The 51st Annual Academy Awards (1979) (TV)

Director:

Marty Pasetta

Writers:

Michael Barrie (writer)
Buz Kohan (writer)

Release Date:

9 April 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot Keywords:

TV Special | Movie Star | Song | Awards Show | Tribute

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Johnny Carson	...	Himself - Host
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Néstor Almendros	...	Himself - Winner: Best Cinematography (as Nestor Almendros)
Lauren Bacall	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Writing Awards
Warren Beatty	...	Himself - Nominee: Best Picture - Director - Actor in a Leading Role & Adapted Screenplay
Robby Benson	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Short Film, Animated & Live Action
Ray Bolger	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Costume Design
Debby Boone	...	Herself - Performer
Yul Brynner	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Foreign Language Film
George Burns	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Ellen Burstyn	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role
Gary Busey	...	Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role
Dyan Cannon	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role & Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Michael Cimino	...	Himself - Winner: Best Picture & Best Director & Nominee: Best Original Screenplay
Jill Clayburgh	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role
James Coburn	...	Himself - Co-presenter: Best Cinematography
Francis Ford Coppola	...	Himself - Co-presenter: Best Director
Sammy Davis Jr.	...	Himself - Performer
Dom DeLuise	...	Himself - Co-presenter: Best Editing
Bruce Dern	...	Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Himself - Co-presenter: Best Actress
Richard Farnsworth	...	Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Mia Farrow	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Documentary, Short Subjects & Features
Jane Fonda	...	Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Leading Role
Cary Grant	...	Himself - Presenter: Honorary Award to Laurence Olivier
Jack Haley	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Costume Design
Audrey Hepburn	...	Herself - Presenter: Honorary Award to King Vidor
John Hurt	...	Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Shirley Jones	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Diane Keaton	...	Herself - Audience Member
Ruby Keeler	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Original Song
Margot Kidder	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Sound
C. Darin Knight	...	Himself - Best Sound Winner
Kris Kristofferson	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Original Song
Steve Lawrence	...	Song Performer 'Oscar's Only Human'
Carol Lynley	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Short Film, Animated & Live Action
Ali MacGraw	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Director
Shirley MacLaine	...	Herself - Co-presenter: Best Actress
Barry Manilow	...	Himself - Performer
Steve Martin	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Visual Effects
Johnny Mathis	...	Himself - Performer
William L. McCaughey	...	Himself - Best Sound Winner
Penelope Milford	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Olivia Newton-John	...	Herself - Performer
Kim Novak	...	Herself - Co-presenter: Best Cinematography
Laurence Olivier	...	Himself - Honorary Award Recipient & Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role
Jane Olivor	...	Herself - Performer
Geraldine Page	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role
Gregory Peck	...	Himself - Presenter: Honorary Award to the Museum of Modern Art, Dept. of Film
Valerie Perrine	...	Herself - Co-presenter: Best Editing
Richard Portman	...	Himself - Winner: Best Sound
Christopher Reeve	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Sound
Aaron Rochin	...	Himself - Winner: Best Sound
Ginger Rogers	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Leading Role
Diana Ross	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Leading Role
Telly Savalas	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Rick Schroder	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration
Brooke Shields	...	Herself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Maggie Smith	...	Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Supporting Role / Co-Presenter: Scientific & Technical Achievement Awards
Barry Spikings	...	Himself - Winner: Best Picture
Maureen Stapleton	...	Herself - Co-Presenter & Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Meryl Streep	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Donna Summer	...	Herself - Performer
Jack Valenti	...	Himself - Presenter: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
King Vidor	...	Himself - Winner: Honorary Award
Jon Voight	...	Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a Leading Role & Co-Presenter: Writing Awards
Christopher Walken	...	Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
John Wayne	...	Himself - Presenter: Best Picture
Robin Williams	...	Himself - Presenter: Honorary Award to Walter Lantz
David L. Wolper	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Documentary: Short Subjects & Features
Natalie Wood	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Best Foreign Language Film
Peter Zinner	...	Himself - Winner: Best Editing

Country:

USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles County Music Center - 135 N. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)

Trivia:

John Wayne, who had missed the previous year's ceremony because he was undergoing heart valve replacement surgery, accepted an invitation from his friend 'Bob Hope' to show up for this one and present the Best Picture Oscar. It would be his final public appearance, as he died from stomach cancer two months later.

Quotes:

Johnny Carson: I see a lot of new faces. Especially on the old faces.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Richard Benjamin/Rickie Lee Jones (#4.16)" (1979)

Soundtrack:

Ready to Take a Chance Again

Oscar's 2nd 50 Years starts with a BANG!

Following a great 50th Anniversary show, the 51st Academy Awards continued the tradition of star power that lit the previous year.

Johnny Carson marks his first run as host and immediately makes the proceedings his own. Musical numbers were stellar: Barry Manilow, Debby Boone, Olivia Newton-John, Johnny Mathis & Jane Olivor, and the sensational Donna Summer sang the nominated songs (the first time all 5 were sung by the original artist). Another musical number, the controversial "Oscars's Only Human", lasted almost twelve minutes and featured Steve Lawrence and Sammy Davis Jr. lamenting the great film songs that were "not even nominated". At the time this number probably seemed tired and old hat but watching it recently, I felt a nostalgia for that kind of entertainment which hardly exists anymore.

Star power was at its zenith with the return of Kim Novak to the Oscars for the first time in 13 years. Dean Martin, Audrey Hepburn, and Geraldine Page all made rare Oscar appearances. No shows were Robert DeNiro and Ingrid Bergman (battling a recurrence of cancer). Laurence Olivier made only his second Oscar appearance (he also received his record breaking, at that time, 10th nomination). Olivier was given an honorary Oscar by Cary Grant and blew the audience away with a rather bizarre oration.

Maggie Smith was a surprise and welcome winner for her turn as an Oscar losing actress. Present at the awards (she was not for her previous win), she was genuinely shocked and dedicated it to co-star Michael Caine (WHY hasn't anyone cast them together since????). Maureen Stapleton had been the odds on favorite and ironically she and Maggie presented an award earlier in the evening. Maggie's award was presented by George Burns and Brooke Sheilds who provided some amusing moments. George showed what a classy guy he really was.

Embarrassing moments included: Francis Ford Coppola constantly scratching an itch under his beard. Shirley MacLaine's tribute to her "little brother" and an off the wall comment about his...libido.

Of course the most dramatic moment was the appearance of John Wayne. Gaunt, Wayne stole the show by ambling down to the stage and presenting Best Picture. There was a prolonged ovation and everyone from Jane Fonda to Warren Beatty and Gregory Peck to Rip Torn stood. Two months later the Duke was gone.

Ironically another presenter that evening passed away a few weeks later BEFORE the Duke. Jack Haley (Tin Man) presented with Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) and they provided a few jokes regarding Haley's son who was directing the show.

Of note: This year marked Olivier and Ingrid Bergman's last nominations and Meryl Streep's first.

Diane Keaton, the previous year's Best Actress, refused Jack Haley Jr.'s repeated pleas to present the Best Actor Oscar. Apparently, Haley was very angry as Keaton spent the whole night in plain view with current boyfriend Warren Beatty. At any rate, pairing Ginger Rogers and Diana Ross was a total inspiration!!

This was a great start to the second half of Oscar's first century and will be getting repeated viewings in the future.