Movie - The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

This movie stars Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.  Jodie Foster is one of the few child actresses that made a successful transition into adult roles.  She had already won one Oscar for The Accused before winning again for this movie.  Anthony Hopkins had been making movies since the late 60s, but this is the one that made him a household name.

It was directed by Jonathan Demme, who went on to do Philadelphia.  It was adapted by Ted Tally, who also adapted the prequel Red Dragon.

Movie - One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

This movie stars Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher.  Nicholson needs no introduction.  Louise Fletcher has worked constantly in both movies and TV since winning the Oscar, but she never again had a role like this one.  Trekkies/Trekkers will recognize her as Kai Winn on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

It was directed by Milos Forman, who went on to do Amadeus.  It was adapted by Lawrence Hauben, who never wrote another movie, and Bo Goldman, who went on to write Scent of a Woman.

Movie - It Happened One Night (1934)

This movie stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.  If the names are not familiar then this is an excellent movie to introduce them to you.  Gable would go on to do Mutiny on the Bounty and Gone with the Wind.  Colbert would go on to do The Palm Beach Story.

It was directed by Frank Capra, who went on to do Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It’s a Wonderful Life.  It was adapted by Robert Riskin, who went on to write You Can’t Take It with You and Meet John Doe.

Movies that won all five major Oscars

“And the Oscar goes to…” – numerous hosts, Academy Awards Broadcasts

The five major Oscars are considered to be Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay (either original or adapted.)  Even though the Oscars have been handed out for over eighty years, there have been only three movies that have won all five of these awards.

Those movies are It Happened One Night (1934), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991.)

Coincidentally, none of these three movies won any Oscars beyond these five.  Another thing they have in common is that all three screenplays were adapted ones.

You can find my posts for these movies here:

It Happened One Night
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
The Silence of the Lambs

On to the reviews....