Golden Globe Awards

20th Century Fox premiered The Sound of Music in early March of 1965, and it quickly became the world’s most loved movie and remains so for many today. By the end of the year, it had become the biggest money earner of all time so it was a good likelihood that it would win the Golden Globe as Best Musical or Comedy that year.

Other than being one of the most famous films of all times, David Lean's Doctor Zhivago holds the distinguished record of being the cleanest sweep in Golden Globe history, winning every nominated category: five nominations, five wins. Moreover, co-star Geraldine Chaplin was named Best Promising Newcomer – Female (Elizabeth Hartman was the winner that year for A Patch of Blue).

1964 was the year of My Fair Lady – who was the fairest of them all – winning best picture nods from both the Academy and the New York film critics, in addition to the Golden Globes. George Bernard Shaw’s masterful Pygmalion served as the inspiration for the timeless musical, but Alan Jay Lerner’s lyrics for the show matched the playwright’s unchallenged genius.

Another heavyweight historical religious drama triumphs at the Golden Globes in 1965: Becket, following The Cardinal the previous year (and Ben-Hur and Spartacus before that). There was undoubtedly something in the air in those years, a yearning for big period pieces infused with solemn tones and ideas.

1964 marked the return of awarding only one Golden Globe for musical or comedy.  Ironically, it was a pretty good year for Hollywood musicals and comedies.

Director Otto Preminger’s The Cardinal was the HFPA members’ choice to win the Golden Globe for Best Picture Drama and Best Supporting Actor for John Huston. There were other notable films that year - Ralph Nelson’s Lilies of the Field and Elia Kazan's America, America in the drama section, while Tom Jones won as best comedy over Irma La Douce.

The last bifurcated Golden Globe award for Best Comedy and Musical was given in 1963. The winners that year were The Music Man and That Touch of Mink.

“Aqaba!” screams Peter O'Toole as British Lieutenant T. E.

1962 was the year the Golden Globe winner for best musical won both supporting Golden Globes, an achievement repeated when George Chakiris and Rita Moreno also won Academy Awards that year. Many, today consider the movie they starred in, West Side Story, the greatest motion picture musical of all time.

It was a year of heavyweight historical dramas at the Globes, and The Guns of Navarone, by J. Lee Thompson, prevailed over El Cid and Judgment at Nuremberg (Fanny and Splendor in the Grass completed the list of nominees).