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Vérifié par JWRJWR-2026-000207

First Jewish Winner of the Academy Award for Original Story

Détenteur du record

Ben HechtPersonne

Valeur du record

16 May 1929

Pays représenté: États-UnisLieu de l’accomplissement: Los Angeles, California, États-UnisDate de l’accomplissement: 16 mai 1929Record actuel

Contester ce record

Vérifié par Jewish World RecordsComment nous vérifions les records

Early portrait of Jewish American writer and screenwriter Ben Hecht.

Ben Hecht, early 1920s.Culver Pictures / Wikimedia CommonsSourcePublic Domain

Définition officielle du record

The earliest Jewish writer to win the Academy Award category for Original Story.

Méthodologie de mesure

Academy award chronology for the Original Story category beginning with the inaugural Academy Awards, combined with Jewish identity verification.

L’histoire du record

Ben Hecht became the first Jewish writer to win the Academy Award for Original Story on 16 May 1929. The achievement took place at the inaugural Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, where he was honoured for the film 'Underworld' in the category of Writing (Original Story). Official records from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirm him as the winner. As this was the first time the award was presented, no earlier winner is possible.

The validation of this record combines the official award chronology with identity verification. Hecht's Jewish eligibility is documented by multiple sources. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum identifies him as an American Jewish journalist, novelist, and playwright. Additionally, the Jewish Virtual Library documents that he was born to Russian-Jewish immigrants, providing further context for his background.

Comment JWR a vérifié ce record

Date de vérification
26 septembre 2026
Norme de vérification
JWR Verification Standard 1.0

Preuve de l’accomplissement

The Academy's inaugural 1929 ceremony page lists Ben Hecht as winner of Writing (Original Story) for Underworld.

Preuve de supériorité

Because Original Story was awarded at the first Academy Awards and Hecht won that category, no earlier winner exists; USHMM independently documents his Jewish identity.

Éligibilité juive — Vérifiée par JWR

Vérification de l’éligibilité juive

Preuve établissant que le détenteur remplit les conditions d’éligibilité juive aux fins de JWR.

  • Ben Hecht — United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Vérification de l’accomplissement / du record

Preuve établissant que le détenteur a obtenu le résultat et détient le record tel que défini.

  • The 1st Academy Awards — 1929 — Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  • Hecht Earlyportrait image — Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons

Vérification de la supériorité / face aux autres candidats

Preuve comparant le résultat avec celui d’autres candidats pertinents pour la revendication du record.

  • Ben Hecht biography — Jewish Virtual Library

Les preuves d’éligibilité juive, d’accomplissement et de supériorité conservent leurs classifications distinctes et ne sont jamais fusionnées. Le contexte et la provenance ne sont pas présentés comme preuve de l’accomplissement. Les preuves à diffusion restreinte et les notes de recherche internes ne sont jamais publiées. En savoir plus sur le processus en sept étapes sur la page de vérification.

Sources et vérification

  • The 1st Academy Awards — 1929

    Document officielAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

    Ce que cette source prouve: Lists Ben Hecht as winner of Writing (Original Story) for Underworld at the inaugural Academy Awards.

  • Ben Hecht

    Publication indépendanteUnited States Holocaust Memorial Museum

    Ce que cette source prouve: Identifies Ben Hecht as an American Jewish journalist, novelist and playwright.

  • Ben Hecht biography

    Publication indépendanteJewish Virtual Library

    Ce que cette source prouve: Documents Hecht's birth to Russian-Jewish immigrants and his career, supporting JWR eligibility and identity context.

  • Hecht Earlyportrait image — Wikimedia Commons

    Base de données de référenceWikimedia Commons

    Ce que cette source prouve: Documents the early portrait and U.S. public-domain basis.

Historique

  1. Vérifié

    Verified according to JWR Verification Standard 1.0.

  2. Publiév1

    Published to the official JWR registry.

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