Historic Moments at the Oscars

It's Oscar Time! 

In honor of the annual Academy Awards, I'd like for you all to check out these memorable Oscar moments......

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1956 Academy Awards--Best Actor in a Leading Role

Mr. Yul Brynner was the first actor of Asian descent to win (and be nominated for) the Best Actor award. He won for his role in The King and I.

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1955 Academy Awards--Film Editing

Here is Oscar-nominee Dorothy Dandridge presenting the Academy Award for Film Editing. Dorothy was the first black person (man or woman) to be nominated for a Leading role for her role in Carmen Jones.

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Cinematographer James Wong Howe

Mr. Howe was the first Asian person (man or woman) to be nominated for Cinematography. Mr. Howe was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won two--one for his work in The Rose Tattoo, the other for his work in Hud.

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1964 Academy Awards--Best Actor in a Leading Role

Sidney Poitier was the first black actor to win (and be nominated for) the Best Actor Academy Award. He was previously nominated for his role in The Defiant Ones and later won for his role in Lillies of the Field. 

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Actor James Baskett

In 1948, actor James Baskett was given an Honorary Academy Award for his characterization of 'Uncle Remus' in the Disney film Song of the South. This award made him the first black actor to receive an Academy Award.

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1962 Academy Awards--Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Rita Moreno was the first Latina to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She won for her role in West Side Story.

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1940 Academy Awards--Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Here is Hattie McDaniel receiving her Academy Award for her role as 'Mammy' in Gone with the Wind. This award made Ms. McDaniel the first black person (man or woman) to 1. be nominated for an Oscar and 2. win an Oscar and of course, it made her the first black actress to be nominated for and win Best Supporting Actress.

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Today, we salute and remember these legends.

Click the following links to see more historic Oscar nominations/wins:

Asian Academy Award winners and nominees

Black Academy Award winners and nominees

Latin American Academy Award winners and nominees

Mr. Sali's Reviews (#20)

This week, Amari reviewed a highly-acclaimed film released in the UK last year.

Check out the sidebar to see what film that was!

Have a great weekend!

Clarence Muse, Man of Principles

Not only did the great Clarence Muse blaze trails for African-Americans in front of the camera, but he also fought to make some changes behind the camera. 

"He [Clarence Muse] spoke out early against the use of the word ‘n***er’ on movie sets to describe a device used to dim lights. Eugene Jackson recalled the day at Fox Studios when Muse heard a technician say “Bring that n***er over here.” Both shocked and angered, the actor immediately spoke to the director, who explained what the term meant. But that didn’t satisfy Muse. Finally, according to Jackson, production that day was closed down. “Clarence, being a man of high principles and standards, would not back down,” said Jackson. “He stuck to his guns, his beliefs, until a change was made. I was merely a youth, but I was taught something that day that has stayed with me all of my life: if you know and believe in your heart that something must be changed, act on it."

I enjoy reading stories like this about great pioneers like Mr. Muse. Certainly a fine example for any African-American entering the world of Hollywood.

Sources

Bogle, Donald. Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood. New York: The Random House Publishing Group: 2005. Print. 

Photo One: Silver Screen Oasis

Photo Two: A Cinema Apart

Mr. Sali's Reviews (#19)

*Hello Reader. I was just going through my old posts and realized that I had miscounted Mr. Sali's Reviews. I have edited them. This is actully REVIEW 19. I apologize for the overlook.*

20 Reviews! 20 (not all consecutive however) weeks of Mr. Sali's Reviews!

There are quite a few movies that have wound up on my "Must-See" list thanks to Amari's reviews. Thanks for your support and your wanting to share a part in my blog!

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This week, Amari reviewed one of his often watched television shows. Check the sidebar to see what he reviewed.

I'd also like for you all to check out his beautiful Valentine's Day Messages.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Donald Bogle's 'Bright Boulevards..."

Let me first start off by saying that Donald Bogle is every bit of AMAZING. Amazing, amazing historian!

I'd previously borrowed his book Bright Boulevards, Bold Dreams: The Story of Black Hollywood from my campus' library, but was unable to finish it (I made the mistake of borrowing three books at one time, SMH).

But I've got this precious gem and again and have every intention of finishing it. I also plan to pull some trivia from this book to post (properly citing of course). 

If you haven't read or referred to anything of Mr. Bogle's--be it books, DVD commentaries, documentaries, etc.--please do! The man is a walking encyclopedia of Black American Cinema!

Ossie and Ruby

One simply cannot honor "classic" celebrity couples without mentioning everyone's favorite couple, can one?

Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee Davis were married for 56 years. They are often regarded as the first "power couple" of Black Hollywood.

Sadly, the union ended when Mr. Davis passed away on February 4, 2005. 

"Cindy Lou Belongs to Joe"

When we think Carmen Jones (1954), we often think of the hot-and-heavy, but doomed relationship of Carmen and Joe (played by Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte), but today--I'd like to pay homage to the original lovebirds: Cindy Lou and Joe.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that these two really did love each other. 

I often wonder what became of Cindy Lou (played by Olga James) after Joe. Did she marry? Who did she marry? Any children? Grandchildren?

Do you think Joe regretted leaving Cindy Lou? Killing Carmen? One more than the other?

47 Years of Sessue & Tsuru

(Photo from thebioscope.net)

Fellow Japanese actors Sessue Hayakawa and Tsuru Aoki married on May 1, 1914--weeks before the release of their critically acclaimed film together The Wrath of the Gods. They would star in numerous films together (more than twenty). 

The two lived happily in Europe with their three children until Tsuru passed away in 1961.

Mr. and Mrs. Hayakawa were married for 47 years.

Mr. Sali's Reviews (#18)

This week, Mr. Sali reviewed a "critically acclaimed" 2012 film.

Check out the sidebar to see what he reviewed!

Signers of Contracts: Bert, Madame, Ernie, & Nina

There's a lot of conflicting information about who was the first African-American to sign a Hollywood contract, who was the first to sign a long-term contract, etc.--but based on my own little research, I've come to the conclusion that the following people were more than likely the true first "signers" of certain Hollywood contracts.

In 1915, the Biograph Company gave entertainer Bert Williams the power to produce, write, direct, and star in two films for them--A Natural Born Gambler (1916) and Fish (1916). 

I couldn't find information specifically stating that Williams had signed any contract with Biograph, but nonetheless, Williams being granted that kind of power in early twentieth-century Hollywood is a distinguishing feat alone. 

I feel certain that some paperwork had to have been been made out between Mr. Williams and Biograph.


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Born Nellie Crawford in Louisville, Kentucky, Madame Sul-Te-Wan is recognized as the first African-American performer to sign a contract in Hollywood and be a featured performer (meaning, she actually had some dialogue) as well. 

Her first role was as a hotel cook in the 1915 short The Cause of It All. Her second (and most acknowledged) role was as "Dr. Cameron's Taunter" in the controversial D.W. Griffith film, The Birth of a Nation. 

Madame Sul-Te-Wan worked in over 50 Hollywood films.

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When Ernie "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison signed with comedy producer Hal Roach in 1919, he became the first African-American to sign a long-term contract in Hollywood--and get this: He was only six years old. 

"Sunshine Sammy" would become most popular as one of the original Our Gang kids and as the only black member of the East Side Kids.

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After rave reviews for her debut in 1929's Hallelujah!, Nina Mae McKinney signed a five-year contract with MGM, making her the first African-American woman to sign a long-term contract in Hollywood.

Sadly, like a lot of black actresses of the time, even a long-term contract couldn't secure the roles that Nina Mae wanted. She would find sweeter success in parts of Europe as a cabaret entertainer. 

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A Natural Born Gambler (1916)

Starring Bert Williams

(Warning: Offensive racial stereotypes and use of blackface)

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Madame Sul-Te-Wan as "Tituba" in Maid of Salem (1937)

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The Dippy Dentist (1920)

Starring Snub Pollard and "Sunshine Sammy" Morrison

(Go to 2:28 to see "Sunshine Sammy")

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Pie, Pie Blackbird (1932)

(Musical Short)

Starring Nina Mae McKinney, 

Eubie Blake & His Orchestra, & The Nicholas Brothers

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Mr. Sali's Reviews (#17)

This week, Mr. Sali reviewed the most recent film adaptation of a popular novel.

Check out the sidebar to see what he reviewed!