The Academy Awards have ignored some of Hollywood's greatest directors.
This publicity photo provided by Mercury Productions RKO Radio Pictures shows actors Orson Welles, standing, Everett Sloane, left, and Joseph Cotten in a scene from the 1941 American drama film "Citizen Kane," directed by and starring Welles.
Much has been made about the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences failure to nominate Ben Affleck for best director for his work on “Argo.” If he never wins an Oscar, he will be in good company. Here are five directors who got the cold shoulder:
Orson Welles – The man behind “Citizen Kane” was nominated just once in his career and never won.
Alfred Hitchcock – The Master of Suspense was passed over five times. The films? Forgettable fare like “Rebecca,” “Lifeboat,” “Spellbound,” “Rear Window” and “Psycho.”
Howard Hawks – The golden age pro who gave us “To Have and Have Not,” “Rio Bravo,” and “Bringing Up Baby” was nominated once (“Sergeant York”) and did not win.
Stanley Kubrick – Ignored by voters on four occasions: “Dr. Strangelove,” “2001,” “Barry Lyndon” and “A Clockwork Orange.”
Robert Altman – Like Hitchcock, five nominations and no wins. The academy passed over his work on “M*A*S*H,” “The Player,” “Nashville” “Short Cuts” and “Gosford Park.”