Research in Progress (March 3, 2021)
Cineliteracy: What You Need to Know about 1929 as a Movie/Pop Culture Year
Note:
If you want to know more about these issues, please read my book:
Top-Grossing Films:
1. The Broadway Melody, MGM, $2,808,000
2. The Cock-Eyed World, Fox Film Corporation $2,700,000
3, Gold Diggers of Broadway, Warner Bros. $2,540,000
4. Sunny Side Up, Fox Film Corporation $2,190,000
5. On with the Show! Warner Bros. $1,741,000
6. Say It with Songs, $1,715,000
7. Rio Rita, RKO Radio Pictures $1,700,000
8. Show Boat Universal Pictures $1,643,000
9. The Desert Song Warner Bros. $1,594,000
10. Welcome Danger, Paramount Pictures $1,550,000
Movie Events
January 8:
Man with a Movie Camera, Soviet experimental documentary, directed by Dziga Vertov, is released
February 1:
The Broadway Melody, MGM first major sound musical, sparks a cycle “Broadway Melody” films that runs until 1940.
February 18:
The first Academy Awards, later known as the Oscars, are announced for the year that ended August 1, 1928.
March 3:
William Fox takes control of Loews Inc., including its Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, buying shares from Marcus Loew’s widow and sons and Nicholas Schenck for $50 million. The acquisition eventually falls through.
May 16:
The first Academy Awards are handed at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles.
May 26:
Fox News is shown in Fox Film’s new widescreen 70 mm Grandeur film format
July 13:
The first all-color talkie (Technicolor), On with the Show, is released by Warner, paving the way to a new color revolution.
July 17:
William Fox is badly injured in a car accident which kills his chauffeur.
August 3:
The Cock-Eyed World beats box office records
August 20:
Hallelujah!, the first Hollywood film with an all-black cast.
August 22:
Walt Disney Productions’ animated short “Silly Symphony” series, The Skeleton Dance, is released.
September:
Paramount Pictures acquires 49% of CBS.
October 24:
“Black Thursday,” start of stock market crash, Dow Jones down 12.8%
October 24:
Jean Harlow signs a five-year, $100 per week contract with Howard Hughes.
October 29:
“Black Tuesday,” Wall Street Stock Market crashes, triggering the “Great Depression”
October 30:
Entertainment newspaper Variety report that Wall Street Lays An Egg leading to many prominent showman and stars losing money on their investments.
November
Warner gain control of First National Pictures buying Fox Film’s 36% stake for $10 million
November 10
Première of John Grierson’s documentary Drifters about North Sea herring fishermen, inaugurating the British Documentary Film Movement.
November 15:
U.K. release of Atlantic, a film about the sinking of the RMS Titanic, one of the first British sound-on-film movies.
Its simultaneously-shot German-language version makes it the first to be released in Germany; it’s also the first Titanic movie with sound.
December:
Anti-trust suits filed against William Fox and Warner by the U.S. Department of Justice for Fox’s acquisition of Loews and Warners’ acquisition of the Stanley Corporation of America and First National.
Academy Awards (later known as the Oscars)
The 2nd Academy Awards honored the best films released between August 1, 1928, and July 31, 1929. They took place on April 3, 1930, at an awards banquet in the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
Most nominations:
In Old Arizona (Fox Film Corporation) – 5
Best Picture: The Broadway Melody (MGM)
Best Director: Frank Lloyd – The Divine Lady
Best Actor: Warner Baxter – In Old Arizona
Best Actress: Mary Pickford – Coquette
Popular Stars
Richard Barthelmess
Ruth Chatterton
Maurice Chevalier
Douglas Fairbanks
Greta Garbo
Ann Harding
Walter Huston
Emil Jannings
Victor McLaglen
William Powell
Norma Shearer
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
-
The First Oscar Presentation and Banquet Held in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel -
Joseph Farnham receiving his Oscar from presenter Douglas… -
Janet Gaynor: Best Actress winner for 3 films: 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise
WINNERS & NOMINEES
ACTOR
WINNER: EMIL JANNINGS
The Last Command, The Way of All Flesh
RICHARD BARTHELMESS, The Noose, The Patent Leather Kid
ACTRESS
WINNER
JANET GAYNOR, 7th Heaven, Street Angel, Sunrise
NOMINEES
LOUISE DRESSER, A Ship Comes In
ART DIRECTION
WINNER
THE DOVE, William Cameron Menzies
NOMINEES
SUNRISE
7TH HEAVEN
CINEMATOGRAPHY
WINNER
SUNRISE, Charles Rosher, Karl Struss
NOMINEES
THE DEVIL DANCER
THE MAGIC FLAME
SADIE THOMPSON
DIRECTING (COMEDY PICTURE)
WINNER
TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS
NOMINEES
SPEEDY
DIRECTING (DRAMATIC PICTURE)
WINNER
7TH HEAVEN
NOMINEES
SORRELL AND SON
THE CROWD
ENGINEERING EFFECTS
WINNER
WINGS
NOMINEES
Ralph Hammeras
OUTSTANDING PICTURE
WINNER
WINGS, Paramount Famous Lasky
THE RACKET, The Caddo Company
SPECIAL AWARD
WINNER, THE CIRCUS
THE JAZZ SINGER
UNIQUE AND ARTISTIC PICTURE
WINNER
SUNRISE
NOMINEES
THE CROWD
CHANG
WRITING (ADAPTATION)
WINNER
7TH HEAVEN
NOMINEES
THE JAZZ SINGER
GLORIOUS BETSY
WRITING (ORIGINAL STORY)
WINNER
UNDERWORLD
NOMINEES
THE LAST COMMAND
WRITING (TITLE WRITING)
WINNER
Joseph Farnham
NOMINEES
THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HELEN OF TROY
Note:
If you want to know more about these issues, please read my book:
