Did They Get it Right? – Best Director – Oscars 1965

Here are the five nominees: (Winner in Bold)

David Lean (Doctor Zhivago)

John Schlesinger (Darling)

Hiroshi Teshigahara (Woman in the Dunes)

Robert Wise (The Sound of Music)

William Wyler (The Collector)

Biggest Snub:

Sidney Lumet – The Pawnbroker

My Overall Thoughts:

This was another great year with 5 outstanding directors as nominees but it came down to Lean vs Wise in the end.

My Rankings:

Directing

5. John Schlesinger 
4. Hiroshi Teshigahara 
3. William Wyler 
2. David Lean 
1. Robert Wise

Movies

5. Woman in the Dunes – Very strange film and idea that is too existential for my own personal taste. The film is filled with lots and lots of allegorical messages yet fails to have a straight forward storyline that makes much sense. Not even close to the kind of film that I can enjoy at all. That being said, it makes a lot of sense that the Academy would love a film like this and give it nominations for both Director and Foreign Language film (in subsequent years) , even if it didn’t manage to win either of them.
4. Darling – This is a film that sounds like it would be much better than it really is. Christie is quite good here, but I’m not sure her performance could be considered Best Actress worthy. I believe that this story was more relevant during the 1960’s but doesn’t really translate well enough half a century later.
3. The Collector – Very interesting film because it deals with subject matter that was considered taboo at the time. Stamp is amazing as this very disturbed young man and Eggar is equally great as his prisoner. The story moves a bit slowly, but still works quite well. Very disturbing to watch yet done in a way that we are very curious to see what will happen.
2. Doctor Zhivago – Classic Lean, done extremely well. Story was a bit choppy, but still worth seeing for the epic way that the overall story is told and presented
1. The Sound of Music – Great musical, fun movie. A true classic! Very deserving of all of the awards it won because it is done so well.  Andrews is superb in the lead.

Do I agree with the Oscar winner? – Most Definitely!  Wise does a superb job with TSoM and t is still considered among the very best cinematic musicals.

Let me know what you think about these films and my rankings!