17th Academy Awards

Award ceremony for films of 1944

← 16th
Academy Awards
18th →

The 17th Academy Awards were held on March 15, 1945 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, honoring the films of 1944. This was the first time the complete awards ceremony was broadcast nationally, on the Blue Network (later ABC Radio). Bob Hope hosted the 70-minute broadcast, which included film clips that required explanation for the radio audience.^[1]

Darryl F. Zanuck and 20th Century-Fox spent a fortune promoting Wilson out of determination to have it win the Best Picture Oscar, but it lost to Going My Way, which made Zanuck bitter.^[2]

This year was notable for being the only time an individual was nominated for two acting awards for the same role in the same film: Barry Fitzgerald received nominations for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Father Fitzgibbon in the Best Picture winner Going My Way. Fitzgerald won for Best Supporting Actor, while his co-star Bing Crosby won Best Actor.

Winners and nominees

Bing Crosby; Best Actor winner

Ingrid Bergman; Best Actress winner

Barry Fitzgerald; Best Supporting Actor winner

Ethel Barrymore; Best Supporting Actress winner

Carmen Dragon; Best Scoring of a Musical Picture co-winner

Jimmy Van Heusen; Best Song co-winner

Cedric Gibbons; Best Art Direction, Black-and-White co-winner

Bob Hope; Academy Honorary Award recipient

Margaret O'Brien; Juvenile Academy Award recipient

Darryl F. Zanuck; Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award recipient

Awards

Nominees were announced on February 3, 1945. Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.^[3]

Best Motion Picture Going My Way – Leo McCarey for Paramount‡ Double Indemnity – Joseph Sistrom for Paramount Gaslight – Arthur Hornblow Jr. for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Since You Went Away – David O. Selznick for United Artists Wilson – Darryl F. Zanuck for 20th Century Fox	Best Director Leo McCarey – Going My Way‡ Billy Wilder – Double Indemnity Otto Preminger – Laura Alfred Hitchcock – Lifeboat Henry King – Wilson
Best Actor *Bing Crosby – Going My Way* as Father Chuck O'Malley*‡ Charles Boyer – Gaslight* as Gregory Anton/Sergius Bauer Barry Fitzgerald – Going My Way as Father Fitzgibbon Cary Grant – None but the Lonely Heart as Ernie Mott Alexander Knox – Wilson as Woodrow Wilson	Best Actress *Ingrid Bergman – Gaslight* as Paula Alquist Anton‡** Claudette Colbert – Since You Went Away as Mrs Anne Hilton Bette Davis – Mr. Skeffington as Frances Beatrice "Fanny" Trellis Skeffington Greer Garson – Mrs. Parkington as Susie Parkington Barbara Stanwyck – Double Indemnity as Phyllis Dietrichson
Best Supporting Actor *Barry Fitzgerald – Going My Way* as Father Fitzgibbon*‡ Hume Cronyn – The Seventh Cross* as Paul Roeder Claude Rains – Mr. Skeffington as Job Skeffington Clifton Webb – Laura as Waldo Lydecker Monty Woolley – Since You Went Away as Colonel William G. Smollett	Best Supporting Actress *Ethel Barrymore – None But the Lonely Heart* as Ma Mott*‡ Jennifer Jones – Since You Went Away* as Jane Deborah Hilton Angela Lansbury – Gaslight as Nancy Oliver Aline MacMahon – Dragon Seed as Ling Tan's Wife Agnes Moorehead – Mrs. Parkington as Baroness Aspasia Conti
Best Original Screenplay Wilson – Lamar Trotti‡ Hail the Conquering Hero – Preston Sturges The Miracle of Morgan's Creek – Preston Sturges Two Girls and a Sailor – Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman Wing and a Prayer, The Story of Carrier X – Jerome Cady	Best Screenplay Going My Way – Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, based on a story by Leo McCarey‡ Double Indemnity – Raymond Chandler and Billy Wilder, based on Double Indemnity in Three of a Kind by James M. Cain Gaslight – John L. Balderston, Walter Reisch, and John Van Druten, based on Angel Street by Patrick Hamilton Laura – Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Elizabeth Reinhardt, based on the novel by Vera Caspary Meet Me in St. Louis – Irving Brecher and Fred F. Finklehoffe, based on the novel by Sally Benson
Best Original Motion Picture Story Going My Way – Leo McCarey‡ A Guy Named Joe – David Boehm and Chandler Sprague Lifeboat – John Steinbeck None Shall Escape – Alfred Neumann and Joseph Than The Sullivans – Edward Doherty and Jules Schermer	Best Documentary Feature The Fighting Lady – United States Navy‡ Resisting Enemy Interrogation – United States Army Air Force
Best Documentary Short Subject With the Marines at Tarawa – United States Marine Corps‡ Hymn of the Nations – United States Office of War Information, Overseas Motion Picture Bureau New Americans – RKO Radio	Best Live Action Short Subject, One-Reel Who's Who in Animal Land – Jerry Fairbanks‡ Blue Grass Gentlemen – Edmund Reek Jammin' the Blues – Gordon Hollingshead Movie Pests – Pete Smith Screen Snapshots' 50th Anniversary of Motion Pictures – Ralph Staub
Best Live Action Short Subject, Two-Reel I Won't Play – Gordon Hollingshead‡ Bombalera – Louis Harris Main Street Today – Jerry Bresler	Best Short Subjects – Cartoons Mouse Trouble – Fred Quimby‡ And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street – George Pal Dog, Cat and Canary – Raymond Katz Fish Fry – Walter Lantz How to Play Football – Walt Disney My Boy, Johnny – Paul Terry Swooner Crooner – Edward Selzer
Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture Since You Went Away – Max Steiner‡ Address Unknown – Morris Stoloff and Ernst Toch The Adventures of Mark Twain – Max Steiner The Bridge of San Luis Rey – Dimitri Tiomkin Casanova Brown – Arthur Lange Christmas Holiday – H. J. Salter Double Indemnity – Miklós Rózsa The Fighting Seabees – Walter Scharf and Roy Webb The Hairy Ape – Edward Paul and Michel Michelet It Happened Tomorrow – Robert Stolz Jack London – Frederic Efrem Rich Kismet – Herbert Stothart None but the Lonely Heart – Hanns Eisler and C. Bakaleinikoff The Princess and the Pirate – David Rose Summer Storm – Karl Hajos Three Russian Girls – W. Franke Harling Up in Mabel's Room – Edward Paul Voice in the Wind – Michel Michelet Wilson – Alfred Newman The Woman of the Town – Miklós Rózsa	Best Scoring of a Musical Picture Cover Girl – Morris Stoloff and Carmen Dragon‡ Brazil – Walter Scharf Higher and Higher – C. Bakaleinikoff Hollywood Canteen – Ray Heindorf Irish Eyes Are Smiling – Alfred Newman Knickerbocker Holiday – Werner R. Heymann and Kurt Weill Lady in the Dark – Robert Emmett Dolan Lady, Let's Dance – Edward Kay Meet Me in St. Louis – Georgie Stoll The Merry Monahans – H. J. Salter Minstrel Man – Ferde Grofé and Leo Erdody Sensations of 1945 – Mahlon Merrick Song of the Open Road – Charles Previn Up in Arms – Ray Heindorf and Louis Forbes
Best Song *"Swinging on a Star" from Going My Way* – Music by James Van Heusen; Lyrics by Johnny Burke*‡ "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" from Higher and Higher* – Music by Jimmy McHugh; Lyrics by Harold Adamson "I'll Walk Alone" from Follow the Boys – Music by Jule Styne; Lyrics by Sammy Cahn "I'm Making Believe" from Sweet and Lowdown – Music by James V. Monaco; Lyrics by Mack Gordon "Long Ago and Far Away" from Cover Girl – Music by Jerome Kern; Lyrics by Ira Gershwin "Now I Know" from Up in Arms – Music by Harold Arlen; Lyrics by Ted Koehler "Remember Me to Carolina" from Minstrel Man – Music by Harry Revel; Lyrics by Paul Webster "Rio de Janeiro" from Brazil – Music by Ary Barroso; Lyrics by Ned Washington "Silver Shadows and Golden Dreams" from Lady, Let's Dance – Music by Lew Pollack; Lyrics by Charles Newman "Sweet Dreams Sweetheart" from Hollywood Canteen – Music by Maurice K. Jerome; Lyrics by Ted Koehler "Too Much in Love" from Song of the Open Road – Music by Walter Kent; Lyrics by Kim Gannon "The Trolley Song" from Meet Me in St. Louis – Music and Lyrics by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin	Best Sound Recording Wilson – Edmund H. Hansen‡ Brazil – Daniel J. Bloomberg Casanova Brown – Thomas T. Moulton Cover Girl – John P. Livadary Double Indemnity – Loren L. Ryder His Butler's Sister – Bernard B. Brown Hollywood Canteen – Nathan Levinson It Happened Tomorrow – Jack Whitney Kismet – Douglas Shearer Music in Manhattan – Stephen Dunn Voice in the Wind – W. M. Dalgleish
Best Art Direction, Black-and-White Gaslight – Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons and William Ferrari; Interior Decoration: Paul Huldschinsky and Edwin B. Willis‡ Address Unknown – Art Direction: Lionel Banks and Walter Holscher; Interior Decoration: Joseph Kish The Adventures of Mark Twain – Art Direction: John Hughes; Interior Decoration: Fred M. MacLean Casanova Brown – Art Direction: Perry Ferguson; Interior Decoration: Julia Heron Laura – Art Direction: Lyle R. Wheeler and Leland Fuller; Interior Decoration: Thomas Little No Time for Love – Art Direction: Hans Dreier and Robert Usher; Interior Decoration: Samuel M. Comer Since You Went Away – Art Direction: Mark-Lee Kirk; Interior Decoration: Victor A. Gangelin Step Lively – Art Direction: Albert S. D'Agostino and Carroll Clark; Interior Decoration: Darrell Silvera and Claude Carpenter Song of the Open Road – N/A (nomination withdrawn)	Best Art Direction, Color Wilson – Art Direction: Wiard Ihnen; Interior Decoration: Thomas Little‡ The Climax – Art Direction: John B. Goodman and Alexander Golitzen; Interior Decoration: Russell A. Gausman and Ira S. Webb Cover Girl – Art Direction: Lionel Banks and Cary Odell; Interior Decoration: Fay Babcock The Desert Song – Art Direction: Charles Novi; Interior Decoration: Jack McConaghy Kismet – Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons and Daniel B. Cathcart; Interior Decoration: Edwin B. Willis and Richard Pefferle Lady in the Dark – Art Direction: Hans Dreier and Raoul Pene Du Bois; Interior Decoration: Ray Moyer The Princess and the Pirate – Art Direction: Ernst Fegté; Interior Decoration: Howard Bristol
Best Cinematography, Black-and-White Laura – Joseph LaShelle‡ Double Indemnity – John F. Seitz Dragon Seed – Sidney Wagner Gaslight – Joseph Ruttenberg Going My Way – Lionel Lindon Lifeboat – Glen MacWilliams Since You Went Away – Stanley Cortez and Lee Garmes Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo – Robert L. Surtees and Harold Rosson The Uninvited – Charles Lang The White Cliffs of Dover – George J. Folsey	Best Cinematography, Color Wilson – Leon Shamroy‡ Cover Girl – Rudolph Maté and Allen M. Davey Home in Indiana – Edward Cronjager Kismet – Charles Rosher Lady in the Dark – Ray Rennahan Meet Me in St. Louis – George J. Folsey
Best Film Editing Wilson – Barbara McLean‡ Going My Way – Leroy Stone Janie – Owen Marks None but the Lonely Heart – Roland Gross Since You Went Away – Hal C. Kern and James E. Newcom	Best Special Effects Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo – Photographic Effects A. Arnold Gillespie, Donald Jahraus and Warren Newcombe; Sound Effects: Douglas Shearer‡ The Adventures of Mark Twain – Photographic Effects: Paul Detlefsen and John Crouse; Sound Effects: Nathan Levinson Days of Glory – Photographic Effects Vernon L. Walker; Sound Effects: James G. Stewart and Roy Granville Secret Command – Photographic Effects: David Allen, Ray Cory and Robert Wright; Sound Effects: Russell Malmgren and Harry Kusnick Since You Went Away – Photographic Effects: Jack Cosgrove; Sound Effects: Arthur Johns The Story of Dr. Wassell – Photographic Effects: Farciot Edouart and Gordon Jennings; Sound Effects: George Dutton Wilson – Photographic Effects: Fred Sersen; Sound Effects: Roger Heman Sr.

Academy Honorary Award

Bob Hope "life membership for his many services to the Academy".

Academy Juvenile Award

Margaret O'Brien

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

Darryl F. Zanuck

Presenters and performers

Presenters

(in order of appearance)^[4]

Walter Wanger (Presenter: Academy Honorary Award to Bob Hope)
Bob Hope (Presenter: Best Art Direction (Black-and-White), Best Art Direction (Color), Best Cinematography (Black-and-White), Best Cinematography (Color), Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short Subject, Best Film Editing, Best Live Action Short Subject (One-Reel), Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Best Song, Best Sound Recording, Best Special Effects, and the Scientific & Technical Awards)
Hugo Butler (Presenter: Best Screenplay, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Original Motion Picture Story)
Mervyn LeRoy (Presenter: Best Director)
Hal B. Wallis (Presenter: Best Picture)
Norma Shearer (Presenter: Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award)
Bob Hope (Presenter: Academy Juvenile Award)
Charles Coburn (Presenter: Best Supporting Actor)
Teresa Wright (Presenter: Best Supporting Actress)
Gary Cooper (Presenter: Best Actor)
Jennifer Jones (Presenter: Best Actress)

Multiple nominations and awards

multiple nominations
Nominations	Film
10	Going My Way
10	Wilson
9	Since You Went Away
7	Double Indemnity
7	Gaslight
5	Cover Girl
5	Laura
4	Kismet
	Meet Me in St. Louis
	None but the Lonely Heart
3	The Adventures of Mark Twain
	Brazil
	Casanova Brown
	Hollywood Canteen
	Lady in the Dark
	Lifeboat
2	Address Unknown
	Dragon Seed
	Higher and Higher
	It Happened Tomorrow
	Lady, Let's Dance
	Minstrel Man
	Mr. Skeffington
	Mrs. Parkington
	The Princess and the Pirate
	Song of the Open Road
	Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
	Up in Arms
	Voice in the Wind

multiple awards
Awards	Film
7	Going My Way
5	Wilson
2	Gaslight

References

^ Dunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
^ Wallechinsky, David; Wallace, Irving (1975). The People's Almanac. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc. p. 836. ISBN 0-385-04060-1.
^ "The 17th Academy Awards (1945) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
^ "1945 Academy Awards Radio Broadcast". YouTube. Old Is Best. December 29, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2024.

Academy Awards

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)

Awards of Merit

Proposed awards	Popular Film

Special awards

Governors Awards	Academy Honorary Award Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award Special Achievement Academy Award
Academy Scientific and Technical Awards	Academy Award of Merit (non-competitive) Scientific and Engineering Award Technical Achievement Award John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation Gordon E. Sawyer Award
Student Awards	Student Academy Award