The summer of 1939 consumed David O. Selznick with work and worry. The producer, his film editor Hal Kern and associate film editor James Newcom spent July and August screening the existing film footage, selecting takes of scenes and assembling a rough cut of the film...
On February 29, 1940, Hollywood was abuzz and aglitter with Oscar fever. As was the custom, the names of the Oscar winners were revealed in advance to the press, with newspapers making a solemn promise not to break the news before the ceremonies. But one newspaper...
In 1999, producer David O. Selznick’s 1939 Best Picture Oscar for Gone With the Wind sold at auction for more than $1.54 million to singer Michael Jackson. The presale estimate had ranged from $200,000 to $300,000. The winning bid by the King of Pop set a new record...
Board members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were furious over the Oscar news leak by the Los Angeles Times. By custom, the academy had shared the names of Oscar winners with the media in advance of the Academy Awards ceremony. This gave...
Here are some memorable moments from Gone With the Wind’s night at the Oscars: Sidney Howard’s win for Best Screenplay made him the first posthumous Academy Award winner. When Hattie McDaniel’s name was announced as the Best Supporting Actress winner, she...
