1941 (14th Annual Awards)
Nominations and Winners
Listed below are the Academy Award nominations and winners for the year 1941. The symbol appears next to the winner in each category. Click on the name of a film, person or song in the list to display more information about that film, person or song. Or, click on a year in the column on the right to display the nominations and winners from that year.
Outstanding Motion Picture
Blossoms in the Dust, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Citizen Kane, Mercury; RKO Radio.
Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Columbia.
Hold Back the Dawn, Paramount.
How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox.
The Little Foxes, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio.
The Maltese Falcon, Warner Bros.
One Foot in Heaven, Warner Bros.
Sergeant York, Warner Bros.
Suspicion, RKO Radio.
Best Actor
Gary Cooper in Sergeant York, Warner Bros.
Cary Grant in Penny Serenade, Columbia.
Walter Huston in All That Money Can Buy, William Dieterle; RKO Radio.
Robert Montgomery in Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Columbia.
Orson Welles in Citizen Kane, Mercury; RKO Radio.
Best Actress
Bette Davis in The Little Foxes, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio.
Olivia de Havilland in Hold Back the Dawn, Paramount.
Joan Fontaine in Suspicion, RKO Radio.
Greer Garson in Blossoms in the Dust, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Barbara Stanwyck in Ball of Fire, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio.
Actor in a Supporting Role
Walter Brennan in Sergeant York, Warner Bros.
Charles Coburn in The Devil and Miss Jones, Ross-Krasna; RKO Radio.
Donald Crisp in How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox.
James Gleason in Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Columbia.
Sydney Greenstreet in The Maltese Falcon, Warner Bros.
Actress in a Supporting Role
Sara Allgood in How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox.
Mary Astor in The Great Lie, Warner Bros.
Patricia Collinge in The Little Foxes, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio.
Teresa Wright in The Little Foxes, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio.
Margaret Wycherly in Sergeant York, Warner Bros.
Directing
Citizen Kane, Mercury; RKO Radio. Orson Welles.
Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Columbia. Alexander Hall.
How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox. John Ford.
The Little Foxes, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio. William Wyler.
Sergeant York, Warner Bros. Howard Hawks.
Art Direction-Interior Decoration
(Black-and-White)
Citizen Kane, Mercury; RKO Radio. Art direction by Perry Ferguson and Van Nest Polglase; interior decoration by Al Fields and Darrell Silvera.
The Flame of New Orleans, Universal. Art direction by Martin Obzina and Jack Otterson; interior decoration by Russell A. Gausman.
Hold Back the Dawn, Paramount. Art direction by Hans Dreier and Robert Usher; interior decoration by Sam Comer.
How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox. Art direction by Richard Day and Nathan Juran; interior decoration by Thomas Little.
Ladies in Retirement, Cowan-Miller; Columbia. Art direction by Lionel Banks; interior decoration by George Montgomery.
The Little Foxes, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio. Art direction by Stephen Goosson; interior decoration by Howard Bristol.
Sis Hopkins, Republic. [Nomination withdrawn by Republic Studios.]
The Son of Monte Cristo, Edward Small; United Artists. Art direction by John DuCasse Schulze; interior decoration by Edward G. Boyle.
Sundown, Walter Wanger; United Artists. Art direction by Alexander Golitzen; interior decoration by Richard Irvine.
That Hamilton Woman, Alexander Korda; United Artists. (UK, USA) Art direction by Vincent Korda; interior decoration by Julia Heron.
When Ladies Meet, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Art direction by Cedric Gibbons and Randall Duell; interior decoration by Edwin B. Willis.
(Color)
Blood and Sand, 20th Century-Fox. Art direction by Richard Day and Joseph C. Wright; interior decoration by Thomas Little.
Blossoms in the Dust, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Art direction by Cedric Gibbons and Urie McCleary; interior decoration by Edwin B. Willis.
Louisiana Purchase, Paramount. Art direction by Raoul Pene du Bois; interior decoration by Stephen A. Seymour.
Cinematography
(Black-and-White)
The Chocolate Soldier, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Karl Freund.
Citizen Kane, Mercury; RKO Radio. Gregg Toland.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Joseph Ruttenberg.
Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Columbia. Joseph Walker.
Hold Back the Dawn, Paramount. Leo Tover.
How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox. Arthur Miller.
Sergeant York, Warner Bros. Sol Polito.
Sun Valley Serenade, 20th Century-Fox. Edward Cronjager.
Sundown, Walter Wanger; United Artists. Charles Lang.
That Hamilton Woman, Alexander Korda; United Artists. (UK, USA) Rudolph Maté.
(Color)
Dive Bomber, Warner Bros. Bert Glennon.
Documentary
(Short Subject)
Adventures in the Bronx, Film Associates.
Bomber, United States Office for Emergency Management Film Unit; Motion Picture Committee Cooperating for National Defense.
Christmas Under Fire, British Ministry of Information; Warner Bros. (UK)
Churchill’s Island, National Film Board of Canada; United Artists. (Canada)
Letter from Home, British Ministry of Information; United Artists. (UK)
Life of a Thoroughbred, Truman Talley; 20th Century-Fox. Truman Talley, Producer.
Norway in Revolt, March of Time; RKO Radio.
A Place to Live, Philadelphia Housing Authority; Philadelphia Housing Association.
Russian Soil, Amkino.
Soldiers of the Sky, Truman Talley; 20th Century-Fox. Truman Talley, Producer.
War Clouds in the Pacific, National Film Board of Canada; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. (Canada)
NOTE: Documentary was a new category in 1941. No features were nominated this year.
Film Editing
Citizen Kane, Mercury; RKO Radio. Robert Wise.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Harold F. Kress.
How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox. James B. Clark.
The Little Foxes, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio. Daniel Mandell.
Sergeant York, Warner Bros. William Holmes.
Music
(Music Score of a Dramatic Picture)
All That Money Can Buy, William Dieterle; RKO Radio. Bernard Herrmann.
Back Street, Universal. Frank Skinner.
Ball of Fire, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio. Alfred Newman.
Cheers for Miss Bishop, Richard Rowland; United Artists. Edward Ward.
Citizen Kane, Mercury; RKO Radio. Bernard Herrmann.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Franz Waxman.
Hold Back the Dawn, Paramount. Victor Young.
How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox. Alfred Newman.
King of the Zombies, Monogram. Edward Kay.
The Little Foxes, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio. Meredith Willson.
Lydia, Alexander Korda; United Artists. Miklos Rozsa.
Sergeant York, Warner Bros. Max Steiner.
So Ends Our Night, Loew-Lewin; United Artists. Louis Gruenberg.
Sundown, Walter Wanger; United Artists. Miklos Rozsa.
Suspicion, RKO Radio. Franz Waxman.
Tanks a Million, Hal Roach; United Artists. Edward Ward.
That Uncertain Feeling, Ernst Lubitsch; United Artists. Werner Heymann.
This Woman Is Mine, Frank Lloyd; Universal. Richard Hageman.
(Scoring of a Musical Picture)
All-American Co-Ed, Hal Roach; United Artists. Edward Ward.
Birth of the Blues, Paramount. Robert Emmett Dolan.
Buck Privates, Universal. Charles Previn.
Ice-Capades, Republic. Cy Feuer.
The Strawberry Blonde, Warner Bros. Heinz Roemheld.
Sun Valley Serenade, 20th Century-Fox. Emil Newman.
Sunny, Wilcox; RKO Radio. Anthony Collins.
You’ll Never Get Rich, Columbia. Morris Stoloff.
(Song)
Baby Mine from Dumbo, Walt Disney Productions; RKO Radio. Music by Frank Churchill; lyrics by Ned Washington.
Blues in the Night from Blues in the Night, Warner Bros. Music by Harold Arlen; lyrics by Johnny Mercer.
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B from Buck Privates, Universal. Music by Hugh Prince; lyrics by Don Raye.
Chattanooga Choo Choo from Sun Valley Serenade, 20th Century-Fox. Music by Harry Warren; lyrics by Mack Gordon.
The Last Time I Saw Paris from Lady Be Good, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Music by Jerome Kern; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.
Out of the Silence from All-American Co-Ed, Hal Roach; United Artists. Music and lyrics by Lloyd B. Norlind.
Since I Kissed My Baby Goodbye from You’ll Never Get Rich, Columbia. Music and lyrics by Cole Porter.
Short Subjects
(Cartoons)
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B, Walter Lantz Productions; Universal. Walter Lantz, Producer.
Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt, Leon Schlesinger; Warner Bros. [Merrie Melodies Series] Leon Schlesinger, Producer.
How War Came, Columbia. [Raymond Gram Swing Series]
Lend a Paw, Walt Disney Productions; RKO Radio. [Mickey Mouse Series] Walt Disney, Producer.
The Night Before Christmas, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. [Tom and Jerry Series]
Rhapsody in Rivets, Leon Schlesinger; Warner Bros. [Merrie Melodies Series] Leon Schlesinger, Producer.
Rhythm in the Ranks, George Pal Productions; Paramount. [George Pal Puppetoon Series] George Pal, Producer.
The Rookie Bear, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. [Bear Series]
Superman, Max Fleischer; Paramount. [Superman Series #1] Max Fleischer, Producer.
Truant Officer Donald, Walt Disney Productions; RKO Radio. [Donald Duck Series] Walt Disney, Producer.
(One-reel)
Army Champions, Pete Smith; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. [Pete Smith Specialties series] Pete Smith, Producer.
Beauty and the Beach, Paramount. [Headliner Series]
Down on the Farm, Paramount. [Speaking of Animals Series]
Forty Boys and a Song, Warner Bros. [Melody Master series]
Kings of the Turf, Warner Bros. [Color Parade Series]
Of Pups and Puzzles, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. [Passing Parade Series]
Sagebrush and Silver, 20th Century-Fox. [Magic Carpet Series]
(Two-reel)
Alive in the Deep, Woodard Productions, Inc.
Forbidden Passage, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. [Crime Doesn’t Pay Series]
The Gay Parisian, Warner Bros. [Miniature Featurette Series]
Main Street on the March!, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. [Two-reel Special Series]
The Tanks Are Coming, United States Army; Motion Picture Committee Cooperating for National Defense-Warner Bros. [National Defense Series]
Sound Recording
Appointment for Love, Universal. Universal Studio Sound Department, Bernard B. Brown, Sound Director.
Ball of Fire, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio. Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director.
The Chocolate Soldier, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director.
How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox. 20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department, E. H. Hansen, Sound Director.
The Men in Her Life, Gregory Ratoff; Columbia. Columbia Studio Sound Department, John Livadary, Sound Director.
That Hamilton Woman, Alexander Korda; United Artists. (UK, USA) General Service Sound Department, Jack Whitney, Sound Director.
Topper Returns, Hal Roach; United Artists. Hal Roach Studio Sound Department, Elmer Raguse, Sound Director.
Special Effects
Aloma of the South Seas, Paramount. Photographic effects by Farciot Edouart and Gordon Jennings; sound effects by Louis Mesenkop.
Flight Command, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Photographic effects by A. Arnold Gillespie; sound effects by Douglas Shearer.
I Wanted Wings, Paramount. Photographic effects by Farciot Edouart and Gordon Jennings; sound effects by Louis Mesenkop.
The Sea Wolf, Warner Bros. Photographic effects by Byron Haskin; sound effects by Nathan Levinson. [NOTE: Not originally one of the nominees announced on February 9, 1942. Dive Bomber, another Warner Bros. production, was on the list, but sometime between the 10th and 19th of February, the Dive Bomber nomination was replaced by The Sea Wolf, with the same people mentioned for the achievement. There is no explanation in the files as to why the replacement was made.]
That Hamilton Woman, Alexander Korda; United Artists. (UK, USA) Photographic effects by Lawrence Butler; sound effects by William H. Wilmarth.
Topper Returns, Hal Roach; United Artists. Photographic effects by Roy Seawright; sound effects by Elmer Raguse.
A Yank in the R.A.F., 20th Century-Fox. Photographic effects by Fred Sersen; sound effects by E. H. Hansen.
Dive Bomber, Warner Bros. [NOTE: Originally announced as a nominee on February 9, 1942, but sometime between the 10th and the 19th of February, this title was dropped and replaced by another Warner Bros. production, The Sea Wolf, with the same people credited for the nomination. There is no explanation in the files as to why the replacement was made.]
Writing
(Original Screenplay)
The Devil and Miss Jones, Ross-Krasna; RKO Radio. Norman Krasna.
Tom, Dick and Harry, RKO Radio. Paul Jarrico.
(Original Story)
Here Comes Mr. Jordan, Columbia. Harry Segall.
The Lady Eve, Paramount. Monckton Hoffe.
Night Train, 20th Century-Fox. (UK) Gordon Wellesley.
(Screenplay)
How Green Was My Valley, 20th Century-Fox. Philip Dunne.
The Little Foxes, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio. Lillian Hellman.
The Maltese Falcon, Warner Bros. John Huston.
Special Award
To Rey Scott for his extraordinary achievement in producing Kukan, the film record of China’s struggle, including its photography with a 16mm camera under the most difficult and dangerous conditions. [ [Certificate]]
To The British Ministry of Information for its vivid and dramatic presentation of the heroism of the RAF in the documentary film Target for Tonight. [ [Certificate]]
To Leopold Stokowski and his associates for their unique achievement in the creation of a new form of visualized music in Walt Disney’s production, Fantasia, thereby widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as an art form. [ [Certificate]]
To Walt Disney, William Garity, John N. A. Hawkins and the RCA Manufacturing Company for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of Fantasia. [ [Certificate]]
Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
Scientific or Technical Award
(Class II)
To Electrical Research Products Division of Western Electric Co., Inc., for the development of the precision integrating sphere densitometer.
To RCA Manufacturing Company for the design and development of the MI-3043 Uni-directional microphone.
(Class III)
To Ray Wilkinson and the Paramount Studio Laboratory for pioneering in the use of and for the first practical application to release printing of fine grain positive stock.
To Charles Lootens and the Republic Studio Sound Department for pioneering the use of and for the first practical application to motion picture production of CLASS B push-pull variable area recording.
To Wilbur Silvertooth and the Paramount Studio Engineering Department for the design and computation of a relay condenser system applicable to transparency process projection, delivering considerably more usable light.
To Paramount Pictures, Inc. and 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. for the development and first practical application to motion picture production of an automatic scene slating device.
To Douglas Shearer and the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, and to Loren Ryder and the Paramount Studio Sound Department for pioneering the development of fine grain emulsions for variable density original sound recording in studio production.