1932 Academy Awards

1932 Academy Awards

The 5th Academy Awards were conducted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on November 18, 1932 at a ceremony held at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was hosted by Conrad Nagel. Films screened in Los Angeles between August 1, 1931 and July 31, 1932 were eligible to receive awards.

And the winners are:

Academy Award for Best Picture: “Grand Hotel” MGM – 1932. Directed by Edmund Goulding and starring Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, and Wallace Beery

“Grand Hotel” (1932 – MGM) Academy Award winner for Best Picture

Greta Garbo and John Barrymore in “Grand Hotel” (1932 – MGM)

Academy Award for Best Actor: Tie between Fredrich March for his role in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” 1931-Paramount Publix Corp. and Wallace Beery for his role in “The Champ” 1931-MGM.

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1931 – Paramount Publix Corp.)

Fredric March receiving his Oscar from Academy president Conrad Nagel

“The Champ” (1931 – MGM)

Wallace Beery in “The Champ” (1931)

Wallace Beery, Conrad Nagel, unknown, and Fredric March at the 1932 Academy Awards

Academy Award For Best Actress: Helen Hayes for her role in “The Sin of Madelon Claudet” 1931 – MGM

“The Sin of Madeline Claudet” (1931 – MGM)

Helen Hayes with her Oscar for “The Sin of Madeline Claudet”

Academy Award for Best Director: Frank Borzage for “Bad Girl” 1931 – Fox Film Corp.

“Bad Girl” (1931 – Fox Film Corp.)

Academy Award for Best Director: Frank Borzage for “Bad Girl” 1931 – Fox Film Corp.

Academy Honorary Award: Walt Disney

Walt Disney with his wife Lillian after receiving his Oscar

Other Winners:
Best Story: “The Champ” – Frances Marion
Best Adapted Screenplay: “Bad Girl” – Edwin J. Burke
Best Art Direction: “Transatlantic” – Gordon Wiles
Best Cinematography: “Shanghai Express” – Lee Garmes
Best Sound Recording: Paramount Publix Studio Sound Department

“Grand Hotel” became the only best picture winner to be nominated for best picture and nothing else. It was also the last film to win best picture without a best director nomination until “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989).

This was the first year that there was a tie in any category. It would also be Wallace Beery’s last nomination and only win.

“Grand Hotel” was one of the highest grossing films in MGM’s history grossing over $1.2 million at the box office.

Laurel and Hardy won an Academy Award for their comedy short “The Music Box”. This would be their only Oscar during their careers.