“Gonna Fly Now,” Sang Lawyers Mutual in 1977
Film fans agree that 1977 was a golden year for cinema, with Rocky winning the Academy Award for Best Picture.
The story of a never-say-die boxing underdog bested other Best Picture nominees – Network, All The President’s Men and Taxi Driver – that would become classics in their own right.
Meanwhile, as Sylvester Stallone was bringing home the gold in Hollywood that year, a plucky longshot of a different sort was battling its own odds in North Carolina.
Lawyers Mutual was creating something that had never existed before: the first lawyer-owned, bar-related malpractice provider in the country.
This year Lawyers Mutual is celebrating its 40th birthday. Over those four decades, Rocky has spawned many sequels.
Lawyers Mutual has added an affiliate – Lawyers Insurance Agency – and many new insureds, not to mention the distinction of being the only carrier to provide continuous coverage for North Carolina lawyers during those years.
Academy Award Best Picture Winners Since 1977
2016 Spotlight
2015 Birdman
2014 12 Years a Slave
2013 Argo
2012 The Artist
2011 The King’s Speech
2010 The Hurt Locker
2009 Slumdog Millionaire
2008 No Country for Old Men
2007 The Departed
2006 Crash
2005 Million Dollar Baby
2004 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2003 Chicago
2002 A Beautiful Mind
2001 Gladiator
2000 American Beauty
1999 Shakespeare in Love
1998 Titanic
1997 The English Patient
1996 Braveheart
1995 Forrest Gump
1994 Schindler’s List
1993 Unforgiven
1992 The Silence of the Lambs
1991 Dances With Wolves
1990 Driving Miss Daisy
1989 Rain Man
1988 The Last Emperor
1987 Platoon
1986 Out of Africa
1985 Amadeus
1984 Terms of Endearment
1983 Gandhi
1982 Chariots of Fire
1981 Ordinary People
1980 Kramer vs. Kramer
1979 The Deer Hunter
1978 Annie Hall
1977 Rocky
Sources:
· Today http://www.today.com/popculture/complete-list-every-best-picture-oscar-winner-ever-t107617 · Academy Awards http://oscar.go.com/news/oscar-history/1977-49th-academy-award-winners · Academy Awards https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1977
