Best Picture nominees:
Anchors Aweigh
The Bells of St. Mary's
The Lost Weekend
Mildred Pierce
Spellbound
What won: The Lost Weekend
Although it didn't match the mood of a postwar, victorious nation, Billy Wilder's follow-up to his Best Picture nominee from the prior year was just too good not to win. It was only one of two films to win multiple awards that night, winning the top Oscar along with Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay. This was the first time somebody would win Best Director and Best Screenplay for the same film, so Wilder was very much made whole after striking out at the 17th Awards. It's also the first of only three films to date to win the top prize at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and go all the way to win Best Picture. The film also topped the annual Film Daily poll in addition to its Best Picture win at the 3rd Golden Globes. No matter how you slice it, The Lost Weekend was the critical and industry darling of 1945.
What should have won: The Lost Weekend
Who am I to disagree with all of the accolades listed above? Billy Wilder is quickly becoming my favorite director of the era. He directs Ray Milland's premiere performance as a downtrodden, alcoholic novelist who would do absolutely anything to get a hold of a bottle. The heartbreaking journey is contextualized through flashbacks and the score by Miklós Rózsa, characterized by his use of theremin, heightens the psychological torment of a struggling addict. The screenplay allows the entire spectrum of addiction to play out and Milland's presence is convincing and powerful. There's even a slew of special effects used to portray "DTs," or delirium tremens, that turns this disease into a horror-fueled nightmare. The cinematography is also noteworthy in a year of other noteworthy film noirs dominating the Cinematography and Art Direction categories. In my personal canon of Best Picture winners, this is the second Wilder picture to win in a row; I don't think we'll see the end of him on this list either.
My Best Picture nominee rankings:
1. The Lost Weekend (9/10)
2. Spellbound (8/10)
3. Mildred Pierce (8/10)
4. Anchors Aweigh (7/10)
5. The Bells of St. Mary's (6/10)