His condemned life as a third-generation slave meant laboring in the hot sun under harsh conditions and under he threat of whips and death.It was nominated for nine Academy Awards in total: Best Actor (Jack Nicholson with his first win after losing he previous year forChinatown (1974)), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography (Bill Butler and Haskell Wexler), Best Director, Best Editing, Best Picture, Best Score (Jack Nitzsche) and Best Supporting Actor (Brad Dourif).[Note: The music is similar to Ernest Gold""s adaptation of the classic work for the similar B-horror flickThe Screaming Skull (1958)- wo years later, Gold won the Best Score Academy Award forExodus (1960)." She then touched his sensitive face and kissed him on his harelip.While in her presence, he said he had work to do - watching a videotape (without sound) of the next family he was plotting to murder, as she edged closer to him on the sofa.