And the Oscar Goes to... (1945) Quiz

Answer: John Cromwell

John Cromwell (born Elwood Dager Cromwell) began his acting career in 1905 after graduating from high school, and made his first appearance on Broadway in 1912. Over the next decade he gradually made the move to directing, and in 1928 moved to Hollywood where his first foray into the film industry had to do with helping the transition from silent films to 'talkies'. By the time 1945 and the Academy Awards came around, he had established himself as a successful movie director, as well.

Bob Hope, of course, was already a well-known feature at the Oscars. This year, however, the popular and versatile entertainer received a special Academy Honorary Award 'for his many services to the Academy'.

Answer: Blue Network

The Blue Network (est. 1927) was originally owned by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), then became independent in the early 1942. It was the immediate predecessor of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), and in the Oscars broadcast was described as "The Blue Network of the American Broadcasting Company".

The broadcast was introduced by George Fisher, and 'motion picture commentator' Barry Twiss described the various movie clips being shown at the ceremony. The broadcast was 70 minutes in length.

Answer: Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (1903-1977) was a singer, comedian and actor from Washington (state) who became one of the most popular entertainers of his generation. He started out performing in his local Spokane as a singer, but decided, at the age of 25, to try his luck in Los Angeles. His career was truly launched when he co-founded 'The Rhythm Boys', a vocal group consisting of Harry Barris, Al Rinker, and of course Crosby.

Crosby's first foray into the film industry came with 'The Rhythm Boys' as they appeared in the 1930 film "King of Jazz", and while he continued to appear in films from that point on, he was still very much focused on his career as a singer. His first starring role in a feature film was in 1932's "The Big Broadcast", and by the time "Going My Way" came along, he was firmly established in both the music and film industry as an audience favourite.

In "Going My Way", Crosby played Father Charles "Chuck" O'Malley, a young priest who has been sent from his church in St. Louis to St. Dominic's Church in New York City, with the intent that he would take over the parish from the ageing Father Fitzgibbon. Not wanting to hurt Fitzgibbons' feelings, he claims to just be an assistant, which ultimately leads to a conflict to be resolved later.

Answer: Father Fitzgibbon in "Going My Way"

Barry Fitzgerald (born William Joseph Shields) (1888-1961) was an Irish actor who got his start in stage productions part time while working as a clerk with the civil service. He would not pursue acting as a full-time career until the age of 41, making his film debut in "Juno and the Peacock" in 1930.

In the early 1930s, Fitzgerald had the opportunity to tour in the United States with the Abbey Theatre players doing various shows, and this eventually led to a move to Hollywood in 1936. Fitzgerald's greatest success came with "Going My Way" and garnered him his only Oscar nominations, for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for the same role in the same film. (Since this occurrence, the Academy changed the rules so it couldn't happen again.) He lost out to his costar Bing Crosby for Best Actor, but still walked away with the statuette for Best Supporting Actor.

In "Going My Way", Fitzgerald played the elderly Father Fitzgibbon, who had been the parish priest at St. Dominic's Church in New York City for 45 years before the arrival of the much younger Father O'Malley (Bing Crosby). Unbeknownst to him, the diocese intends for O'Malley to take over the parish, which causes some friction between the two priests.

Answer: Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982) was a Swedish actress who was best known for her role in "Casablanca" (1942), even though she did not earn any Oscar recognition for it (her Oscar for "Gaslight" was her first of three Oscar wins amidst seven nominations).

Bergman got her start in acting with her enrolment in the Royal Dramatic Theatre School, which launched her film career in Sweden after just one year, prompting her to drop out of the school. In 1939, at the invitation of American film producer David O. Selznick, Bergman came to Hollywood and began what would become a stellar career in American film. "Casablanca" aside, it was her first colour film "For Whom the Bell Tolls" that would provide her first Oscar nomination.

In the psychological thriller "Gaslight", Bergman played the role of Paula Alquist Anton, a young opera singer who marries Gregory Anton (played by Charles Boyer) and moves into the home of her former aunt (who was murdered when Paula was a child - she interrupted the burglar before he could take all the valuables). Strange occurrences surround them, and Gregory makes Paula believe that it is all in her mind, convincing her that she is going insane. What she doesn't know is that Gregory is the same man who killed her aunt Alice, trying to finish the job he started.

"Gaslight" was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning one other in addition to "Best Actress".

Answer: Ethel Barrymore

Ethel Barrymore (b. Ethel Mae Blythe) (1879-1959) was an actress as well as a part of the Barrymore family of actors that included parents Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew, and siblings John and Lionel (and later included her nephew John Drew Barrymore and great-niece Drew Barrymore).

Ethel's career began as a teenager with her first appearance in the Broadway play "The Imprudent Young Couple" in 1895. She continued exclusively in theatre for nearly 20 years before making her first appearance on the silver screen with 1914's "The Nightingale". She continued to focus on her Broadway career, but acted in 15 silent movies over the next five years.

Her greatest film success came with her first Oscar nomination and win for "None But the Lonely Heart". She would receive three more nominations in her career, but no other wins. Her last film was 1957's "Johnny Trouble".

In the romantic film "None But the Lonely Heart", Barrymore played Ma Mott, mother to Carey Grant's main character Ernie Mott. Her diagnosis with cancer affects his dreams of a better life, as he decides to stay home and help her and her shop.

"None But the Lonely Heart" earned four Oscar nominations, but this was its only win.

Answer: Wilson

Lamar Trotti (1900-1952) wrote the original screenplay for President Woodrow Wilson's story, beginning three years before he took office, until he passed the reins to Warren G. Harding. Woodrow Wilson was portrayed by Alexander Knox.

"Wilson" received ten Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won five of them. The other four winning categories were Best Art Direction (Interior Decorating, Color), Best Cinematography (Color), Best Film Editing, and Best Sound (Recording).

Trotti was previously nominated for Best Original Screenplay for another presidential story - 1939's "Young Mr. Lincoln", which starred Henry Fonda.

Answer: Going My Way

Thomas Leo McCarey (1898-1969) was a screenwriter, director and producer who almost didn't go into the entertainment industry, having started out by pursuing a law degree. But his creative (and humourous) writing skills were noticed by a friend who had the right connections, and McCarey started writing for Hal Roach Studios. Opportunities to direct short comedies led to bigger projects, and before too long, McCarey was one of the biggest names in the business.

Not only did Frank Butler and Frank Cavett win the Oscar for adapting McCarey's story "Going My Way", McCarey also took home the Oscar for Best Writing (Original Story) for his creation. It was based on the experiences of his aunt, Sister Mary Benedict. Before this win, McCarey had previously been nominated for the Best Writing Oscar for 1939's "Love Affair" and 1940's "My Favorite Wife".

Answer: Leo McCarey for "Going My Way"

We've already looked at Leo McCarey's background as a writer, so looking at the other side...

With the advent of talkies, McCarey's focus on comedy-writing and directing shorts shifted to feature-length films. After achieving success with comedies (such as the previously mentioned "The Awful Truth" Oscar win), he turned to more serious films. "Going My Way" was almost a transition piece, being a musical comedy-drama.

McCarey would go on to receive an additional five Oscar nominations in later years, for Best Writing (Original Story), Best Director, and Best Music (Song), although he did not win for any of them.

Answer: Going My Way

"Going My Way" was the biggest box office draw of 1944 and served as a vehicle for Bing Crosby songs, as well (three original songs composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke). "Swinging on a Star" won the Oscar for Best Song (as mentioned), and topped the Billboard chart for nine weeks.

Altogether, "Going My Way" garnered ten Oscar nominations, winning seven of them.

Bing Crosby (and writer/director Leo McCarey) would get a second opportunity to bring Father O'Malley to the screen with the sequel "The Bells of St. Mary's" in December of 1945.