Oscar History: Academy Award Winning Movies and Actors of 1932-1933

A look at Oscar winners and nominees, behind the scenes on the decisions for best picture, actor, etc for 1932-1933, Cavalcade wins top honors.

1932-1933

Best Picture

NOMINEES: A Farewell to Arms, Forty-Second Street, I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Cavalcade, Lady for a Day, Little Women, The Private Life of Henry VIII, She Done Him Wrong, Smilin' Through, State Fair

THE WINNER: Cavalcade (Fox)

DIRECTOR: Frank Lloyd

PLAYERS: Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook

Best Actor

NOMINEES: Leslie Howard (Berkeley Square); Charles Laughton (The Private Life of Henry VIII); Paul Muni (I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang)

THE WINNER: Charles Laughton

Best Actress

NOMINEES: Katharine Hepburn (Morning Glory); May Robson (Lady for a Day);

Diana Wynyard (Cavalcade)

THE WINNER: Katharine Hepburn

Behind the Oscar

For the 1st time--it would only happen 3 times in Academy history--Both acting winners absent from the big night. Will Rogers was MC, and he really flubbed his lines. Announcing the winning director, he spoke of his "good friend Frank"--then hesitated--and Frank Capra had started toward the stage when Rogers concluded, "Frank Lloyd, the winner." Then Will Rogers summoned 2 of the best actress nominees, Diana Wynyard and May Robson, to the stage. They came up thinking they had won in a tie, but Rogers thanked them for their performances and then announced that the winner was--katharine Hepburn!