A Look Back At The Shocking Saving Private Ryan Oscar Loss

By Adam C. BetterJul 22, 2024 09:55 AMArchive
Share:
A Look Back At The Shocking Saving Private Ryan Oscar Loss
A Look Back At The Shocking Saving Private Ryan Oscar Loss

Before the 1999 Oscars, Saving Private Ryan was believed to be a shoo-in to win Best Picture. Shakespeare in Love pulled off a huge upset and beat Spielberg’s World War II epic. Disgraced movie mogul, Harvey Weinstein, spearheaded the shocking upset for his romantic comedy. 20 years later, Hollywood Reporter looks back at the questionable methods Weinstein used to help propel Shakespere in Love to the shocking victory.

Some of the highlights of Hollywood Reporter’s Oral History of the upset are below:

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Bei/REX/Shutterstock (446640x)Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford at the DreamWorks / Paramount 1999 Academy Awards winners party at Barnabys .ACADEMY AWARDS, LOS ANGELES, AMERICA – 1999

Between the December 1998 rollout of Shakespeare and final Oscar voting a few months later, rumblings of a Miramax "whisper campaign" grew and nearly sparked war.

PRESS I started to get all these calls from press saying, "Harvey Weinstein has hired publicists, including Murray Weissman, and, just so you know, they’re trying to get us to write stories saying that the only thing amazing about Ryan is the first 20 minutes, and then after that it’s just a regular genre movie." I mean, I knew Harvey was spending a ton of money, but that was the first time I was exposed to the idea of a "whisper campaign" against another movie. I heard that Harvey had basically gone around hiring people who were old-timey publicists, who were just thrilled to be thought of and to get the work, and sent them out with this idea. So I went to Steven and I said, "Listen, just so you know, this is getting ugly." And Steven said to me — I’ll never forget this — "No matter what, I do not want you to get down in the mud with Harvey Weinstein." That was the exact quote. I said, "Are you sure?" And he said, "I don’t want any negative campaigning." I said, "OK."

SPIELBERG It’s not that I got "turned off" by it. I didn’t. There was fierce competition before 1998-99. There’s always been competition. Back in the ’40s and ’50s, there was bloc voting — the Academy members at Fox were voting against the members at Warner Bros. and they were all being trounced by the voters at MGM. I mean, this is not foreign to anyone who has had experience growing up in this town. It’s just a reality, something we live with.

You can read the entire oral history here.

Top Articles
What double rainbow means in spiritual sense

Meaning of double rainbow as a spiritual sign from above

Oct 16, 2024 13:27 PM
Symbolism and meaning of crickets

Symbolism and meaning of the cricket as a spirit animal

Oct 15, 2024 13:01 PM

Meaning of the yellow butterfly. Symbolism and spiritual meaning of the encounter

Oct 15, 2024 15:05 PM

Keep seeing the number of angel 2222? Read its spiritual meaning

Oct 14, 2024 17:01 PM
More News
Three zodiac signs to go in search of tranquil locations next week

Three zodiac signs to go in search of tranquil locations next week

Oct 30, 2024 21:18 PM
Representatives of these zodiac signs will break free from cycles of insecurity and doubt

Representatives of these zodiac signs will break free from cycles of insecurity and doubt

Oct 30, 2024 20:13 PM

Ethan Slater Discusses Public Scrutiny and His Relationship with Ariana Grande

Oct 30, 2024 19:45 PM

6+ Reasons Your Ears Are Ringing (According to Legend)

Oct 30, 2024 19:29 PM
Nina Dobrev and Shaun White: Distinct Paths to Engagement

Nina Dobrev and Shaun White: Distinct Paths to Engagement

Oct 30, 2024 19:02 PM
Emma Heming Willis Open with Daughters about Bruce Willis' Health

Emma Heming Willis Open with Daughters about Bruce Willis' Health

Oct 30, 2024 18:30 PM
Three zodiac signs will boast of calm and composed demeanor this weekend

Three zodiac signs will boast of calm and composed demeanor this weekend

Oct 30, 2024 18:26 PM
Keke Palmer Opens Up About Stressors with Ex Darius Jackson Amid Allegations and Custody Dispute

Keke Palmer Opens Up About Stressors with Ex Darius Jackson Amid Allegations and Custody Dispute

Oct 30, 2024 17:50 PM
How to Interpret a Dream Involving the Color Black

How to Interpret a Dream Involving the Color Black

Oct 30, 2024 17:21 PM

Steve Kazee Reacts to Channing Tatum and Zoë Kravitz's Breakup with Cryptic Instagram Post

Oct 30, 2024 16:40 PM

Representatives of these zodiac signs might get a surprising financial boost

Oct 30, 2024 16:38 PM
Japanese Omamori Charms And Their Spiritual Impact

Japanese Omamori Charms And Their Spiritual Impact

Oct 30, 2024 15:57 PM
Olivia Culpo Shares a Glimpse of Her "Forever Home" With Christian McCaffrey

Olivia Culpo Shares a Glimpse of Her "Forever Home" With Christian McCaffrey

Oct 30, 2024 15:34 PM
Dreams about old friends

Exploring Dreams of Old Friends: What They Mean

Oct 30, 2024 14:51 PM
Sean "Diddy" Combs is Being Sued for Alleged Sexual Assault of 10-Year-Old

Sean "Diddy" Combs is Being Sued for Alleged Sexual Assault of 10-Year-Old

Oct 30, 2024 14:51 PM

Three zodiac signs to seek harmony in all aspects of their lives until the end of 2024

Oct 30, 2024 14:09 PM

Kim Kardashian Attends Caitlyn Jenner’s 75th Birthday with Family

Oct 30, 2024 14:08 PM
Travis Barker Calls Kourtney Kardashian and Daughter Alabama Barker the "Best Duo"

Travis Barker Calls Kourtney Kardashian and Daughter Alabama Barker the "Best Duo"

Oct 30, 2024 13:47 PM
Representatives of these zodiac signs will have a revival in creative inspiration

Representatives of these zodiac signs will have a revival in creative inspiration

Oct 30, 2024 13:25 PM
Ken Jennings Apologizes to Contestant Over Controversial Clue on Jeopardy!

Ken Jennings Apologizes to Contestant Over Controversial Clue on Jeopardy!

Oct 30, 2024 13:25 PM
Michael Bublé Opens Up About His Emotional Journey During Forever Now Release

Michael Bublé Opens Up About His Emotional Journey During Forever Now Release

Oct 30, 2024 11:18 AM
Valerie Bertinelli Suffers Arm Injury From Stage Fall While Filming New Project

Valerie Bertinelli Suffers Arm Injury From Stage Fall While Filming New Project

Oct 30, 2024 10:57 AM

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Shine on WSJ's Red Carpet

Oct 30, 2024 10:36 AM

Three zodiac signs should break through any feelings of self-doubt: horoscope for October 30

Oct 30, 2024 10:34 AM
Real Housewives Star Vicki Gunvalson Says She Was Paid Nothing For First Season

Real Housewives Star Vicki Gunvalson Says She Was Paid Nothing For First Season

Oct 30, 2024 09:52 AM
Three zodiac signs will find opportunities for playfulness: horoscope for October 30

Three zodiac signs will find opportunities for playfulness: horoscope for October 30

Oct 30, 2024 09:51 AM