Spielberg Not The Only One To Be Ignored (Press, 10 March 1986)

On 10 March 1986, a report by Bob Thomas from Associated Press highlighted the snub of Steven Spielberg at the Academy Awards despite his film "The Colour Purple" receiving 11 nominations. Notably absent from the list was Spielberg himself, who was not nominated for Best Director, raising questions about the dynamics within the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Critics pointed out that the directors' branch, comprising 230 members, may be filled with older filmmakers who could resent Spielberg's commercial success, having directed films that grossed billions. Opinions were divided on Spielberg’s work. Some believed he was the driving creative force behind the film, contributing significantly to its Best Picture nomination. However, others were less impressed, arguing that he had overly beautified the story, which was based on Alice Walker's gritty novel, and failed to properly address its themes, including its portrayal of lesbianism. A veteran director anonymously critiqued Spielberg for compromising the film’s tone in an attempt to appeal to audiences. Spielberg received a nomination from the Directors' Guild for "The Colour Purple," which features the story of Celie, a child bride who overcomes abuse to become a strong woman. This nomination came from a broader body of 7,500 members, many from television and non-directing backgrounds, in contrast to the more exclusive Academy directors' branch. The article discussed the history of overlooked directors, citing examples like George Cukor, who was famously ignored for his work on "Camille" in 1937 despite the film receiving ten nominations. Cukor later won for “My Fair Lady” in 1964, after years of being snubbed for his refined style that clashed with the flashier approaches of his contemporaries. The piece also mentioned Alfred Hitchcock's notable absence from the Best Director nominations despite numerous acclaimed films, spanning five nominations without a win, only receiving the Thalberg Award later in recognition of his overall contributions. Additionally, the report pointed out that the Academy's pattern of snubbing extends beyond directors to some of the leading actors in Hollywood. Greta Garbo, Cary Grant, and Charlie Chaplin, although missing out on individual nominations, eventually received honorary awards. Marlon Brando, who created a defining role in "A Streetcar Named Desire", also lost to Humphrey Bogart before winning Best Actor for "On The Waterfront" in 1954. It concluded with a note on Paul Newman, who, despite being nominated six times, was set to receive an honorary award on 24 March for his significant contributions to cinema and his commitment to his craft.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand