The Losers‘ Club: Seldom Seen Best Picture Oscar Nominees

By Michael Lyons

“The Wizard of Oz,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Star Wars” and “E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial.”  Not only are they cinematic masterpieces, they’re all “losers.”  

These four films have been remembered by audiences through the years, but they were forgotten by The Academy Awards.  Each movie was nominated for Best Picture, but lost out to other films, during their respective years.

They can all take comfort in the fact that they are in good company.  With The Oscars this Sunday, it’s the perfect time to celebrate some other, seldom seen, Best Picture Nominees.

“The Yearling” (1946) - Lost to “The Best Years of Our Lives.”

Based on a novel by author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, “The Yearling” tells the tale of a family of farmers living in Florida, just after the Civil War and how their young son Jody adopts an orphaned doe, that he raises as a pet.

Adolescent Jody grows and the young Doe named Flag, grows into a deer, in an unforgettable and heartbreaking coming of age story.  Directed by Clarence Brown in gorgeous Technicolor, “The Yearling” brings the landscape of this natural story to beautiful life.

“The Yearling” also features an outstanding Cast, such as the one and only Gregory Peck, turning in a wise, peaceful performance as Jody’s father and child actor Claude Jarman, Jr whose performance earned a deserved special “Academy Juvenile Award.”

Through the years, this film has earned a special place in many moviegoers hearts and rightly so.  “The Yearling” is a Hollywood classic in every sense of the word.

“Giant” (1956) - Lost to “Around the World in 80 Days.”

With a fitting title, movies don’t get bigger or more epic than “Giant.”  Spanning several decades in the life of a Texas Cattle rancher “Bickley” Benedict, “Giant” sprawls across the screen at three and a half hours in length.

Legendary director George Stevens brings to life the span and scope of Texas in grand, ‘50’s, wide screen style that has truly never been matched since on film.

As if all this wasn’t enough, the three leads in “Giant” are legends Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean (in his final role).

It’s an investment of time for the viewer, but “Giant” is so worth it: a perfect example of “they just don’t make ‘em like that anymore.”

“The Towering Inferno” (1974) - Lost to “The Godfather Part II.”

Many scoff, but in the ‘70’s Disaster movie era, there were few that more action packed, effects heavy, melodramatic, all-star and indicative of the decade than “The Towering Inferno.”

With Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Fred Astaire, Jennifer Jones and William Holden in the cast, its a wonder that there were any stars left in Hollywood while they were filming it.

“The Towering inferno” tells the tale of a massive fire breaking out at the unveiling of the world’s tallest building.  While the story may be strictly soap opera, the pyrotechnics and effects steal the show and will have you either glued to your seat or covering your eyes.

There were many like it at the time, but when it comes to disaster movies, “The Towering Inferno” reaches new heights.

“Quiz Show” (1994) - Lost to “Forrest Gump”

Who would have thought that a movie about TV game shows would make for a compelling, real-life mystery, but director Robert Redford’s film is just that.

Telling the true story of the scandal that rocked game shows in the 1950’s, Ralph Fiennes stars as Charles Van Doren, an audience favorite contestant who finds himself seduced by the allure of cheating to continue his game show “star” status, while a government investigation quickly catches up to him.  

“Quiz Show” brings to life the decade in great detail, while using the scandal as an analogy for the loss of innocence that was looming for the country.  What could have easily been TV-movie-of-the week-like fodder becomes a gripping glimpse into a dark moment in TV history and human frailty.

“Michael Clayton” (2007) - Lost to “No Country For Old Men”

Writer/director Tony Gilroy’s legal thriller was so compelling when it was released that many wondered what novel it had been based on, only to learn it was written directly for the screen.

That’s how rich and deep “Michael Clayton” is.  George Clooney is the title character, an attorney who discovers corruption with one of his firm’s major clients and, in the process, unearths some dark and deadly secrets.

Tilda Swindon, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her amazing, brittle and fragile performances as a corporate attorney.  Along with Tom Wilkinson and Sydney Pollack, she is just one of the many amazing and startlingly real performances in “Michael Clayton.”

The film’s screenplay is also a tightly-wound example of brilliant storytelling.  From it’s quiet opening moments to its twist ending, there is no way not to be glued to every minute.

With themes of how those we love will ultimately save us, “Michael Clayton” is a masterpiece that improves with each viewing and is truly one of the best films of its decade.

So, when the final envelope is opened on Sunday night, don’t feel too bad for the films that go home without a Best Picture Oscar.  They join an outstanding club of “winning losers.”

Sources: IMDb

Wikipedia