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Film Art Winners Named

Academy Awards Acting Honors to Mary Pickford as "Coquette" and Warner Baxter in "Old Arizona."

Mary Pickford displays the Academy Award she won for her role in "Coquette." (AMPAS)

From The Times: April 4, 1930

Mary Pickford and Warner Baxter gave the outstanding performances in motion pictures during the year ending July 31, 1929. The awards were announced last night at the annual merit award banquet of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the Ambassador when Miss Pickford and Baxter were presented with gold statuettes by William O. DeMille, president of the organization.

Seven first awards were conferred by the academy last night for individual meritorious achievement in films in the presence of more than 300 members and their guests, the selections being made by a central board of five judges representing five branches of the academy after nominations by the members. The academy awards were as follows:

Actress: Miss Pickford for her distinctive performance in the talking motion picture, "Coquette," a United Artists' production.

Actor: Warner Baxter, for his performance in the pioneer outdoor western talking picture, "In Old Arizona," a William Fox Production.

Director: Frank Lloyd for his distinctive achievements in directing the exceptional pictures, "Weary River," "The Devine Lady" and "Drag," for First National Productions.

Cinematography: Clyde DeVinna, for his distinctive achievements in photographing the unique motion picture, "White Shadows in the South Seas," produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Art Director: Cedric Gibbons, for art direction of "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" and other pictures produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Writing: Hans Kraly for the artistic motion picture "The Patriot," produced by Paramount-Famous-Lasky Corporation.

Production: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation for producing the outstanding pioneer musical picture "The Broadway Melody." Irving Thalberg, productive executive, and Harry Beaumont, director of the picture, received the award on behalf of the company.

Presented By DeMille

The industry's own judgement of its best work, the academy honors were conferred after a study of feature pictures, both silent and talking, which were released during the year between August 1, 1928 and August 1, 1929.

In making formal presentation of the awards last night DeMille said: "The central board representing all five branches of the academy judged each achievement with special reference to its value to the motion-picture industry and to the arts and sciences on which the industry exists. Each achievement was judged from all its aspects combined, rather than on any single point of excellence."

Short addresses were made last night by DeMille and other leading figures in the academy work, with responses from those receiving the awards.

Janet Gaynor and Emil Jannings won last year's awards for outstanding performances.