Academy Awards of 1969
 

Although not an actual Western, the Best Picture of the Academy Awards of 1969 was about a cowboy. Specifically Jon Voight’s Midnight Cowboy, about a rube (Voight) who comes to New York intending to be a “hustler,” or gigolo, and ends up being taught life lessons and developing an unlikely friendship with the appropriately named “Ratso” Rizzo, portrayed by Dustin Hoffman.

While both Hoffman and Voight were rightfully nominated for the Academy Awards of 1969 Best Actor Oscar, the golden trophy went to a true Western star, John Wayne. Wayne won the award for his portrayal of Marshal Rooster Cogburn in the Western classic, True Grit.

The 1969 Academy Awards Best Actress selection was probably this year’s surprise pick. The winner was Maggie Smith, for her role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, as the title character. While it was a fine performance, many people may have expected one of the more high profile nominees, such as Jane Fonda for They Shoot Horses Don’t They? Liza Minelli for The Sterile Cuckoo, or Jean Simmons for The Happy Ending, to win.

Gig Young took the Best Supporting Actor prize in 1969 for his role as the brutal emcee in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? Perhaps, however, this year’s Supporting Actor category was most notable for featuring the first nomination for one Jack Nicholson, for his performance in the counter culture classic, Easy Rider. Note that although neither of these films were classic Westerns, one had horses in the title and the other was a story in part about exploring and riding through the Southwest.

A young Goldie Hawn, already quite famous for her regular role on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in, took the Best Supporting Actress actress for her portrayal of Toni Simmons in Cactus Flower. Although Hawn would go on to star in many popular movies, mostly comedies, she would not receive another Oscar nomination.

The Best Director award for 1969 went to John Schlesinger, for Midnight Cowboy. Schlessinger’s victory was a triumph for minorities, as Schlesinger was both Jewish and openly gay. He also became famous for another pairing with Dustin Hoffman, the also darkly disturbing 1976 effort, Marathon Man. Schlessinger beat out some gifted and well-respected directors to earn the 1969 Best Director Oscar prize, including George Roy Hill for his Western classic, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Sydney Pollack for They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?