Looking at Film from Every Angle

26th Academy Awards (1953): The Ceremony

Nominations Announcement

Nominations Announcement Date: Monday, February 15, 1954

Ceremony Details

Awards Ceremony Date/Time: Thursday, March 25, 1954, 8:00pm
Location: RKO Pantages Theatre, Hollywood; NBC Century Theatre, New York
Televised On: NBC
Host: Donald O’Connor (in Hollywood), Frederic March (in New York)
Length: 1 hours, 58 minutes
Viewers: 43 million

Presenters

Documentary Short Subject: Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Wilding
Documentary Feature: Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Wilding
Sound Mixing: Jack Webb
Animated Short Film: Keefe Brasselle, Marilyn Erskine
Live Action Short Film (One-Reel): Keefe Brasselle, Marilyn Erskine
Live Action Short Film (Two-Reel): Keefe Brasselle, Marilyn Erskine
Film Editing: Esther Williams
Costume Design: Gene Tierney (NOTE: Both Black-and-White and Color awards presented together)
Production Design: Gower Champion, Marge Champion (NOTE: Both Black-and-White and Color awards presented together)
Cinematography: Lana Turner, Lex Barker (NOTE: Both Black-and-White and Color awards presented together)
Writing: Motion Picture Story: Kirk Douglas
Writing: Screenplay: Kirk Douglas
Writing: Story and Screenplay: Kirk Douglas
Directing: Irene Dunne
Supporting Actress: Walter Brennan
Supporting Actor: Mercedes McCambridge
Music: Drama or Comedy Score: Arthur Freed
Music: Musical Score: Arthur Freed
Original Song: Arthur Freed
Actress: Gary Cooper (on film)
Actor: Shirley Booth (on film)
Picture: Cecil B. DeMille
Special Effects: Merle Oberon
Honorary Award: Pete Smith for “Pete Smith Specialties,” 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation, Joseph I. Breen, Bell and Howell Company: Charles Brackett
Scientific & Technical Awards: Tyrone Power
Irving G. Thalberg Award: George Stevens: David O. Selznick

Previous Acting & Directing Winners

The tradition of prior acting winners returning the subsequent year to present the opposite-gender category is a long one. Each year, we look to see whether the prior winners returned. There was an intermittent tradition where the prior directing winner returned as well, but this was a rare occurrence.

Actor – Gary Cooper: Yes
Actress – Shirley Booth: Yes
Supporting Actor – Anthony Quinn: No
Supporting Actress – Gloria Grahame: No
Directing – John Ford: No

Song Performances

The Moon Is Blue: Donald O’Connor, Mitzi Gaynor
My Flaming Heart: Margaret Whiting
Sadie Thompson’s Song (Blue Pacific Blues): Connie Russell
Secret Love: Ann Blyth
That’s Amore: Dean Martin

Original Song Film Performers

Was the song performed at the Oscars by the same individuals who performed it in the film?

The Moon Is Blue: No (Performed in the Film by: Sylvia Fine)
My Flaming Heart: No (Performed in the Film by: Nat “King” Cole)
Sadie Thompson’s Song (Blue Pacific Blues): Yes (Performed in the Film by: Rita Hayworth (dubbed by Jo Ann Greer), Jo Ann Greer (dubbing for Rita Hayworth))
Secret Love: No (Performed in the Film by: Doris Day)
That’s Amore: Partial (Dean Martin only) (Performed in the Film by: Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis)

Ceremony Production Staff

Announcer: Raymond Burr
Conductor / Musical Arranger: André Previn
Director: William A. Bennington, Grey Lockwood (in New York)
Producer: Mitchell Leisen