Now Showing: 'Best Movie' Poster

The 2nd Academy Awards took place on April 3, 1930, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Unlike the previous year, the winners were not informed beforehand. The number of categories was reduced from twelve to seven, and 'Best Director (Comedy and Dramatic Pictures)' were merged into a single 'Best Director' award as it was 'Best Writing (Adaptation and Original Story)' into 'Best Writing'. The awards for 'Best Engineering Effects,' 'Best Unique and Artistic Production,' and 'Best Writing (Title Writing)' were discontinued.

There were no official nominees, so the Academy provided a list based on evaluation by the judges. Jeanne Eagels became the first and only actress to be posthumously nominated for 'Best Actress' for her role in The Letter but lost to Mary Pickford who lobbied to be considered for the award. Warner Baxter won 'Best Actor.' The Divine Lady won 'Best Director' without receiving a 'Best Picture' nomination, making it the last film to do so. This was also the only year in which no film won more than one Oscar. The Broadway Melody was the second of seven films to win 'Best Picture 'without a writing nomination.