February 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, February 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2012
A magnificent piece of Hollywood history, the Oscar for Best Picture awarded to longtime producer Darryl F. Zanuck for "How Green Was My Valley" in the 14th Academy Award ceremony at the Biltmore Hotel on 26 February 1942. The Oscar is perhaps most notable from the competition it fended off. The all time classics, "Citizen Kane," "The Maltese Falcon," "Suspicion" and "Sergeant York" all missed out on the coveted award. The film was directed by the visionary genius, John Ford, who picked up his third best director award, again beating off Orson Welles and making the only one of his films to also receive the Best Picture accolade. All together, "How Green Was My Valley" dominated that year's ceremony receiving 10 nominations and taking away 5 awards, the most of any film that evening. Producer Darryl F. Zanuck who co-founded 20th Century Fox studios, would later win two more Best Picture Awards and be honored by the Producer's Guild of America with an award category in his name: "The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year." This trophy was a first for two of Hollywood's most memorable greats. "How Green Was My Valley" stars Roddy McDowell and centers upon a hard working Welsh coal mining family in the South Welsh valleys based on a novel by Richard Llewellyn. The engraved plaque reads, "Academy First Award / to / 20th Century-Fox / for the production of / 'How Green Was My Valley'". The figure and film reel, composed of gold-plated britannium measuring 10.5" tall, top the pedestal, bringing the total height to 12.5". The pedestal's diameter measures 5.25" and the award weighs 6.5 pounds. Statue is likely a duplicate as the base conforms to Oscars made after 1945. Very light scratching to award and light chipping to black pedestal. Near fine condition.
Best Picture Oscar for "How Green Was My Valley" -- John Ford's 1941 Classic That Bested "Citizen Kane"
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