August 13, 2004
Friday Quiz #121: Reluctance

Still reeling from an exhausting night of folding laundry. But quizly fun stops for nothing. Here, without further cud-chewing on your editor's part is today's egg-beater:

In 1959, Ub Iwerks received an Academy Award for the design of an improved optical printer for special effects. Some years later, he received another Academy Award for his special technical work in another film. That movie was based on the fiction of an writer who hesitated for a decade before allowing the work to be adapted for film. It wound up nominated for thirteen total academy awards and won six. One of the principals won Best Actress in her first major film outing, and though she is best remembered for another leading role, she never won again.

What was the film? For extra credit, name the film which beat it out for Best Picture.

First correct answer to comments wins a big can of powdered baby formula of a brand that a certain somebody apparently thinks is yucky. No Googling or summoning up the shade of Gene Siskel. One guess per comment, please, but go ahead and post a whole bunch of comments. Comment away! It's a comment-party, already.

Posted by BT at August 13, 2004 01:02 AM
Comments

Ordinary People

Posted by: BoxJam on August 13, 2004 10:59 AM

An interesting guess, but off the mark.

Posted by: BT on August 13, 2004 11:00 AM

Mary Poppins

Posted by: Sara on August 13, 2004 11:12 AM

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Posted by: BoxJam on August 13, 2004 11:23 AM

2001: A Space Odyssey

Posted by: Jonathan on August 13, 2004 11:33 AM

6 Million B.C.

Posted by: Jonathan on August 13, 2004 11:52 AM

Rosemary's Baby

Posted by: BoxJam on August 13, 2004 12:13 PM

The Wizard of Oz

Posted by: Jonathan on August 13, 2004 12:17 PM

The Conversation

Posted by: terry on August 13, 2004 12:38 PM

I think Sara's got it.

Posted by: Scraps on August 13, 2004 01:05 PM

Indeed she does! I'm late for an appointment but congrats to Sara -- details in a while...

Posted by: BT on August 13, 2004 01:07 PM

Except I didn't think Mary Poppins won Best Picture. Disney movies don't win Best Picture.

Paper Moon, or whatever movie was Jodie Foster's first?

Posted by: BoxJam on August 13, 2004 01:10 PM

Never mind.

Posted by: BoxJam on August 13, 2004 01:11 PM

I think Mary Poppins lost to My Fair Lady (and ought to have lost to Dr Strangelove).

Posted by: Scraps on August 13, 2004 01:12 PM

Late for an appointment, or running to the theater to catch Julie Andrews in Princess Diaries 2?

Posted by: Sara on August 13, 2004 02:53 PM

Mind where you sit, Gothamites...

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/18725.htm

Posted by: teenidol on August 16, 2004 10:55 AM

In point of fact, I was going to an appointment, but from what I hear, The Princess Diaries 2 features Julie Andrews singing triumphantly for the first time since her disastrous surgery. So maybe I WILL go and see it.

Or perhaps not.

Scraps nabbed the bonus question -- yes, Dr. Strangelove was the ultimate receiver of injustice in that event. The whole reason I asked was that I thought it fascinating the Andrews won the award for Mary Poppins, a role she only took when it was clear that she would not be offered the film role of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady -- in which she had triumphed on the stage. And which went on to get the Best Picture award. I don't know enough about these things to know if Andrews' award was some kind of payback rendered for a perceived slight.

James, re your comment:

1. Eeew!
2. What are you doing reading the NY Post?

Posted by: BT on August 17, 2004 12:22 AM