MovieChat Forums > Airport (1970) Discussion > Worst films with more than 10 Oscar nomi...

Worst films with more than 10 Oscar nominations or one Oscar win?

posted 9 years ago by talisencrw
18 replies | jump to latest

I didn't mind Airport (for its genre, I felt it deserved an 8/10, honestly) but I was just surprised that it had ten Oscar nominations and a win (not sure who Helen Hayes was up against in the Best Supporting Actress category, but I strongly suspect that with both her age and lifelong contribution to cinema, that she was a sentimental favourite and mainly got it on that qualification).

How does Airport rank with you, and I was curious what you consider the worst films: a) with at least 10 Oscar nominations; and b) that have won at least one Oscar? Thank you very much for your time and answer.

[–] Itsamoomoo 9 years ago

Airport's a classic and deserved whatever nominations it received. Why anyone would think this movie belongs in the "worst" category is beyond me. This is the way people and society were back in the day. Perhaps this is what sidetracks you; you can't relate to when people were decent to one another.

Helen Hayes wasn't a sentimental favorite. Her character was great. She earned that Oscar.

[–] rorysa 9 years ago

I agree, itsmyknees.

[–] talisencrw 9 years ago

Like I stated, it was 8/10 for me, but I was surprised it received so many nominations. Though I love all eras of cinema and most genres, film from the 20s-60's are my favourites, so save your pejorative personal comments for somebody who actually deserves them. Talk to me when you've seen a lot more than 1,142 films, itsmyknees--then you may actually have positive criticism worth reading.

Seeing the list of nominees, if I could go back in time and have voting rights, I'd clearly vote for Karen Black's work in 'Five Easy Pieces', though Hayes definitely was the most deserving of the film's nominees in the various categories. That in such a fine year for cinema, 'Airport' received so many nominations is a downright travesty--and I personally quite like both film and the franchise as whole. Just saying.

[–] Stevicus-2 9 years ago

not sure who Helen Hayes was up against in the Best Supporting Actress category

The nominees that year:

Helen Hayes – Airport
Karen Black – Five Easy Pieces
Lee Grant – The Landlord
Sally Kellerman – MASH
Maureen Stapleton – Airport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/43rd_Academy_Awards

George C. Scott won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role in Patton (which also won Best Picture over Airport). He refused the award and said the Academy Awards were "a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons."

How does Airport rank with you, and I was curious what you consider the worst films: a) with at least 10 Oscar nominations; and b) that have won at least one Oscar? Thank you very much for your time and answer.

I thought Airport was a great movie all the way around. I don't really worry that much about which films win which awards. Sometimes, I'll admit I get mystified when a film is nominated or wins Best Picture and all kinds of praise when it didn't seem that great to me.

[–] talisencrw 9 years ago

Thanks for the list, link and opinion, Stevicus-2. They were insightful. Though I often check Wikipedia before I make reviews, for info that can make them more colourful and insightful, I often take the database for granted, and didn't even think to check there.

[–] KobiyashiMauru 9 years ago

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf 1966 with 11 Oscar nominations and 5 wins is the correct answer to your question.👎😵

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded. Yogi Berra

[–] talisencrw 9 years ago

While it's not one of the better 1+ win/10+ nominee films imaginable, it's head and shoulders above the first Airport film IMHO. But thanks for your more than worthy and astute observation, my friend! =)

[–] KobiyashiMauru 9 years ago

Airport had over $100 million dollars in ticket sales receipts. Virginia Woolf had about $28 million. Those who voted with their pocket books........💰

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded. Yogi Berra

[–] talisencrw 9 years ago

A hilarious observation--I assume you were joking.

[–] KobiyashiMauru 9 years ago

I never joke about money. Check out Box office Mojo to verify. 💻

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded. Yogi Berra

[–] talisencrw 9 years ago

That stat was completely meaningless to me. Box office receipts have no correlation, in my opinion, to cinematic greatness, or awards, or how a film is rated, for that matter.

[–] KobiyashiMauru 9 years ago

It's an indicator of what the public thinks. Not a small thing in the business of films or anything. 💰👍

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded. Yogi Berra

[–] jngr1 9 years ago

I can't say anything about Airport, for I haven't seen it entirely. (I only watched about 20 minutes of it to date.) But, might I suggest Anne of the Thousand Days, released a year before also by Universal. It was nominated for 10 and won Costume Design, and, minute for minute, is one of the most boring movies I have ever seen.

[–] becool 9 years ago

I enjoy Airport/Airplane disaster movies and during a recent binge session I watched Airport for the first time since seeing it in the theater many years ago. Even though it's very dated, I still enjoyed it, but I was surprised that it had 10 Oscar nominations. Then again, movies were so different back then, I prefer current movies over old movies.

In 1972 Cabaret won 7 Oscars beating out The Godfather which only had 3 wins. I never had any desire to see cabaret because it looked silly and it makes no sense that such a movie won so many awards over The Godfather which is considered the greatest movie ever made to myself and a majority of viewers.
Worst movie 1972 Cabaret - 10 nominations 7 wins
Best movie 1972 The Godfather - 11 nominations 3 wins

1985, The Color Purple was a magnificent movie, but even with 11 nominations, it didn't win a single Oscar. It is one of Steven Spielberg's best productions, yet it was beat out by the inferior movie Out Of Africa which took 7 Oscars. Out Of Africa is one of the most boring movies ever made and one of the few movies I ever walked out on. And how ridiculous is it to make a movie with Africa in the title and have no significant roles played by a Black person.
Worst movie 1985 Out Of Africa - 11 nominations 7 wins
Best Movie 1985 The Color Purple - 11 nominations 0 wins

[–] joystar5879 9 years ago

Considering that OUT OF AFRICA was based on the memoirs of a white Scandinavian woman, having "significant" black roles would be difficult... Especially if they weren't in the original text.

OOA was one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, and for once, OSCAR got it right.

I do hope he won't upset Henry...

[–] markedjuan 9 years ago

I think the nominations Airport received was a reflection of the demographics of the Academy voters at that time. The number of younger voters was increasing and they went for films like MASH, Patton, Love Story,and Five Easy Pieces. But the old guard was still very much present though they were probably at this point breathing their last gasp, and they managed to squeeze in just one movie that retained a semblance of the traditional Hollywood blockbuster. The old guard chose to back Airport in the Oscar race.

And of course, it's no secret that Universal and producer Ross Hunter spent a fortune campaigning for Airport and Helen Hayes.

The previous Oscar race was also similar. The younger voters stood behind films like Midnight Cowboy, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Z, while the old guard managed to get two traditional types in: Anne of a Thousand Days and Hello, Dolly! I guess this marked the beginning of the decline of the old guard since only two traditional Hollywood films made it into the race. This would be reduced to just one the following year, when Airport would be their sole nominee.

It was a huge contrast from the Oscar race in 1969, when The Lion in Winter,Funny Girl and Oliver! dominated the race while 2001: A Space Odyssey was left out.

[–] evanston_dad 8 years ago

I agree with you about Airport being a weak Oscar nominee. But there's always at least a film or two among the nominated best pictures that's there because of popularity rather than artistic merit, and 1970 was no exception. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I think Gladiator is one of the worst films to receive at least 10 Oscar noms, and that one won Best Picture no less. The Curiously Boring Case of Benjamin Button is also up there on my list.

[–] samoanjoes (58580) 8 years ago

Honestly, one of the reasons I saw it was that it had 10 Oscar nominations and a 6.6 on IMDb. I was interested to see why the discrepancy. I have no idea why this could get 10 nominations. It was boring, dated and pointless.