Multi-talented actor-producer-director-writer Warren Beatty was nominated for two Director Oscars: in 1978, for the comedy “Heaven Can Wait,” which he co-helmed with Buck Henry, and in 1981 for “Reds.”
He won for “Reds,” which was also nominated for Best Picture and brought Supporting Actress Award to Maureen Stapleton.
In 1978, Beatty and Buck Henry competed for the Directing Oscar with Michael Cimino, wo won for the Vietnam War film “The Deer Hunter,” Woody Allen for “Interiors,” Hal Ashby for “Coming Home,” also about Vietnam, and Alan Parker for “Midnight Express.”
In 1981, Beatty prevailed in a contest that included Hugh Hudson for “Chariots of Fire,” which won Best Picture, Louis Malle for “Atlantic City,” Mark Rydell for “On Golden Pond,” and Steven Spielberg for “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
In his Oscar speech, Beatty acknolwedged the historical significance of his film: “It reflects a more particular credit on the freedom of expression we have in our American society and the lack of censorship from the government or the people who put up the money,” Warren Beatty said, thanking Barry Diller for greenlighting a movie about politics–and Communism at that.
