To be perfectly honest, most of the single nominees make sense. The thing that was nominated is the thing that should've been. Here are a few movies that surprised me to see there was only one nomination or the nomination was dead wrong.
The Public Enemy
Year: 1931
What Was Nominated: Original Story
What Could've Been Nominated: Lead Actor
Sure, the story was fine, but the only thing anyone still remembers about the movie is James Cagney or maybe Jean Harlow (Supporting Actress).
Bride of Frankenstein
Year: 1935
What Was Nominated: Sound
What Could've Been Nominated: Picture
Bride of Frankenstein is widely considered a horror classic. In a year that had a whopping 12 Best Picture nominees, you'd think they could make some room for this.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Year: 1937
What Was Nominated: Score
What Could've Been Nominated: Picture
With a Best Picture nomination here, the Academy could've set a precedent that animated features should be taken as seriously as live-action. Alas, all they could fit in was a token Score nomination and an animated film wouldn't get a Best Picture nomination for another 54 years when Beauty and the Best did it in 1991.
The Grand Illusion
Year: 1938
What Was Nominated: Picture
What Could've Been Nominated: Anything
It's hard to see how a classic like The Grand Illusion could pull off a Best Picture nomination and nothing else.
Victory Through Air Power
Year: 1943
What Was Nominated: Score
What Could've Been Nominated: Documentary Feature
It's strange whenever a documentary gets only one Oscar nomination and it isn't for the Documentary Feature award.
Rashomon
Year: 1952
What Was Nominated: Art Direction - Black and White
What Could've Been Nominated: Story and/or Screenplay, Editing
Has anyone ever begun a discussion about Rashomon by talking about the Art Direction? No. It's the story-telling device that gets all the attention. That points back to the screenplay and editing.
The 400 Blows
Year: 1959
What Was Nominated: Original Screenplay
What Could've Been Nominated: Foreign Film
They had a Foreign Film award back in 1959, didn't they? To be fair, France's submission that year, Black Orpheus, did win that Oscar.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Year: 1962
What Was Nominated: Costume Design - Black and White
What Could've Been Nominated: Lead Actor, Screenplay
You're telling me that neither John Wayne nor Jimmy Stewart could pull off an Oscar nomination for this? In its defense, Edith Head is the Meryl Streep of Costume Design, so who am I to deprive her of a nomination?
Goldfinger
Year: 1964
What Was Nominated: Sound Effects
What Could've Been Nominated: Song
It would be too much to ask for a Lead Actor nomination for Sean Connery in the iconic role. How about a nomination for the Goldfinger theme song? Sure, at least one slot that year needed to go to a Mary Poppins song (Side thought: How did only one Mary Poppins song get nominated?). The rest of the Original Song nominees weren't a murderers row.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
Year: 1971
What Was Nominated: Original Score
What Could've Been Nominated: Lead Actor
There's a lot of things that could've been nominated from this film. The Production Design is great. Same goes for the costuming. Was "Pure Imagination" an original song? If so, where's that nomination? The Lead Actor field in 1971 was pretty strong and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory isn't the kind of movie you'd expect to get Oscar attention. Gene Wilder is so damn good though, that they should've made room.
Saturday Night Fever
Year: 1977
What Was Nominated: Lead Actor
What Could've Been Nominated: Sound, Song, Score
Sure, John Travolta is terrific, but how is a movie that's this tied to the music otherwise shut out at the Oscars? However, according to Wikipedia, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack is the 7th highest selling album of all time in the US. Where's the love?
9 to 5
Year: 1980
What Was Nominated: Original Song
What Could've Been Nominated: Lead or Supporting Actress
Sure, that theme song needs some love. But, this is the same year that Goldie Hawn and Eileen Brennan got nominations for their work in Private Benjamin. Their work is no more serious than what Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin did in 9 to 5.
Beverly Hills Cop
Year: 1984
What Was Nominated: Original Screenplay
What Could've Been Nominated: Eddie Murphy
You'll notice a trend to my picks. It's normally missed calls about acting awards. That's because hindsight is so useful for that. At the time, I'm sure that Beverly Hills Cop was seen as some popular comedy of no significance. That's probably somewhat true, but Murphy's work sure as hell hold up.
Stand by Me
Year: 1986
What Was Nominated: Adapted Screenplay
What Could've Been Nominated: Lead or Supporting Actor, Picture
If it only got one nomination, screenplay is the correct pick. This should've been River Phoenix's Oscar coronation or, you know what, Wil Wheaton pulling off a nomination wouldn't've been crazy. Hell, I even love the movie so much that a Best Picture nomination should've been in the discussion.
The Princess Bride
Year: 1987
What Was Nominated: Original Song
What Could've Been Nominated: Anything
This is a film that almost defies classification. I imagine that Oscar voters in any year wouldn't've known what to do with it. Perhaps the "mistake" was acknowledging it at all with an Original Song nomination. Since they opened the door though, a Screenplay nomination is the very least they could've given it. I would've picked it to win the award over the bloated The Last Emperor script that actually won. Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin would've been worthy nominees. I'd petition for Peter Falk even. Costume Design, Production Design, and Film Editing too. It's annoying that The Princess Bride would've never have been an Oscar player in any era.
Cinema Paradiso
Year: 1989
What Was Nominated: Foreign Film
What Could've Been Nominated: Lead Actor, Director
This film was nominated for approximately all the BAFTAs that year. If the Academy was't so implicitly xenophobic, Cinema Paradiso would've had a boatload of nominations.
Glengarry Glen Ross
Year: 1992
What Was Nominated: Supporting Actor
What Could've Been Nominated: Adapted Screenplay
Does anyone else find it weird that David Mamet has fewer Oscar nominations than Aaron Sorkin and no wins?
My Cousin Vinny
Year: 1992
What Was Nominated: Supporting Actress
What Could've Been Nominated: Original Screenplay, Lead or Supporting Actor
Marissa Tomei's surprise nomination and win is absolutely deserved. Over the years, I've heard a lot of people be very dismissive of this movie. They talk about it like it's a guilty pleasure. It's not. That screenplay is exceptional. It's funny (in a way that still holds up, mind you) without sacrificing anything in the court room. Joe Pesci is a delightful fish out of water. Fred Gwynne is terrifically deadpan. This is a superb movie all around, not just one great Marissa Tomei performance.
Hoop Dreams
Year: 1994
What Was Nominated: Film Editing
What Could've Been Nominated: Documentary Feature
This is one of the most infamous Oscar snubs ever. When you think about it, it's strange that documentaries aren't nominated for editing more often. I mean, what type of film requires great editing more than documentary? Alas, it is exceptionally rare. The fact that Hoop Dreams pulled off the nomination makes this all the more baffling. How did this not get the Documentary Feature nomination? How?!
Seven
Year: 1995
What Was Nominated: Film Editing
What Could've Been Nominated: Director
How the hell did it take until 2009 for David Fincher to get a Best Director nomination?
The Birdcage
Year: 1996
What Was Nominated: Art Direction
What Could've Been Nominated: Supporting Actor
Huh? Art Direction? Really? I'm going to take the SAG voters' lead here. They awarded The Birdcage the first SAG award for a film ensemble and suggests that a Supporting Actor nomination for just about anyone in this film should be on the table.
Fight Club
Year: 1999
What Was Nominated: Sound Editing
What Could've Been Nominated: Director, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, Production Design
But really, how did it take so long for David Fincher to get an Oscar nomination? In this case, throwing in nominations for Ed Norton or Brad Pitt would make sense as well.
Check back tomorrow for the 2000s.
What Was Nominated: Sound Editing
What Could've Been Nominated: Director, Lead Actor, Supporting Actor, Production Design
But really, how did it take so long for David Fincher to get an Oscar nomination? In this case, throwing in nominations for Ed Norton or Brad Pitt would make sense as well.
Check back tomorrow for the 2000s.
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