Most filmmakers can solely dream of profitable an Oscar, while different gifted trade greats have notably received greater than as soon as. One American Movie producer and screenwriter particularly is remembered for the spectacular achievement of profitable Greatest Image on the Oscars for 2 consecutive years. David O. Selznick is remembered for producing each Victor Fleming’s Gone with the Wind (1939) and Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (1940). As such, he received the Academy Award for Greatest Image two years in a row. He stays the one individual to have achieved this nice feat.

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Notably when David O. Selznick received his awards, the prize wasn’t referred to as Greatest Image. Within the a long time main as much as Selznick’s win, the award had undergone quite a few identify modifications, in order that the accolades he received in 1940 and 1941 had been entitled Academy Award for Excellent Manufacturing, which later turned the Greatest Image prize. One other distinction with immediately’s winners of this prize is that on the time the award was attributed to the studio who made the movie, and never a person producer. On this case, the trophies went to Selznick Worldwide Footage. This rule was solely altered in 1950 to permit particular person individuals to be given the award.

David O. Selznick’s Profession Was Outlined by Academy Award Wins

Selznick, who died in 1965, is remembered most persistently for Gone with the Wind, directed by Victor Fleming, and primarily based on the 1936 novel of the identical title by Margaret Mitchell. The historic romance set in opposition to the backdrop of the American Civil Warfare follows the story of strong-willed Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) as she falls for Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) and subsequently marries Rhett Butler (Clark Gable).

The movie was an enormous field workplace success, and in the end received eight Oscars and two honorary accolades on the 1940 Academy Awards. The movie beat quite a few memorable rivals to safe the award, the place its fellow nominees within the “Excellent Manufacturing” class included The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Wuthering Heights (1939).

‘Gone with the Wind’ Endures, However With A Difficult Legacy

A part of the film’s success is a credit score to Mitchell’s well-liked e-book; Gone with the Wind remained extremely trustworthy to its supply materials. It’s remembered as a movie that represents the peak of Hollywood cinema, that includes a headstrong heroine that fashionable viewers can nonetheless relate to. As we speak the movie can be acknowledged for its racist ties, each when it comes to portrayal of African American characters, and when it comes to how Hattie McDaniel was handled, though she received the Greatest Supporting Actress Oscar for her position as Mammy. McDaniel couldn’t attend the film’s premiere resulting from segregation legal guidelines, and was seated at a segregated desk in the course of the award ceremony. This aspect of the film’s legacy undoubtedly casts a protracted shadow over the movie’s success on the Academy Awards.

‘Rebecca’ Assured Selznick’s Fame As a Traditional Film Legend

Selznick’s subsequent award-winning manufacturing was Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca, which starred Joan Fontaine because the naive Mrs. de Winter, and Laurence Olivier because the good-looking however secretive Maxim de Winter. Mrs. de Winter arrives on the home of her new husband solely to search out that it’s nonetheless haunted by his deceased spouse Rebecca, and her housekeeper Mrs. Danvers (Judith Anderson).

This black and white masterpiece expertly pivots from a story of contemporary romance to a thriller tinged by violence, ardour and villainy. Tailored from Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 gothic novel of the identical title, this film additional illustrates Selznick’s expertise for working with well-liked literature and reworking it right into a memorable onscreen success.

The film acquired quite a few Oscar nominations on the 1941 Academy Awards, profitable two on the evening, together with the Greatest Image prize. Rebecca triumphed on this main class over a number of equally memorable basic movies, together with The Grapes of Wrath (1940) and The Philadelphia Story (1940).

The Star-Studded Profession Of A Hollywood Legend

Selznick’s profession was outlined by these key photos, in addition to a number of different celebrated melodramas similar to Dinner at Eight (1933) and A Star Is Born (1937). He was additionally well-versed at adapting literary classics earlier than the success of Rebecca and Gone with the Wind. These included David Copperfield, Anna Karenina and A Story of Two Cities, all of which had been launched in 1935.

His success at adapting these well-known literary masterpieces maybe got here right down to a famed consideration to element and perfectionism. Selznick was acknowledged in Hollywood for these qualities, which at occasions led to disagreements with administrators and difficulties on set. He was identified for writing copious memos to actors and filmmakers on set along with his instructions about how issues must be accomplished, which he would dictate to assistants to be handed out at his bequests. At one stage in the course of the filming of Gone with the Wind, it’s mentioned that Selznick despatched an prolonged listing of notes to star Vivien Leigh, the place it took her all of 10 days to answer to every of his factors.

Successive Oscar Wins Are Very Uncommon

Selznick’s brilliance as a spectacular movie producer can’t be overstated, the place his blockbusters helped to form the golden age of Hollywood. His achievement of profitable Academy Awards in successive years is a uncommon one, the place actors and filmmakers are likely to require relaxation or timeout between their biggest hits. The one stars to have received the accolade for Greatest Actor in successive years are Spencer Tracy and Tom Hanks. Tracy did this in 1937 and 1938, while Hanks pulled it off extra not too long ago between 1993 and 1994.

Finally the achievements of David O. Selznick will all the time endure within the cultural reminiscence, the place a lot of his award-winning films are nonetheless watched and loved by audiences a long time after their preliminary launch. This goes to point out that the attributing of awards by the Academy can have a long-lasting affect on a movie’s legacy, the place a Greatest Image win offers an everlasting highlight to the films on which it’s bestowed.