Stats Favor The Hurt Locker

Reader David Hanks sent in this bit of detective work, from davidhanks.com/dhformula.html

History will be made regardless of who wins – but here is another group of stats to consider. The big change this year is the preferential ballot and the ten nominees for Best Picture. Nonetheless–

When the Director’s Guild (DG) winner AND one of the American Cinema Editors (ACE) winners AND one of the Writers Guild (WG) winners are ALL given awards for the same film, that film has been named Best Picture 7 of 7 times (100%) during the last 48 years (1961-2008). [Best Picture winners in bold]

2008 – Slumdog Millionaire – Danny Boyle (DG)
2008 – Slumdog Millionaire – Chris Dickens (ACE)
2008 – Slumdog Millionaire – Simon Beaufoy (WG)

2006 – The Departed – Martin Scorsese (DG)
2006 – The Departed – Thelma Schoonmaker (ACE)
2006 – The Departed – William Monahan (WG)

1994 – Forrest Gump – Robert Zemeckis (DG)
1994 – Forrest Gump – Arthur Schmidt (ACE)
1994 – Forrest Gump – Eric Roth (WG)

1993 – Schindler’s List – Steven Spielberg (DG)
1993 – Schindler’s List – Michael Kahn (ACE)
1993 – Schindler’s List – Steven Zaillian (WG)

1990 – Dances With Wolves – Kevin Costner (DG)
1990 – Dances With Wolves – Neil Travis (ACE)
1990 – Dances With Wolves – Michael Blake (WG)

1970 – Patton – Franklin Schaffner (DG)
1970 – Patton – Hugh S. Fowler (ACE)
1970 – Patton – Francis Ford Coppola, Edmund H. North (WG)

1965 – The Sound of Music – Robert Wise (DG)
1965 – The Sound of Music – William Reynolds (ACE)
1965 – The Sound of Music – Ernest Lehman (WG)

When the Director’s Guild (DG) winner AND one of the American Cinema Editors (ACE) winners are both given awards for the same film, that film has been named Best Picture 19 of 20 times (95.0%) – the lone exception was in 1998 during the last 48 years (1961-2008).