and Men
4 NominationsMusic (Scoring) - Aaron Copland
Music (Original Score) - Aaron Copland
Outstanding Production - Hal Roach (production company)
Sound Recording - Hal Roach Studio Sound Department, Elmer A. Raguse, Sound Director
Only Angels Have Wings
1 NominationSpecial Effects - Roy Davidson, Edwin C. Hahn
P
Peace on Earth
1 NominationShort Subject (Cartoon) - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Pointer
1 NominationShort Subject (Cartoon) - Walt Disney, Producer
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
5 NominationsArt Direction - Anton Grot
Special Effects - Byron Haskin, Nathan Levinson
Music (Scoring) - Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Cinematography (Color) - Sol Polito, W. Howard Greene
Sound Recording - Warner Bros. Studio Sound Department, Nathan Levinson, Sound Director
Prophet without Honor
1 NominationShort Subject (One-reel) - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
R
The Rains Came
5 Nominations, 1 WinSound Recording - 20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department, E. H. Hansen, Sound Director
Music (Original Score) - Alfred Newman
Film Editing - Barbara McLean
Art Direction - William Darling, George Dudley
* Special Effects - Fred Sersen, E. H. Hansen
S
Second Fiddle
1 NominationMusic (Song) - I Poured My Heart Into A Song in "Second Fiddle" Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
She Married a Cop
1 NominationMusic (Scoring) - Cy Feuer
Sons of Liberty
1 Win, 1 Nomination* Short Subject (Two-reel) - Warner Bros.
Stagecoach
7 Nominations, 2 WinsArt Direction - Alexander Toluboff
Cinematography (Black-and-White) - Bert Glennon
Directing - John Ford
Film Editing - Otho Lovering, Dorothy Spencer
Outstanding Production - Walter Wanger (production company)
* Music (Scoring) - Richard Hageman, Frank Harling, John Leipold, Leo Shuken
* Actor in a Supporting Role - Thomas Mitchell in "Stagecoach"
Swanee River
1 NominationMusic (Scoring) - Louis Silvers
Sword Fishing
1 NominationShort Subject (One-reel) - Warner Bros.
T
They Shall Have Music
1 NominationMusic (Scoring) - Alfred Newman
Topper Takes a Trip
1 NominationSpecial Effects - Roy Seawright
U
The Ugly Duckling
1 Win, 1 Nomination* Short Subject (Cartoon) - Walt Disney, Producer
Union Pacific
1 NominationSpecial Effects - Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings, Loren Ryder
W
Way Down South
1 NominationMusic (Scoring) - Victor Young
When Tomorrow Comes
1 Win, 1 Nomination* Sound Recording - Universal Studio Sound Department, Bernard B. Brown, Sound Director
The Wizard of Oz
5 Nominations, 2 WinsSpecial Effects - A. Arnold Gillespie, Douglas Shearer
Art Direction - Cedric Gibbons, William A. Horning
Outstanding Production - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
* Music (Original Score) - Herbert Stothart
* Music (Song) - Over The Rainbow in "The Wizard of Oz" Music by Harold Arlen; Lyrics by E. Y. Harburg
Wuthering Heights
8 Nominations, 1 WinMusic (Original Score) - Alfred Newman
Writing (Screenplay) - Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht
Actress in a Supporting Role - Geraldine Fitzgerald in "Wuthering Heights"
Art Direction - James Basevi
Actor - Laurence Olivier in "Wuthering Heights"
Outstanding Production - Samuel Goldwyn Productions
Directing - William Wyler
* Cinematography (Black-and-White) - Gregg Toland
Y
Young Mr. Lincoln
1 NominationWriting (Original Story) - Lamar Trotti