Best Short Films, 1939

Awards presented February 29, 1940

And the nominees were ...
(Cartoon)

• Detouring America, Warner Bros.
• Peace on Earth, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  
• The Pointer, Walt Disney, producer 
• The Ugly Duckling, Walt Disney, producer 

(One-Reel) 

• Busy Little Bears, Paramount 
• Information Please, RKO Radio 
• Prophet Without Honor, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 
• Sword Fishing, Warner Bros. 

(Two-Reel) 

• Drunk Driving, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 
• Five Times Five, RKO Radio 
• Sons of Liberty, Warner Bros. 

And the Oscar went to ... 

The Ugly Duckling, Walt Disney, producer. 

The Disney version of the Hans Christian Andersen tale of the cygnet scorned by his fellow "ducklings" until he's revealed to be a swan. 

(One-Reel)
Busy Little Bears, Paramount.

Three bear cubs explore the Sierra Nevada forest and come upon a house, which they proceed to trash. A live-action film, somewhat anthropomorphized, with narration by Joe Laurie Jr.

(Two-Reel)
Sons of Liberty, Warner Bros.

Claude Rains in Sons of Liberty

One of Warners' series of patriotic shorts, for which Harry Warner had been given an honorary award a year earlier. This one was given a somewhat bigger budget and better cast than the earlier ones: Directed by Michael Curtiz, it stars Claude Rains as Haym Salomon, who helped fund the American Revolution. Gale Sondergaard plays his wife, Rachel. The cinematography is by Sol Polito and Ray Rennahan.