16th Academy Awards

Infobox Academy AwardsB
name = 16th
date = March 2, 1944
site = Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Hollywood, California, USA
host = Jack Benny
last = 15th
next = 17th

The 16th Academy Awards, in 1944, was the first Oscar ceremony held at a large public venue, Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Free passes were given out to men and women in uniform. The more theatrical approach makes it a forerunner of the contemporary Oscar telecast.

For the first time, supporting actors and actresses took home full-size statuettes, instead of smaller-sized awards mounted on a plaque.

Awards

Best Picture : "Casablanca"

Best Director : Michael Curtiz, "Casablanca"

Best Actor : Paul Lukas, "Watch on the Rhine"

Best Supporting Actor : Charles Coburn, "The More the Merrier"

Best Actress : Jennifer Jones, "The Song of Bernadette"

Best Supporting Actress : Katina Paxinou, "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

Best Original Screenplay : Norman Krasna, "Princess O'Rourke"

Best Original Story : William Saroyan, "The Human Comedy"

Best Screenplay : Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, and Howard Koch, "Casablanca"