Two Films Win 22 Nominations For Oscar (Press, 7 February 1986)

On 6 February 1986, the nominees for the fifty-eighth Academy Awards were announced, highlighting a competitive year in cinema. "The Colour Purple," a heart-wrenching drama exploring the life of a rural black woman, and "Out of Africa," a romantic tale set in colonial Kenya, each garnered 11 nominations. They were closely followed by "Prizzi's Honour," a dark comedy involving a Mafia couple, and "Witness," showcasing a police chase in Amish country, which received eight nominations each. Among the notable nominations, Peter Weir was recognised as a best director contender for "Witness." The best actor category featured Harrison Ford ("Witness"), Jack Nicholson ("Prizzi's Honour"), James Garner ("Murphy's Romance"), William Hurt ("Kiss of the Spider Woman"), and Jon Voight ("Runaway Train"). Whoopi Goldberg made her film debut with a best actress nomination for "The Colour Purple," competing against seasoned actresses Anne Bancroft ("Agnes of God"), Jessica Lange ("Sweet Dreams"), Meryl Streep ("Out of Africa"), and Geraldine Page, who was nominated for "The Trip to Bountiful." At 61, Page had received eight nominations without a win. Don Ameche was nominated for supporting actor for his role in "Cocoon," marking his first Oscar race since starting his career in 1936. The supporting actress nominees included Oprah Winfrey and Margaret Avery both from "The Colour Purple," along with Anjelica Huston from "Prizzi's Honour." The best direction nomination included notable figures such as John Huston, aged 79, for "Prizzi's Honour,” and Japanese director Akira Kurosawa for "Ran." Notably absent from the best director nominations was Steven Spielberg, despite his film "The Colour Purple" being a strong favourite. The best picture nominations included "The Colour Purple," "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Out of Africa," "Prizzi's Honour," and "Witness." Additional categories showcased varied talent, including original songs and screenplay adaptations. "Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)" from "The Colour Purple" was among the nominated songs, while adaptations featured works like "The Colour Purple," "Kiss of the Spider Woman," and "Out of Africa." In technical categories, cinematography, art direction, and costume design nominated films such as "The Colour Purple," "Out of Africa," and "Ran," reflecting the artistic accolades the films received. Documentaries and short films also featured diverse nominees, showcasing a range of storytelling techniques. Overall, the nominations for the 1986 Oscars illustrated a significant recognition of films that tackled profound themes, presented strong performances, and demonstrated exceptional cinematic achievement across various genres. The awards ceremony was anticipated to spotlight both established and emerging talents in the film industry.

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