Montana has had its share of Oscar glory
The Academy Awards will be doled out next Sunday night. With Oscar hogging the limelight, it's not a bad time to consider Montanans who have struck Oscar gold in the past, as well as actors honored for their work on films shot in and around Great Falls.
For instance, actor Jeff Bridges was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1974 for "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," a well-done action film shot almost entirely in Great Falls. Bridges, nominated four times, has yet to win. Clint Eastwood also starred in the movie.
The quintessential James Bond, actor Sean Connery, finally won his Oscar as tough Irish cop Jimmy Malone in "The Untouchables," one of the best films ever shot in Montana. A scene from the movie was shot on and near the Hardy Bridge south of Cascade. Connery, who won his Best Supporting Actor statuette in 1987, did a Tribune interview while he was here.
Montana natives also have won Oscars. Gerald Molen, who co-produced "Schindler's List" with director Steven Spielberg and Branko Lustig, collected an Oscar when that haunting film won Best Picture in 1993. Molen, a Great Falls native who grew up in North Hollywood, still has Montana relatives.
Character actor Gary Cooper won a pair of Best Actor Oscars, in 1941 for "Sergeant York," and in 1952 for portraying harried Marshal Will Kane in "High Noon." A strong and silent type, "Coop" was born in Helena and spent part of his time growing up on a Craig Montana-area ranch between Great Falls and Helena. Cooper, who may have been Hollywood's top box-office male draw in the 1930s, also won an honorary Oscar in 1960.
Actress Myrna Loy, born in Radersburg, near Helena, herself won an honorary Oscar in 1990 for a fine acting career. Loy, daughter of a rancher, moved to California as a teenager. One of her top roles came as actor William Powell's wife in "The Thin Man" detective film series. Another was a part in "The Best Years of Our Lives," which won Best Picture and seven other prizes in 1946. Montanans have also won technical Oscars over the years, for sound mixing and other work. It may not be commonplace for Montanans to gain a slice of Oscar glory. But with plenty of Montanans in Hollywood plying their trade these days, there's bound to be an Oscar in the future for one of them.
The Academy Awards will be doled out next Sunday night. With Oscar hogging the limelight, it's not a bad time to consider Montanans who have struck Oscar gold in the past, as well as actors honored for their work on films shot in and around Great Falls.
For instance, actor Jeff Bridges was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1974 for "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," a well-done action film shot almost entirely in Great Falls. Bridges, nominated four times, has yet to win. Clint Eastwood also starred in the movie.
The quintessential James Bond, actor Sean Connery, finally won his Oscar as tough Irish cop Jimmy Malone in "The Untouchables," one of the best films ever shot in Montana. A scene from the movie was shot on and near the Hardy Bridge south of Cascade. Connery, who won his Best Supporting Actor statuette in 1987, did a Tribune interview while he was here.
Montana natives also have won Oscars. Gerald Molen, who co-produced "Schindler's List" with director Steven Spielberg and Branko Lustig, collected an Oscar when that haunting film won Best Picture in 1993. Molen, a Great Falls native who grew up in North Hollywood, still has Montana relatives.
Character actor Gary Cooper won a pair of Best Actor Oscars, in 1941 for "Sergeant York," and in 1952 for portraying harried Marshal Will Kane in "High Noon." A strong and silent type, "Coop" was born in Helena and spent part of his time growing up on a Craig Montana-area ranch between Great Falls and Helena. Cooper, who may have been Hollywood's top box-office male draw in the 1930s, also won an honorary Oscar in 1960.
Actress Myrna Loy, born in Radersburg, near Helena, herself won an honorary Oscar in 1990 for a fine acting career. Loy, daughter of a rancher, moved to California as a teenager. One of her top roles came as actor William Powell's wife in "The Thin Man" detective film series. Another was a part in "The Best Years of Our Lives," which won Best Picture and seven other prizes in 1946. Montanans have also won technical Oscars over the years, for sound mixing and other work. It may not be commonplace for Montanans to gain a slice of Oscar glory. But with plenty of Montanans in Hollywood plying their trade these days, there's bound to be an Oscar in the future for one of them.
Montana, the Land where Legends are made.
Lets keep the legends rolling on with large tracts of land in Montana.
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