FILM HONOURS IN 1939

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 5

FILM HONOURS IN 1939

CRITICS GIVE THEIR VOTES “WUTHERING HEIGHTS” IN FIRST PLACE Few people would deny the quality of the film entertainment offered las year. There were any number of films, a handful outstanding, ana the usual high percentage of “quota-fillers. In this connection it is interesting to note the opinions and gradings of the New York Film' Critics, a body which each year announces its selection or the cinema’s best for 1939. , Seventeen critics participated in the voting, the rules of which require a twothirds majority vote before a nominee can be selected. Four of the number were women. The critics included representatives of The New York Times, The Herald Tirbune, The Daily Mirror, The Post, The World Telegram, The Morning Telegraph and others. YEAR’S BEST PICTURE The reviewers selected the relatively modest Goldwyn version of the Emily Bronte novel “Wuthering Heights as their choice for the year’s best picture. The film was adapted from the novel by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, it was directed by William Wyler, ana Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier haa the main roles as Cathy and Heathcliff. , . Vivien Leigh was awarded the palm for her portrayal of Scarlett O Hara in “Gone With the Wind” (yet to be shown here). Her closest contender was Greta Garbo, whose role in Ninotchka” (also to come) gave her second ranking. Of the men, James Stewart was chosen on third ballot for his Mr Smith in “Mr Smith Goes to Washington.” Robert Donat of “Goodbye Mr Chips,” and Henry Fonda of “Young Mr Lincoln” were chosen as runnersUP john Ford, who directed the Walter Wagner production “Stagecoach, won the award for directors. Mr Ford was selected with twelve votes after the

third ballot, with Ernst Lubitsch (“Ninotchka,” three votes), second, and Victor Fleming (“Gone With the Wind, two votes), in third place. No special award such as that made in 1938 for the Walt Disney production of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, was allotted this year, although the critics reserved the right to make a presentation in future years without further notice.