Monty Woolley in The Man Who Came to Dinner

Robert Mitchum in The Night of the Hunter

Burt Lancaster in Sweet Smell of Success

Fred MacMurray for The Apartment

Martin Scorsese for Taxi Driver

Donald Sutherland in Ordinary People

Julianne Moore in Safe

Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious Man

Taron Egerton in Rocketman

Adam Sandler in Hidden Gems

Alfre Woodard in Clemency

Marianne Jean-Baptiste in Hard Truths

This article is part of a special year-long series of anecdotes, reflections and thoughts about the Academy Awards.