
About this episode
Welcome Oscars fans to the 7th Academy Awards (it definitely wasn’t called The Oscars yet) — as we dive into the 1935 Oscars for the films of 1934.
Now some of you might be thinking, ‘How can awards for films this old possibly be interesting today?’ To which we say, get ready because things are going to get wild!
For starters, there were 12 nominees for best picture (and they still got some wrong!) There were also awards that are no longer given out as well as no awards for things we award today. The Hays Code had just begun in mid-1934, affecting the way movies were made. An actress was in three of the Best Picture nominees (a record that still stands) — and on top of it all, the winner this year just so ‘happened’ to set the template for every RomCom you love (or love to hate) today.
Trust us when we say you’re going to have a treat learning about some incredible movies you probably never heard of but you’ll be glad you did once you see them! As always, thanks for joining us at The Oscars!
Movies Mentioned
(*Recommended)
*It Happened One Night
*The Thin Man
*Imitation of Life
Flirtation Walk
Here Comes the Navy
*The House of Rothschild
One Night of Love
*The Barretts of Wimpole Street
*The Gay Divorcee
*Viva Villa!
*Cleopatra (Cecil B. DeMille version)
The White Parade (nearly impossible to see)
*The Affairs of Cellini
*Of Human Bondage
*Manhattan Melodrama
Eskimo
Flying Down to Rio
*Gone With the Wind
*Dangerous
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get every episode summarized
Each time The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

Bonus - 2026 Oscars Reaction!
The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!
Mar 17, 202651:14completed

1974 Bonus - The Worst Sequels to the Best Movies
The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!
Mar 9, 20261:04:10failed

1974 - Get the Butter, this Oscar is Going to Sting!
The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!
Mar 2, 20261:20:30pending

Bonus - The Incredible Indie Explosion of 1996
The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!
Feb 23, 20261:10:57pending