Throughout its 94-year history, the ceremony has become more than just an awards show, but has also acted as a public event arbitrating issues of race, gender, and privilege in cinema and society. From petty power plays to wars with the Academy itself and even attempts to take down a gay Oscars producer, the red carpet has seen it all. This article will explore some of the more wild conflicts and petty disputes that have helped shape the modern day Oscars into the elite spectacle of celebrity and status it is today.
Of course, everyone still has in mind what happened last year between Will Smith and Chris Rock. This passage went around the world and still continues to pursue the protagonists.
Olivia de Havilland vs. Joan Fontaine: The lifelong feud between sisters
Before there was Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford, there was Olivia de Havilland and her sister Joan Fontaine. It’s a rivalry that would make Ryan Murphy salivate; full of public performances, backstage shade, and the Oscars ceremony being their nadir. The two sisters were anything but rivals, but nonetheless found themselves vying for the same role when Alfred Hitchcock cast them in his 1940 film, “Rebecca.” While Fontaine won the Oscar for Best Actress that year, De Havilland lost out.
Fontaine went on to win another Academy Award five years later, this time for her role in the drama “Suspicion.” De Havilland, who had been nominated twice before, earned her first Oscar win in 1947 for her lead role in “To Each His Own.” This marked the beginning of an even deeper rift between the sisters, as they would only speak through their lawyers regarding the dispute.
James McAvoy refuses to campaign for his work on atonement
In December 2022, actor James McAvoy said that campaigning for an Oscar “felt cheap” and explained why he refused to do so to land a nomination for his work on “Atonement” in 2007. He expressed how he wanted to push the film to get people to watch it, but felt wrong doing the campaign for himself. Though McAvoy didn’t receive any nods for his acting, “Atonement” scored seven Academy Award nomination including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Saoirse Ronan. The Joe Wright-directed flick ultimately took home an Oscar for Best Original Score. Despite refusing to campaign for himself, McAvoy made sure to campaign for his fellow co-stars.
Winning an Oscar isn’t easy
Emma Thompson opened up about campaigning to win an Academy Award and how it made her “seriously ill.” She also stated how she quickly developed a sort of allergy to that part of the job, something other actors such as James McAvoy can relate to. Winning an Oscar isn’t easy and making it to the stage requires months of preparation and hard work. Actors must attend countless interviews and press events, as well as campaign for voters’ support. It’s no wonder why so many are overwhelmed when they finally hear their name called from the podium.
For many, their dreams come true when they walk away with their golden trophy, but for others, it’s simply not enough. In order to stay in the game, actors must continue to impress both critics and audiences while mapping out a career path that leads straight back to the Academy. Doing this is no easy feat, and requires great patience, determination, and skill.
From a quiet industry dinner to an elite spectacle of celebrity and status, the Oscars have seen it all. From lifelong feuds to refusing to campaign for oneself, the show continues to be a battleground of sorts. The stories behind the award ceremonies prove that the road to success is never easy, especially in Hollywood. Yet despite all the difficulties associated with it, the reward of having your name called from the podium makes it all worth it.
