Oscar History: Academy Award Winning Movies and Actors of 1956

A look at Oscar winners and nominees, behind the scenes on the decisions for best picture, actor, etc for 1956, Around the World in 80 Days gets top honors.

1956

Best Picture

NOMINEES: Around the World in 80 Days, Friendly Persuasion, Giant, The King and I, The Ten Commandments

THE WINNER: Around the World in 80 Days (Todd-United Artists)

DIRECTOR: Michael Anderson

PLAYERS: David Niven, Cantinflas, Shirley MacLaine, Robert Newton

Best Actor

NOMINEES: Yul Brynner (The King and I); James Dean (Giant); Kirk Douglas (Lust for Life); Rock Hudson (Giant); Sir Laurence Olivier (Richard III)

THE WINNER: Yul Brynner

Best Actress

NOMINEES: Carrol Baker (Baby Doll); Ingrid Bergman (Anastasia); Katharine Hepburn (The Rainmaker); Nancy Kelly (The Bad Seed); Deborah Kerr (The King and I)

THE WINNER: Ingrid Bergman

Behind the Oscar

A triumphal recognition--after 6 years of selfimposed exile--was achieved by Ingrid Bergman when the Academy presented her an Oscar for Anastasia. Though in Paris doing a play, Miss Bergman responded with delight: "It is the most wished-for award by all movie artists," she said, "because it comes from your coworkers." Driven from a Hollywood that castigated her for her illicit romance with Italian director Roberto Rossellini, she was honored by her peers 6 years later.