Details
CASABLANCA, 1942
BEST PICTURE ACADEMY AWARD PRESENTED TO HAL B. WALLIS
The gold plated britannia statue with the front plaque on the base inscribed ACADEMY FIRST AWARD TO "CASABLANCA" BEST PICTURE OF 1943 WARNER BROS. HAL B. WALLIS, PRODUCER--12 in. high.
The Academy Award for Best Picture of 1942 possessed all the elements of a true life Hollywood drama. The Academy had been formed in 1927 by the major studios, and back then there were no steadfast rules for receiving Awards, etc. The system almost always favored the Studios above the individuals, and the rules continued to change every year. While there were no real guidelines for the Award for Best Picture, a Studio head would pick up the Oscar, a practice that wouldn't change until 1948. When a producer would receive a Best Picture Oscar, it was usually someone on the level of David O. Selznick who also ran his own studio.
In an odd turn of events, Mr. Wallis did not actually accept the Best Picture Oscar, even though his contribution was recognized by the Academy and he attended the event. When Casablanca was named the winner, Jack Warner, head of the Studio, ran up to receive the Oscar before anyone else could reach the podium. In his autobiography Mr. Wallis recalled the moment, "I started up the aisle to receive my Award. To my astonishment, Jack Warner leapt to his feet, ran to the stage, and received it ahead of me. Almost forty years later, I still haven't recovered from the shock of it." While Mr. Wallis did eventually receive a Best Picture Academy Award for Casablanca, the incident set in motion a chain of events which permanently severed his relationship with Jack Warner and the Studio. Mr. Wallis departed shortly thereafter, and relocated his production company to Paramount Pictures.
BEST PICTURE ACADEMY AWARD PRESENTED TO HAL B. WALLIS
The gold plated britannia statue with the front plaque on the base inscribed ACADEMY FIRST AWARD TO "CASABLANCA" BEST PICTURE OF 1943 WARNER BROS. HAL B. WALLIS, PRODUCER--12 in. high.
The Academy Award for Best Picture of 1942 possessed all the elements of a true life Hollywood drama. The Academy had been formed in 1927 by the major studios, and back then there were no steadfast rules for receiving Awards, etc. The system almost always favored the Studios above the individuals, and the rules continued to change every year. While there were no real guidelines for the Award for Best Picture, a Studio head would pick up the Oscar, a practice that wouldn't change until 1948. When a producer would receive a Best Picture Oscar, it was usually someone on the level of David O. Selznick who also ran his own studio.
In an odd turn of events, Mr. Wallis did not actually accept the Best Picture Oscar, even though his contribution was recognized by the Academy and he attended the event. When Casablanca was named the winner, Jack Warner, head of the Studio, ran up to receive the Oscar before anyone else could reach the podium. In his autobiography Mr. Wallis recalled the moment, "I started up the aisle to receive my Award. To my astonishment, Jack Warner leapt to his feet, ran to the stage, and received it ahead of me. Almost forty years later, I still haven't recovered from the shock of it." While Mr. Wallis did eventually receive a Best Picture Academy Award for Casablanca, the incident set in motion a chain of events which permanently severed his relationship with Jack Warner and the Studio. Mr. Wallis departed shortly thereafter, and relocated his production company to Paramount Pictures.