When Hollywood United America-Oscar Fact

Today’s Oscar fact will make us feel like, well, losers. Yes, losers, they say that the 1940′s generation was the “last great generation.” I have to agree. Harold Russell won best supporting actor in 1947 for his role in “The Best Years of Our Lives,” a heart wrenching, but heart warming story of soldiers which return back home only to fight another battle. You see not only had the war changed them forever, but it changed the world as they knew it. And no one knew this better than real life returning WW II veteran, turned actor, Harold Russell.

Russell was so deeply affected by the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7^th, that he enlisted in the Army December 8th! Talk about pride for one’s country. He became an Army instructor and during filming of one of his training films, a defective fuse detonated an explosive he was holding. He lost both his hands and was given hooks to work as hands. He went on to college and while at college he was given a role in a movie called “Diary of a Sergeant,” another movie about veterans in rehabilitation.

He was then given the role of Parrish in the movie “Best Years of Our Lives,” and he won best supporting actor for this role. Before he was given the Oscar that night, they gave him an Honorary Oscar for “bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans.” Actually the Board of Governors came up with this type of award because they really wanted to salute him, and felt he didn’t have a chance for the Oscar. How wrong they were! It was the first time the Oscar was awarded twice for the same role.

When he received his Oscar he was given an ovation to remember and it brought tears to his eyes. In 1947 Hollywood and real life came together and the world was touched, and impacted in a powerful way. This is truly a rare Hollywood moment. All political views went out the window, and for one moment America was United in Hollywood.