Podcast
Why It Won
We review Best Picture winners throughout Oscars history and talk about why they won - for season 1, we’re covering the 1960s winners.
- Film History chart
- #67
- Episodes
- 20
- Releases
- Monthly
- Typical length
- 57 min
- On air since
- 2026
- Latest episode
- 2 weeks ago
Episodes
20 episodes, newest first
-
55 min
Why It Won: The Awards (audio only)
Season 1, Episode 20
Show notes
For the season 1 finale, Antonio and Adelaide give out awards to the Best Picture winners of the 60s.
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1 hr 14 min
Why It Won: In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Season 1, Episode 19
Show notes
Adelaide & Antonio talk the robbery of Sidney Poitier, the Canadian-ness of Norman Jewison, and unpack one of the best years in film history as they discuss why In the Heat of the Night won best picture.
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34 min
Snubbed: Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Season 1, Episode 18
Show notes
Adelaide reviews/recaps Bonnie and Clyde and discusses why it's credited with starting the American New Wave.
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58 min
Why It Won: Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Season 1, Episode 17
Show notes
Antonio, Adelaide, and special guest Aaron (Adelaide's dad!) talk epic films, WWI history, and the David Lean to Christopher Nolan pipeline as they discuss why Lawrence of Arabia won best picture.
Sad piano music at the start is by leberch
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46 min
Snubbed: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Bonus
Season 1, Episode 16
Show notes
Adelaide (with the help of some special guest appearances) reviews/recaps 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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54 min
Why It Won: Oliver! (1968)
Season 1, Episode 15
Show notes
Adelaide, Antonio and special guest Brayden talk movie musicals, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and the end of the studio era as they figure out why Oliver! won best picture.
Brayden's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braymcqueen/
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30 min
Snubbed: High and Low (1963) Bonus
Season 1, Episode 14
Show notes
Adelaide recaps/reviews Akira Kurosawa's High and Low & discusses why it was snubbed of an Oscar nomination.
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54 min
Why It Won: Tom Jones (1963)
Season 1, Episode 13
Show notes
Adelaide and Antonio talk the British New Wave, the birth of the novel, and the disastrous production of Cleopatra as they figure out why Tom Jones won best picture.
Correction for 31:54: John Profumo was the Secretary of State for War, not the PM
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32 min
Snubbed: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) Bonus
Season 1, Episode 12
Show notes
Adelaide and special guest Sarah (Adelaide's mom!) discuss the death of the Western & whether Paul Newman or Robert Redford is hotter as they recap/review Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
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56 min
Why It Won: Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Season 1, Episode 11
Show notes
Adelaide & special guest JJ talk the American New Wave, queer subtext, and Clavicular (somehow) as they explore why Midnight Cowboy won best picture.
JJ's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jj.cardillo/
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33 min
Snubbed: The Graduate (1967) Bonus
Season 1, Episode 10
Show notes
Adelaide discusses the beginning of the American New Wave as she recaps/reviews The Graduate.
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58 min
Why It Won: A Man for All Seasons (1966)
Season 1, Episode 9
Show notes
Antonio and Adelaide talk Tudor history, the death of the studio era, and the ethics of a hot Henry VIII as they figure out why A Man for All Seasons won best picture.
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31 min
Snubbed: Blow-Up (1966) Bonus
Season 1, Episode 8
Show notes
Adelaide discusses how MGM killed the Hays Code as she recaps/reviews Antonioni's Blow-Up.
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1 hr 7 min
Why It Won: West Side Story (1961)
Season 1, Episode 7
Show notes
Antonio and Adelaide talk Stephen Sondheim, Steven Spielberg, and the golden age of musicals as they explore why West Side Story won best picture.
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36 min
Snubbed: A Hard Day's Night (1964) Bonus
Season 1, Episode 6
Show notes
Adelaide talks Beatlemania and the British New Wave as she reviews A Hard Day's Night.
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1 hr
Why It Won: My Fair Lady (1964)
Season 1, Episode 5
Show notes
Antonio and Adelaide talk the British invasion, beautiful gowns, and Julie Andrews (again) as they figure out why My Fair Lady won best picture.
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35 min
Snubbed: Breathless (1960) Bonus
Season 1, Episode 4
Show notes
Adelaide talks the French New Wave as she recaps/reviews Breathless.
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50 min
Why It Won: The Apartment (1960)
Season 1, Episode 3
Show notes
Adelaide and Antonio talk capitalism, the death of the Hays Code, and Shirley MacLaine's half-Canadian charm as they explore why The Apartment won best picture.
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35 min
Snubbed: Brief Encounter (1945) Bonus
Season 1, Episode 2
Show notes
Adelaide recaps/reviews Brief Encounter & talks about why it was snubbed from a best picture nomination.
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58 min
Why It Won: The Sound of Music (1965)
Season 1, Episode 1
Show notes
Adelaide & Antonio talk Julie Andrews, movie musicals, Christopher Plummer being hot and more as they explore why The Sound of Music won best picture.
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