16th Academy Awards

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16th Academy Awards
Date March 2, 1944
Site Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Hollywood, California, USA
Host Jack Benny

The 16th Academy Awards, in 1944, was the first Oscar ceremony held at a large public venue, Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Free passes were given out to men and women in uniform. The more theatrical approach makes it a forerunner of the contemporary Oscar telecast.

For the first time, supporting actors and actresses took home full-size statuettes, instead of smaller-sized awards mounted on a plaque.

[edit] Awards

Best Picture : Casablanca

Best Director : Michael Curtiz, Casablanca

Best Actor : Paul Lukas, Watch on the Rhine

Best Supporting Actor : Charles Coburn, The More the Merrier

Best Actress : Jennifer Jones, The Song of Bernadette

Best Supporting Actress : Katina Paxinou, For Whom the Bell Tolls

Best Original Screenplay : Norman Krasna, Princess O'Rourke

Best Original Story : William Saroyan, The Human Comedy

Best Screenplay : Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch, Casablanca