The Massive Image
Profitable consecutive Academy Awards is a uncommon and spectacular achievement, showcasing distinctive expertise and the problem of even getting nominated. Spencer Tracy and Tom Hanks are the one two actors to have gained Greatest Actor in successive years, with Tracy profitable in 1937 and 1938 and Hanks profitable in 1993 and 1994. Tracy gained for his performances in Captains Brave and Boys City, whereas Hanks gained for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, each of which have been groundbreaking movies in their very own proper.
When most individuals consider back-to-back trophies, they usually consider sports activities dynasties the place groups win a number of championships in a row. Nonetheless, the achievement of profitable consecutive Academy Awards deserves immense recognition not only for the expertise wanted to perform such a feat, however for the sheer issue of even getting an opportunity. Most individuals haven’t got movies releasing yearly, and that is not even contemplating the top quality of manufacturing wanted to even earn an Oscar nomination. However even then, should you get a number of nominations, that is no assure of victory in any class. The Academy could be fickle, so profitable two years in a row is an unbelievable activity— however not unattainable.
Zooming in on one of many Massive 5 Classes, there have been solely two people have been in a position to win Greatest Actor in successive years. To additional emphasize simply how uncommon that is, the 2 completed this feat a number of a long time aside from each other. The primary was Spencer Tracy, who gained consecutive Academy Awards in 1937 and 1938. Close to the opposite finish of the century, the incomparable Tom Hanks obtained Greatest Actor in each 1993 and 1994. These two actors, although a long time aside, gave excellent and memorable performances that earned them pedestals in cinema historical past.
RELATED: This Was the Solely Time an Actor Was Oscar-Nominated in Two Classes for the Identical Movie
Which Films Did Spencer Tracy Win His Consecutive Oscars For?
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Spencer Tracy gained Greatest Actor in 1937 for his efficiency in Captains Brave. Then the following 12 months, he gained it once more for his position in Boys City. He was well-known for his frequent and memorable collaborations with the good Katherine Hepburn, who he appeared alongside in 9 films. Captains Brave was a coming-of-age story that adopted Tracy as a Portugese-American fisherman who rescues a spoiled youngster from drowning within the ocean, taking him below his wing whereas they’re at sea. Boys City noticed Tracy play the position of Father Flanagan, a priest who labored with a bunch of underprivileged boys to assist make the titular “Boys City”. Each movies noticed Tracy function a mentor and older position mannequin for youthful males, which looks like a parallel to his legacy in Hollywood. Tracy was one of many main stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood and was a defining main man for a era.
Sadly, early cinema errors have been made that finally must be acknowledged as effectively. Whereas Tracy was of Irish-Catholic descent like his character in Boys City, he was not of Portuguese descent like his character in Captains Brave. On the finish of the day, Tracy was a pioneering actor in Hollywood and regardless of the unlucky casting name for certainly one of his Oscars, he nonetheless has a filmography stuffed with memorable films.
What Had been Tom Hanks’ Oscar-Profitable Performances?
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Tom Hanks is without doubt one of the most iconic and memorable actors of this era— a popularity well-earned after Hanks’ spectacular run within the early ’90s. He stole the critics’ and viewers’s hearts when he gained Greatest Actor for Philadelphia in 1994 and once more in Forrest Gump the following 12 months. Philadelphia, launched in 1993, was a groundbreaking movie that adopted Legal professional Andrew Becket (Hanks), who was fired by his employers after they found that he was homosexual and had AIDS. He labored with one other lawyer, performed by Denzel Washington, to assist him sue for wrongful termination. The movie was groundbreaking on a number of ranges. It was one of many first mainstream Hollywood films that explicitly addressed HIV/AIDS, tackled the fact of homophobia, and, maybe most significantly, offered homosexual individuals positively on-screen. Along with Hanks’ Oscar, the film additionally gained Greatest Authentic Music and was nominated for Greatest Authentic Screenplay. Tom Hanks garnered immensely favorable responses for his efficiency and dedication to the position. He gave a nuanced and real looking efficiency that was lauded for its depth and intricacy.
In an interview with New York Instances, when requested about his two Oscar-winning movies, Tom Hanks addressed {that a} straight man should not play the position of a homosexual character, like he did in Philadelphia, in the present day. On the time of the movie’s launch, the general public notion of HIV/AIDS and homosexual individuals was far harsher than it’s in the present day. In line with the American Psychological Affiliation, within the 12 months after the film’s launch, AIDS had grow to be the main reason behind demise for all People aged 25-44. Hank said, “The entire level of “Philadelphia” was don’t be afraid. One of many causes individuals weren’t afraid of that film is that I used to be enjoying a homosexual man. We’re past that now, and I don’t assume individuals would settle for the inauthenticity of a straight man enjoying a homosexual man.”
In 1994 Hanks performed the titular Forrest Gump in what would grow to be certainly one of America’s most beloved movies. Forrest was a kindhearted one that, regardless of his sluggish wit, discovered himself in the course of a few of the largest occasions within the twentieth century. From assembly President JFK, preventing in Vietnam, and investing in Apple, audiences noticed snippets of historical past from the eyes of a mild, hardworking soul. The film was a juggernaut, each commercially and critically. It was the second highest-grossing movie of 1994, after The Lion King, and gained six Oscars, together with Greatest Image. Forrest was certainly one of Hanks’ most adorable characters who exhibited fierce loyalty and honesty all through his life.
Who Else Has Gained Consecutive Oscars?
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Whereas Tom Hanks and Spencer Tracy are the one two individuals to have gained repeat Greatest Actor awards, they are not the one Oscar winners to take dwelling a number of trophies in a row. Two spectacular main girls have gained successive Greatest Actress awards: Luise Rainer and Katharine Hepburn. Rainer gained for The Nice Ziegfield in 1936 and The Good Earth in 1937. By profitable these awards earlier than even turning 30, Rainer turned one of many youngest multiple-time Oscar winners ever. Hepburn gained in 1967 and 1968 for Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and The Lion in Winter respectively. Jason Robards, for All The President’s Males and Julia, could be the one Greatest Supporting Actor in repeat years.
On the opposite facet of the display screen, there have been three administrators who gained their class twice in a row. John Ford (1940-41), Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1949-50), and Alejandro G. Iñárritu (2014-15). There may be extra modern-day familiarity with Iñárritu, whose wins for Birdman and The Revenant have been the primary time anybody has achieved such recognition in directing in over 70 years! Nonetheless, all these consecutive wins really feel like kid’s play when in comparison with the unattainable commonplace set by the legend himself: Walt Disney. From 1931/32 by means of 1939, Disney was awarded with 10 Oscars in a row! On this eight-year span, he obtained eight awards for Quick Topic (Cartoon) and two Particular Awards. His animated awards included family names like Three Little Pigs, The Tortoise and the Hare, and The Ugly Duckling. Disney’s creation of Mickey Mouse was credited with a Particular Award, as was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. For sure, the person who has the report for many Oscar wins ever continues to affirm his stacked filmography.
Profitable an Oscar is certainly one of Hollywood’s highest achievements. Profitable a number of Oscars establishes your profession’s legacy. Profitable back-to-back Oscars, like Tom Hanks and Spencer Tracy, illustrate how a performer can outline an period and grow to be a legend in Hollywood.