Credits
Produced by Carlo Ponti.
Directed by David Lean.
Screenplay: Robert Bolt, based on the novel by Boris Pasternak.
Camera: Freddie Young.
Editor: Norman Savage
Original Score: Maurice Jarre.
Production Designer (color): John Box.
Art Direction-Set Decoration (color): John Box; Terry Marsh
Costumes: Phyllis Dalton.
F/X: Eddie Fowlie.
Oscar Nominations: 10
Picture
Director
Screenplay (Adapted):
Supporting Actor: Tom Courtenay
Art Direction-Set Decoration
Cinematography
Art direction
Costume
Music score
Sound
Oscar Awards: 5
Screenplay (Adapted)
Cinematography
Art direction
Costume
Music score
Oscar Context
The 1965 Oscar competition for Best Picture was rather weak. Stanley Kramer's flawed and pretentious “Ship of Fools” and the screen adaptation of the Broadway comedy “A Thousand Clowns” stood no chance of winning. The other two contenders were made by British directors, Lean's “Doctor Zhivago” and John Schlesinger' “Darling!” clearly the most innovative of the nominees, singled out by the New York Film Critics Circle as Best Picture.
For most Academy members, the choice was between “The Sound of Music” and “Doctor Zhivago,” each of which received ten nominations. At the end of the day, the awards were also equally divided, with each movie getting five, though, except for Screenplay, “Doctor Zhivago” received mostly technical awards, such as Color Cinematography, Color Art Direction-Set Decoration, and Color Costume Design.
In 1965, the 24-year-old Julie Christie became the hottest actress in the world as a result of her appearances in two films: “Doctor Zhivago” and “Darling,” for which she won the Best Actress Oscar.
