Red Buttons won the 1957 Supporting Actor Oscar for the interracial melodrama, “Sayonara,” which was also nominated for Best Picture (see below). It was his first and last Oscar nomination.
In 1957, Buttons competed against Vittorio De Sica in “A Farewell to Arms,” Sessue Hayakawa in “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” Arthur Kennedy in “Peyton Place,” and Russ Tamblyn in Peyton Place.”
Upon winning, Buttons told the press: “It’s like a bullet in the gut.”
Warner (William Goetz Production)
Oscar Nominations: 10
Picture, produced by William Goetz
Director: Joshua Logan
Screenplay (Adapted): Paul Osborn
Actor: Marlon Brando
Supporting Actor: Red Buttons
Supporting Actress: Miyoshi Umeki
Art Direction-Set Decoration: Ted Haworth; Robert Priestley
Cinematography (color): Ellsworth Fredericks
Film Editing: Arthur P. Scmidt and Philip W. Anderson
Sound: George Groves
Oscar Awards: 4
Supporting Actor
Supporting Actress
Art Direction
Sound
Oscar Context:
"The Bridge on the River Kwai" won in every category it was nominated but Supporting Actor. "Bridge on the River Kwai" was the most rewarded, but not the most nominated picture. That honor was claimed by "Sayonara," with 10 nominations, and "Peyton Place," with 9. The other two nominees were courtroom dramas: Sidney Lumet's brilliant feature debut, "Twelve Angry Men" and Billy Wilder's "Witness for the Prosecution."
Three of the Best Picture nominees, "Peyton Place," "Twelve Angry Men," and "Witness for the Prosecution" didn't win any awards.
In 1957, the Supporting Acting winners were Red Buttons and Miyoshi Umeki, both for "Sayonara."
