# Has a horror or comedy movie won an oscar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2006, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362 "2006-03-07T11:54:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/1 "2006-03-07T11:54:06Z")
Best picture or for any award? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/2 "2006-03-07T12:05:11Z")
How do you define horror or comedy? Silence of the Lambs won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1991, although I think most people would put it farther away from the “horror” genre and label it a “drama/thriller.” I think comedy is even harder to define. Rain Man won an Academy award, and there’s something comedic going on almost throughout the entire movie, yet the movie itself isn’t actually a comedic one, at least I don’t think. Sort of the same thing with Forrest Gump which won best picture. There’s a lot of comedy in it but both Forrest Gump and Rain Man seem to be more designed as dramas with comedic elements than as comedies. Around the World in Eighty Days (1956 best picture winner) however I think actually can be classified as a genuine bonafide comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/3 "2006-03-07T12:19:29Z")
It Happened One Night Going My Way Gigi The Apartment Tom Jones The Sting Annie Hall Shakespeare in Love All won Best Picture. There are some musicals which could perhaps be classed as comedies also, and then you have a picture like All About Eve which is amazingly funny and witty but probably wouldn’t be classified as a comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/4 "2006-03-07T12:27:21Z")
Best Actor Clark Gable (It Happened One Night) James Stewart (The Philadelphia Story) Bing Crosby (Going My Way) Richard Dreyfuss (The Goodbye Girl) Jack Nicholson (As Good As It Gets) Best Actress Claudette Colbert (It Happened One Night) Judy Holliday (Born Yesterday) Audrey Hepburn (Roman Holiday) Diane Keaton (Annie Hall) Cher (Moonstruck) Helen Hunt (As Good As It Gets) Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love) ---
**Author:** ![Tevildo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Tevildo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tevildo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/5 "2006-03-07T13:09:07Z")
I think [Tom Jones](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057590/) (Best Picture, 1963) and [Around the World in Eighty Days](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048960/) (1957) both count as “genuine comedy”. [Annie Hall](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075686/) (1977) and [You Can’t Take It with You](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030993/) (1939) might, too. Going through the entire list of the other “major” awards (Actor/Actress/Director): Best Director (1931) - Norman Taurog for [Skippy](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022397/) Best Director (1937) - Frank Capra for [Mr. Deeds Goes to Town](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027996/) Best Director (1938) - Leo McCarey for [The Awful Truth](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028597/) Best Actress (1954) - Audrey Hepburn for [Roman Holiday](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046250/) Best Director (1967) - Mike Nicholls for [The Graduate](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061722/) Best Actress (1988) - Cher for [Moonstruck](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093565/) For horror - if we’re excluding “Silence of the Lambs” (1991) we have to exclude “Rebecca” (1941), unfortunately, and we have to open the list for “other” awards to get any serious hits: Best Actor (1932) - Frederic March for [Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022835/) Best Supporting Actress (1969) - Ruth Gordon for [Rosemary’s Baby](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063522/) Best Screenplay (1974) - William Blatty for [The Exorcist](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/) Best Visual Effects (1987) - [Aliens](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090605/) Best Actress (1991) - Kathy Bates for [Misery](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100157/) Best Costume Design (1993) - [Dracula](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103874/) (Coppola) ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/6 "2006-03-07T14:07:44Z")
Kevin Kline won Best Supporting Actor for \*A Fish Called Wanda \* - probably one of the goofiest movies ever to sport an Oscar win. And I use goofy in the most sublime sense possible. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/7 "2006-03-07T14:33:33Z")
Whoo-hoo! One I know! Tootsie! Won for best actress for Jessica Lange. Nominated for a host of Oscars, best picture among them. But didn’t win best picture, like I originally thought. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/8 "2006-03-07T16:59:24Z")
In what universe is SILENCE OF THE LAMBS _not_ a horror movie? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/9 "2006-03-07T17:03:24Z")
> [@AerynSun](#): > > Kevin Kline won Best Supporting Actor for \*A Fish Called Wanda \* - probably one of the goofiest movies ever to sport an Oscar win. And I use goofy in the most sublime sense possible. Marisa Tomei for\* My Cousin Vinnie\*. Of course she didn’t actually win… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/10 "2006-03-07T17:04:47Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Whoo-hoo! One I know! Tootsie! Won for best actress for Jessica Lange. Lange won Best _Supporting_ Actress for her role in Tootsie. She was nominated the same year in the Best Actress category for the title role in Frances, but didn’t win. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/11 "2006-03-07T17:16:19Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Marisa Tomei for\* My Cousin Vinnie\*. Of course she didn’t actually win… Am I being whooshed? Marisa Tomei [won an Oscar](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000673/awards) (Best Supporting Actress) for her role in My Cousin Vinny. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/12 "2006-03-07T17:22:37Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Am I being whooshed? Marisa Tomei [won an Oscar](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000673/awards) (Best Supporting Actress) for her role in My Cousin Vinny. It’s a reference to the myth that [Jack Palance gave the award to Tomei by mistake](http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/tomei.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/13 "2006-03-07T17:40:52Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > It’s a reference to the myth that [Jack Palance gave the award to Tomei by mistake](http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/tomei.htm) [Arthur] It’s just a little joke![/Arthur] I had the same thought this year when _Crash_ was announced. I looked down at my laptop just before Jack said the name and I never saw him open the envelope. I thought he gave the award to the movie he liked best without reading it. Since no one else had this reaction I assumed I just missed the opening on the envelope. Now Jack Palance I’m not so sure about… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/14 "2006-03-07T17:47:16Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > [Arthur] It’s just a little joke![/Arthur] Speaking of which, John Gielgud won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Arthur. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/15 "2006-03-07T17:50:34Z")
Best Supporting Actors who won their awards for comedies or pseudo-comedies: Charles Coburn-1943-_The More The Merrier_ Barry Fitzgerald-1944-_Going My Way_ Jack Lemmon-1955-_Mister Roberts_ Martin Balsam-1965-_A Thousand Clowns_ Walter Matthau-1966-_The Fortune Cookie_ George Burns-1975-_The Sunshine Boys_ John Gielgud-1981-_Arthur_ Don Ameche-1985-_Cocoon_ Michael Caine-1986-_Hannah and Her Sisters_ Jack Palance-1991-_City Slickers_ Chris Cooper-2002-_Adaptation_ Any that I missed? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/16 "2006-03-07T17:58:20Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > Best Supporting Actors who won their awards for comedies or pseudo-comedies: > > Charles Coburn-1943-_The More The Merrier_ > Barry Fitzgerald-1944-_Going My Way_ > Jack Lemmon-1955-_Mister Roberts_ > Martin Balsam-1965-_A Thousand Clowns_ > Walter Matthau-1966-_The Fortune Cookie_ > George Burns-1975-_The Sunshine Boys_ > John Gielgud-1981-_Arthur_ > Don Ameche-1985-_Cocoon_ > Michael Caine-1986-_Hannah and Her Sisters_ > Jack Palance-1991-_City Slickers_ > Chris Cooper-2002-_Adaptation_ > > Any that I missed? Yes, how could you forget Lee Marvin winning an oscar for -1965-_Cat Ballou_? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/17 "2006-03-07T18:00:41Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Yes, how could you forget Lee Marvin winning an oscar for -1965-_Cat Ballou_? :eek: Marvin was Best Actor, however, not Best Supporting Actor. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/18 "2006-03-07T18:14:09Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] I had the same thought this year when _Crash_ was announced. I looked down at my laptop just before Jack said the name and I never saw him open the envelope. I thought he gave the award to the movie he liked best without reading it. Since no one else had this reaction I assumed I just missed the opening on the envelope.QUOTE] I thought the exact same thing. Jack must’ve opened the envelope while no one was looking (ie, while reading the nominees). ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/19 "2006-03-07T18:50:32Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > In what universe is SILENCE OF THE LAMBS _not_ a horror movie? Horror movie purists insist that horror movies must at least have an element of the supernatural or fantastic to qualify. Films like **Silence of the Lambs** , **Psycho** , and **Se7en** , despite their horrific aspects, are firmly rooted in the “normal” world. The audience knows the awful things depicted can–and do–happen in real life. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362/20 "2006-03-07T19:52:19Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > Marvin was Best Actor, however, not Best Supporting Actor. Oh, like I’m supposed to _read_ the posts I respond too! :smack: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-horror-or-comedy-movie-won-an-oscar/347362.md?page=2)