I don't know the Oscar pedigree of this film, but it is one of my all-timers:
Orson Wells -- A Touch of Evil
see:
http://www.filmsite.org/touc.html
Has Charlton Heston playing a Mexican detective (!!), whose attractive wife is kidnapped by local thugs, and Wells as the long-time corruptible lawman of the border town. This movie is the definition of film noir -- just incredible B&W photography and an opening tracking shot (aka dolly shot) that is unbelievable. Check this out from Wikipedia on "tracking shot"
"Studio mangling by superimposing credits and titles over the opening tracking shot in Orson Welles' Touch of Evil was not resolved until the fourth release of the film."
Wells was not a studio boy, that's for sure, so I doubt he got an Oscar for this film. In fact, according to the link -- the whole film was snubbed. Shows you what the Academy knew.