The 12th Academy Awards marked multiple historic firsts, including Hattie McDaniel becoming the first African-American Oscar winner and Gone with the Wind setting nomination and win records.
Key Facts
- Date
- February 29, 1940
- Venue
- Coconut Grove, The Ambassador Hotel
- Gone with the Wind nominations
- 13 (record at the time)
- Gone with the Wind wins
- 8 (record at the time)
- Host
- Bob Hope (first of nineteen times)
- First African-American Oscar winner
- Hattie McDaniel, Best Supporting Actress
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1939 film year produced an exceptionally competitive slate, led by David O. Selznick's Gone with the Wind, which became a cultural and commercial phenomenon. The Academy recognized this output through its annual awards ceremony, while also introducing new competitive categories such as Best Visual Effects and a split in Best Cinematography by film stock type.
Held on February 29, 1940, at the Coconut Grove in The Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, the 12th Academy Awards ceremony was hosted by Bob Hope. Gone with the Wind dominated with thirteen nominations and eight wins, becoming the first color film to win Best Picture. Hattie McDaniel won Best Supporting Actress, and Mickey Rooney became the first teenager nominated for Best Actor.
The ceremony established lasting records and precedents: Gone with the Wind's nomination and win totals stood as records for years, Hattie McDaniel's win broke the color barrier in Academy Award history, and Bob Hope began a long association with the Oscars as host. The introduction of competitive Best Visual Effects marked a new era in recognizing technical filmmaking achievements.