A book to celebrate GWTW’s 75th Anniversary!
Leslie Howard’s portrayal of Ashley Wilkes was bypassed as a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
However, a Gone With the Wind player gained a nomination in this category but not – as some GWTW fans think – for his work in Gone With the Wind.
Thomas Mitchell, who had portrayed GWTW’s Gerald O’Hara, was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the alcoholic Doc Boone in Stagecoach. That performance was up against the following Academy Award contenders:
- Brian Aherne for his role as Mexico’s puppet ruler, Maximilian I, in Juarez
- Harry Carey for his role as President of the United States Senate in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- Brian Donlevy for his role as the brutal Sergeant Markoff in Beau Geste
- Claude Rains for his role as the seemingly kind but secretly corrupt Senator Joseph Paine in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Thomas Mitchell had a trifecta of noteworthy roles that year. In addition to performances in Gone With the Wind and Stagecoach, Mitchell had also portrayed Washington reporter “Diz” Moore in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. All of the films were Best Picture nominees for 1939.
Happy 75th Anniversary, Gone With the Wind!
Special 75th Anniversary Offer for Gone With the Wind fans: free personally inscribed, autographed bookplate for readers of The Complete GONE WITH THE WIND Trivia Book. Details here: http://paulinebartel.com/?p=1793
Blog Bio: Pauline Bartel is the author of The Complete GONE WITH THE WIND Trivia Book (2nd edition) and an expert on the film and its history. Visit the website (www.paulinebartel.com/resources/books/books-available) for further information. Follow her on Twitter @PaulineBartel and “like” her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheCompleteGWTWTriviaBook).