Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-11
Movie Academy Awards Due This Week
By Rosalind Shatfer.

When the annual Motion Picture
Academy awards are handed out for
the 18th time next Thursday, they
will supply the answers to some
problems never before presented to
filmlands voters.
Politics, for one thing, has moth
ing to do with the excellence of
Alexander KnoX's performance as
Wilson" or of the film of the same
name but it will be a hidden weight
on the scale.
II wilson doesn't get the best
picture award, it could be traced,
at least indirectly, to differences OF
opinion concerning the first World
. War President which were accent
uated in the last presidential cam
paign.
KnoX's performance as Wilson will
not be so clean cat an issue. Many
will tend to discount his perform
ance on the basis of type casting.
But the political angle will have a
bearing there, too, even if sub-con-
sciously.
FITZGERALD Recognized.
A second innovation is the nom
ination of Barry Fitzgerald for two
Oscars, both on the basis of his
role in Going My Way" Strictly
speaking, he's not star, but the
film made him one. That's why he's
up for the best role and also for the
best supporting role.
Third is the nomination of Jenni-
fer Jones for the best supporting
role. Actually, she is star, was SO
billed in Since You Went Away,
and she received the award last year
as a star in "Bernadette.
1 believe that the picture OF the
year, II 1t is not Wilson" will be
Going My Way" Hollywood is
more impressed with emotional
stories and should be swayed by the
charm OF the simpler tale with its
excellent characterizations.
For the same reason, would PICK
Barry Fitzgerald over Bling Crosby
for the best male performance.
Hollywood likes personal drama in
its selections, and it's entirely pos
sible that Fitzgerald, the greying,
older player, will be the Cinderella
man OF the awards. If he misses the
first award, Fitzgerald is bound to
get the supporting award. I think
he may get both.
OF the other nominations, Charles
Boyer, IN "Gaslight," had an un-
sympathetic role as villain. Cary
Grant, IN None But the Lonely
Heart" makes his second bid for an
award, but Heart" Is too slow paced
and low key to take Hollywood fancy
Bergman Due to Win.
believe Ingrid Bergman will win
the actress award for "Gaslight.
Last year she lost out on For Whom
the Bell Tolls" to Jennifer Jones
Bergman is a growing Hollywood
legend. Barbara Stanwyck, noml-
mated for the 1912 award for Ball
of Fire." which she lost to Greer
Carson for Mrs. Miniver," is UP
again for Double Indemnity" ]
think she'll lose because Hollywood
views that as another case OF type
casting.
Claudette Colbert, who got an
award for 1T Happened One Night,
is up tor best actress, too, but her
role in Since You Went Away
won't get it for her. Again type
casting will minimize her really ex-
cellent work.
Bette Davis, a two-time winner
Is nominated for Mr.. Skeffington.
Greer Carson, awarded one Oscar
nominated for two others, is up fol-
MRS. Parkington." I think Holly
wood respects both as actresses, but
wants TO see the honors passed
around The male supporting prize
will 60 to Fitzgerald, but Hume
Cronyn. Claude Raines, Clifton
Webb and Monty Woolley are power.
full oontenders. Webb is closest fol
his performance in Laura" Holly.
wood views him as discovery.
II Ethel Barrymore gets the sup