1951 ceremony · films of 1950
The 23rd Oscars
109 nominations in 27 categories.
Nominations and wins
The night's big films
6 of 14
3 of 11
2 of 5
1 of 5- 1 of 4
0 of 4
Winners first
Every category
Best Picture
Announced as Best Motion Picture
- 20th Century-Fox
- Columbia
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Paramount
Best Director
Best Actor
Announced as Actor
- José Ferrer · Cyrano de Bergerac
- Spencer Tracy · Stanley T. Banks
- James Stewart · Elwood P. Dowd
- William Holden · Joe Gillis
- Louis Calhern · Oliver Wendell Holmes
Best Actress
Announced as Actress
- Judy Holliday · Billie Dawn
- Bette Davis · Margo Channing
- Anne Baxter · Eve Harrington
- Eleanor Parker · Marie Allen
- Gloria Swanson · Norma Desmond
Best Supporting Actor
- George Sanders · Addison De Witt
- Jeff Chandler · Cochise
- Edmund Gwenn · Skipper Miller
- Erich von Stroheim · Max Von Mayerling
- Sam Jaffe · Dr. Erwin Riedenschneider
Best Supporting Actress
- Josephine Hull · Veta Louise Simmons
- Celeste Holm · Karen Richards
- Thelma Ritter · Birdie
- Hope Emerson · Evelyn Harper
- Nancy Olson · Betty Schaefer
Best Original Screenplay
Announced as Writing (Story and Screenplay)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Announced as Writing (Screenplay)
NOTE: Based upon the research made by, and the board motion of, the Writers Guild of America West, the Academy, on July 3, 1991, decided to restore Albert Maltz to the screenplay credit on the 1950 film Broken Arrow. Michael Blankfort had fronted for him on the screenplay and consequently was named in the screenplay nomination. Mr. Blankfort's name was removed from the nomination.
Best Original Story
Announced as Writing (Motion Picture Story)
Best International Feature
Announced as Honorary Foreign Language Film Award
- The Walls of Malapaga
To The Walls of Malapaga - voted by the Board of Governors as the most outstanding foreign language film released in the United States in 1950.
Best Documentary Feature
- Jack Arnold and Lee Goodman, Producers
Best Cinematography (Black-and-White)
Best Cinematography (Color)
Best Film Editing
Best Production Design (Black-and-White)
Best Production Design (Color)
Best Costume Design (Black-and-White)
Best Costume Design (Color)
Best Original Score
Announced as Music (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture)
Best Song Score or Adaptation Score
Announced as Music (Scoring of a Musical Picture)
Best Original Song
Announced as Music (Song)
- Captain Carey, U.S.A. · Mona LisaMusic and Lyrics by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston
Cinderella · Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo- Singing Guns · Mule Train
- The Toast of New Orleans · Be My LoveMusic by Nicholas Brodszky; Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
- Wabash Avenue · WilhelminaMusic by Josef Myrow; Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Best Sound
- 20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director
- Universal-International Studio Sound Department, Leslie I. Carey, Sound Director
- Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Gordon Sawyer, Sound Director
- Pinewood Studio Sound Department, Cyril Crowhurst, Sound Director
Best Visual Effects
Announced as Special Effects
- George Pal Productions
- Cecil B. DeMille Productions
Best Documentary Short
- Edmund Reek, Producer
- Film Documents, Inc.
Best Animated Short
Announced as Short Subject (Cartoon)
- Stephen Bosustow, Producer
- Fred Quimby, Producer
- Stephen Bosustow, Producer
Best Live Action Short (One-reel)
- Gordon Hollingshead, Producer
- Robert Youngson, Producer
- Pete Smith, Producer
Best Live Action Short (Two-reel)
- Walt Disney, Producer
- Falcon Films, Inc.
Not competitive
Honorary and special awards
Honorary Award
- George Murphy
To George Murphy for his services in interpreting the film industry to the country at large.
- Louis B. Mayer
To Louis B. Mayer for distinguished service to the motion picture industry.
Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
- Darryl F. Zanuck