Why didn't it win best picture - Sounder (1973) Discussion

[–] raysond 20 years ago

It should have won! "Sounder" was nominated for 9 Oscars including Best Actor and Best Actress(Paul Winfield and Cicely Tyson)and Best Director(Martin Ritt)and it was one of the top ten films of that year and also the New York Film Critics five top rated films of 1972. The disappointment? It lost to "The Godfather". However,it is unimaginable that the producers when on the make a sequel called "Sounder 2" which was a total disappointment at the boxoffice,but the original and its sequel were shown recently on Turner Classic Movies in the widescreen/letterbox version. Their were several attempts to remake this classic film,but will see what happens.....In my opinion the original needs to be brought back in theatres with a exclusive director's cut! Don't you think?

PS-If they did this to some of the films of the 1970's,why not bring Sounder back to theatres in the newly restored digital format?

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[–] a_spike_lee_joint 20 years ago

Well yeah,I mean,how could have it beat The Godfather!But,still...

Thank God for Lips

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[–] Studman_Productions 17 years ago

true...

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jaydf60 12 years ago

Actually Martin Ritt was not nominated for best director, all other four best picture nominees also got best director nominations...The spot that may have gone to Ritt instead went to Joseph L. Mankiwiecz for SLEUTH.

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[–] ricknelson53 10 years ago

Love Sounder but was it was not nominated for 9 Oscars; just four:Picture;Actor;
Actress and Screenplay. It was somewhat of a surprise that Martin Ritt was not
nominated for Best Director.

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[–] heyuactor 8 years ago

Yes that's a surprise. Sleuth was good but not special like Sounder, which couldn't have been very easy to direct.

Harmonica: http://ferdyonfilms.com/West%202.jpg

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[–] jaydf60 18 years ago

CABARET was actually the favorite to win...it won 8 oscars...only loosing picture & adapted screenplay to THE GODFATHER...but winning director over it. I love SOUNDER but CABARET was the best pic that year in a tight race with SOUNDER and DELIVERANCE for me anyway. I do have to say though Paul Winfield should have won best actor.

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[–] kalamazoo101 17 years ago

Because obviously nobody liked it; and I consider Spike Lee fans as nobodies.

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[–] jcotton41 17 years ago

It was nominated for best picture in a very fruitful year. Everybody liked it and it remains a favorite of all the members of my (lily white, not that that matters) family. It didn't win, but as they say, it's an honor just to be nominated. It holds up extremely well and is a classic.

And Kevin Hooks is the rare child actor who went on to be quietly productive as a director and producer on shows such as Prison Break.

So STFU, kalamazoo.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] sambuca62 12 years ago

Hmmm...let me see, The Godfather, Cabaret, Deliverance and Sounder were nominated for Best Picture in 1972. Is anyone reading this thread thinking what I am thinking? Hollywood is not making great movies. I actually always thought the late 60s/70s was a great era for moviemaking.

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[–] Paris55 8 years ago

I totally agree with you. These days Hollywood wants to remake good movies and produce movies from old TV shows. Not much imagination or creativity any longer. FYI - Francis Ford Coppola did not win best director that year for The GodFather, which of course won best picture. Bob Fosse won best director for Cabaret. Coppola did get the best director Oscar for Godfather II.

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[–] Isaac5855 17 years ago

Because it was already a given that THE GODFATHER was going to win Best Picture.

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[–] gayspiritwarrior 10 years ago

Actually it wasn't. At the time Cabaret was the front runner. It was considered an upset when The Godfather won.

"The value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it."

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[–] joedonato234 10 years ago

Actually THE GODFATHER was the front runner and expected to sweep. In just one year it became the highest grossing picture in movie history. It was CABARET winning so many awards that surprised everybody. Especially the best director prize-one of the very few times the winner of the DGA (Directors Guild) did NOT go on to win the Oscar.

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[–] movibuf1962 9 years ago

Hey-- in a year which also released CABARET, DELIVERANCE, SOLARIS, LAST TANGO IN PARIS, POSEIDON ADVENTURE, THE GETAWAY, FRENZY, THE COWBOYS, and THE GODFATHER, I'm just impressed it was nominated!!

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[–] DmitriKnipper (199) 3 years ago

I'm delighted that you mention Solaris, which is a masterpiece, but it wasn't eligible for this particular Oscar year as it wouldn't be released in the U.S. until 1976 or so. Likewise, Last Tango wasn't released in American until the beginning of 1973 thus Brando and Bertolucci's nominations for the '73 Oscars held in '74.

Otherwise, a good point on how strong 1972 was as a movie year. One could also cite Bad Company, What's Up Doc, Sleuth, Fellini's Roma, The King of Marvin Gardens, Jeremiah Johnson, The Ruling Class, and Junior Bonner among others.

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[–] Waldimore 8 years ago

Tough, competitive year.

Doesn't take away from the fact that it was a great and beautiful film and a classic.

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[–] 8 years ago

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[–] MrMovie (845) 4 years ago

If you think this Oscar bait movie was better than THE GODFATHER then your opinion doesn’t matter and you should never speak again trolling Scumbag

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[–] forlorn_rage (139) 2 months ago

Scumbag? For preferring Sounder to The Godfather? YOU are the scumbag for insulting someone based on their taste in movies. Both are great movies, doesn't meant one can't prefer one over the other. Grow the f**k up.

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[–] MrMovie (845) 2 months ago

Get a life troll

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[–] forlorn_rage (139) 2 months ago

YOU get a life.

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[–] rudeboymurray (3241) 4 years ago

Sounder is a nice little film, very well acted and fairly charming, but it falls into the ‘lucky to be nominated’ category. The Godfather and Cabaret were the heavy-hitters - how often do we get two such widely-loved/hailed films in contention these days? My personal favourite of the five is The Emigrants, but it was between those two, all the way.

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