How Carrie Crept its Way into the Oscars

Although the horror genre is frequently ignored at the Oscars, Carrie received two nominations in the top acting categories. In this video, I explore Brian De Palma's haunting 1976 masterpiece and discuss why this particular horror film crept its way into the Academy Awards. #horror #oscars #academyawards #carrie #sissyspacek #piperlaurie #stephenking #briandepalma #horrormovies #horrorfilms #theawardscontender
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WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY BRIAN ROWE
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[@eyechartny]

Carrie is my favorite horror movie ever, and Piper Laurie's performance is frenetic, manic, and one of the greatest horror villains. So many of her lines are quotable (especially among us gays), from "dirty pillows" to "They're all gonna laugh at you" to "weak and backsliding". BTW, Priscilla Pointer (Amy Irving's mom in the movie AND in real life) is still with us at 99 years old. Great video!

[@eparigon]

"theyre all gonna laugh at you" is a certified hood classic

[@bryanalstoncoxing]

Sissy and Piper gave two of the most layered and iconic performances in movie history. Piper deserved to win Best Supporting Actress for her really unconventional yet genius acting choices she made throughout the film. Her playing the role as a dark comedy actually made Margaret seem even crazier and more dangerous and the whole final scene is one of the most memorable and heartbreaking endings.

[@Jared_Wignall]

I find it awesome that Carrie got a couple of Academy Award nominations. While neither Sissy Spacek or Piper Laurie won for their roles, they did an incredible job that deserved to be nominated. Thank you for the video Rob, keep up the great work and RIP Piper Laurie.

[@OmarTafur75]

Sissy Spacek’s Carrie being an Oscar nominated performance is nothing short of miraculous. Not only because she was great in the film, but Carrie is also one of the most iconic and sympathetic horror characters. ❤️ Anytime the Academy honors a movie that isn’t drama in a manor category is a blessing actually.

[@isaacmartinez6904]

Sissy Spacek is an amazing actress who came appear in all genres from horror to crime.

[@1805movie]

Piper Laurie will leave an extraordinary legacy. Not only as Carrie's crazy religious mother, but also as Catherine from _Twin Peaks_ .

[@ajtaylor8750]

One of Brian de Palma's best films of his career. Perfect from start to finish and one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King novel ever. Sissy Spacek is masterful as the deeply tortured Carrie, the late Piper Laurie is easily hateful as her mother, and the finale is haunting as hell. I absolutely love this film.

[@waffleweave]

Thanks for shouting out Carrie’s score! The emotional impact I have when the main theme plays during the credits is amazing. It really nails it home that this film is a tragedy first and foremost.

[@eparigon]

the song that plays when carrie comes back home after the prom always gets me. its so beautiful.

[@allankh85]

That homage you did to the GREAT Piper Laure got to my heart. One of my favourite legend of cinema RIP.

[@paulojrneto]

Fun fact: at the very first Miss Universe pageant in 1952, it was Piper Laurie who crowned the winner, Finland's Armi Kuusela, since there was no previous winner.

[@MrMcsia]

That film is such a poetic and disturbing masterpiece. And Sissy Spacek is just brilliant in that role.

[@Jay-mh3cp]

Pipers performance sacred me more than most scary movie villains

[@TheCatIndeed]

For the next horror at the Oscars, I assume you’ll probably tackle either Misery, since not much got in for horror from 77-89, but that all stopped with her glorious win (and of course the sweep of Silence of The Lambs the coming year)

[@alpe1987]

CARRIE is a story that will always be relevant. It’s actually one of the few times in a horror film where we root for the retaliation. We all been bullied by both school and home and we can sympathize with Carrie. And I think the Margaret Whites of the world still exist I mean look at a certain congresswoman who I won’t name but you know who I’m talking about

[@johnnolan5579]

Piper Laurie's performance is one I could never get out of my head it was so intense and so brilliantly over the top. She definitely deserved the Oscar in my opinion. Straight was brilliant in that one scene, but I think pulled along by the success of "Network" in other categories.

[@miz_logo_lee]

Carrie shook me to the core when I saw it as a teenager when it came out. Still scares me. Amazing movie. Piper Laurie is one of my all time favorites. Spacek too.

[@timothypolanco8622]

It's very rare to get two magnificent performances like the ones we got that movie in the horror genre. I would make the case that we the audience/horror fan's don't get those kind of performances in the same film until silence of the lambs.

[@navidhudson7065]

Very well deserved noms for both Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie. Piper was scary good as the crazy demented mother and she really should've won best supporting actress. It was her unconventional acting methods that made the character of Margaret White truly iconic that no other remake can even touch (looking at you, Julianne Moore). Thank you Brian for paying tribute to her amazing long career, was quite upset at the news of her passing. When I watched Carrie for the first time, I thought too that everything would be good for Carrie at the prom as she had her Cinderella moment. I even hoped that Sue could've stopped the prank from happening. When the blood spilled on her and she fell under her rage filled telekinetic trance, I was shocked when she ended up killing everyone. Everything was just set up so well. What a great year for films in 1976 and Rocky winning best picture that year is one of my favorite Oscar wins ever.

[@jaxstuff898]

thank you for mentioning the beautiful score for Carrie, very very Oscar worthy. I often listen to the soundtrack in the office at work lol weird but relaxing...well, until the prom

[@joelanthonylim6792]

RIP Piper Laurie, such a beautiful tribute, Brian!

[@jonathanvelazquezph.d.2719]

Great video! We need a ranking of the Best Horror performances nominated for an Oscar (Piper Laurie, Ruth Gordon, Mia Farrow, Sigourney Weaver, Sissy Spacek, etc )! 🙏

[@Dr.M550]

As a die-hard fan of the series Diagnosis: Murder my first introduction to Piper Laurie was her guest role in one episode. Since then I've seen many of her performances including her stunning role in Twin Peaks. She will be missed.

[@pophector]

Fantastic video, Brian! I still consider both Spacek & Laurie's nominations to be amongst the coolest the Academy has ever given. Both performances still hold strong to this day and it touches me to know that Sissy & Piper were honored and even that Piper thought that she had a chance to win. I do feel like that the Academy should have given the win to Laurie because as amazing as Beatrice Straight was in Network, she really is in it for only 5 minutes. And with a performance as memorable & timeless as the one in Carrie, this was the perfect time to acknowledge her with a win. Jodie Foster also had a strong pedigree to win the Supporting Actress Oscar for Taxi Driver as she would eventually win the BAFTA along with the National Society Of Film Critics award for Supporting Actress. Spacek would have been an iconic win but I adore Faye's work in Network, genuinely one of my favorite best actress wins ever so I'm glad she won an Oscar for her best career work other than Chinatown (plus I think Liv Ullmann was in 2nd place for Face To Face with wins from the New York Film Critics Circle, National Board Of Review, & Los Angeles Film Critics). Thank you again! Curious to see what the next horror film classic will be.

[@outinsider]

I love the Piper Laurie tribute at the end. She leaves us with a plethora of versatile characters over the years. I think her second nomination showed a respect her peers had for her, in the similar vein of Sissy Spacek. You don't earn nominations for anything at all without the respect of your peer group.

[@edreid7872]

Excellent soundtrack

[@jindungs]

TRULY 👍👍

[@edreid7872]

Pino’s score in Dressed to Kill is wonderful..the music in the telescope scene is exception..

[@adagiobreeze8493]

I hope you do one of these for The Silence of the lambs

[@mickiamajor8110]

RIP Piper Laurie. Carrie is one of my favorite horror movies of all time. Sissy Spacek gave an amazing performance as Carrie 💜

[@eparigon]

im not gon a lie, this movie makes me cry every time i watch it. its never been scary to me. just very very sad. the poor child did nothing wrong even in her revenge.

[@joaovictorluz3201]

what a beautiful way to honor the greatness of piper's laurie magnificent career. thanks for the video, brian! sissy spacek is my favorite actress of all time, i would love to see her receiving another oscar nomination. hopefully we will see her in the red carpert next year, since jack fisk is the art director of the new scorsese movie. GREAT JOB, MAN!

[@bensneb360]

Nice, I’ve been hoping you would cover this one day

[@jimmyl324]

I saw Carrie at the theater in 76 as a kid

[@bruh_hahaha]

Many ppl consider The Exorcist the scariest and best horror movie ever. For me it’s always has been and always will be Carrie. 🍿🔪❤️

[@lansesteiner3563]

No one can play Carrie like Sissy Spacek !!

[@PhilMoskowitz]

Saw it a local black theater. The audience screams during the dream sequence will haunt me forever.

[@christopherv6415]

Oh my, I missed the announcement that Piper had passed. She was a great actress. I agree she was well in front of the field that year for supporting actress. I am also torn with equal love for Beatrice Straight in that amazing scene. Thanks for the video, loved!!!

[@TheVultureVanityShow]

I really am enjoying your deep dives into Oscar nominees and wins for specific films. Would you please consider doing a "Network at the Oscars" video? I think it would be another winner on your roster of fine analyses of films. Thank you. p.s., my mother was also signed to Universal and did two films with Piper Laurie. When I notified her of Piper's death it hit her hard. She said she was a really good person - in a business full of shady people - and wonderful to work with. For what it's worth, I think Beatrice Straight was magnificent in "Network,:" however, I think the Oscar definitely should have gone to Laurie. As far as Sissy Spacek goes, she was beyond amazing in "Carrie," but Faye Dunaway was a tough one to beat that year. Thanks again.

[@Dee-wr5si]

This was good assessment. RIP Piper Laurie, you were so great in this part!

[@teamogaga]

oh my godness, thank you for this video, i mean i'm a big fan of stephen king and carrie was the first book i bought and then watched the movie, i always get shocked of how amazing and brilliant how these two portrays their roles specially piper, that is like a combination of dark and camp but so relatable in a way that i have seen religious fanatics acting that same way as hitting their children, gloryfing god in a very exaggerated way, etc, like c'mon piper was brilliant she deserved the damn oscar, havent seen network yet but is not necesary to compare i guess. and very nice and beautiful of you to dedicate the last scenes to piper after her passing a few days a go, thank you brian!

[@ANACOSTIASERIES]

This was a beautiful tribute to a great film and great actress Piper Laurie....BRAVO

[@sharonalbanese8084]

I love Piper Laurie- thank you for your lovely tribute 😍😍

[@johnyzero2000]

Don't forget Piper Laurie's Emmy winning performance in Promise 1987!!!

[@maxfieldfulton]

What a lovely tribute to Laurie. She would have gotten my vote in 1976. Spacek is also iconic, but she probably would have been in fourth place for me-that was a STELLAR and underrated Best Actress lineup.

[@MrCarlosandres94]

Both Hereditary and Midsommar come to mind as great horror scores in recent years.

[@ryanburton5783]

Great video!! RIP Piper Laurie.

[@1805movie]

You should do a video on _Rosemary's Baby_ . That was nominated for a few awards.

[@slc2466]

Great overview of two iconic performances- loved your touching tribute to Laurie at the end- incredible career.

[@wvu05]

Sissy Spacek has a solid case as the second greatest film actress of her generation. I saw _Missing_ late one night on TV, and it was so good. A shame it isn't talked about much these days.

[@thetriplethreat3]

Great Job Brian and lovely tribute to Piper 🙏🏾

[@WalkBesideMe]

RIP Piper Laurie

[@patrarus6097]

Bravo, Brian! This was excellent. I agree that Piper Laurie should have won!

[@RadioLaPrincess]

Carrie is a great film. I'll never forget the end with the hand and my mom would always jump during that scene.

[@FedericoT69]

Amazing video. Thank you!

[@zakuraiyadesu]

Love the videos, man. Keep it up!!!

[@DanCrowleyNYC]

Beautiful job on this!

[@elle3839]

This is my favourite movie, I love both of these actresses performances. Its not my favourite horror movie though, cause yes Im that big of a horror nerd lol. Really enjoying your channel, I recently came across it. And Im especially enjoying this series on horror and the oscars. Keep up the great work dude!

[@Takumi_Did_Nothing_Wrong]

I rewatched Carrie on the day of Piper Laurie's passing in her honor. Her performance in the movie was phenomenal. R.I.P. Piper Laurie!

[@Pure_B]

R.I.P. Piper Laurie. 🌹

[@thecoolj45221]

I loved this movie I saw it when I was a kid on Cinemax, the thing was though the differences between the book and the movie, was in that in the book Carrie just caused her mom's heart to stop, and in the movie she sends knives into her, and in the book Carrie dies in Sue's arms and not in the house with her mom

[@monicamarraccini9591]

I was 16 when the movie was released here in Brazil. We were all thrilled by the story, the actors (John Travolta!). Many years later I heard that Stephen King had thrown the manuscript away and that his wife took it back from the trash. Great movie.

[@DustinReckling]

The Talia Shire nomination has always rubbed me the wrong way (category fraud at its finest IMO). A Piper Laurie win here would've been iconic.

[@KennethofTroy]

i have ALWAYS said that piper laurie's work in CARRIE is the epitome of what a supporting performance is and can be. without her twisted take on margaret white, the entire film would fall apart. YAY for both of them!! certainly a forever favorite film of mine.

[@MrHootiedean]

Wow, Brian De Palma directed both Carrie AND Obsession in the same year and didn't get nominated for either? An Elusive Oscar, maybe? Personally I would have given the Oscars to Sissy and Piper! I think their work is stronger and the performances have only grown in stature as the years go on.

[@user-if4ux9io8q]

Carrie is such an amazing film and I love these nominations. Piper Laurie is so great as the crazy mom. It’s one of my favorite nominations. I can’t make it through Network; fall asleep every time.

[@denisefreitas6727]

Carrie is an amazing movie, one of my favorites. Great acting, directing, soundtrack. I think Piper should have won in 1976's oscar gor best supporting actress.

[@fallenhero3130]

I completely agree that Piper Laurie should have won. And she also should have won 15 years earlier for THE HUSTLER.

[@BFA100]

The Hustler was 15 years earlier before Carrie.

[@fallenhero3130]

@@BFA100 Fixed.

[@jimmyl324]

Piper Laurie should have won

[@edreid7872]

Piper’s orgasmic death was creepy and sexy at the same time..

[@bryanalstoncoxing]

Her acting choices were so brilliant throughout the movie, including the orgasmic death

[@eldiablo8580]

R.I.P. Piper Laurie

[@davidbolt5113]

The adapted screenplay should have been nominated.

[@BaileeWalsh]

RIP Piper Laurie

[@CashelOConnolly]

R.I.P Piper Laurie 😞

[@wvu05]

About ten years ago, I watched _Carrie_ with my then-wife who had never seen the movie. Without giving anything away as best as possible, but at a certain point with an iconic scene near the end, I grabbed her arm, and she freaked out so hard she jumped about a foot out of her seat :-P

[@israelalvarez4884]

Rest In Peace Piper Laurie

[@docsamson198]

Excellent video. You are correct. No one was beating Dunaway that year. In terms of brilliant performances in a horror movie that were not nominated for an Oscar, does anyone have any thoughts on Jeremy Irons in “Dead Ringers?”

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

It’s hard to outright to say if I wanted sissy to win bc my god Faye dunaway was brilliant in network but sissy was so devastating in that role it’s a hard pick I do think piper (#RIP) should’ve won best supporting actress having watched both Carrie and network I think she was robbed since she gave a superior performance

[@shanecasebeer1364]

I'm only familiar with Laurie from Carrie, but that performance alone is legendary. Spacek was equally brilliant, of course - I remember her being great in Robert Altman's 3 Women.

[@Pastyovercoat]

Rest in peace Piper 😢

[@paulojrneto]

When I was at university, I took a course on American Culture Studies and one of the assignments was to write an essay about what high school movies can tell about the US society using five movies the professor showed us in class: Carrie, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, Election and Never Been Kissed.

[@mysoullovessoul558]

Never saw this film as a horror, more a coming of age tragedy. Sure it uses horror tropes in the final third, but Sissy Spacek just breaks your heart as Carrie. I agree about the classic soundtrack, moving from romantic themes to Psycho shrills wonderfully, should have been nominated also.

[@Tatortot318]

Yes I admire this film and actors, I even bought the soundtrack...lol, yes there is a soundtrack. lol. Every year I tell my kids to get the youngsters in there chairs, because Carrie is going to the prom. RIP Piper, you where great as well as Sissy and the others!

[@muaykaliente4386]

For me its De Palmas best work. Piper should have won 🏆 that role is truly haunting to its core. A flawlees performance not given the full respect it deserved.

[@TTM9691]

although that's true, "Rosemary's Baby", and then "The Exorcist" both had Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress nominees each (Mia Farrow, Ruth Gordon, Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair). "Carrie" was the last time that would happen. I could be wrong but I think Kathy Bates would be the next one to get nominated (and the first to win) for a horror movie, although there might have been someone else nominated during the 80s. But definitely not both categories like those three classic did. All of those horror movies are directed by directors who don't usually do horror movies. I always say those are often the best horror films. The play in the genre once or twice and that's it.

[@jeffreyturner7678]

RIP Piper Laurie...this movie TERRIFIED me as a child. omg- the scene where she walks out of the prom and the doors slowly close behind her.... and Piper was also in Ruby I think the next year- another horror movie (not as good as Carrie). I eventually saw it after my mom took me to see Coal Miner's Daughter and realize that the same actress played both roles where my mom said look you can't be afraid of Loretta Lynn". hahaha. I love Spacek- one of the industry's much underappreciated actresses.

[@gittes98]

Jane Alexander was great in ATPM. Her subtle six minute performance was the complete opposite of Beatrice Straight's overly theatrical screaming and yelling tantrum.

[@will987s]

I’m rewatching for halloween. 🎃👻

[@jaylouis8227]

Both performances in this movie are amazing and the nominations were well deserved. I would also agree that Piper Laurie had a better chance to win in her category than Sissy Spacek did, but I'm not mad at Beatrice Straight winning for Network. Her scene in that movie was flawless.

[@maddalonefarms]

Do Silence of the Lambs

[@nymet2454]

I saw Carrie in 1976. The Oscars should go back to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

[@codeblack423]

Are you gonna do Jaws next or the omen

[@dgdanne]

How didn’t you mention Mulan (1998) as a best original score by Jerry Goldsmith nominated at the Oscars? 💔

[@karlkarlos3545]

JAWS is not "occasionally" a horror film. It's a straight horror film in the first place, and always has been recognised as that.

[@BFA100]

I don't agree the part when Rowe said that The Outlaw Josey Wales score shouldn't have been nominated, I think that if Carrie was nominated for it's score, it would have been over the score from Voyage of the Damned.

[@christianaguilera1469]

Honestly I think Sissy Spacek could have gave Faye Dunaway competition for Best Actress

[@Dim4323]

Their been many carrie films now.

[@paullemon5154]

Spacek should've won the Oscar for "In The Bedroom!"

[@SixSamuraiUnited]

I would’ve given it to Naomi Watts for Mulholland Dr. but she wasn’t even nominated 😡

[@singstreetcar5881]

Agreed. Halle berry didn't deserve that oscar

[@AtlasShrugged2005]

Both should have won, they are iconic performances that stand the test of time. Spacek and Dunaway are part of the got Oscars but for the wrong film. Marry Tyler Moore (ORDINARY PEOPLE) should have won Spacek’s 1980 Oscar, Spacek (CARRIE) should have won over Faye Dunaway (NETWORK). Dunaway should have won in 1974 for the iconic CHINATOWN over Ellyn Burstyn’s ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE - a consolation prize when she should have taken the Oscar the year before for THE EXORCIST. which leaves Glenda Jackson one less Oscar. Burstyn should also have another Oscar for REQUIEM FOR A DREAM and Spacek should have another for IN THE BEDROOM.

[@Weezing336]

Carrie is a good movie, but it's never scared me a lot or made me scream.

[@karlkarlos3545]

You comment reveals a very superficial view on the genre in general. But you also ignore that Carrie closes with the infamous mother of all jumpscares.

[@Weezing336]

@@karlkarlos3545 I was responding to the statement that we've all screamed while watching. It's nothing against Brian or the channel. Just giving my experience watching the movie, as Brian's or anyone else's experience is not my own.

[@Dee-wr5si]

I have a question, was the teacher who cared about Carrie really laughing at her at the prom or was Carrie just hallucinating and thought she was? I always wondered about that why would the teacher be laughing I thought she cared about Carrie?

[@sklubert23]

Carrie hallucinated that. I wondered about that too at first.

[@Dee-wr5si]

@@sklubert23 Ok thanks I kinda figured that but wasn't sure. For years I always wondered.

[@makinapacal]

I love Carrie. Has for The Omen being a classic?! For my part I think it is enjoyable garbage. I laughed long and hard when I found out who Damien's mother was. So stupid!!!

[@witchingbrew3]

Interesting that Omen, Carrie, and the Exorcist all have to deal with religion

[@rnw2739]

Sissy and Piper were both robbed that year. On a totally different note though, how up yourself do you have to be to EXPECT to be nominated (Stephen Spielberg)?