People know the Golden Globes award excellence in television and film. The fact that a body called the Hollywood Press Association chooses the winners may not be as well-known, but it’s not trivia. The trivial facts below revolve around the Rat Pack, lost cats, winners, losers and even refused awards.
Number 1: Only one film is a big winner.
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is the only film that has received Golden Globes in all the major categories: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay and, of course, Best Motion Picture.
Number 2: Two films were big losers.
Two films received seven nominations for Golden Globes yet failed to win a single one: “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” in 1967 and “The Godfather, Part III” in 1991.
Number 3: The Rat Pack were the original celebrity presenters.
From the award’s inception in 1943 until 1958, journalists gave out the awards. In 1958, the Rat Pack took over. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy David, Jr., ran up on stage and took over proceedings. They were invited back the following year, and celebrities have presented the awards ever since.
Number 4: A lost cat and bathroom necessities have both delayed the awards.
Halle Berry showed up very late to the 2005 awards. She admitted the reason was she had lost her cat. Luckily the feline was found. Christine Lahti’s reason was more embarrassing. She got up to use the bathroom just before an award for which she was nominated was announced. She won, of course, and the world discovered where she was at that moment.
Number 5: Five films have won five Golden Globes.
The most Golden Globe awards ever won by a single film is five. Five films share this honor: “Doctor Zhivago” in 1966, “Love Story” in 1971, “The Godfather” in 1973, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in 1976 and “A Star is Born” in 1977.
Number 6: The 60th annual awards snubbed friends.
In 2003, “Friends” was the most popular show. Yet only Jennifer Aniston won a Golden Globe that year for the series, for Best Actress, Comedy.
Number 7: Awards shows can win awards.
The Emmy Awards recognize excellence in television. The 70th Annual Golden Globes show was nominated for two Emmy awards in 2013.
Number 8: The Golden Globes weren’t always a big deal.
Receiving a Golden Globe has always been an honor, but it hasn’t always been a televised one. The first awards were given out during a luncheon at 20th Century Fox in 1943. In fact, the awards show didn’t get aired until 1958, at which time only residents of Los Angeles could watch.
Number 9: One actor didn’t want to be a big winner.
Marlon Brando won for Best Actor in 1973. However, he refused the award in protest over “U.S. imperialism and racism.”
Number 10: Only one actress is a big winner.
The most Golden Globes any individual has received is eight. Meryl Streep is the big winner.
