Summary

It is considered an honor to come through at theOscars , but 88 year ago , one person manage to win the esteemed award without receiving a nominating address . For a abbreviated time during the early years of the award ceremony , the Academy initiated a fresh system of ballot after find controversyfor ignoring sealed performances for nominations . One film involved in this singular voting system was the 1935 film , A Midsummer Night ’s Dream .

conform from the playing period by William Shakespeare , A Midsummer Night ’s Dreamlooks at the risky venture of four young lovers and a troupe of actor who ascertain themselves in a forest dwell by fagot . The movie star Dick Powell , Mickey Rooney , and Olivia de Havilland in her first star role . It bring home the bacon 2 Academy Awards in 1936 , butone of its awards was received thanks to a military campaign implemented at the premature year ’s ceremonyby a Hollywood legend .

One Oscar candidate for Best Actor took the laurels home along with a fellow nominee , despite having one vote less , thanks to an sometime Academy formula .

Wallace Beery in The Champ next to an Oscat statuette and Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Won Best Cinematography As A Write-In

Hal Mohr was honored by the Academy thanks to a unique campaign.

While the 1935 film received a mixed reception upon sacking , with criticism direct towards its cast and performance , it has since been regarded as one of the best adaptations of the classic play . The saltation sequence , musical soundtrack , and filming were highly praise for giving a credible interpreting of Shakespeare ’s comedy . It received four Academy Award nominations in 1936 , and won two for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography ; however , it only won Best Cinematography thanks to a unique voting organization that had been implemented the class prior .

Hal Mohr was one of several write - ins at the 8th Academy Awards in 1936;the Academy had initiated this movement in 1935 , after present severe rebound for cut Bette Davisfor a nominating speech for her functioning inOf Human Bondage . In response , the Academy allowed voter to write in their own nominations and Davis was later added to the list of 1935 Best Actress nominees ; she ultimately lost out to Claudette Colbert for her performance inIt pass One Night(viaVulture ) .

None of 2024 ’s possible Oscar nominees can bust one 85 - year - old Best Picture phonograph record , and no next movie is probable to shell it either .

Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer and Leonardo di Caprio in Killers of the Flower Moon

Why Hal Mohr Was The First & Last Write-In Oscar Winner

The Academy Awards no longer allows write-in votes

While there were five write - in nomination at the eighth Academy Awards , Hal Mohr was the only one to deliver the goods an Oscar . His profits at the ceremony in 1936 forced the Academy to make further change in its balloting system . After Mohr ’s win at the 8th ceremonial occasion , technical worker felt that drop a line - in campaigns made it too gentle to rig the vote systemand could potentially undercut the honor of winning an Oscar in later years . The Academy consort , and in 1937 , the determination was made to ostracise write - in votes for right ( viaCollider ) .

Despite the disceptation circumvent his win , Hal Mohr go on to have a very successful life history in filming . In 1944 , he won his second Academy Award in cinematography for his work inThe Phantom of the Operawith W. Howard Greene ; he later received another nomination in 1953 forThe Four Poster . However , his win at the 8th Academy Awards using write - in , persist one of the most controversial events in the story of theOscars , more than eight decades later on .

Sources : Vulture , Collider

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

Oscars Statues Academy Awards

Hal Mohr with an Academy Award

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