12th Academy awards - wikipedia 12th Academy awards 12th Academy Awards Date February 29, 1940 Site Coconut Grove, The Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles Hosted by Bob Hope Highlights Best Picture Gone with the Wind Most awards Gone with the Wind ( 8 ) Most nominations Gone with the Wind ( 13 ) ← 11th Academy Awards 13th → The 12th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ), honored the best in film for 1939. The ceremony was held on February 29, 1940, at a banquet in the Coconut Grove at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. It was hosted by Bob Hope ( in his first of nineteen turns as host ). David O. Selznick 's production Gone with the Wind received the most nominations of the year with thirteen. Other films receiving multiple nominations included : Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ; Wuthering Heights ; Goodbye, Mr. Chips ; Stagecoach ; Love Affair ; The Wizard of Oz ; The Rains Came ; The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex ; Ninotchka ; Of Mice and Men ; and Dark Victory. This was the first year in which an Academy Award ( also known as an Oscar ) was awarded in the category of special effects. ( Previously, however, `` special achievement '' awards for effects had occasionally been conferred. ) This was also the first time that two awards for cinematography were presented ( one for a color film and another for a black - and - white film ). Hattie McDaniel became the first African - American to receive an Academy Award, winning in the Best Supporting Actress category for Gone with the Wind. Gone with the Wind, Best Picture winner Victor Fleming, Best Director winner Robert Donat, Best Actor winner Vivien Leigh, Best Actress winner Thomas Mitchell, Best Supporting Actor winner Hattie McDaniel, Best Supporting Actress winner Sidney Howard, Best Screenplay winner Contents 1 Academy Awards of Merit 2 Academy Honorary Awards 3 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award 4 Academy Juvenile Award 5 Films receiving multiple nominations and awards 6 The lead - up to the awards ceremony 7 The ceremony 8 Post-awards discussion 9 Academy Award ceremony presenters 10 See also 11 References Academy awards of Merit AMPAS presented Academy Awards of Merit in twenty categories. Nominees for each award are listed below ; award winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface. Outstanding Production Gone With the Wind -- David O. Selznick for Selznick International and Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer Dark Victory -- David Lewis for Warner Bros. Goodbye, Mr. Chips -- Victor Saville for Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer Love Affair -- Leo McCarey for RKO Radio Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -- Frank Capra for Columbia Ninotchka -- Sidney Franklin for Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer Of Mice and Men -- Lewis Milestone for Hal Roach Prod. and United Artists Stagecoach -- Walter Wanger for United Artists The Wizard of Oz -- Mervyn LeRoy for Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer Wuthering Heights -- Samuel Goldwyn for Samuel Goldwyn Prod. and United Artists Best Director Victor Fleming -- Gone With the Wind Frank Capra -- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington John Ford -- Stagecoach Sam Wood -- Goodbye, Mr. Chips William Wyler -- Wuthering Heights Best Actor Robert Donat -- Goodbye, Mr. Chips as Mr Chips Clark Gable -- Gone With the Wind as Rhett Butler Laurence Olivier -- Wuthering Heights as Heathcliff Mickey Rooney -- Babes in Arms as Mickey Moran James Stewart -- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as Jefferson `` Jeff '' Smith Best Actress Vivien Leigh -- Gone With the Wind as Scarlett O'Hara Bette Davis -- Dark Victory as Judith Traherne Irene Dunne -- Love Affair as Terry McKay Greta Garbo -- Ninotchka as Nina Ivanovna ' Ninotchka ' Yakushova Greer Garson -- Goodbye, Mr. Chips as Katherine Best Supporting Actor Thomas Mitchell -- Stagecoach as Doc Boone Brian Aherne -- Juarez as Maximilian I of Mexico Harry Carey -- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as President of the Senate Brian Donlevy -- Beau Geste as Sergeant Markoff Claude Rains -- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as Senator Joseph Harrison `` Joe '' Paine Best Supporting Actress Hattie McDaniel -- Gone With the Wind as Mammy Olivia de Havilland -- Gone With the Wind as Melanie Hamilton Geraldine Fitzgerald -- Wuthering Heights as Isabella Linton Edna May Oliver -- Drums Along the Mohawk as Mrs McKlennar Maria Ouspenskaya -- Love Affair as Grandmother Janou Best Story Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -- Lewis R. Foster Love Affair -- Mildred Cram and Leo McCarey Bachelor Mother -- Felix Jackson Ninotchka -- Melchior Lengyel Young Mr. Lincoln -- Lamar Trotti Best Screenplay Gone With the Wind -- Sidney Howard ( posthumous award ), based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell Ninotchka -- Charles Brackett, Walter Reisch, and Billy Wilder, based on a story by Melchior Lengyel Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -- Sidney Buchman, based on a story by Lewis R. Foster Wuthering Heights -- Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, based on the novel by Emily Brontë Goodbye, Mr. Chips -- Eric Maschwitz, R.C. Sherriff and Claudine West, based on the novel by James Hilton Best Live Action Short Film, One - Reel Busy Little Bears -- Paramount Pictures Information Please -- RKO Radio Prophet Without Honor -- MGM Sword Fishing -- Warner Bros. Best Live Action Short Film, Two - Reel Sons of Liberty -- Warner Bros. Drunk Driving -- MGM Five Times Five -- RKO Radio Best Animated Short Film The Ugly Duckling -- Walt Disney Productions and RKO Radio Detouring America -- Warner Bros. Peace on Earth -- MGM The Pointer -- Walt Disney Productions and RKO Radio Best Score Stagecoach -- Richard Hageman, Frank Harling, John Leipold and Leo Shuken The Great Victor Herbert -- Phil Boutelje and Arthur Lange Of Mice and Men -- Aaron Copland Babes in Arms -- Roger Edens and George E. Stoll She Married a Cop -- Cy Feuer Intermezzo -- Lou Forbes The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex -- Erich Wolfgang Korngold The Hunchback of Notre Dame -- Alfred Newman They Shall Have Music -- Alfred Newman First Love -- Charles Previn Swanee River -- Louis Silvers Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -- Dimitri Tiomkin Way Down South -- Victor Young Best Original Score The Wizard of Oz -- Herbert Stothart Nurse Edith Cavell -- Anthony Collins Of Mice and Men -- Aaron Copland The Man in the Iron Mask -- Lud Gluskin and Lucien Moraweck Eternally Yours -- Werner Janssen The Rains Came -- Alfred Newman Wuthering Heights -- Alfred Newman Dark Victory -- Max Steiner Gone With the Wind -- Max Steiner Golden Boy -- Victor Young Gulliver 's Travels -- Victor Young Man of Conquest -- Victor Young Best Song `` Over the Rainbow '' from The Wizard of Oz -- Music by Harold Arlen ; Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg `` Faithful Forever '' from Gulliver 's Travels -- Music by Ralph Rainger ; Lyrics by Leo Robin `` I Poured My Heart Into a Song '' from Second Fiddle -- Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin `` Wishing '' from Love Affair -- Music and Lyrics by Buddy de Sylva Best Sound Recording When Tomorrow Comes -- Bernard B. Brown Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -- John Livadary Goodbye, Mr. Chips -- A.W. Watkins Of Mice and Men -- Elmer A. Raguse Balalaika -- Douglas Shearer The Great Victor Herbert -- Loren L. Ryder Man of Conquest -- Charles L. Lootens The Hunchback of Notre Dame -- John Aalberg Gone With the Wind -- Thomas T. Moulton The Rains Came -- E.H. Hansen The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex -- Nathan Levinson Best Art Direction Gone With the Wind -- Lyle Wheeler Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -- Lionel Banks Wuthering Heights -- James Basevi The Rains Came -- William S. Darling and George Dudley Beau Geste -- Hans Dreier and Robert Odell The Wizard of Oz -- Cedric Gibbons and William A. Horning The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex -- Anton Grot Captain Fury -- Charles D. Hall Man of Conquest -- John Victor Mackay First Love -- Jack Otterson and Martin Obzina Love Affair -- Van Nest Polglase and Alfred Herman Stagecoach -- Alexander Toluboff Best Cinematography, Black and White Wuthering Heights -- Gregg Toland Gunga Din -- Joseph H. August Lady of the Tropics -- Norbert Brodine Juarez -- Tony Gaudio Stagecoach -- Bert Glennon The Rains Came -- Arthur Charles Miller The Great Victor Herbert -- Victor Milner Intermezzo -- Gregg Toland First Love -- Joseph Valentine Of Mice and Men -- George J. Folsey Only Angels Have Wings -- Joseph Walker Best Cinematography, Color Gone With the Wind -- Ernest Haller and Ray Rennahan The Four Feathers -- Georges Périnal and Osmond Borradaile The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex -- Sol Polito and W. Howard Greene Drums Along the Mohawk -- Ray Rennahan and Bert Glennon The Wizard of Oz -- Hal Rosson The Mikado -- William V. Skall and Bernard Knowles Best Film Editing Gone With the Wind -- Hal C. Kern and James E. Newcom Goodbye, Mr. Chips -- Charles Frend Mr. Smith Goes to Washington -- Gene Havlick and Al Clark Stagecoach -- Otho Lovering and Dorothy Spencer The Rains Came -- Barbara McLean Best Special Effects The Rains Came -- E.H. Hansen and Fred Sersen Gone With the Wind -- John R. Cosgrove, Fred Albin and Arthur Johns Only Angels Have Wings -- Roy Davidson and Edwin C. Hahn Union Pacific -- Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings and Loren Ryder The Wizard of Oz -- A. Arnold Gillespie and Douglas Shearer The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex -- Byron Haskin and Nathan Levinson Topper Takes a Trip -- Roy Seawright Academy Honorary awards Academy Honorary Awards were presented to : Douglas Fairbanks Motion Picture Relief Fund William Cameron Menzies The Technicolor Company Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award was presented to : David O. Selznick Academy Juvenile Award The Academy Juvenile Award was presented to : Judy Garland for The Wizard of Oz Films receiving multiple nominations and awards The following twenty - three films received multiple nominations : 13 nominations : Gone with the Wind 11 nominations : Mr. Smith Goes to Washington 8 nominations : Wuthering Heights 7 nominations : Goodbye, Mr. Chips and Stagecoach 6 nominations : Love Affair, The Rains Came and The Wizard of Oz 5 nominations : Of Mice and Men and The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex 4 nominations : Ninotchka 3 nominations : Dark Victory, First Love, The Great Victor Herbert and Man of Conquest 2 nominations : Babes in Arms, Beau Geste, Drums Along the Mohawk, Gulliver 's Travels, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Intermezzo, Juarez and Only Angels Have Wings The following three films received multiple awards : 8 awards : Gone with the Wind 2 awards : Stagecoach and The Wizard of Oz The lead - up to the awards ceremony Prior to the announcement of nominations, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Gone with the Wind were the two films most widely tipped to receive a significant number of nominations. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington premiered in Washington with a premier party hosted by the National Press Club who found themselves portrayed unfavourably in the film ; the film 's theme of political corruption was condemned and the film was denounced in the U.S. Senate. Joseph P. Kennedy, the U.S. Ambassador to Britain urged President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the studio head Harry Cohn to cease showing the film overseas because `` it will cause our allies to view us in an unfavourable light ''. Among those who campaigned in favour of the film were Hedda Hopper who declared it `` as great as Lincoln 's Gettysburg speech '', while Sheilah Graham called it the `` best talking picture ever made ''. Screen Book magazine stated that it `` should win every Academy Award ''. Frank Capra, the director, and James Stewart, the film 's star were considered front runners to win awards. Gone with the Wind premiered in December 1939 with a Gallup poll taken shortly before its release concluding that 56.5 million people intended to see the film. The New York Film Critics Award was given to Wuthering Heights after thirteen rounds of balloting had left the voters deadlocked between Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Gone with the Wind. The press were divided in their support for the nominated actors. Time magazine favoured Vivien Leigh and used her portrait for their Christmas 1939 edition, and The Hollywood Reporter predicted a possible win by Leigh and Laurence Olivier with the comment that they `` are, for the moment, just about the most sacred of all Hollywood 's sacred cows ''. West Coast newspapers, particularly in Los Angeles, predicted Bette Davis would win for Dark Victory. Observing that Davis had achieved four box office successes during the year, one paper wrote, `` Hollywood will stick by its favourite home - town girl, Bette Davis ''. The ceremony Capra was the incumbent President of the Academy, and in a first for Academy Awards ceremonies, sold the rights for the event to be filmed. Warner Bros. obtained the rights, for $30,000 to film the banquet and the presentation of the awards, to use as a short, and it was shot by the cinematographer Charles Rosher. Variety noted the stars in attendance were conscious of being filmed at the event for the first time and the event was marked by glamour with fashion - conscious actresses wearing the best of gowns, furs and jewellery. The Los Angeles Times printed a substantially accurate list of winners, despite a promise to withhold the results of the voting, so many of the nominees learned before arriving at the ceremony who had won. Among these were Clark Gable and Bette Davis. Following the banquet, Capra opened proceedings at 11pm with a short speech before introducing Bob Hope who made his first appearance as host of the awards. Looking at a table laden with awards awaiting presentation, he quipped, `` I feel like I 'm in Bette Davis ' living room ''. Mickey Rooney presented an Academy Juvenile Award to Judy Garland, who then performed Over the Rainbow, a `` Best Song '' nominee from The Wizard of Oz. As the evening progressed, Gone with the Wind won the majority of awards, and Bob Hope remarked to David O. Selznick, `` David, you should have brought roller skates ''. Making a speech, Selznick paused to extend praise and gratitude to Olivia de Havilland, a `` Best Supporting Actress '' nominee, and made it clear in his speech he knew she had not won. Fay Bainter presented the awards for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, prefacing her presentation of the latter award with the knowing comment, `` It is a tribute to a country where people are free to honor noteworthy achievements regardless of creed, race or color ''. Hattie McDaniel became the first black performer to win an Academy Award and in expressing her gratitude promised to be `` a credit to my race '' before bursting into tears. De Havilland was among those to make their way to McDaniel 's table to offer congratulations, though it was reported de Havilland then fled to the kitchen, where she burst into tears. The press reported an irritated Irene Mayer Selznick followed her, and told her to return to their table and stop making a fool of herself. Robert Donat, the winner for `` Best Actor '', was one of three nominated actors not present ( the others were Irene Dunne and Greta Garbo ). Accepting the award for Donat, Spencer Tracy said he was sure Donat 's win was welcomed by `` the entire motion - picture industry '' before presenting the `` Best Actress '' award to Vivien Leigh. The press noted Bette Davis was among those waiting to congratulate Leigh as she returned to her table. Post-awards discussion Further controversy erupted following the ceremony, with the Los Angeles Times reporting that Leigh had won over Davis by the smallest of margins and that Donat had likewise won over James Stewart by a small number of votes. This led Academy officials to examine ways that the voting process, and more importantly, the results, would remain secret in future years. They considered the Los Angeles Times publication of such details as a breach of faith. Hattie McDaniel received considerable attention from the press with Daily Variety writing, `` Not only was she the first of her race to receive an Award, but she was also the first Negro ever to sit at an Academy banquet ''. Carole Lombard was quoted as comforting Gable after his loss, with the comment `` Do n't worry, Pappy. We 'll bring one home next year ''. Gable replied that he felt this had been his last chance to which Lombard was said to have replied, `` Not you, you self - centered bastard. I meant me. '' Academy Award ceremony presenters The ceremony presenters are listed below in the sequence of awards presented. Presenter Award ( s ) Darryl F. Zanuck Scientific and Technical Awards, Film Editing, Sound Recording, Cinematography, Art Direction, and Special Effects Gene Buck Music awards Bob Hope Short - subject awards Mickey Rooney Special Juvenile Academy Award to Judy Garland Mervyn LeRoy Best Director Sinclair Lewis Writing awards Y. Frank Freeman Best Picture Basil O'Connor Special awards to Jean Hersholt, Ralph Morgan, Ralph Block, and Conrad Nagel Dr. Ernest Martin Hopkins Irving Thalberg Award Walter Wanger Commemorative award to Douglas Fairbanks Fay Bainter Supporting Actor and Actress Spencer Tracy Best Actor and Actress See also 1939 in film References Jump up ^ `` The 12th Academy Awards ( 1940 ) Nominees and Winners ''. Oscars.org ( Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 2011 - 08 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Academy Awards A to Z ''. BBC News. 24 January 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011. Academy Awards Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) Records Most wins per ceremony Oscar season Governors Awards Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Pre-show Awards of Merit Best Picture Director Actor Actress Supporting Actor Supporting Actress Adapted Screenplay Original Screenplay Animated Feature Documentary Feature Foreign Language Film Animated Short Film Documentary Short Subject Live Action Short Film Cinematography Costume Design Film Editing Makeup and Hairstyling Original Score Original Song Production Design Sound Editing Sound Mixing Visual Effects Special awards Governors Awards Academy Honorary Award Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award Special Achievement Academy Award Academy Scientific and Technical Awards Academy Award of Merit ( non-competitive ) Scientific and Engineering Award Technical Achievement Award John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation Gordon E. Sawyer Award Student Awards Student Academy Award Former awards Merit Awards Assistant Director Dance Direction Director of a Comedy Picture Engineering Effects Short Subject, Two - reel Short Subject, Comedy Short Subject, Novelty Story Title Writing Unique and Artistic Quality of Production Special Awards Academy Juvenile Award Ceremonies ‡ ( List Book ) 1927 / 28 1928 / 29 1929 / 30 1930 / 31 1931 / 32 1932 / 33 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 2017 Footnotes ‡ Dates and years listed for each ceremony were the eligibility period of film release in Los Angeles County, California. For the first five ceremonies, the eligibility period was done on a seasonal basis, from August to July. For the 6th ceremony held in 1934, the eligibility period lasted from August 1, 1932 to December 31, 1933. Since the 7th ceremony held in 1935, the period of eligibility became the full previous calendar year from January 1 to December 31. Book Category Portal Academy Awards lists Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS ) Records Oscar season Oscar speech History of film Most wins per ceremony Combined major Oscars Superlatives Big Five All four acting categories Combined major awards Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award careers Acting All nominees Best Actor ( by age ) Best Actress ( by age ) Best Supporting Actor ( by age ) Best Supporting Actress ( by age ) Acting noms in foreign language Actor multi-nom years Multi-Best Picture acting careers Multi-win Actors Multi-nom Actors Love curse Directing Best Director ( by age ) Film Films Foreign - language wins Foreign - language nominees Foreign - language noms in other categories Foreign - language : count by country Animated feature noms in other categories Ethnicity African Argentine Asian Australian Black Brazilian British Canadian Chilean Colombian Cuban French German - speaking Greek Hispanic - American ( U.S. ) Indian Iranian Italian Jewish Latin American Mexican New Zealand Nordic Pakistani Polish Puerto Rican Spanish Uruguayan Other Ceremonies Families Fictitious LGBT Multi-win years Posthumous Best Picture Presenters Trophy displays Oldest & Youngest Awards for Walt Disney Women in Non-gendered Categories Book Category Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=12th_Academy_Awards&oldid=810036313 '' Categories : Academy Awards ceremonies 1939 film awards 1940 in Los Angeles 1940 in American cinema February 1940 events Hidden categories : All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2015 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Asturianu Български Català Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano ქართული Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Plattdüütsch Polski Português Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska ไทย 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 13 November 2017, at 00 : 29. 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Question: who won the academy award for best actor in 1939
Answer: Robert Donat