MovieChat Forums > Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) Discussion > First film to win the Best Picture Oscar

First film to win the Best Picture Oscar

posted 17 years ago by cragdweller13
8 replies | jump to latest

I just found this out. Did anyone else know that.

[–] JacquesDemy 17 years ago

Best Picture, Unique and Artistic Production

Winner:
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) - Fox

Best Picture, Production

Winner:
Wings (1927) - Paramount Famous Lasky

So I guess, people usually think Wings got the Best Picture of that year.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] robmeister 17 years ago

The actual category for which Wings won was "Outstanding Picture", and Sunrise did pick up the "Unique and Artistic Picture" award. According to TCM host Robert Osborne, the "Unique and Artistic Picture" award was given especially to Sunrise, so it could be included as an honoree. Not to take away from that honor, but according to the Academy Awards Database, "Unique and Artistic Picture" was a competitive category, with The Crowd and Chang as the other nominees.

It turns out that the "Unique and Artistic Picture" category was a one-off, as it was gone the next year, and "Outstanding Picture" (which would evolve into "Best Picture") remained.

This (to me) is why Wings is regarded as the Best Picture of 1927/28, and not Sunrise.

[–] Kinematico 16 years ago

What the previous poster said. Wings won for "Best Production" that award later developed into what we know as "Best Picture", while "Sunrise" award was given only that year.
So in strictu sensu "Wings" is the 1st Best Picture Winner.

[–] rudeboy_murray 16 years ago

And of course, in what would become a tradition of the Oscars, the actual best picture winner is not held in particularly high regard today while Sunrise is widely accepted as one of the great movies.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Bhana32 16 years ago

I didn't know that!

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[–] BeautifulLetdown88 16 years ago

Yep. Then again I took a film class when I saw this movie so we sort of had to know. Lol. It isn't surprising though. This movie is very entertaining for a silent film.

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