1940 Oscars — Sound Recording

When Tomorrow Comes won Sound Recording at the 1940 Oscars. All 11 nominees are listed below, winner first. The other nominees were Balalaika, Gone with the Wind, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Man of Conquest, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Of Mice and Men, The Great Victor Herbert, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex and The Rains Came. Each film links to its complete award history. The links below go to the 1939 and 1941 Sound Recording races.

Last updated August 12, 2026

When Tomorrow Comes(1939)
Universal Studio Sound Department, Bernard B. Brown, Sound Director
Winner
Balalaika(1939)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Sound Department, Douglas Shearer, Sound Director
Gone with the Wind(1939)
Samuel Goldwyn Studio Sound Department, Thomas T. Moulton, Sound Director
Goodbye, Mr. Chips(1939)
Denham Studio Sound Department, A. W. Watkins, Sound Director
Man of Conquest(1939)
Republic Studio Sound Department, Charles L. Lootens, Sound Director
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939)
Columbia Studio Sound Department, John Livadary, Sound Director
Of Mice and Men(1939)
Hal Roach Studio Sound Department, Elmer A. Raguse, Sound Director
The Great Victor Herbert(1939)
Paramount Studio Sound Department, Loren L. Ryder, Sound Director
The Hunchback of Notre Dame(1939)
RKO Radio Studio Sound Department, John Aalberg, Sound Director
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex(1939)
Warner Bros. Studio Sound Department, Nathan Levinson, Sound Director
The Rains Came(1939)
20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department, E. H. Hansen, Sound Director