1938 (11th Annual Awards)
Winners Only

Listed below are the Academy Award winners for the year 1938 (non-winning nominations have been omitted from this list). Click on the name of a film, person or song in the list to display more information about that film, person or song Or, click on a year in the column on the right to display the winners from that year.

Outstanding Production

You Can’t Take It with You, Columbia.

Best Actor

Spencer Tracy in Boys Town, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Best Actress

Bette Davis in Jezebel, Warner Bros.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Walter Brennan in Kentucky, 20th Century-Fox.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Fay Bainter in Jezebel, Warner Bros.

Directing

You Can’t Take It with You, Columbia. Frank Capra.

Art Direction

The Adventures of Robin Hood, Warner Bros.-First National. Carl J. Weyl.

Cinematography

The Great Waltz, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Joseph Ruttenberg.

Film Editing

The Adventures of Robin Hood, Warner Bros.-First National. Ralph Dawson.

Music

(Original Score)

The Adventures of Robin Hood, Warner Bros.-First National. Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

(Scoring)

Alexander’s Ragtime Band, 20th Century-Fox. Alfred Newman.

(Song)

Thanks for the Memory from The Big Broadcast of 1938, Paramount. Music by Ralph Rainger; lyrics by Leo Robin.

Short Subjects

(Cartoons)

Ferdinand the Bull, Walt Disney Productions; RKO Radio. Walt Disney, Producer.

(One-reel)

That Mothers Might Live, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. [Miniature Series]

(Two-reel)

Declaration of Independence, Warner Bros. [Historical Featurette Series]

Sound Recording

The Cowboy and the Lady, Samuel Goldwyn Productions; United Artists. United Artists Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director.

Writing

(Original Story)

Boys Town, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Dore Schary and Eleanore Griffin.

(Screenplay)

Pygmalion, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. (UK) Screenplay and dialogue by George Bernard Shaw; adaptation by W. P. Lipscomb, Cecil Lewis and Ian Dalrymple.

Special Award

To Harry M. Warner in recognition of patriotic service in the production of historical short subjects presenting significant episodes in the early struggle of the American people for liberty. [ [Scroll]]

To Walt Disney for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, recognized as a significant screen innovation which has charmed millions and pioneered a great new entertainment field for the motion picture cartoon. [ [Statuette & 7 Miniatures]]

To Oliver Marsh and Allen Davey for the color cinematography of the M-G-M production Sweethearts. [ [Plaque]]

To J. Arthur Ball for his outstanding contributions to the advancement of color in motion picture photography. [ [Scroll]]

(Juvenile)

To Deanna Durbin and Mickey Rooney for their significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth, and as juvenile players setting a high standard of ability and achievement. [ [Miniature Statuette]]

(Special Effects)

For outstanding achievement in creating Special Photographic and Sound Effects in the Paramount production, Spawn of the North. Special Effects by Gordon Jennings, assisted by Jan Domela, Dev Jennings, Irmin Roberts and Art Smith. Transparencies by Farciot Edouart, assisted by Loyal Griggs. Sound Effects by Loren Ryder, assisted by Harry Mills, Louis H. Mesenkop and Walter Oberst. [ [Plaque]]

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

Hal B. Wallis

Scientific or Technical Award

(Class III)

To John Aalberg and the First National Studio Sound Department for the application of compression to variable area recording in motion picture production.

To Byron Haskin and the Special Effects Department of Warner Bros. Studio for pioneering the development and for the first practical application to motion picture production of the triple head background projector.