The reality is, though, that a number of Best Picture winners have had sequels through the years, and I thought it would be worth investigating. Today we don't think of Best Picture winners as being films that would get sequels; this was, in fact, likely a part of why the Oscars tried to do their ill-advised "Best Popular Film" Oscar category recently. Oscar Best Pictures frequently are about real-life, historical figures (from beginning to end) like Braveheart or Schindler's List or Gandhi, and therefore there isn't room for sequels to such tales. But as I illustrate below, a number of Best Picture winners have received sequels, some to great success (in terms of box office, occasionally greater than the original) while others are historical curiosities or worse. Take a look at the checkered history of trying to make sequels out of Hollywood's Best Pictures:
The Sequel(s): The second film ever to win an Academy Award actually spawned three films, though they'd be considered more "spin-offs" than anything else, as the sequels had little connection other than a love of big Hollywood musical numbers: The Broadway Melody of 1936, The Broadway Melody of 1938, and The Broadway Melody of 1940.
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: The only person to be nominated for the first film was Bessie Love, who didn't appear in any of the sequels, but like her costar Anita Page lived a very long life. Page is fascinating because she's the answer to an Oscar trivia question you never knew you needed-she was the last living person to have attended the first Oscars (she died in 2008 at the age of 98).
Was it Worth It?: Probably. While none of them made quite the same impression on the Academy, they were a hugely successful series, and starred some of the biggest stars of the 1930's even if Love & Page didn't return; Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire, Sophie Tucker, Judy Garland, and Jack Benny were among the names that appeared in the sequels.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: The 1936 sequel was actually nominated for Best Picture and Best Story, and ended up winning the (now retired) Best Dance Direction Oscar.
The Sequel(s): One of the most infamous sequels to a Best Picture winner, 1937's The Road Back
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: Weirdly the original film never received any acting Oscar nominations, but it's worth noting that none of the major stars of the first picture returned.
Was it Worth It?: Financially, The Road Back did extremely well, but I think most involved would say it wasn't worth it. James Whale, then Universal's most important director, thought this would be his crowning achievement, and indeed his original version of the film probably would have been, but Universal, fearing financial losses in Nazi Germany, played down some of Whale's harshest criticism of Hitler's movement, and injected more comic set pieces. As a result, the film was greeted with lukewarm reception by critics and has never been released on DVD, as Whale's original film is impossible to recreate & it's unlikely Universal wants to remind the public of the time it kowtowed to the Nazis.
How'd the Sequel Do With Oscar?: No nominations, and after making just two more films, Whale ended his creative partnership with Universal.
The Sequel(s): Ziegfeld Girl (1941) and Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: The only person nominated for the original film was Luise Rainer, who won Best Actress for the picture. However, after winning a second Oscar the following year for The Good Earth, Rainer ended up falling to the "Oscar Curse" and watching her career at MGM quickly crumble. By the time that even the first sequel had come out, she had largely retired from film.
Was it Worth It?: Yes-both of the films, though expensive-to-make, were massive hits, and featured some of the biggest movie star talent of their eras (Jimmy Stewart, Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr, Lucille Ball, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Lena Horne, Kathryn Grayson, and even Fanny Brice, who was an actual star in the original Follies).
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: Weirdly no. Despite being big hits with huge stars at the height of MGM's heyday, they couldn't manage to land any nominations, not even for scoring or costumes.
The Sequel(s): The Miniver Story (1950)
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: For the first time, yes! While nominated supporting players Teresa Wright, Henry Travers, and May Whitty all were passed over for the sequel, both Greer Garson (who won an Oscar for her work here) and Best Actor nominee Walter Pidgeon returned for the sequel, making it our first "traditional" sequel on this list. Notably absent was Richard Ney, who played Vin Miniver in the first film, as he had been played by Richard Ney, who had married & divorced Garson between the times the two films came out, and wanted to be cut from the film entirely.
Was it Worth It?: No, the film was a financial disaster and one of the biggest flops of 1950 despite starring (then) still bankable stars like Garson and Pidgeon. The two, who made eight films together in their long careers, would only do one more picture together (1953's Scandal at Scourie), which would also do poorly and as a result they never made another movie together.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: No-while the original was wonderful, it might have been deemed a bit too quaint even eight years later, and Hollywood was crushing on actors-playing-actors that year with Sunset Boulevard and All About Eve.
The Sequel(s): The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: Yes, one of them did. While Barry Fitzgerald (who was famously nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for the same role, a rule that was later change) didn't return, Bing Crosby was back the next year to reprise his role as Father O'Malley (interesting fact-did you know Gene Kelly did a TV series adaptation of this movie in the 1960's in the same role?)
Was it Worth It?: Absolutely. While Box Office numbers are hard to find from this era, most accounts are that Bells of St. Mary's out-earned its predecessor, and became both the highest-grossing film of 1945 and the highest-grossing film in the history of RKO.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: The film won one Oscar (Best Sound) and was nominated for eight more (including Best Picture, Actor (Crosby), and Actress (Ingrid Bergman)), making it one of the most cited sequels in the history of the Oscars, and one of the most nominated films ever that I personally haven't seen (I need to get on that, clearly).
The Sequel(s): They Call Me Mr. Tibbs! (1970) and The Organization (1971)
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: No. Sidney Poitier (who did return) was famously skipped in 1967 for his work in the film (likely splitting his vote with himself for To Sir With Love and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner), but the only nominated actor from the original film, Best Actor-winner Rod Steiger, never appeared in the role of Gillespie again. The similarly-titled TV series that was spawned from the film did have the Gillespie role at its center, though, and won Carroll O'Connor an Emmy Award for Best Actor.
Was it Worth It?: No. While the TV series was critically-lauded, the filmic sequels were a bust, both getting crumby reviews and increasingly bad box office. Poitier would watch his career stall a bit after these pictures, only rebounding in the 1990's when he was celebrated with a lot of "legendary actor" roles.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: Nope-the films never approached the gigantic stature of the original picture and are largely forgotten about now (The Organization is one of those films I didn't even realize existed before researching this article).
The Sequel(s): French Connection II (1975)
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: Yes, lead actor Gene Hackman did in fact return to his Oscar-winning role as Popeye Doyle, and was joined by Fernando Rey as Alain Charnier. They were the only two stars of the original picture who returned, so we did not see Best Supporting Actor nominee Roy Scheider return for the second film.
Was it Worth It?: Kind of. Largely forgotten now in comparison to its mammoth and influential successor, French Connection II was a big hit in 1975 and was relatively well-received by critics, who noted it was a lot better than the copycats that followed the original film, while never packing the punch of the 1971 landmark. The 1970's were particularly kind to Hackman, not quite remembered as large as his peers Jack Nicholson and Al Pacino today by modern audiences, but he was a talented and well-respected star of his era.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: The film received no Oscar nominations, but did land Hackman a nomination for Best Actor at the Globes (he lost to Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest).
The Sequel(s): The Godfather, Part II (1974) and The Godfather, Part III (1990)
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: Yes. Al Pacino was nominated for the first two films (never winning for his most iconic role), and returned for all three. James Caan was also back after being nominated for the first film (his only citation in a very long career), though he wasn't in the third; Robert Duvall followed a similar tactic (yes on two, no on three). Talia Shire was the only one of the four first-time acting nominees for Godfather Part II to return for the third film, and was the only one who had been in the previous picture (Michael V. Gazzo, Robert de Niro, and Lee Strasberg all were nominated for the second picture but that was their only appearance in the trilogy).
Was it Worth It?: I mean, the second film is a no-brainer. The Godfather films are among the best ever made, and the sequel is a breathtaking work of art, some would argue better than the original (and while I disagree, they have valid points as it's like comparing Beethoven to Mozart). The third film is not as bad as you remember it, but compared to the two brilliant pieces of work before it, it surely would have been okay left out of the filmic universe and while it doesn't deserve to be a cinematic punching bag, it's just a B-Grade picture. That said it won a number of accolades and made a fortune, so I'm sure the studio was fine with it being released even if Sofia Coppola wishes it could be erased from the universe.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: Like I said, the sequel was a smash hit with Oscar, winning Coppola Best Picture & Director, and landing Robert de Niro his first statue. The third film scored seven nominations including Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actor (Andy Garcia's only nomination to date), but won none.
The Sequel(s): The Sting II (1983)
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: No-the only actor nominated for an Oscar for the original Sting was Robert Redford, and both he and Paul Newman skipped this picture. In fact, while the sequel is an all-star affair (Jackie Gleason, Teri Garr, Karl Malden, Oliver Reed), none of the original cast returned. About the closest you get to a returning cast member is Reed, who was originally supposed to play the role of Doyle Lonegan but turned it down, instead having the role go to Robert Shaw.
Was it Worth It?: No-Reed definitely chose the wrong Sting film for his performance. The movie was a huge flop, was destroyed by critics, and might be best known to modern audiences for being a punchline that Grandpa delivers on The Simpsons.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: Weirdly enough the film did get an Oscar nomination, however. In the early 80's it was shockingly easy to get nominated for Best Song Score (the category was about to expire once 1983 hit), and it was nominated for the award but lost to Yentl, which feels appropriate.
The Sequel(s): Rocky II (1979), Rocky III (1982), Rocky IV (1985), Rocky V (1990), Rocky Balboa (2006), Creed (2015), and later this year Creed II (2018). As you can see, no Best Picture has spawned as many sequels as Rocky. In the comments if you can think of one, is there even a Best Picture nominee that has spawned as many sequels-not even The Thin Man can compete with it anymore?
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: Yes, all four of the original acting nominees showed up for the films. Sylvester Stallone has appeared in all of the pictures to-date, Talia Shire in Rocky I-V, Burt Young for the first six pictures, and Burgess Meredith in Rocky I-III, plus a brief cameo in Rocky V.
Was it Worth It?: Yes. While none of the films have been nearly as good as the first Rocky film (though one could argue that Creed and Rocky IV have earned their own personal places in the pop culture pantheon), the Rocky films were phenomenally successful, and have carved out their own place in pop culture history. Stallone, in particular, made a career out of the pictures and has earned his place in the world of cinema for the role in a way he probably wouldn't have if not for the seemingly endless litany of sequels. You can argue whether or not specific sequels were worth it (not all Rocky followups are created equally), but as a whole the franchise is one of the more important ones of the 1980's and still resonant today.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: While the first film was a huge hit with Oscar (scoring three wins, as well as nominations for Best Actor and Screenplay...meaning that, yes, Sylvester Stallone is an Oscar-nominated screenwriter), it would only nab two nominations (to date) for the rest of the series-Stallone was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Creed but lost in something of an upset against Mary Rylance in Bridge of Spies, and Rocky III was nominated for Best Original Song for "Eye of the Tiger" but was bested by "Up Where We Belong" in An Officer and a Gentleman.
The Sequel(s): The Morning Star (1996)
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: John Lithgow and Debra Winger were absent (practical matters about her character aside, this was during Winger's "hibernation" period as an actress), but both Oscar winners Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson returned to their roles, even if Nicholson's return doesn't amount to more than an extended cameo.
Was it Worth It?: No. We're now entering the phase of this article where I genuinely remember these sequels coming out, and while I've thought about seeing this movie frequently (it was on the trailers for our VHS copy of While You Were Sleeping growing up, and as a result I saw this trailer many times as a child), I never have, and unfortunately for the stars, neither did most of the public. The movie bombed, and was roasted by critics. Today it's mostly a forgettable affair, a The Miniver Story of its day, and perhaps most noteworthy as the final film of Oscar-winner Ben Johnson.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: Despite the critical panning, the film nearly got an Oscar nomination at the time. Actress Marion Ross won a Golden Globe nomination for the picture, and a lot of the Oscar pundits at the time assumed that the former Happy Days star would get her first nomination for the film, but 1996 was the "Year of the Indy" with Oscar, and AMPAS wasn't going to go with a big studio box office dud in a major acting category.
The Sequel(s): Hannibal (2001), as well as two prequels Red Dragon (2002) and Hannibal Rising (2007)-the film also spawned a TV series starring Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: Anthony Hopkins would return to his most iconic role twice, for both Hannibal and Red Dragon, but Jodie Foster didn't return in one of the more public star negotiations of its era (rumors range from Foster hating the sequel's script to contract disputes with Foster demanding $20 million to return to the role to her refusing to do the film because she was working on her long-gestating film Flora Plum). Suffice it to say, future Oscar winner Julianne Moore got the part instead.
Was it Worth It?: In terms of money, absolutely. Hannibal Lecter became his own serial killer brand after Silence of the Lambs, and Hannibal in particular was a smash hit, at the time becoming the 3rd biggest opening weekend of all-time (behind The Lost World and The Phantom Menace). The films were never as good, though, and Hannibal was panned by the critics.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: Despite big box office draw and some very good actors in the sequels (Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, and Philip Seymour Hoffman would feature in Red Dragon), none of the Silence of the Lambs sequels got so much as a Best Makeup nomination.
The Sequel(s): Technically this film wasn't so much followed by sequels as it was prequels as it is (chronologically) the last in a six-part series. But in terms of actual time (rather than fictional order), it was followed by The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
Did the Oscar Nominees Return?: Technically no actors in The Return of the King were nominated for their work in the film, so this is a no. However, Ian McKellen, who was nominated for The Fellowship of the Ring for his work as Gandalf the Grey, was one of only two actors to appear in all six films, creating his most iconic and lasting filmic work (the other, for the curious, is Cate Blanchett).
Was it Worth It?: Here's a strange question. From a financial standpoint, absolutely-the films made a mountain of gold that would make Smaug envious. From a creative standpoint, I have gotten into arguments with people about this, and I go back-and-forth. The Hobbit films are quite good, and I stand behind that, even if they're nowhere near as good or as rewatchable as the LOTR films that followed, and ultimately function best if you treat them like actual prequels (ie you end with the Best Picture winner). Jackson's work here is admirable and it's cool that if they were going to tell this story, they did it with the original cast still young enough to tackle the roles, but the series started to be compared unfavorably to the more R-rated Game of Thrones when it was drawing to a close, and it's hard to say that The Hobbit could compete with such a seismic moment in pop culture, even if Game of Thrones ultimately exists because of Tolkien's original series.
How'd the Sequels Do With Oscar?: The prequels won seven nominations losing all of them, including mentions for Visual Effects, Makeup, Production Design, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. Weirdly An Unexpected Journey did receive a Sci Tech Award, though, and it's worth noting that all three prequels got Oscar nods so it's the (only?) 6+ film series to get cited every single time.
No comments:
Post a Comment