Today's organization has its roots in the early 1940s when Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor had drawn America into World War II. Audiences, hungry for diversion, were seeking out films offering escape, inspiration and entertainment; and filmmakers including Orson Welles, Preston Sturges, Darryl Zanuck and Michael Curtiz were working hard to fulfill the need. Amid the turmoil of war and the difficulties with communications, a handful of Los Angeles-based overseas journalists banded together to share contacts, information and material.
The idea was not a new one: previously, in 1928 the Hollywood Association of Foreign Correspondents (HAFCO) had been formed and, in 1935, the Foreign Press Society appeared. Both were short-lived, although the HAFCO had a brief moment in the spotlight when Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and other celebrities showed up at an International Ball the group organized at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
In 1943 the journalists, led by the correspondent for Britain's Daily Mail, formed the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association and conceived the motto "Unity Without Discrimination of Religion or Race." It was an uphill struggle at first as the film industry had not yet realized the importance of foreign markets. At first the members held informal gatherings in private homes. As the membership grew, HFPA meetings were held in larger quarters, with the association selecting the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel as the location for group functions.
As representatives of the world press, the group's members felt it was incumbent upon them to give their audience their judgments as to Hollywood's finest productions. The organization's first awards presentation for distinguished achievements in the film industry took place in early 1944 with an informal ceremony at 20th Century Fox. There, Jennifer Jones was awarded Best Actress honors for "The Song of Bernadette," which also won for Best Film, while Paul Lukas took home Best Actor laurels for "Watch on the Rhine. Awards were presented in the form of scrolls.
In 1955 the Golden Globes began honoring achievements in television as well as in film. The first honorees in the Best Television Show category that year were Dinah Shore, Lucy & Desi," "The American Comedy" and "Davy Crockett." In 2007, The Golden Globes initiated the category "Best Animated Feature Film" and the first year nominees were "Cars," "Happy Feet" and "Monster House."
Today, the Golden Globes recognize achievements in 25 categories, 14 in motion pictures and 11 in television. Dick Clark Productions has produced the Golden Globes ceremony since 1983. The awards now have the distinction of being one of the three most-watched award shows on television. On Sunday, January 16th, 2011, the 68th Annual Golden Globes Awards were held at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Despite the shows relatively unknown host for a second year in a row, who got more sneers than cheers from the audience, the actual stars among the show proved entertaining. The following is a complete list of all of the winners:
Cecil B. DeMille Award
Robert De Niro
Best Motion Picture - Drama
The Social Network
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Natalie Portman: Black Swan
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Colin Firth: The King's Speech
Best Motion Picture Comedy Or Musical
Burlesque
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy Or Musical
Annette Bening: The Kids Are All Right
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical
Paul Giamatti: Barney's Version
Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Melissa Leo: The Fighter
Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale: The Fighter
Best Animated Feature Film
Toy Story 3
Best Foreign Language Film
In A Better World (Denmark)
Best Director, Motion Picture
David Fincher: The Social Network
Best Screenplay, Motion Picture
Aaron Sorkin: The Social Network
Best Original Score, Motion Picture
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross: The Social Network
Best Original Song, Motion Picture
You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me: Burlesque
Music & Lyrics By: Diane Warren
Best Television Series, Drama
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series, Drama
Katey Sagal: Sons Of Anarchy
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series, Drama
Steve Buscemi: Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Best Television Series, Comedy Or Musical
Glee (FOX)
Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series, Comedy Or Musical
Laura Linney: The Big C (Showtime)
Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series, Comedy Or Musical
Jim Parsons: The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Best Mini Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television
Carlos (Sundance Channel)
Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Claire Danes: Temple Grandin (HBO)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Al Pacino: You Don't Know Jack (HBO)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Jane Lynch: Glee (FOX)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Chris Colfer: Glee (FOX)
This article and image; HFPA, © The Hollywood Sentinel, 2011, All world rights reserved