Oscar History: Academy Award Winning Movies and Actors of 1930-1931

A look at Oscar winners and nominees, behind the scenes on the decisions for best picture, actor, etc for 1930-1931, Cimarron is the first western to get top honors.

1930-1931

Best Picture

NOMIEES: Cimarron, East Lynne, The Front Page, Skippy, Trader Horn

THE WINNER: Cimarron (RKO)

DIRECTOR: Wesley Ruggles

PLAYERS: Richard Dix, Irene Dunne, Estelle Taylor, William Collier, Jr., Nance O'Neill

Best Actor

NOMINEES: Lionel Barrymore (A Free Soul); Jackie Cooper (Skippy); Richard Dix (Cimarron); Fredric March (The Royal Family of Broadway); Adolphe Menjou (The Front Page)

THE WINNER: Lionel Barrymore

Best Actress

NOMINEES: Marie Dressler (Min And Bill); Marlene Dietrich (Morocco); Irene Dunne (Cimmarron); Ann Harding (Holiday); Norma Shearer (A Free Soul)

THE WINNER: Marie Dressler

Behind the Oscar

The award ceremony became a national event when Vice-President Charles Curtis came in from Washington, D.C., to address the 1,800 Guests. Two old pros triumphed over the glamour girls and handsome leading men. Ailing, elderly Marie Dressler won easily, as did 48-year-old Lionel Barrymore. One losing nominee, 10-year-old Jackie Cooper, snoozed through the speeches. The winning film, based on a novel by Edna Ferber, was the 1ST Western to be thus honored.