The Guardian (24/Jan/2005) - Hitchcock top of Oscar misses

(c) The Guardian (24/Jan/2005)

Hitchcock top of Oscar misses

Alfred Hitchcock has topped a poll to identify the director most deserving of an Oscar never to win one. The British director was nominated six times, once for Psycho, but never came away with the statuette.

The poll, carried out by Turner Classic Movies, called for the public to choose the directors and actors who they thought should have won Academy Awards.

Alfred Hitchcock took the number one spot in the list of directors unjustly deprived of an Oscar, closely followed by Martin Scorsese, who may yet win an Oscar this year for The Aviator. Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic was awarded best film by the Producers Guild of America on Saturday. Stanley Kubrick and Ridley Scott took third and fourth place.

The list of actors was more surprising, with Pulp Fiction's Samuel L Jackson beating Steve McQueen, Richard Burton (seven nominations and no wins) and Tom Cruise. Demi Moore - nominated for her role in Ghost - topped the female list, followed by Sharon Stone (who was nominated for Casino), Meg Ryan and Marilyn Monroe.