February 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, February 28th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2012
"Color Cinematography" Oscar for MGM's classic 1946 feature film, "The Yearling." The bittersweet drama set in the 1878 Florida backwoods centered on a boy who raises an orphan fawn as a pet, only to be forced to shoot the animal a year later to protect his impoverished family's corn crop. Oscar-nominated across seven categories including Best Picture and Best Director, "The Yearling" won for Best Art Direction and Color Cinematography. This is the statue that was presented to Leonard Smith, who won the Color Cinematography category jointly with Charles Rosher and Arthur E. Arling; in the 1930's and 1940's art direction and cinematography awards were given separately to black and white and color films. Sidney Franklin produced the film from screenwriter Paul Osborn's adaptation of a novel by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Clarence Brown directed, and Claude Jarman Jr., Gregory Peck, Forrest Tucker, Chill Wills, and Jane Wyman starred. Statue measures 13" high including the base which bears the plaque: "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences / First Award / 1946 / To / Leonard Smith / For Color Cinematography Of / 'The Yearling'". The diameter of the metal base is 5". The figure standing on a film reel grasping a crusader's sword is 10.5" tall, and measures 3" across the shoulders. The Award weighs 6.5 pounds. Composed of brittanium with a high-finish gold plating. Plaque affixed to base is made of brass. Very good.
1946 Oscar for "The Yearling" -- Best Color Cinematography
Click above for larger image.