Evening star., 1949-03-25
BY the Assoeiotsd Press

HOLLYWOOD, Mar. 25.-Silence
and Shakespeare won Academy
awards for Jane Wyman and
Laurence Olivier last night.
Miss Wyman, 35-year-old grad
uate of B pictures. was named
best actress of 1s4S for play
ing the deaf mute in Johnny
Belinda"
Mr.. Olivier was given Holly
woods highest honor for his per-
formance as Hamlet" His Brit
ish production also was named
the best picture Of the year. mark
ing the first time the award. has
been handed across the sea.
Great Night for Illusions.
1t also was great night for
the Illusions. Son John walked
of with two gold statuettes for
his writing and direction of The
Treasure of the Sierra Madre."
Father Walter won the best sup
porting actor award as the willy
prospector in the same f1lm.
Claire Trevor was selected the
best supporting actress as the
drunken gun moll in Key Largo"
also directed by John Huston.
A surprise in the awards was the
small attention paid the film. THE
Snake Pit" Olivia De Havilland's
leading role in that movie was
believed to make her the chief
rival of Miss Wyman for the best
actress award. The Snake Pit"
however, was rewarded with only
minor recognition, such as best
sound recording"
Hamlet Wins Fine Awards.
Miss Wyman, formerly Sarah
Jane Folks of St. Joseph, Mo-,
accepted her award the same way
she won it-"by keeping my
mouth shut" Her co-star andl
beau. Lew Ayres. then escorted herr
to j. L. Warmers celebration
party at the Mocambo.
The British Hamlet" stopped
American films by coping five
awards. Mr.. Olivier's statuettes
we're received by Douglas Fair
banks, jr.. q friend. Mr.. Olivier is
in London. Shakespeare was de-
clared ineligible for writing honors
because "he wrote for another
medium" as Robert Montgomery,
the master of ceremonies. said.
The Motion Picture Academy's
voters selected Buttons and
Bows" from the Paleface" as the
best film song. Jane Russell, in
strapless gown. rocked the room
with her singing of the Jay
Livingston Ray Evans Tune.
Special awards went to Ivan
Jandl of THE Search" for the best
juvenile performance: Walter
Wanger for Joan OF Arc" Jerry
Wald for consistently high quality
production: the French Monsieur
Vincent" was named the best
foreign language film.
Only $50 Attend.
The event was the fastest and
smallest in the academy's 21-year
history. The awards were handed
out in cafeteria style at the acad-
emv's own theater, before an
audience of $50, mostly press and
nominees. A crowd Of 1000, puny
by Hollywood standards, cheered
the film famous as they entered
the neighborhood playhouse in I
gowns and tuxedos dampened by
o mild drizzle.
Sidelights: Miss Wyman said
she would put her Oscar on her
television set. Miss Trevor re-
marked she would build house
around hers =. She also said, |
with unusual candor, that she
"had a good idea" she would win
-. bright twosomes: Ava Gardner
and Howard Duff; Elizabeth
Taylor and Glenn DAVIS.
Mr.. Montgomery running COM
mentary was light. Best line:
When Ava Gardner was created,
Mother Nature fingered over the
lob" Minor awards were pre-
sented by youngsters like Glenn
Ford, Arlene Dahl, Louis Jourdan,
Kathryn Grayson, Deborah Kerr.
None missed a line.
Classiest gown was Ann Blyth's
brocaded turquoise satin, strapless
and we'll filled. Biggest ap-
plause went to Ethel Barrymore,
who presented the best picture
award.
Olivier Says Shakespeare
Wns IGood Scrinf WrifeH