24th Academy Awards — award ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for achievement in filmmaking in 1951
The 24th Academy Awards saw An American in Paris win Best Picture in an upset, with Humphrey Bogart taking Best Actor over favored Marlon Brando.
Key Facts
- Ceremony Date
- March 20, 1952
- Host
- Danny Kaye
- Best Picture
- An American in Paris
- Top Oscar Hauls
- An American in Paris and A Place in the Sun, 6 each
- A Streetcar Named Desire wins
- 4 Oscars, including 3 acting awards
- Best Actor
- Humphrey Bogart (The African Queen)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1951 film season produced several acclaimed productions, including A Streetcar Named Desire, A Place in the Sun, and An American in Paris, all widely expected to compete for top honors. Industry observers anticipated either A Streetcar Named Desire or A Place in the Sun would take Best Picture, given their critical reputations.
The 24th Academy Awards were held on March 20, 1952, hosted by Danny Kaye. An American in Paris won Best Picture in a surprise result, while A Place in the Sun took Best Director. Humphrey Bogart won Best Actor over Marlon Brando. A Streetcar Named Desire won four Oscars, including three acting awards.
An American in Paris became only the second color film to win Best Picture and the first since Grand Hotel to win without any acting nominations. Bogart's win over Brando was later seen as a sentimental choice for a long-overlooked actor. Brando's unnominated performance as Stanley Kowalski became regarded as one of the most influential in modern film acting.