Waving flag at Oscar ceremony
Movie buffs know that many memorable moments have occurred during the annual presentation of the Academy Awards, such as the surprise appearance of a streaker and, far more seriously, the first time a Black actress won an Oscar. One great moment, however, has been forgotten: the time two actors in uniform waved an American flag.
The date was March 5, 1943, smack in the middle of U.S. involvement in World War II. Tyrone Power, known for his swashbuckler roles, and Alan Ladd, who was often in westerns, had given up acting and entered the military. Power was a Marine; Ladd was in the Army.
On the night of the ceremonies, soprano Jeanette MacDonald, described in a news account as a “red-haired singer wearing an electric blue gown with a screen of chartreuse feathers in her hair,” sang the National Anthem as hundreds of movie personnel rose from their chairs.
The flag that all of them faced was carried onstage by Power and Ladd. The moment was as electric as MacDonald’s dress.
Many of the awards that followed were given to patriotic films. James Cagney won best actor for playing George M. Cohan in “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” The biopic included many of Cohan’s all-American songs, including “Over There” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”
The statuette for best actress went to Greer Garson for the title role of “Mrs. Miniver,” the story of an English family surviving Nazi bombing of England. Winning the supporting actress prize was Teresa Wright, who played Garson’s daughter. The film itself was named the best picture. “Mrs. Miniver” garnered several more awards, including one for the director, William Wyler, who was not present because he was in the Air Corps overseas.
The best supporting actor came from another film: Van Heflin, who arrived in his Air Force uniform to collect the Oscar. The pro-American mood extended even to a cartoon when Walt Disney’s studio won an award for the Donald Duck short, “Der Fuehrer’s Face.” As for documentaries, four were honored, all of them related to WWII.
Capping off the flag-draped night was the presence of a gigantic service flag to show how many people from the film industry were in the military: an incredible 27,677.
For good measure, composer Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” won the best-song prize. During the war, the nostalgic tune connected men overseas to the homes they were protecting.
A most interesting wide range of facts about actors and actresses and their part in patriotic events and film related awards and appearances. Enjoyed it.