This 1980 Movie Starring John Hurt Was So Good, It Forced The Oscars To Add A Brand-New Category

The Elephant Man

TheOscarshas added many different award category across its history , with one being tot after the succeeder of a eighties drama , The Elephant Man . The Academy Awards are easily the most esteemed awards in the moving-picture show industry , with the first ceremony taking spot in 1929.Across the history of the Academy Awards , there have been many award categories that have been added and retired across the years ; most lately the honour for Best Sound Editing , which was retired in 2019 .

In 2024 , the Oscars announce the creation of a new award category that will recognize a movie ’s casting decision . The first Academy Award for Best Achievement In Casting will be grant at the 98th ceremony in 2025 ; this is the first new award category since the creation of the Best Feature Film family in 2001 . Further fresh categories may be create in the futureas hear in the motion picture industry ’s run for a Best Stunt Award . In 1980 , backlash and electioneering from critics lead the Academy to make a fresh award after the success ofThe Elephant Man .

How The Elephant Man Led To The Academy Awards Adding A New Category

The Elephant Man Received 8 Oscar Nominations In 1981

The disastrous - and - snowy dramatic play movieThe Elephant Manwas released in 1980 . Starring John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins , the film depictsthe true narration of John Merrick , a man who live with severe forcible malformation in 19th century England;his strong-arm appearing caused him to be ostracized and guy by society , and he lose difficulties with moving and log Z’s ( viaBritannica ) . The film render Merrick ’s animation working as an exhibition in a freak show before he is find by surgeon Frederick Treves , and the two shape a close friendly relationship , while Treves learns more about Merrick ’s term .

The Elephant Manwas released to decisive acclaim andis widely considered one of John Hurt ’s best movies . It experience eight Oscar nominations in 1981 , including for Best Picture . Many believed that make - up artist Christopher Tucker should have receive recognition from the Academy for his oeuvre on recreating Merrick ’s physical appearance for the moving picture . However , at the time , there was no awarding family for recognizing make-up and special effects in a movie . The backlash for not recognizingThe Elephant Manfor its makeup effect was so utmost , that the Academy announced that it would make a new makeup award for future ceremonial occasion .