Academy Award Nominations

The 43rd Academy Award took place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Loa Angeles on the 15th April 1971. The winning film of that year became The French Connection, directed by William Friedkin. The film also won in the categories Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay Adaption (Ernest Tidyman), and Best Editing (Jerry Greenberg). The film became the second one in succession to portray a police officer as the main character. In addition, the picture became the first R-rated film to earn an Oscar in the category Best Picture.

William Friedkin received the Best Director award. It is noteworthy that at the age of 32, William Friedkin became the youngest director ever to be presented an Oscar to. His picture The French Connection represents a crime film full of suspense.

The Best Actor Award was presented to Gene Hackman. Before that the actor was nominated twice. His third nomination proved to be victorious. In the film Hackman played the part of an obsessed, fanatic, hot-tempered and world-weary narcotics police officer Jimmy Doyle who works undercover. Gene Hackman had had two nominations in the past as Best Supporting Actor for the picture Bonnie And Clyde in 1967 and for the film I Never Sang For My Father in 1970.

Anti-Vitnam War activist Jane Fonda was honored with the Best Actress award for her part in Klute. The actress Jane Fonda became the first of the famous Fonda family to be presented to an Oscar.

As concerns the Best Supporting Actor Award, Ben Johnson became the owner of an Oscar in this category. The Best Supporting Actress Award was presented to Cloris Leachman. The actress played the part of Ruth Popper, the middle-aged, depressed and neglected wife of a high-school basketball coach.

It should be noted that at the ceremony in question, 82 year-old film legend Charles Chaplin was honored with Honorary Oscar after his self-imposed exile of many years in Switzerland. Charles Chaplin received the Honorary Award for “the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century.” In his film career the actor was nominated six times. His only Oscar was received for Best Score for Limelight in 1972.