Elizabeth Taylor, who had a near-fatal bout with pneumonia a short time before the ceremony, was viewed as having received her Oscar out of sympathy rather than for her performance in Butterfield 8.[1]
Gary Cooper was selected by the Academy Board of Governors to receive an Academy Honorary Award "for his many memorable screen performances and the international recognition he, as an individual, has gained for the motion picture industry". Cooper was too ill to attend the ceremony, though his condition was not publicly disclosed; James Stewart, a close friend of Cooper, accepted the Oscar on his behalf. Stewart's emotional speech hinted that something was seriously wrong, and the following day newspapers ran the headline, "Gary Cooper has cancer". Cooper died less than four weeks later.
Rising star Hayley Mills was selected by the Academy Board of Governors as the year's recipient of the Academy Juvenile Award for her breakthrough and acclaimed performance in Walt Disney's Pollyanna. She was the last recipient of the award; going forward, juvenile actors could officially compete in competitive categories. This was the first year a red carpet lined the walk into the theater.[2]
Winners and nominees
Billy Wilder (right); Best Picture and Best Director winner and Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen co-winner
Gary Cooper "for his many memorable screen performances and the international recognition he, as an individual, has gained for the motion picture industry".
Stan Laurel "for his creative pioneering in the field of cinema comedy".