Oscar History: Academy Award Winning Movies and Actors of 1955

A look at Oscar winners and nominees, behind the scenes on the decisions for best picture, actor, etc for 1955, Marty gets top honors.

1955

Best Picture

NOMINEES: Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, Marty, Mister Roberts, Picnic, The Rose Tattoo

THE WINNER: Marty (Hecht-Lancaster; United Artists)

DIRECTOR: Delbert Mann

PLAYERS: Ernest Borgnine, Betsy Blair

Best Actor

NOMINEES: Ernest Borgnine (Marty); James Cagney (Love Me or Leave Me); James Dean (East of Eden); Frank Sinatra (Man with the Golden Arm); Spencer Tracy (Bad Day at Black Rock)

THE WINNER: Ernest Borgnine

Best Actress

NOMINEES: Susan Hayward (I'll Cry Tomorrow); Katharine Hepburn (Summertime); Jennifer Jones (Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing); Anna Magnani (The Rose Tattoo); Eleanor Parker (Interrupted Melody)

THE WINNER: Anna Magnani

Behind the Oscar

Jerry Lewis replaced Bob Hope as MC this year and all the winners, except for Anna Magnani, were on hand to receive their Oscars. Grace Kelly earned a chiding from Louella Parsons when she failed to acknowledge Jerry Lewis's salute to her from the industry. Grace, who was to be Princess of Monaco soon and was retiring from the screen, was there as a presenter. Miss Parsons told her readers: "It seems she might have taken a moment to thank him, give him a little kiss or something before leaving the stage so abruptly."