Did Dirty Tricks Ruin Carole Lombard’s Oscar Chance?

By Carla On February 23, 2009 · 10 Comments · In Fact Check

As many of you already know, Carole Lombard was nominated for Best Actress for My Man Godfrey (1936) but lost to Luise Rainer (The Great Ziegfeld).

Over the years many film critics and historians have cried UPSET and said that Lombard deserved to have won. A few have accused Louis B. Mayer of putting pressure on his peers to back up Luise Rainer. But was there foul play?

One journalist says YES.

In an article for The Times Online, John Harlow discusses a slew of negative stories that almost robbed Slumdog Millionaire of their Best Picture win: newspapers claiming the film was poverty porn, exploiting actors, and allegations of infidelity among them.

He also writes:

THE art of Oscar sliming has grown more sophisticated since the days when members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who vote on the Oscars, received telephone calls suggesting that Carole Lombard, a contender for best actress for the 1936 film My Man Godfrey, was an alcoholic. She would embarrass the Academy if she won the award, alleged the callers. Lombard, unfairly tainted, duly lost her one shot at Oscar glory.

First of all, this is the first time I have ever come across something like this before and have already asked the author for back-up.

Secondly, I may not have M.D. after my name but I am almost 100% positive Carole Lombard wasn’t an alcoholic. Not that there is anything wrong with being one mind you.

While we await for the author’s response, do any of you know any thing about this? I’m off to research myself and blow some steam.

DISCUSS!

10 Responses to Did Dirty Tricks Ruin Carole Lombard’s Oscar Chance?

Laurie says:

February 23, 2009 at 7:37 am

Hi! I’m not really en expert on Carole Lombard, but just a (great) fan. I had never heard of such an allegation about her before. But doesn’t the same journalist dismiss it as false when he says that Lombard was “unfairly tainted”?
Rich says:

February 23, 2009 at 9:29 am

It would be awfully rotten if it were true. But it would also make it a lot clearer for why she didn’t win.
WebMistress says:

February 23, 2009 at 9:37 am

Hi Laurie: The author doesn’t dismiss the alcoholism as false. You can read the full article here if you wish: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/oscars/article5780288.ece

Rich: I know what you mean. It’s always fun to put the blame on others lol.
Vincent says:

February 23, 2009 at 9:38 am

I have never heard anyone accuse Carole Lombard of being an alcoholic — and given all the friends she had in the film community and the many parties she hosted, such an accusation would have quickly been spread if true.

I tend to think what happened in ’36 was simply bloc voting on behalf of MGM. If Paramount, which had nearly as much clout, had waged a similar campaign for Lombard (who was their star property, even if “My Man Godfrey” had been made at Universal), things might have been different.
WebMistress says:

February 23, 2009 at 9:49 am

I agree with you Vincent. Carole wasn’t an alcoholic. It’s the dirty phone calls I was/am questioning because I hadn’t heard of such a thing. Probably should clarify that.

Also, the film was turned down by every other studio until Universal reluctantly did it. They all probably had too much pride to vote for it.
Don M. says:

February 23, 2009 at 10:12 am

I read an article a few years back that also mentioned the dirty phone calls but I don’t know where the story originated from. Interested in learning more.

This is my first time commenting here and I just wanted to say you have a great website. I think Carole would be proud.
WebMistress says:

February 25, 2009 at 10:56 am

Thank you Don for your kind comments about the website. Unfortunately I have not heard back from the author. I am still researching myself and hope to update you more on this soon.

LOVE AND LIGHT
Rose says:

February 26, 2009 at 11:39 am

This is the first time I’ve also heard this story: the dirty phone calls and the alcoholic rumors. From what I’ve read, Carole was liked and admired by most in the industry so that makes the story even less plausible. I think the dirty phone calls were more like blackmail: vote this way or you’ll never work in this town again. Which is pretty much what Vincent said.
WebMistress says:

February 26, 2009 at 12:45 pm

Yeah the only person I have come across who was vocal about her dislike for Lombard’s performace is a wingnut by the name of Kathryn Bomar. On February 13, 1937 she wrote:

Of-all-things note! The nominating committee for the annual Academy Award for the best acting of the year has nominated Carole Lombard for her work in “My Man Godfrey” and William Powell for his work in the same picture. Powell is an A+ actor, but that picture didn’t give him a chance. As for Miss Lombard, about all the energy she expended was to toss her head of uncombed hair about and stick out her lower lip. The picture, at the most, was just fair entertainment, in my estimation, and the whole cast just played at it, with certainly no medal-taking acting.

Speaking of acting, how can Carole compare with Luise Rainer’s portrayal of Anna Held in “The Great Ziegfeld?” There was a piece of acting for you. Incidentally, she is a nominee, too.
[Ladies First!, KATHRYN BOMAR, Clovis New Mexico Evening News-Journal, February 13, 1937, pg.4]
Donna says:

November 1, 2009 at 7:10 pm

Maybe it was Ria, making all those awful phone calls!!!