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Why she wasn't nominated for Of Human Bondage.

posted 20 years ago by dcurry-1
9 replies | jump to latest

One of the greatest omissions in the Academy's history was Bette Davis not receiving a nomination for "Of Human Bondage".

Bette Davis accused Jack Warner of pressuring Warner Bros. employees not to vote for her. The movie was made while she was on loan to RKO. Jack Warner tried to discourage her from making the movie. He told Bette, "Mildred is a bitch & everyone will hate you."

Warner Bros. had nothing to gain from her win.RKO didn't want to push another studio's star. In 1934 The Academy was the only group giving out acting awards. The National Board of Review at that time, only awarded a Best Picture award. The New York Film Critics weren't organized until the next year. The Golden Globes until the 40.s.Maybe if she had won awards from other organizations, it would have placed her in a stronger position for a nomination.

There were only 3 nominees: Norma Shearer (The Barretts of Wimpole Street), Grace Moore (One Night of Love ) & the winner Claudette Colbert (It Happened One Night). Also missing was Myrna Loy (The Thin Man). Maybe if there had been 5 nominees (the number now), she & Myrna would have been nominated.

The Academy allowed members to cast write-ins. However it was too late, most of the ballots had already been returned. Bette did win the next year (Dangerous). However she said the award should have gone to Katherine Hepburn (Alice Adams)

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] cliffburton 19 years ago

This is one of two of my favorite performances by Bette Davis. I love the scene when she is yelling at Leslie Howard about how he disgusts her so. She was so wonderfully wicked in the film. My other favorite performance by her was when she played Regina in the film "The Little Foxes". I am a huge fan of Ms. Davis' work, but to me she was always best when she played bitches!

[–] Gregoire-2 18 years ago

Its a shame, but lets be honest -- the Oscar went to the right person that year (Claudette Colbert). Bette went on to many more successes, but It Happened One Night was Claudette's finest.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] jopeabody 18 years ago

Each rarely won it for their best performances.

[–] jeromec-2 18 years ago

I always think of Elizabeth Taylor. Imagine getting it for Butterfield 8 when the Academy could have chosen so many other great performances.

Or how about Paul Newman missing for the Hustler, probably his best performance along with Cool Hand Luke. Or my absolute favorite, Clark Gable missing for Gone with the Wind.

[–] Harold_Robbins 17 years ago

Take a look at the 3 nominated actresses (Colbert, Moore, and Shearer) and their roles, and you'll understand why Davis wasn't included. In 1934/35 it was almost unthinkable to "honor" a performance in a role such as Mildred Rogers with an Oscar nomination - by 1962/63 the tide had turned enough to honor Davis' Jane Hudson with a nomination, but it still wasn't the kind of role that took Oscar home.

"I don't use a pen: I write with a goose quill dipped in venom!"---W. Lydecker

[–] vinidici 16 years ago

Well, the important thing is that Davis really showed the stuff she was made of as Mildred in OHB. Nomination or not, everyone knew this little gal was now a package of cinematic dynamite!

[–] USAFmedicVET 10 years ago

Harold_Robbins "1934/35 it was almost unthinkable to "honor" a performance in a role such as Mildred Rogers with an Oscar nomination - by 1962/63 the tide had turned enough to honor Davis' Jane Hudson with a nomination, but it still wasn't the kind of role that took Oscar home."

It worked in 90's for Kathy Bates in "Misery", but for the most part, the bitch still doesn't get the Oscar! Unless, of course, the bitch is gay or transgender, then it's Oscar 'courageous performance of a lifetime' Glory! LOL

"We in it shall be remembered;
We few, we happy few, we Band of Brothers." ~ W.S.