1960 Remembered

The American Dream comes under the microscope with savagely funny and tragic results in “American Beauty,” this year’s front-runner for the Academy Awards on Sunday night at the Shrine Auditorium.

Thirty-nine years ago “The Apartment,” Billy Wilder’s dark satire of corporate America, won five Oscars, including best film, screenplay and director. Just as is the case this year with best picture nominees “The Cider House Rules” and “The Green Mile,” two of the 1960 best picture contenders were based on famous novels: “Elmer Gantry” and “Sons and Lovers.” John Wayne’s historical opus “The Alamo” and “The Sundowners,” a drama about Australian sheepherders, rounded out the best picture nominees.

Here’s a look back at the 33rd Academy Awards, which took place April 17, 1961, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.