1941 Film Year: Oscar Winners & Nominees
The AwardWentTo archive contains 182 Academy Award records for the 1941 film year, covering 102 films and including 27 wins.
Years follow the source film eligibility/dataset year, which may differ from the ceremony calendar year. Counts describe film-linked archive records, including historical and special-award context where supplied.
Best Picture result
- ★ How Green Was My Valley20th Century-Fox
10 Best Picture award records for this film year. See the full result · Best Picture history
Acting category results
Leading winning films
Ranked by winning records in this film-year selection.
- How Green Was My Valley
5 wins from 10 award records
- Sergeant York
2 wins from 11 award records
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan
2 wins from 7 award records
- Fantasia
2 wins from 2 award records
- Citizen Kane
1 win from 9 award records
- Blossoms in the Dust
1 win from 4 award records
Category winners
Select a category to explore its history, or jump to this year's full records.
- ★ Sergeant York — Alvin C. York
- ★ How Green Was My Valley — Mr. Morgan
- ★ Suspicion — Lina McLaidlaw
- ★ The Great Lie — Sandra Kovak
- ★ Lady Be Good — The Last Time I Saw Paris
- ★ Dumbo
Nominations and award records by category
Showing 182 of 182 archive records. Gold stars mark winning records.
Best Picture
- ★ How Green Was My Valley IMDB — 20th Century-Fox
- Blossoms in the Dust IMDB — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Citizen Kane IMDB — Mercury
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan IMDB — Columbia
- Hold Back the Dawn IMDB — Paramount
- The Little Foxes IMDB — Samuel Goldwyn Productions
- The Maltese Falcon IMDB — Warner Bros.
- One Foot in Heaven IMDB — Warner Bros.
- Sergeant York IMDB — Warner Bros.
- Suspicion IMDB — RKO Radio
Best Actor
- ★ Sergeant York IMDB — Gary CooperAlvin C. York
- Penny Serenade IMDB — Cary GrantRoger Adams
- All That Money Can Buy IMDB — Walter HustonMr. Scratch
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan IMDB — Robert MontgomeryJoe Pendleton
- Citizen Kane IMDB — Orson WellesCharles Foster Kane
Best Supporting Actor
- ★ How Green Was My Valley IMDB — Donald CrispMr. Morgan
- Sergeant York IMDB — Walter BrennanPastor Posier Pile
- The Devil and Miss Jones IMDB — Charles CoburnJohn P. Merrick
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan IMDB — James GleasonMax Corkle
- The Maltese Falcon IMDB — Sydney GreenstreetKaspar Gutman
Best Actress
- ★ Suspicion IMDB — Joan FontaineLina McLaidlaw
- The Little Foxes IMDB — Bette DavisRegina Hubbard Giddens
- Hold Back the Dawn IMDB — Olivia de HavillandEmmy Brown
- Blossoms in the Dust IMDB — Greer GarsonEdna Gladney
- Ball of Fire IMDB — Barbara StanwyckSugarpuss O'Shea
Best Supporting Actress
- ★ The Great Lie IMDB — Mary AstorSandra Kovak
- How Green Was My Valley IMDB — Sara AllgoodMrs. Morgan
- The Little Foxes IMDB — Patricia CollingeBirdie Hubbard
- The Little Foxes IMDB — Teresa WrightAlexandra Giddens
- Sergeant York IMDB — Margaret WycherlyMother York
Art Direction (Black-and-White)
- ★ How Green Was My Valley IMDB — Art Direction: Richard Day, Nathan Juran; Interior Decoration: Thomas Little
- Citizen Kane IMDB — Art Direction: Perry Ferguson, Van Nest Polglase; Interior Decoration: Al Fields, Darrell Silvera
- The Flame of New Orleans IMDB — Art Direction: Martin Obzina, Jack Otterson; Interior Decoration: Russell A. Gausman
- Hold Back the Dawn IMDB — Art Direction: Hans Dreier, Robert Usher; Interior Decoration: Sam Comer
- Ladies in Retirement IMDB — Art Direction: Lionel Banks; Interior Decoration: George Montgomery
- The Little Foxes IMDB — Art Direction: Stephen Goosson; Interior Decoration: Howard Bristol
- Sergeant York IMDB — Art Direction: John Hughes; Interior Decoration: Fred MacLean
- Sis Hopkins IMDB
Source context
NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL NOMINATION. Nomination withdrawn by Republic Studios.
- The Son of Monte Cristo IMDB — Art Direction: John DuCasse Schulze; Interior Decoration: Edward G. Boyle
- Sundown IMDB — Art Direction: Alexander Golitzen; Interior Decoration: Richard Irvine
- That Hamilton Woman IMDB — Art Direction: Vincent Korda; Interior Decoration: Julia Heron
- When Ladies Meet IMDB — Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Randall Duell; Interior Decoration: Edwin B. Willis
Art Direction (Color)
- ★ Blossoms in the Dust IMDB — Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Urie McCleary; Interior Decoration: Edwin B. Willis
- Blood and Sand IMDB — Art Direction: Richard Day, Joseph C. Wright; Interior Decoration: Thomas Little
- Louisiana Purchase IMDB — Art Direction: Raoul Pene du Bois; Interior Decoration: Stephen A. Seymour
Cinematography (Black-and-White)
- ★ How Green Was My Valley IMDB — Arthur Miller
- The Chocolate Soldier IMDB — Karl Freund
- Citizen Kane IMDB — Gregg Toland
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde IMDB — Joseph Ruttenberg
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan IMDB — Joseph Walker
- Hold Back the Dawn IMDB — Leo Tover
- Sergeant York IMDB — Sol Polito
- Sun Valley Serenade IMDB — Edward Cronjager
- Sundown IMDB — Charles Lang
- That Hamilton Woman IMDB — Rudolph Maté
Cinematography (Color)
- ★ Blood and Sand IMDB — Ernest Palmer, Ray Rennahan
- Aloma of the South Seas IMDB — Wilfred M. Cline, Karl Struss, William Snyder
- Billy the Kid IMDB — William V. Skall, Leonard Smith
- Blossoms in the Dust IMDB — Karl Freund, W. Howard Greene
- Dive Bomber IMDB — Bert Glennon
- Louisiana Purchase IMDB — Harry Hallenberger, Ray Rennahan
Best Director
Documentary Short Subject
- ★ Churchill's Island IMDB — National Film Board of Canada
- Adventure in the Bronx IMDB — Film Associates
- Bomber IMDB — United States Office for Emergency Management Film Unit
- Christmas under Fire IMDB — British Ministry of Information
- Letter from Home IMDB — British Ministry of Information
- Life of a Thoroughbred IMDB — Truman Talley, Producer
- Norway in Revolt IMDB — The March of Time
- A Place to Live IMDB — Philadelphia Housing Association
- Russian Soil IMDB — Amkino
- Soldiers of the Sky IMDB — Truman Talley, Producer
- War Clouds in the Pacific IMDB — National Film Board of Canada
Film Editing
Original Score
- ★ All That Money Can Buy IMDB — Bernard Herrmann
- Back Street IMDB — Frank Skinner
- Ball of Fire IMDB — Alfred Newman
- Cheers for Miss Bishop IMDB — Edward Ward
- Citizen Kane IMDB — Bernard Herrmann
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde IMDB — Franz Waxman
- Hold Back the Dawn IMDB — Victor Young
- How Green Was My Valley IMDB — Alfred Newman
- King of the Zombies IMDB — Edward Kay
- Ladies in Retirement IMDB — Morris Stoloff, Ernst Toch
- The Little Foxes IMDB — Meredith Willson
- Lydia IMDB — Miklos Rozsa
- Mercy Island IMDB — Cy Feuer, Walter Scharf
- Sergeant York IMDB — Max Steiner
- So Ends Our Night IMDB — Louis Gruenberg
- Sundown IMDB — Miklos Rozsa
- Suspicion IMDB — Franz Waxman
- Tanks a Million IMDB — Edward Ward
- That Uncertain Feeling IMDB — Werner Heymann
- This Woman Is Mine IMDB — Richard Hageman
Original Song
- ★ Lady Be Good IMDB — Music by Jerome Kern; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein IIThe Last Time I Saw Paris
- Dumbo IMDB — Music by Frank Churchill; Lyrics by Ned WashingtonBaby Mine
- Ridin' on a Rainbow IMDB — Music and Lyrics by Gene Autry and Fred RoseBe Honest With Me
- Blues in the Night IMDB — Music by Harold Arlen; Lyrics by Johnny MercerBlues In The Night
- Buck Privates IMDB — Music by Hugh Prince; Lyrics by Don RayeBoogie Woogie Bugle Boy Of Company B
- Sun Valley Serenade IMDB — Music by Harry Warren; Lyrics by Mack GordonChattanooga Choo Choo
- Las Vegas Nights IMDB — Music by Lou Alter; Lyrics by Frank LoesserDolores
- All-American Co-Ed IMDB — Music and Lyrics by Lloyd B. NorlindOut Of The Silence
- You'll Never Get Rich IMDB — Music and Lyrics by Cole PorterSince I Kissed My Baby Goodbye
Music (Original Song Score or Adaptation Score)
- ★ Dumbo IMDB — Frank Churchill, Oliver Wallace
- All-American Co-Ed IMDB — Edward Ward
- Birth of the Blues IMDB — Robert Emmett Dolan
- Buck Privates IMDB — Charles Previn
- The Chocolate Soldier IMDB — Herbert Stothart, Bronislau Kaper
- Ice-Capades IMDB — Cy Feuer
- The Strawberry Blonde IMDB — Heinz Roemheld
- Sun Valley Serenade IMDB — Emil Newman
- Sunny IMDB — Anthony Collins
- You'll Never Get Rich IMDB — Morris Stoloff
Animated Short Film
- ★ Lend a Paw IMDB — Walt Disney, Producer
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B IMDB — Walter Lantz, Producer
- Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt IMDB — Leon Schlesinger, Producer
- How War Came IMDB — Columbia
- The Night before Christmas IMDB — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Rhapsody in Rivets IMDB — Leon Schlesinger, Producer
- Rhythm in the Ranks IMDB — George Pal, Producer
- The Rookie Bear IMDB — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Superman IMDB — Max Fleischer, Producer
- Truant Officer Donald IMDB — Walt Disney, Producer
Short Subject (One-Reel)
- ★ Of Pups and Puzzles IMDB — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Army Champions IMDB — Pete Smith, Producer
- Beauty and the Beach IMDB — Paramount
- Down on the Farm IMDB — Paramount
- Forty Boys and a Song IMDB — Warner Bros.
- Kings of the Turf IMDB — Warner Bros.
- Sagebrush and Silver IMDB — 20th Century-Fox
Short Subject (Two-Reel)
- ★ Main Street on the March! IMDB — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Alive in the Deep IMDB — Woodard Productions, Inc.
- Forbidden Passage IMDB — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- The Gay Parisian IMDB — Warner Bros.
- The Tanks Are Coming IMDB — United States Army
Sound Recording
- ★ That Hamilton Woman IMDB — General Service Sound Department, Jack Whitney, Sound Director
- Appointment for Love IMDB — Universal Studio Sound Department, Bernard B. Brown, Sound Director
- Ball of Fire IMDB — Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director
- The Chocolate Soldier IMDB — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director
- Citizen Kane IMDB — RKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Aalberg, Sound Director
- The Devil Pays Off IMDB — Republic Studio Sound Department, Charles Lootens, Sound Director
- How Green Was My Valley IMDB — 20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department, E. H. Hansen, Sound Director
- The Men in Her Life IMDB — Columbia Studio Sound Department, John Livadary, Sound Director
- Sergeant York IMDB — Warner Bros. Studio Sound Department, Nathan Levinson, Sound Director
- Skylark IMDB — Paramount Studio Sound Department, Loren Ryder, Sound Director
- Topper Returns IMDB — Hal Roach Studio Sound Department, Elmer Raguse, Sound Director
Special Award
- ★ Kukan IMDB — Rey Scott
Source context
To Rey Scott for his extraordinary achievement in producing Kukan, the film record of China's struggle, including its photography with a 16mm camera under the most difficult and dangerous conditions.
- ★ Target for Tonight IMDB — The British Ministry of Information
Source context
To The British Ministry of Information for its vivid and dramatic presentation of the heroism of the RAF in the documentary film, Target for Tonight.
- ★ Fantasia IMDB — Leopold Stokowski
Source context
To Leopold Stokowski and his associates for their unique achievement in the creation of a new form of visualized music in Walt Disney's production, Fantasia, thereby widening the scope of the motion picture as entertainment and as an art form.
- ★ Fantasia IMDB — Walt Disney, William Garity, John N. A. Hawkins, the RCA Manufacturing Company
Source context
To Walt Disney, William Garity, John N. A. Hawkins and the RCA Manufacturing Company for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of Fantasia.
Visual Effects
- ★ I Wanted Wings IMDB — Photographic Effects by Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings; Sound Effects by Louis Mesenkop
- Aloma of the South Seas IMDB — Photographic Effects by Farciot Edouart, Gordon Jennings; Sound Effects by Louis Mesenkop
- Dive Bomber IMDB — Photographic Effects by Byron Haskin; Sound Effects by Nathan Levinson
Source context
NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL NOMINATION. Originally announced as a nominee on February 9, 1942, but sometime between the 10th and the 19th of February, this title was dropped and replaced by another Warner Bros. production, The Sea Wolf, with the same people credited for the nomination. There is no explanation in the files as to why this replacement was made.
- Flight Command IMDB — Photographic Effects by A. Arnold Gillespie; Sound Effects by Douglas Shearer
- The Invisible Woman IMDB — Photographic Effects by John Fulton; Sound Effects by John Hall
- The Sea Wolf IMDB — Photographic Effects by Byron Haskin; Sound Effects by Nathan Levinson
Source context
NOTE: Not originally one of the nominees announced on February 9, 1942. Dive Bomber, another Warner Bros. production, was on the list, but sometime between the 10th and 19th of February, the Dive Bomber nomination was replaced by The Sea Wolf, with the same people credited for the achievement. There is no explanation in the files as to why the replacement was made.
- That Hamilton Woman IMDB — Photographic Effects by Lawrence Butler; Sound Effects by William H. Wilmarth
- Topper Returns IMDB — Photographic Effects by Roy Seawright; Sound Effects by Elmer Raguse
- A Yank in the R.A.F. IMDB — Photographic Effects by Fred Sersen; Sound Effects by E. H. Hansen
Adapted Screenplay
- ★ Here Comes Mr. Jordan IMDB — Sidney Buchman, Seton I. Miller
- Hold Back the Dawn IMDB — Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder
- How Green Was My Valley IMDB — Philip Dunne
- The Little Foxes IMDB — Lillian Hellman
- The Maltese Falcon IMDB — John Huston
Original Screenplay
- ★ Citizen Kane IMDB — Herman J. Mankiewicz, Orson Welles
- The Devil and Miss Jones IMDB — Norman Krasna
- Sergeant York IMDB — Abem Finkel, Harry Chandlee, Howard Koch, John Huston
- Tall, Dark and Handsome IMDB — Karl Tunberg, Darrell Ware
- Tom, Dick and Harry IMDB — Paul Jarrico
Writing (Original Story)
- ★ Here Comes Mr. Jordan IMDB — Harry Segall
- Ball of Fire IMDB — Billy Wilder, Thomas Monroe
- The Lady Eve IMDB — Monckton Hoffe
- Meet John Doe IMDB — Richard Connell, Robert Presnell
- Night Train IMDB — Gordon Wellesley
Nominated films and other recorded entries
102 films represented in the 1941 archive selection.
- A Place to Live
- A Yank in the R.A.F.
- Adventure in the Bronx
- Alive in the Deep
- All That Money Can Buy
- All-American Co-Ed
- Aloma of the South Seas
- Appointment for Love
- Army Champions
- Back Street
- Ball of Fire
- Beauty and the Beach
- Billy the Kid
- Birth of the Blues
- Blood and Sand
- Blossoms in the Dust
- Blues in the Night
- Bomber
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B
- Buck Privates
- Cheers for Miss Bishop
- Christmas under Fire
- Churchill's Island
- Citizen Kane
- Dive Bomber
- Down on the Farm
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- Dumbo
- Fantasia
- Flight Command
- Forbidden Passage
- Forty Boys and a Song
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan
- Hiawatha's Rabbit Hunt
- Hold Back the Dawn
- How Green Was My Valley
- How War Came
- I Wanted Wings
- Ice-Capades
- King of the Zombies
- Kings of the Turf
- Kukan
- Ladies in Retirement
- Lady Be Good
- Las Vegas Nights
- Lend a Paw
- Letter from Home
- Life of a Thoroughbred
- Louisiana Purchase
- Lydia
- Main Street on the March!
- Meet John Doe
- Mercy Island
- Night Train
- Norway in Revolt
- Of Pups and Puzzles
- One Foot in Heaven
- Penny Serenade
- Rhapsody in Rivets
- Rhythm in the Ranks
- Ridin' on a Rainbow
- Russian Soil
- Sagebrush and Silver
- Sergeant York
- Sis Hopkins
- Skylark
- So Ends Our Night
- Soldiers of the Sky
- Sun Valley Serenade
- Sundown
- Sunny
- Superman
- Suspicion
- Tall, Dark and Handsome
- Tanks a Million
- Target for Tonight
- That Hamilton Woman
- That Uncertain Feeling
- The Chocolate Soldier
- The Devil and Miss Jones
- The Devil Pays Off
- The Flame of New Orleans
- The Gay Parisian
- The Great Lie
- The Invisible Woman
- The Lady Eve
- The Little Foxes
- The Maltese Falcon
- The Men in Her Life
- The Night before Christmas
- The Rookie Bear
- The Sea Wolf
- The Son of Monte Cristo
- The Strawberry Blonde
- The Tanks Are Coming
- This Woman Is Mine
- Tom, Dick and Harry
- Topper Returns
- Truant Officer Donald
- War Clouds in the Pacific
- When Ladies Meet
- You'll Never Get Rich
About these award records
This independent archive groups film-linked award records by film, credited name, category and eligibility year. The film year can differ from the year the ceremony took place. Ceremony numbers are shown where supplied by the records.
Each distinct performance, song or award credit remains a separate record, even when it belongs to the same film. Shared credits stay together. A person's page covers the name shown, without combining aliases or shared credits into a complete career total.
Totals can include honorary, special and historical awards alongside competitive nominations. Awards without a linked film are outside these page totals. Source notes and uncertain records are retained; category comparisons omit groups with unresolved notes, ties or conflicting identities.
For the official record, search the Academy Awards Database (opens in a new tab). Award Went To is an independent exploration tool and is not affiliated with the Academy.