Dale’s Daily Data: Steven Spielberg

Virtually all of his films have been box office smashes.   Among them – the blockbusters – “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Jaws”, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, “E.T.”, “Poltergeist”, “Back to the Future”, “Cape Fear”, “The Color Purple”, “Jurassic Park”, “Bat Man”, “War of the Worlds”.  He won his second best director Oscar for “Saving Private Ryan”.  But it was his 1993 film “Schindler’s List” that may have brought Steven Spielberg his greatest satisfaction.  The story of a German factory owner who saved the lives of his Jewish workers during World War Two won him Oscars for best picture, best screenplay and best director.  “Schindler’s List” also became the first film ever to be broadcast on network TV in its entirety without commercials.  Ford sponsored the broadcast and showed one commercial before the film and one at the end.  It happened on this date, February 23^rd in 1997.   

Interesting though that no actor or actress has ever won an Academy Award appearing in one of Spielberg’s films.  Many have been nominated, but nobody has ever won.  “The Color Purple” was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and didn’t win even one.

Also interesting he owns the Rosebud sled used in the Orson Welles movie “Citizen Kane”.  He bought it at an auction for 50-thousand dollars.

SOURCE: Internet Movie Database