The best original song award in '63 went to the title song from "Days of Wine and Roses." It was actually the B side to the Andy Williams record, "I Can't Get Used to Losing You" and only made it as high as #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Henry Mancini (who wrote the song) was #33 with his version.
The movies of the Class of '65's sophomore year were split between the Academy Awards of '63 and '64. The 35th awards ('63), were hosted by Frank Sinatra. The big winner was "Lawrence of Arabia" which won 7 oscars, while "To Kill a Mockingbird" won 3 and "The Longest Day" won 2. The 36th awards ('64) honored "Cleopatra" with 4 oscars and both "How the West Was Won" and "Hud" with 3.
Peter O'Toole starred as T.E. Lawrence, a British army lieutenant who served in the Arabian Peninsula during World War I. Lawrence has to deal with conflicting emotions about war and his allegiaces to his own country and his Arab comrades. The film won the Oscar in 1963 for best picture.
Patricia Neal received the oscar for best actress in 1964. She played the housekeeper, Alma, on the Bannon ranch where Hud Bannon (Paul Newman), self centered and impetuous, comes into conflict with his highly principled father, Homer (Melvyn Douglas). Both Hud and his nephew Lonnie (Brandon deWilde) are attracted to Alma.
Gregory Peck received the Oscar for best actor in 1963 for his portrayal of Atticus Finch, a lawyer fighting small town racial discrimination in Alabama in the 1930's. The movie was based on the novel by Harper Lee who won a Pulitzer prize for her writing in 1960.
The best supporting actor award in 1964 went to Melvyn Douglas. He played Hud's (Paul Newman) father, Homer. When the ranch is threatened with the disaster of hoof-and-mouth disease, Hud wanted to cover it up, but Homer decides to do the right thing and comply with the mandatory government testing.
