RKO Radio (Mercury Production)
Oscar Nominations: 9
Picture, produced by Orson Welles
Director: Orson Welles
Screenplay (Original): Herman J. Mankiewicz and Orson Welles
Actor: Orson Welles
Cinematography (b/w): Gregg Toland
Interior Decoration (b/w): zperry Ferguson and Van Nest Polglase, art direction; Al Fields and Darrell Silvera, set decoration
Sound Recording: John Aalberg
Scoring (Dramatic): Bernard Herrmann
Film Editing: Robert Wise
Oscar Awards: 1
Screenplay
Oscar Context
John Ford's “How Green Was My Valley” was selected as Best Picture by the Academy while the U.S. had already been involved in the War. The film's warmly sympathetic depiction of family unity must have hit deep chords in the country's collective consciousness, which may explain at least in part why its two major competitors, Welles's masterpiece, “Citizen Kane” and William Wyler's “The Little Foxes,” each with nine nominations, were the big losers. Both films particularly “Little Foxes,” represented dark and somber visions of the American family. Once again, the “right” contents and ideological approach made the difference, though it's noteworthy that “How Green” was as visually distinguishable as it was thematically acceptable.
The most nominated film in 1941 was Howard Hawks' patriotic saga, “Sergeant York,” which received 11 nominations and won two: Gary Cooper as Best Actor and Film Editing for William Holmes.