The twelfth Academy Awards ceremony was held on Thursday, February 29, 1940 at the Coconut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel. Though the winners were supposed to be kept a secret, attendees who had happened to buy a newspaper before the show knew who had won. For years, the Academy had given a winners list to newspapers early so that they could announce the winners in their late editions. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Times announced the winners in their 8:45 p.m. edition. Ever since the twelfth Awards ceremony, the winners have been kept an absolute secret. Though there were many great contenders this year for the awards, Gone With the Wind had an Oscar sweep by winning eight Academy Awards. Hattie McDaniel (Gone With the Wind) became the first African-American actress to be nominated and to win. Bob Hope hosted the event.
The 1939 Academy Award Winners
Picture: Gone With the WindActor: Robert Donat (Goodbye, Mr. Chips)
Actress: Vivien Leigh (Gone With the Wind)
Supporting Actor: Thomas Mitchell (Stagecoach)
Supporting Actress: Hattie McDaniel (Gone With the Wind)
Director: Victor Fleming (Gone With the Wind)
Adapted Screenplay: Sidney Howard (Gone With the Wind)
Original Screenplay: Lewis R. Foster (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington)
Song: "Over the Rainbow" (The Wizard of Oz)
Score: Stagecoach / The Wizard of Oz
Cinematography: Wuthering Heights (Black and White) / Gone With the Wind (Color)
Interior Decoration: Gone With the Wind
Film Editing: Gone With the Wind
Sound: When Tomorrow Comes
Special Effects: The Rains Came
Short Films: The Ugly Duckling (Cartoons) / Busy Little Bears (One-Reel) / Sons of Liberty (Two-Reel)
