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The Oscars: What Were They Thinking? 1961 – A Boy’s Best Friend Is His Oscar
By Bruce Vilanch
December 11, 2024

On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex look at the

1961 Oscars for the films of 1960. Yep we’re going back a ways to a year that really

helps exemplify what this show is about. You see, in 1960, three films came out that are

currently on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 American Films of ALL TIME.

However, only one of those three films was nominated for an Academy Award! Using

the test of time and our love of movies, we examine whether those other two films (as

well as the iconic performances and directorial efforts within them) deserve to replace

the nominated films — and Bruces gives the cultural and historical context as to why

those films might have been left off the list at the time. Adam of course thinks they were

egregious omissions and you’d have to be a total psycho not to include at least one of

them!

Movies Mentioned

Just Friends

The Apartment

Elmer Gantry

The Alamo

Sons and Lovers

Lady Chatterley’s Lover

The Sundowners

From Here to Eternity

Oklahoma

Never on Sunday

Rarfifi

Night in the City

Psycho

Psycho (Gus Van Sant remake)

Sweet Smell of Success

The Killers

Kiss the Blood Off my Hands

The Entertainer

Inherit the Wind

Sands of Iwo Jima

Friendly Persuasion

Mr. Roberts

Teen Sympathy

The Life and Times of Colonel Blimp

Elenor Roosevelt

Butterfield Eight

Cleopatra

Double Indemnity

Pushover

Exodus

Murder, Inc.

Spartacus

All About Eve

Yankee Doodle Dandy

The Dark at the Top of the Stairs

Miranda

Fear Strikes Out

Jaws

Homicidal

The Angry Silence

The Facts of Life

Hiroshima, My Love / Hiroshima, Mon Amour

Tunes of Glory

Oceans 11

Little Shop of Horrors

The Magnificent Seven

Swiss Family Robinson

La Dolce Vita

Sergeant York

High Noon

The Naked Edge

Killer’s Kiss

The Killing

Lolita

Paths of Glory

The Ten Commandments

Ben Hur

Solomon & Sheba

Land of the Pharaohs

The Life of Brian

Trumbo

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The post Podcast: Bruce Vilanch – 1961-A Boys Best Friend Is His Oscar – Episode 3 first appeared on We Got Bruce!.