Oscar History: Academy Award Winning Movies and Actors of 1946

A look at Oscar winners and nominees, behind the scenes on the decisions for best picture, actor, etc for 1946, The Best Years of Our Lives gets top honors.

1946

Best Picture

NOMINEES: The Best Years of Our Lives, Henry V, It's a Wonderful Life, The Razor's Edge, The Yearling

THE WINNER: The Best Years of Our Lives (Samuel Goldwyn-RKO Radio)

DIRECTOR: William Wyler

PLAYERS: Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo, Hoagy Carmichael

Best Actor

NOMINEES: Laurence Olivier (Henry V); Larry Parks (The Jolson Story), Fredric March (The Best Years of Our Lives); Gregory Peck (The Yearling); James Stewart (It's a Wonderful Life)

THE WINNER: Fredric March

Best Actress

NOMINEES: Celia Johnson (Brief Encounter); Jennifer Jones (Duel in the Sun); Olivia De Havilland (To Each His Own); Rosalind Russell (Sister Kenny); Jane Wyman (The Yearling)

THE WINNER: Olivia De Havilland

Behind the Oscar

When Olivia De Havilland won the best actress award, her sister, Joan Fontaine, tried to shake her hand. Olivia backed off as if confronted by a leper and cut her dead, saying, "I don't know why she does that when she knows how I feel." The Best Years of Our Lives beat The Yearling by a nose, and venerable pioneer Sam Goldwyn had his 1st accolade from the Academy. In true form, he called Hoagy Carmichael, one of the stars in his film, "Hugo" Carmichael.