Wilson (1944) - Henry King

After more than a decade of fluctuating nominees, the Academy finally decided to standardize all the major categories at 5 films. In this regard it may seem really odd the five films selected by the Academy in 1944 for best picture. Darryl Zanuck believed in his Wilson project very adamantly. He envisioned it as a patriotic rival to Gone with the Wind, and spared no expense during its production. Unfortunately though the film was a horrific flop and was rarely seen. The film was technically astounding, and therefore received a slew of Oscar nominations, and won five technical awards. The picture is a product of its time, and you can see the Hollywood version of a president's life. Lots is white washed and we are left with the idea that Wilson was a tireless champion against privalege who was without blemish in his entire life. In addition his daughters and second wife are a little too beautiful to believe, but that was standard practice. Shot in glorious Technicolor the film almost feels faulted for being too well produced. The abundance of production values and flash make the film seem a little hollow. We can certainly go on about what films "should" have been nominated in 1944 (I'd say all but Double Indemnity were poor choices), but nominating big budgeted flops was something the Academy would continue to do for decades afterwards.

*Wilson was nominated for best actor (Alexander Knox), best director (Henry King), best picture, best score, and best special effects. It won best color art direction, best color cinematography, best editing, best sound, and best original screenplay.