Independent Star-News from Pasadena, California • Page 107

OSCAR DERBY Goes Out By Bob Thomas strife that lias rocked the movie industry in months, Hollywood closes ranks tomorrow night to celebrate the 32nd Academy Awards. Strikes and rancor will be forgotten for public speechmaking at the Pantages Theater and private merriment at the Academy Ball afterward. Though producers have been pitted a a i actors and writers over pay demands, all (It's off and running for favorites and dark horses in the annual Silver Screen Siveepstakes. The winners are anybody's guess but for the record, here are the courageous picks of a veteran Hollywood handicapper in the Oscar Derby. --The Editor.) realize that the awards are the industry's i prestige builder.

Good old Oscar! This golden lump of a man has been big daddy the awards business ever since the first statuettes were handed out to Janet Gaynor and Emil Jannings in 1928. He has survived sound, depression, war, 3D, wide screens, TV and strikes. He will also survive his predictors. Yet there remain foolhardy souls who think they can outguess the 2,100 academy voters. This writer among them.

My picks: BEST PICTURE It will be hard to beat wood was impressed not by the 15 million dollars allegedly spent on it, but because it came out as a film of taste and dramatic quality. "Ben-Hur" was by no means perfect, but it outshone' all other epics of its kind. "Room at the Top" is a strong possibility; it was the best modern drama of the year. "The Nun's Story" was also well-liked. "The Diary of Anne Frank" was considered an artistic achievement by many, dreary by others.

"Anatomy of a Murder" seems the weakest entry. Choice: "Ben-Hur." BEST ACTRESS Audrey Hepburn appears the favorite for "The Nun's Story." She played a long and difficult role superbly. But if the voters care to honor a newcomer, as often happens, the winner could be Simone Signoret. She made a startling impression in "Room at the Top." You can't rule out Elizabeth Taylor and Katherine Hepburn. Taylor came close last year with "Cat- on a Hot Tin Roof," and does a remarkable job in "Suddenly, Last Summer." So does previous winner Hepburn, whose entrance and exit in the film were magnificent.

But two nominations for one -film tend to cancel each other out And the Tennessee Williams saga of sex and cannibalism revolted some. Doris Day was also nominated, but her "Pillow Talk" seems hardly in the same league with the others. Choice: Audrey Hepburn. BEST ACTOR Sometimes tile academy chooses to reward a veteran star long taken for granted. Hence James Stewart could win this year.

He loped through many a film, but he SHELLEY WINTERS HUGH GRIFFITH WILL THESE WIN Thomas answers the question and says, "Yes As is his custom he goes out on a limb to predict Academy Award winners. He says his crystal bail shows Audrey Hepburn (upper left) as the best actress, for "The Nun's James Stewart (upper tight) as best actor, for "Anatomy of a Shelley Winters (lower left) best supporting actress, for "The Diary of Anne Frank," and Hugh Griffith (lower right) best A 3 supporting actor, for "Ben-Hur. had to spring in "Anatomy of a Murder." A "Ben-Hur" sweep could win for Charlton Heston; he gave a classic performance, though it lacked what academy voters usually like: heart Sentiment could win for Paul Muni Last Angry or for Laurence Harvey at the A wide-open race could mean victory for a dark horse, Jack Lernmon. His skirted performance in "Some Like It Hot" was a comedic joy. Choice: James Stewart.

BEST SUPPORTING AC TRESS--Shelly Winters Diary of Anne shines out in a lackluster race. Susan Kohner and Juanita Moore, both in "Imitation of Life," seems headed for a split vote. Hermione Baddeley (Ropm at the appears too unknown to the Hollywood crowd. Thelma Ritter might be rewarded, but for past performances, rather than her work in "Pillow Talk." Choice: Shelly Winters. BUST SUPPORTING ACTOR Another tough one to predict.

Sentiment is often a strong- factor, and it could favor Ed Wynn as the crotchety dentist in "The Diary of Anne Frank." Both Arthur O'Connell and George C. Scott were excellent in "Anatomy of a Murder," but here is another split situation. Hugh Griffith made a bril- liant contribution to "Ben-Hur," supplying humor when it was much needed. Though little known here, he has much support. Dark horse: Robert Vaughn of "The Young Philadelphians." Choice: Hugh Griffith.

BEST DIRECTOR-- If "Ben- Hur" is named best picture, it figures that William Wyler will win this Oscar. Pushing him is Fred Zinneman for "The Nun's Story." A whimsical turn of the voters could honor Bill Wilder for keeping "Some Like It Hot" in good taste. Also running: "The Diary of Anne Jack Clayton, "Room at the Top." Choice: William Wyler. Oscar Offers to Guess Winners 1 HIS IS THE DAY you movie fans have been waiting for. In today's paper is the one and only official Oscar Contest ballot which must be filled out and mailed before p.m.

tomorrow to put you in line for some of the fabulous prizes that are being offered. The ballot will give you a chance to select the "best" in 10 categories. Winners will be those, coming closest to the actual selections made by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. HERE ARE the-categories and the nominees: Best picture: Anatomy of a Murder, Ben Hur, Diary of Anne Frank, The Nun's Story, and Room at the Top. Best actor: Laurence Harvey in Room at the Top; Charllon Heston in Ben Hur; Jack Lemmon in Some Like It Hot; Paul Muni in The Last Angry Man, and James Stewart in Anatomy of a Murder.

Best supporting actor: Hugh Griffith in Ben Hur; Arthur O'Connell in Anatomy of a Murder; George C. Scott in Anatomy of a Murder; Robert Vaughn in The Young Phila- By Peggy Powell delphians, and Ed Wynn in Diary of Anne Frank. Best actress: Doris Day in Pillow Talk; Audrey Hepburn in The Nun's Story; Katherine Hepburn ins Suddenly Last Summer; Simone Signoret in Room at the Top, and Elilzabeth Taylor in Suddenly Last Summer. supporting Hermoine Baddeley in Room at the Top; Susan Kohner in Imitation of Life; Juanita Moore in Imitation of Life; Thelma Ritter in Pillow Talk, and Shelley Winters in Diary of Anne Frank. Best director: William Wyler for Ben Hur George Stev- ens for Diary of Anne Frank; Fred Zimmerman for The Nun's Story; Jack Clayton for Room at the Top, and Billy Wilder for Some Like it Hot.

Best song: The Best of Everything, The Five Pennies, The Hanging Tree, High Hopes, and Strange Are the Ways of Love. Best art director: Ben Hur, The Big Fisherman, Journey to the Center of the Earth, North by Northwest, and Pillow Talk. Best a Mexicali Shmoes, Moonbird, Noah's Ark, The Violinist Best sound: Ben Hur, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Libel, The Nun's Story, and Porgy and Bess. FIRST PLACE winner will get a year's pass for two persons to all movie theaters in this area, plus a tour of a Hollywood studio and dinner with tile stars. Second and third place winners will get the same prizes except that their passes will.

be good for six and three months, respectively. The 12 runners-up will get one-month passes. You may send as many entries as you wish but only the ballot appearing in today's paper will be considered..