Evening star., 1948-03-22
Loretta Young Thrilled
By Surprise Award
OF Hollywood Oscar
by the Associated Press

HOLLYWOOD. Mar. 22.-Loretta
Young pointed to the Oscar today
and cried excitedly to newsmen:
ITO be perfectly honest, I never
expected this in my life I
thought Rosalind would get it."
Rosalind Russell was sitting in
the seth row at the Academy awards
Saturday night-her fingers stuffed
into her ears. mot Saying a pray
er," she explained afterward, "but
feeling one." When she saw Loretta
head for the stage she joined nearly
5000 other spectators in roaring
applause.
Miss Young's receipt of the foot
high gold statuette for the best
performance by an actress in 1947
was the big upset of the Goth annual
ceremonies Of the Academy of Mo-
ton Picture Arts and Sciences. Her
spirited portrayal Of a Swedish
housemaid who rose to Congress-
woman in 1.-THE Farmers Daughter"
won her the award.
Miss Russell Favorite.
Miss Russell, her good friend, was
the favorite in advance speculations
and by four to one in a trade
paper poll-for her depletion of the
tragic Lavinia in Mourning Be-
comes Electra"
"Lorettas a wonderful girl and
la fine actress" Miss Russell said
She congratulated Miss Young at
a party for winners in the Mocambo
after the Saturday night cere-
monies and again when they met
as usual at yesterdays noon mass
in the Beverly Hills Church of the
Good Shepherd.
Otherwise, the awards went ac-
cording to forecasts. "Gentleman's
Agreement" dramatic rap at
anti-Semitism, was designated the
best picture of last year.
Ronald Colman won his first
Oscar in Is years of stardom in
more than so pictures as the mur-
derous stage actor in "A Double
Life"
Edmund Gwenn, 10, said his prize
would go on his library table. There
it would join the Lbok Magazine
and Hollywood Foreign Correspond
ents' Association trophies, presented
earlier this year, for his perform
ance as Kris Kringle in Miracle
on Thirty fourth Street" The Os-
car is the first for Mr.. Gwenn, like
Mr.. Colman, a native of England.
Miss Holm Nervous.
Celeste Holm was as happy as a
little girl at her birthday party.
She burst briefly into tears after
walking offstage with her Oscar.
She was shaking" she said.
Miss Holm was honored for her
acting as a sophisticated fashion
editor in "Gentleman's Agreement" "
New York City born, she's %. and
starred in the Broadway stage shows
"Oklahoma" and "Bloomer Girr
before coming to Hollywood year
and half ago.
In addition to the best picture and
Celeste Holm awards for Gentle
mans Agreement" its director,
Ella Kazan, received an Oscar.
Production Chief Daryl F. Zan-
uck of Twentieth Century-Fox said
in accepting the best film trophy:
This makes up for a sharp dis
appointment I suffered some years
ago. I'm sure I will be forgiven
for mentioning the name Of that
picture-'Wilson'
Film Wins Three Awards.
Another Fox entry this year,
Miracle on Thirty-Fourth Street."
won three awards. Besides Mr..
Gwenn's, one went to Valentine Da-
vies for the best original motion
picture story and another to George
Seaton for the best written screen
play.
"Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" was voted by
the 1888 academy members to be
the best original song of the year
The Allie Wrubel-Ray Gilbert COM
position was heard in Disney's
Song of the South
A small party followed at the
home of Edward Seller. who pro-
duced the winning cartoon, ''Twee-
tie Pie He said, I'm afraid my
family was more excited about it
than 7 was"
Ken Murray was given a special
Oscar for producing Bill and Co.,"
picture that starred lovebirds. u