Oscar History: Academy Award Winning Movies and Actors of 1970

A look at Oscar winners and nominees, behind the scenes on the decisions for best picture, actor, etc for 1970, George C. Scott and Patton gets top honors.

1970

Best Picture

NOMINEES: Airport, Five Easy Pieces, Love Story, M*A*S*H, Patton

THE WINNER: Patton (20th Century-Fox)

DIRECTOR: Franklin J. Schaffner

PLAYERS: George C. Scott, Karl Malden

Best Actor

NOMINEES: Melvyn Douglas (I Never Sang for My Father); James Earl Jones (The Great White Hope); Jack Nicholson (Five Easy Pieces); Ryan O'Neal (Love Story); George C. Scott (Patton)

THE WINNER: George C. Scott

Best Actress

NOMINEES: Carrie Snodgress (Dairy of a Mad Housewife); Jane Alexander (The Great White Hope); Glenda Jackson (Women in Love); Ali MacGraw (Love Story); Sarah Miles (Ryan's Daughter)

THE WINNER: Glenda Jackson

Behind the Oscar

George C. Scott, the reluctant dragon, who said he didn't want it, got the Oscar for Patton. While he wasn't present for the presentation, there is no evidence he returned the Oscar. Still, Scott maintained it was "degrading for actors to compete against one another." Karl Malden, who played Omar Bradley to Scott's Patton, agreed with Scott's right to decline but felt it could have been done more subtly. The town was again divided into 2 camps. Actually, without the controversy, it would have been a dull event. Oscar was beginning to look his age.