Oscars: 'Jones,' Poitier, Neal

'Tom Jones,' Patricial Neal, Poitier Named Winners of Major Oscars

By Philip K. Scheuer

Sidney Poitier, right, poses with Annabella, who accepted the best actress award for Patricia Neal and presenter Gregory Peck. (John Malmin / LAT)

From The Times: April 14, 1964

The 2,600-odd members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences spread their statuettes around much more liberally than was expected during the 36th annual Oscar presentation ceremony Monday evening in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Poitier, who won for his role in "Lillies of the Field," shared honors with Patricia Neal, who won the best actress award for her performance as a slatternly housekeeper in "Hud."

The night was noteworthy because the more than 2,600 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences spread their statuettes around much more liberally than was expected.

Gets Four Awards

Which is another way of saying that the British-made "Tom Jones" failed to gallop off with the 10 little men for which it had been nominated.

"Jones" had to be content with four Oscars — best picture, best directing, by Tony Richardson, best screenplay on material from another medium, by John Osborne, and best original music score, by John Addison.

And it was matched by the $30 million (or is it $40 million?) "Cleopatra" with the same number — four, spread among special effects, costume and cinematography in color and art direction, which includes set decoration.

"Hud" and "How the West Was Won" each picked up three Oscars.

The awards for the best supporting actor and actress went to Melvyn Douglas for his role in "Hud" and to English actress Margaret Rutherford for her part in "The V.I.P.s."

Although the modest "Lillies of the Field" won only one Oscar, that was the one that went to Poitier, and it was greeted with a roar of approval from the crowd. In the picture Poitier played an itinerant handyman who helps a group of German nuns build a church in the desolate Arizona desert.

The last Negro winner in the Oscar derby — for supporting actress — was Hattie McDaniel in "Gone With the Wind."

Plainly moved, Poitier said it was "a long journey to this moment" and closed with "a very special thank you."

Jack Lemmon, the master of ceremonies, returned to the microphone and added, "A very special man."

Few of the nominees for the English-made films, "Tom Jones," "This Sporting Life" and "The V.I.P.s" were in America for the event.

Now In England

Dame Edith Evans accepted for "Tom Jones" director Tony Richardson and Peter Ustinov picked up Margaret Rutherford's Oscar for "The V.I.P.s."

Nor were Miss Neal and Melvyn Douglas of "Hud" present. In accepting for Miss Neal, her actress friend Annabella said Miss Neal is now in England awaiting the birth of her fourth child. Actor Brandon De Wilde accepted for Douglas, who is in Spain.

Italy's Federico Fellini was on hand, however, to pick up his Oscar for the best foreign language picture, "8½." He said it was all "particularly stimulating" because he is about ready to start his next picture.

Sam Spiegel seemed as touched as Poitier was later when he stepped forward to accept the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.