Oscar Loves the Movies 1960s

1960 The Apartment

Director Billy Wilder directed the 1960 American romantic comedy “The Apartment." The film starred Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, and Jack Lemmon. In 1961 Shirley MacLaine won the Golden Globe for Actress in a Leading Role—Musical or Comedy. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

The storyline revolves around Fran Kubelik (Shirley MacLaine), who is an elevator operator. Insurance agent C.C. Baxter (Jack Lemmon) has a big crush on her, but she is having a sordid affair with the company manager, Jeff Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray), wishing he would leave his wife.

1961 West Side Story

Directors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins directed the 1961 American musical romantic drama film “West Side Story." The film was an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name. It starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno, and George Chakans. The music was composed by Leonard Bernstein and the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

The storyline revolves around the street gangs the Jets and the Sharks. While the gangs fight it out on the streets, Tony (Richard Beymer) falls in love with Maria (Natalie Wood); unfortunately, they are from opposite sides.

1962 Lawrence of Arabia

Director David Lean directed the 1962 epic biographical drama “Lawrence of Arabia." The film was based on the life of T. E. Lawrence and his 1926 book “Seven Pillars of Wisdom." It starred Peter O’Toole as Lawrence, Alec Guinness as Prince Faisal, and Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Omar Sharif, and others. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Omar Sharif portrayed the role of Sherif Ali, a Bedouin warrior who becomes Lawrence’s friend and ally in his quest to unite the Arab tribes against the Ottoman Turks.

1963 Tom Jones

Director Tony Richardson directed the 1983 British film “Tom Jones." The film was adapted from the 1749 novel “The History of Tom Jones, a Founding” by Henry Fielding. It starred Albert Finney and Susannah York. The film won for awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture.

It follows the life of Tom Jones, an amiable foundling raised by Squire Allworthy, as he navigates love, jealousy, and social class in 18th-century England.

1964 My Fair Lady

Director George Cukor directed the 1964 American musical comedy drama film “My Fair Lady." It was based on the 1913 stage play “Pygmalion” by George Bernard Shaw. The film starred Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison, Stanley Holloway, Gladys Cooper, and Wilfrid Hyde White. The singing voice of Hepburn was dubbed by Marni Nixon. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

The storyline revolves around Eliza Doolittle (Audrey Hepburn), a poor Cockney flower-seller who overhears English phonetic professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) mention that he could teach her perfect English, and she takes him up on his offer.

1965 The Sound of Music

Director Robert Wise directed the 1965 American comedy musical “The Sound of Music." The film was based on the 1949 book “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Von Trapp. The film starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker, Richard Haydn, Peggy Woods, and others. Music and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rogers. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture as well as four other awards.

The storyline is set in Austria and tells the story of Maria, a postulant from the Nonnberg Abbey (Julie Andrews) who takes a job as a governess to a family with seven children and their widowed father Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer).

1966 A Man for All Seasons

Director Fred Zinnemann directed the 1966 British historical drama “A Man for All Seasons." The film featured a notable cast, including Paul Scofield as Sir Thomas More, Wendy Hiller as Alice More, and Robert Shaw as King Henry VIII.

Paul Scofield portrays Sir Thomas More, the central character who stands against King Henry VIII's demands. Wendy Hiller portrays Alice More, Thomas's devoted wife, who supports him through his trials.

1967 In the Heat of the Night

Director Norman Jewison directed the 1967 American Southern Gothic mystery drama “In the Heat of the Night”. The film starred Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Academy Award for Best Actor (Rod Steiger).

The storyline revolves around Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Portier), a Black police detective from Philadelphia, who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation in a small town in Mississippi.

1968 Oliver

Director Carol Reed directed the 1968 British period musical drama “Oliver!”. The film is an adaptation of the 1838 novel “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. It starred Mark Lester, Ron Moody, Oliver Reed, and others. The film won six awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture.

The storyline  follows a young orphan named Oliver who escapes from a workhouse and encounters a group of juvenile pickpockets led by the Artful Dodger and their mentor, Fagin. 

1969 Midnight Cowboy

Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 American drama film directed by John Schlesinger, featuring Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. It tells the story of a naive Texan who moves to New York City to pursue a career as a male prostitute, forming a bond with a con man along the way. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and is the only X-rated film to get this award