And the Oscar Goes to... (1940) Quiz

Answer: Bob Hope

Bob Hope (1903-2003) was born with the name Leslie Townes Hope in London. His family emigrated to the United States in 1908, settling in Cleveland, Ohio. Hope began his show biz career as a dancer in various comedy routines, until he made the move into the Vaudeville circuit with a troupe called Hurley's Jolly Follies. That was in 1925. In 1929, he changed his name to Bob and by the mid-1930s he had moved into radio and film.

By the time Bob Hope was chosen to host the 1940 Academy Awards, he had made a name for himself in a number of films. His first Hollywood production was "The Big Broadcast of 1938" with W.C. Fields. This film also featured Hope's signature song "Thanks for the Memory".

For its 12th iteration, the Academy Awards moved to the Coconut Grove at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles (it had been hosted at the Biltmore Hotel for the previous six years).

Answer: Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Robert Donat (1932-1958) was nominated for Best Actor the previous year (for "The Citadel"), but lost out to Spencer Tracy. He was able to redeem himself with his second (and only other) nomination.

"Goodbye, Mr. Chips" is based on the 1934 novel of the same name by James Hilton. Donat played the part of Charles Edward Chipping, a schoolteacher at the fictional Brookfield Public School in England. The film begins with Mr. Chipping (Chips) at the age of 83, home with a cold and dreaming about his life and career. The growth of the character from the ridiculed young disciplinarian at age 25 to the respected and revered retiring headmaster makes for a sentimental story, especially given the bittersweet love story between Chipping and Kathy Ellis (played by Greer Garson); their romance and subsequent marriage is cut short when Kathy dies during childbirth. It is her influence in his life that helps transform him to be a better teacher and person.

The film was directed by Sam Wood and received seven Oscar nominations, five of which were 'the Big Five' (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Picture).

Answer: Thomas Mitchell

This was Thomas Mitchell's (1892-1962) second time being nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, the previous being at the 10th (1938) Academy Awards for "The Hurricane".

In "Stagecoach", Mitchell's character Doc Boone is one of a group of nine strangers travelling the stage from Tonto, Arizona Territory to Lordsburg, New Mexico Territory. Along the way the diverse group faces uncertainties (no promised cavalry escort through Apache territory, a pregnant passenger) and dangers (an attack by said Apaches, John Wayne's outlaw character the Ringo Kid), while also trying to 'get along' with each other during the trip.

"Stagecoach" was directed by John Ford, and the screenplay was written by Dudley Nichols and based on the 1937 short story "The Stage to Lordsburg" by Ernest Haycox.

Answer: False

While Greta Garbo did receive a nomination for Best Actress, it was for her role in the comedy film "Ninotchka".

It was Vivien Leigh who won for playing Scarlett O'Hara. Her portrayal definitely caught the essence of the fiery Southern belle from Margaret Mitchell's 1934 novel of the same name. O'Hara must maintain the dignity of Southern 'aristocracy' in the midst of the Civil War, while trying to maintain her household. Along the way, she must make difficult choices about love and marriage, with the two not always meshing as she hopes.

Answer: First Oscar win by an African-American.

Hattie McDaniel (1895-1952) played the part of Mammy, a house servant (slave) of the O'Hara family in the Civil War epic "Gone With the Wind". She is a devoted servant who stays with the family even after Union soldiers pillage Tara (the plantation).

McDaniel's performance received high praise from critics, with some saying that it was second only to that of Vivien Leigh's Scarlett O'Hara. On the flip side, the African-American community criticized the film and the roles portrayed by the African-American actors as stereotypical black characterizations. Dramatist Carlton Moss described Mammy's "constant haranguing and doting on every wish of Scarlett" as just such a stereotype.

Being the first African-American to win an Academy Award was a great accomplishment, but McDaniel still faced adversity in her career. One small example of this is that even though she acted in over 300 films during her lifetime, she only has 96 acting credits (numbers according to Wikipedia and IMDb).

Answer: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" was based on an unpublished story by Lewis R. Foster (1898-1974). After the death of U.S. Senator Sam Foley, (unnamed) state governor Hubert "Happy" Hopper (Guy Kibbee) has to find a replacement. Jefferson "Jeff" Smith (James Stewart) ends up being chosen by Hopper for both his wholesome image and naivete, as he believes that the young Boy Rangers leader will be easily manipulated in Washington. Claude Rains played the part of Senator Joseph Paine, who takes Mr. Smith under his wing. Soon enough, Smith becomes the victim of Paine's political machinations.

"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" was directed by Frank Capra and received 11 Oscar nominations.

Answer: Gone With the Wind

Sidney Howard's (1891-1939) Oscar for Best Screenplay was the first time an Oscar was awarded posthumously, although only the fourth time that someone was nominated posthumously. This Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and screenwriter was also nominated in previous years for 1931's "Arrowsmith" and 1936's Dodsworth.

Howard was the only recipient of a screenwriting credit for adapting Margaret Mitchell's Civil War epic "Gone With the Wind", even though there were others who revised the script. His first draft would have made for a six-hour movie, according to film historian Joanne Yeck, and Howard refused to leave his New England residence to make on-set revisions during filming.

Answer: The Wizard of Oz

"The Wizard of Oz" tells the story of young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) who runs away from her home in Kansas and then gets caught in a tornado when she comes back home. When she gets hit in the head by the window sash, she falls unconscious and 'wakes up' to find the house carried aloft by the twister. It lands in the fantastical land of Oz (turning from sepia to technicolor at this point) and Dorothy begins a journey to find the Wizard of Oz (Frank Morgan) to find her way home, prompted by the Glinda the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke), and helped along by those she meets on the way: the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley) and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr).

Herbert Stothart (1885-1949) won the Oscar for Best Score while Harold Arlen (1905-1986) and E.Y. Harburg (1896-1981) claimed the Oscar for Best Song for "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".

Answer: Victor Fleming

Victor Fleming (1889-1949) was in the middle of directing "The Wizard of Oz" when he was asked to take the directing helm of "Gone With the Wind" after George Cukor had been dismissed from the job. Sam Wood also spent some time directing the film when Fleming took a short leave because of exhaustion. All told, "Gone With the Wind" took just over five months to film, plus pre and post-production.

Fleming directed some of the most successful MGM films of the day, including "Treasure Island" (1934), "Captains Courageous" (1937) and "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), to name but a few, but this was the only Oscar he won over his career.

Along with producer David O. Selznick, Victor Fleming was able to turn Sidney Howard's adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's Civil War (and Reconstruction era) epic into one of the most popular and profitable films of all time.

Answer: Gone With the Wind

"Gone With the Wind" is a story from the perspective of rich, white Southerners during the American Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction era. It focuses on the Tara Plantation and the O'Hara family and household, and more specifically, the life and loves of Scarlett O'Hara (eldest of the O'Hara children - a young lady at the start of the film).

Scarlett is in love with Ashley Wilkes, but he is engaged to marry Melanie Hamilton, whose brother Charles proposes to Scarlett (at the engagement party). The declaration of war occurs during the party, and Scarlett and Charles are married before he has to leave to fight. Thus begins the story of a woman whose romantic fortunes rise and fall multiple times with the backdrop of war and the requirements of social standing. Will her pining for an unattainable relationship (Wilkes) prevent her from finding true love (Rhett Butler)?

Scarlett O'Hara was played by Vivien Leigh, while the other top-billed roles were filled by Clark Gable (Rhett Butler), Leslie Howard (Ashley Wilkes) and Olivia De Havilland (Melanie Hamilton).