This was one of the films that
Spencer Tracy really believed in and actively supported not because he starred in it, but because he was a great admirer of
Thomas A. Edison. This was unusual, as Tracy was known throughout most of his career to disparage his own gifts as well as the importance of motion pictures. Also, prior to this film, Tracy had been a very active member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He even hosted the awards show on at least one occasion. However, when the nominations came out for the best films of 1940, Tracy was appalled that "Edison, the Man" was so overlooked in the nominations, being nominated for only Best Writing. He swore he would never attend another Academy Award ceremony again, and he never did. Not without irony is that, although he was nominated another six times over the next 28 years, Tracy never won another Oscar after that (after having won two in a row in the previous two years).
