Outspoken & Freckled

The 14th Academy Awards honored American film achievements in 1941. The ceremony was held at the Biltmore Bowl of the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 26, 1942, only a few months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Bob Hope presided as host.  The attack on American shores in itself made this an unforgettable year during which to honor film, when one thinks about it, even taking into account the somewhat scaled-down version of the celebration, which dictated no formal dress.  Another incident that cast a shadow over the year’s celebration was the tragic death of Carole Lombard less than a month before the Awards were presented.  Still, the year was memorable from a film/Hollywood perspective as well as several interesting races took place and much notoriety surrounded those wanting to own the golden statuette, culminating that day with a win for heart over brains.

To start…