50th Academy Awards

50th Academy Awards

Date	April 3, 1978
Site	Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles
Hosted by	Bob Hope
Produced by	Howard W. Koch
Directed by	Marty Pasetta
Highlights
Best Picture	Annie Hall
Most awards	Star Wars (6)
Most nominations	Julia and The Turning Point (11)
TV in the United States
Network	ABC
Duration	3 hours, 30 minutes
Ratings	39.73 million 31.1% (Nielsen ratings)^[1]

The 50th Academy Awards were held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California on April 3, 1978. The ceremonies were presided over by Bob Hope, who hosted the awards for the nineteenth and last time.

Two of the year's biggest winners were Star Wars, which swept the technical categories by winning 6 out of its 10 nominations and a Special Achievement for Sound Effects Editing, and Annie Hall, winning 4 out of 5 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Director. The awards show was also notable for a very politically charged acceptance speech by Vanessa Redgrave.

The Turning Point set the record for the most nominations without a win (11), previously held by Peyton Place and The Little Foxes, which each had 9 nominations with no wins. This record, later tied by The Color Purple, still stands as of 2016.

Annie Hall was the last Best Picture winner to be nominated for just five awards until The Departed 29 years later in 2006.

Jason Robards became the fourth actor to win back-to-back Oscars, following Luise Rainer, Spencer Tracy, and Katharine Hepburn.

For the first and only time to date, both Best Actor and Best Actress winners won for roles in two different romantic comedies.

The animated opening sequence, as well as promos for the Awards show, were designed by British graphic designer Harry Marks, who outsourced the animated sequences to Robert Abel and Associates. Marks also designed animated sequences for the top nominated categories, which weren't used for the final telecast.

Awards

Woody Allen, Best Director winner

Richard Dreyfuss, Best Actor winner

Diane Keaton, Best Actress winner

Jason Robards, Best Supporting Actor winner

Vanessa Redgrave, Best Supporting Actress winner

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface and indicated with a double dagger ().^[2]

Best Picture	Best Director
*Annie Hall* The Goodbye Girl Julia Star Wars The Turning Point	Woody Allen – Annie Hall Steven Spielberg – Close Encounters of the Third Kind Fred Zinnemann – Julia George Lucas – Star Wars Herbert Ross – The Turning Point
Best Actor	Best Actress
Richard Dreyfuss – The Goodbye Girl Woody Allen – Annie Hall Richard Burton – Equus Marcello Mastroianni – A Special Day John Travolta – Saturday Night Fever	Diane Keaton – Annie Hall Anne Bancroft – The Turning Point Jane Fonda – Julia Shirley MacLaine – The Turning Point Marsha Mason – The Goodbye Girl
Best Supporting Actor	Best Supporting Actress
Jason Robards – Julia Mikhail Baryshnikov – The Turning Point Peter Firth – Equus Alec Guinness – Star Wars Maximilian Schell – Julia	Vanessa Redgrave – Julia Leslie Browne – The Turning Point Quinn Cummings – The Goodbye Girl Melinda Dillon – Close Encounters of the Third Kind Tuesday Weld – Looking for Mr. Goodbar
Best Original Screenplay	Best Adapted Screenplay
Annie Hall – Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman The Goodbye Girl – Neil Simon The Late Show – Robert Benton Star Wars – George Lucas The Turning Point – Arthur Laurents	Julia – Alvin Sargent Equus – Peter Shaffer I Never Promised You a Rose Garden – Gavin Lambert and Lewis John Carlino Oh, God! – Larry Gelbart That Obscure Object of Desire – Luis Buñuel and Jean-Claude Carrière
Best Foreign Language Film
Madame Rosa (France) Iphigenia (Greece) Operation Thunderbolt (Israel) A Special Day (Italy) That Obscure Object of Desire (Spain)
Best Documentary Feature	Best Documentary Short
Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids? – John Korty The Children of Theatre Street – Robert Dornhelm and Earle Mack High Grass Circus – Tony Ianzelo and Torben Schioler Homage to Chagall: The Colours of Love – Harry Rasky Union Maids – Jim Klein, Miles Mogulescu and Julia Reichert	Gravity Is My Enemy – John C. Joseph and Jan Stussy, producers Agueda Martinez: Our People, Our Country First Edition Of Time, Tombs and Treasures The Shetland Experience
Best Live Action Short	Best Animated Short
I'll Find a Way – Beverly Shaffer, Yuki Yoshida The Absent-Minded Waiter – William E. McEuen Floating Free – Jerry Butts Notes on the Popular Arts – Saul Bass Spaceborne – Philip Dauber	The Sand Castle – Co Hoedeman Bead Game – Ishu Patel The Doonesbury Special – John Hubley (posthumous nomination), Faith Hubley and Garry Trudeau Jimmy the C – James Picker, Robert Grossman and Craig Whitaker
Best Original Score	Best Original Song Score or Adaptation Score
Star Wars – John Williams Julia – Georges Delerue The Spy Who Loved Me – Marvin Hamlisch Mohammad, Messenger of God – Maurice Jarre Close Encounters of the Third Kind – John Williams	A Little Night Music – Jonathan Tunick Pete's Dragon – Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn, song; Irwin Kostal, adaptation The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella – Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, song; Angela Morley, adaptation
Best Original Song	Best Costume Design
*"You Light Up My Life" from You Light Up My Life* – Music and Lyric by Joseph Brooks** "Candle on the Water" from Pete's Dragon – Music and Lyric by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn "Someone's Waiting for You" from The Rescuers – Music by Sammy Fain; Lyric by Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins "The Slipper and the Rose Waltz (He Danced with Me/She Danced with Me)" from The Slipper and the Rose – Music and Lyric by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman "Nobody Does It Better" from The Spy Who Loved Me – Music by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyric by Carole Bayer Sager	Star Wars – John Mollo Airport '77 – Edith Head and Burton Miller A Little Night Music – Florence Klotz The Other Side of Midnight – Irene Sharaff Julia – Anthea Sylbert
Best Sound Mixing	Best Sound Editing
Star Wars – Don MacDougall, Ray West, Bob Minkler and Derek Ball The Deep – Walter Goss, Dick Alexander, Tom Beckert and Robin Gregory Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Don MacDougall and Gene Cantamessa Sorcerer – Robert Knudson, Robert Glass, Richard Tyler and Jean-Louis Ducarme The Turning Point – Theodore Soderberg, Paul Wells, Douglas O. Williams and Jerry Jost	Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Frank E. Warner Star Wars – Benjamin Burtt, Jr. for the creation of the alien, creature and robot voices
Best Art Direction	Best Cinematography
Star Wars – Art Direction: John Barry, Norman Reynolds and Leslie Dilley; Set Decoration: Roger Christian The Spy Who Loved Me – Art Direction: Ken Adam and Peter Lamont; Set Decoration: Hugh Scaife Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Art Direction: Joe Alves and Dan Lomino; Set Decoration: Phil Abramson The Turning Point – Art Direction: Albert Brenner; Set Decoration: Marvin March Airport '77 – Art Direction: George C. Webb; Set Decoration: Mickey S. Michaels	Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Vilmos Zsigmond Looking for Mr. Goodbar – William A. Fraker Islands in the Stream – Fred J. Koenekamp Julia – Douglas Slocombe The Turning Point – Robert Surtees
Best Film Editing	Best Visual Effects
Star Wars – Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas and Richard Chew Smokey and the Bandit – Walter Hannemann and Angelo Ross Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Michael Kahn Julia – Walter Murch The Turning Point – William Reynolds	Star Wars – John Stears, John Dykstra, Richard Edlund, Grant McCune and Robert Blalack Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Gregory Jein, Roy Arbogast, Douglas Trumbull, Matthew Yuricich, and Richard Yuricich

Ceremony

Debby Boone's performance of You Light Up My Life was accompanied by schoolgirls described as "affiliated with the John Tracy Clinic for the Deaf" interpreting the lyrics in sign language. After complaints that their signing was incomprehensible, it was revealed the girls were not deaf and had been taught rudimentary signing specifically for the performance. This prompted protests from the Alliance for Deaf Artists.^[3]

Redgrave speech

During the ceremony, Vanessa Redgrave won the Best Supporting Actress award for Julia, and, aware of members of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) protesting outside, made the following comments:

“

My dear colleagues, I thank you very much for this tribute to my work. I think that Jane Fonda and I have done the best work of our lives, and I think this is in part due to our director, Fred Zinnemann. [Audience applause.]

And I also think it's in part because we believed and we believe in what we were expressing--two out of millions who gave their lives and were prepared to sacrifice everything in the fight against fascist and racist Nazi Germany.

And I salute you, and I pay tribute to you, and I think you should be very proud that in the last few weeks you've stood firm, and you have refused to be intimidated by the threats of a small bunch of Zionist hoodlums [gasps from the audience, followed by a smattering of boos and clapping] whose behavior-- [continuation of booing until it quieted down] whose behavior is an insult to the stature of Jews all over the world and their great and heroic record of struggle against fascism and oppression. [General applause]

And I salute that record and I salute all of you for having stood firm and dealt a final blow against that period when Nixon and McCarthy launched a worldwide witch-hunt against those who tried to express in their lives and their work the truth that they believe in. [some boos and hissing] I salute you and I thank you and I pledge to you that I will continue to fight against anti-Semitism and fascism.

”

Two hours later,^[4] when it came his turn to announce the winners for the two Best Screenplay awards, Paddy Chayefsky, perturbed by what he perceived as "cracks about Jews"^[4] at the Academy Awards, replied:

“

Before I get on to the writing awards, there's a little matter I'd like to tidy up--at least if I expect to live with myself tomorrow morning. I would like to say, personal opinion, of course, that I'm sick and tired of people exploiting the occasion of the Academy Awards [loud applause] for the propagation of their own personal political propaganda. [Loud applause]

I would like to suggest to Miss Redgrave that her winning an Academy Award is not a pivotal moment in history, does not require a proclamation, and a simple 'thank you' would have sufficed. [Loud applause]

”

Presenters and performers

The following individuals, listed in order of appearance, presented awards or performed musical numbers.

Presenters

Name	Role
Simms, HankHank Simms	Announcer for the 50th annual Academy Awards
Koch, Howard W.Howard W. Koch (AMPAS President)	Gave opening remarks welcoming guests to the awards ceremony
Davis, BetteBette Davis Gregory Peck	Explained the voting rules to the public
Travolta, JohnJohn Travolta	Presenter of the award for Best Supporting Actress
Hamill, MarkMark Hamill R2-D2 C-3PO	Presenters of the Special Achievement Award
Foster, JodieJodie Foster Mickey Mouse Paul Williams	Presenters of the Short Subjects Awards
Holden, WilliamWilliam Holden Barbara Stanwyck	Presenters of the Sound Awards
Fontaine, JoanJoan Fontaine	Presenter of the award for Best Visual Effects
Douglas, KirkKirk Douglas Raquel Welch	Presenters of the Documentary Awards
Williams, Billy DeeBilly Dee Williams	Presenter of the Scientific & Technical Awards
Garson, GreerGreer Garson Henry Winkler	Presenters of the award of Best Art Direction
Saint, Eva MarieEva Marie Saint Jack Valenti	Presenters of the award for Best Foreign Language Film
Caine, MichaelMichael Caine Maggie Smith	Presenters of the award for Best Supporting Actor
Wood, NatalieNatalie Wood	Presenter of the award for Best Costume Design
Green, JohnnyJohnny Green Henry Mancini Olivia Newton-John	Presenters of the award for Best Original Score
Hawn, GoldieGoldie Hawn Jon Voight	Presenters of the award for Best Cinematography
Davis, BetteBette Davis	Presenter of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Charlton Heston
de Havilland, OliviaOlivia de Havilland	Presenter of the Honorary Award to Margaret Booth
Fawcett, FarrahFarrah Fawcett Marcello Mastroianni	Presenters of the award for Best Film Editing
Astaire, FredFred Astaire	Presenter of the award for Best Original Song
Tyson, CicelyCicely Tyson King Vidor	Presenters of the award for Best Director
Chayefsky, PaddyPaddy Chayefsky	Presenter of the awards for Best Original and Adapted Screenplay
Gaynor, JanetJanet Gaynor Walter Matthau	Presenters of the award for Best Actress
Stallone, SylvesterSylvester Stallone	Presenter of the award for Best Actor
Kramer, StanleyStanley Kramer	Presenter of the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to Walter Mirisch
Nicholson, JackJack Nicholson	Presenter of the award for Best Picture

Performers

Performer	Role	Performed
Riddle, NelsonNelson Riddle	Musical arranger Conductor	Orchestral
Reynolds, DebbieDebbie Reynolds	Performer	"Look How Far We've Come"
Boone, DebbyDebby Boone	Performer	"You Light Up My Life" from You Light Up My Life
Loring, GloriaGloria Loring	Performer	"Candle on the Water" from Pete's Dragon and "Someone's Waiting for You" from The Rescuers
Davis Jr., SammySammy Davis Jr. Marvin Hamlisch	Performers	"Come Light the Candles"
Franklin, ArethaAretha Franklin	Performer	"Nobody Does It Better" from The Spy Who Loved Me
Powell, JaneJane Powell	Performer	"The Slipper and the Rose Waltz (He Danced with Me)" from The Slipper and the Rose
Academy Awards Chorus, Academy Awards Chorus	Performers	"That's Entertainment"

Multiple nominations and awards

These films had multiple nominations:

11 nominations: Julia, The Turning Point
10 nominations: Star Wars
8 nominations: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
5 nominations: Annie Hall, The Goodbye Girl
3 nominations: Equus, The Spy Who Loved Me
2 nominations: Airport '77, A Little Night Music, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Pete's Dragon, The Slipper and the Rose, A Special Day, That Obscure Object of Desire

The following films received multiple awards.

6 wins: Star Wars (also won a special award)
4 wins: Annie Hall
3 wins: Julia
2 wins: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Tribute

Sammy Davis, Jr. and Marvin Hamlisch performed "Come Light the Candles" in tribute to:

References

↑ Bialik, Carl (February 26, 2008). "And the Oscar Goes to… Fewer TV Viewers". The Wall Street Journal.
↑ "The 50th Academy Awards (1978) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
↑ Crouse, Richard (2005-10-22). Reel Winners: Movie Award Trivia. Dundurn. pp. 138–139. ISBN 9781770701991. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
1 2 John Bradey, "The craft of the screenwriter", 1981. Page 57

External links

Academy Awards

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Records Most wins per ceremony Oscar season Governors Awards Pre-show

Merit awards	Best Picture Director Actor Actress Supporting Actor Supporting Actress Adapted Screenplay Original Screenplay Animated Feature Documentary Feature Foreign Language Film Animated Short Film Documentary Short Subject Live Action Short Film Cinematography Costume Design Film Editing Makeup and Hairstyling Original Score Original Song Original Musical Production Design Sound Editing Sound Mixing Visual Effects

Special awards	Academy Honorary Award Academy Scientific and Technical Award Gordon E. Sawyer Award Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation Special Achievement Academy Award Student Academy Award

Retired awards	Assistant Director Dance Direction Director of a Comedy Picture Engineering Effects Short Subject, Two-reel Short Subject, Comedy Short Subject, Novelty Story Title Writing Unique and Artistic Quality of Production Academy Juvenile Award

Ceremonies (Book)	1927/28 1928/29 1929/30 1930/31 1931/32 1932/33 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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