Oscar Movies: Waikiki Avenue (1937)

The song “Sweet Leilani,” which won the Oscar, was a huge hit for Crosby, in his first album that sold over one million copies.

The Oscar caused a scandal for it defeated George and Ira Gershwin’s seminal “They Can’t Take That Away fromMe,” from the Astaire-Rogers musical, “Shall We Dance.”

The supporting ensemble includes Leif Erickson, Grady Sutton, and Anthony Quinn, before he became a star.

The Oscar win was attributed to the fact that all members of the unions and guilds (including the Screen Extras Guild) voted for the final ballots.

 

Oscar Nominations: 2

Song: “Sweet Leilani,” music and lyrics by Harry Owens

Dance Direction: Leroy Prinz

Oscar Awards: 1

Song

Oscar Context:

The winner of the Dance Direction Award, which was discontinued in 1938, was Hermes Pan for “A Damsel in Distress.”