50th Academy Awards

The nominees for the 50th Academy Awards were announced on February 21, 1978. Julia and The Turning Point tied for the most nominations with eleven each.{{cite news |last1=Harmetz |first1=Aljean |author-link=Aljean Harmetz |title=Woody Allen Is Up For Three Oscars |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/02/22/archives/woody-allen-is-up-for-three-oscars.html |url-access=limited |access-date=August 22, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 22, 1978 |at=sec. C, p. 15 |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028002730/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/02/22/archives/woody-allen-is-up-for-three-oscars.html |url-status=live }} The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on April 3. Woody Allen became the first person to receive nominations for acting, directing, and screenwriting for the same film since Orson Welles, who previously achieved this feat for 1941's Citizen Kane.{{harvnb|Wiley|Bona|1996|p=1126}} With its eleven nominations and zero wins, The Turning Point was the most nominated film in Oscar history without a win.{{efn|name=Snub|The Color Purple later equaled this record with eleven nominations and no wins, in 1986.{{harvnb|Holden|1993|p=252}}}} Vanessa Redgrave became the first performer to win in a supporting acting category for playing a titular role (via Julia).{{harvnb|Osborne|2013|p=242}}

{{multiple image

| align = right

| direction = vertical

| total_width = 150

| image1 = Woody Allen (2006).jpeg

| alt1 = Woody Allen at a concert at Carlyle Hotel in 2006

| caption1 = Woody Allen, Best Director winner and Best Original Screenplay co-winner

| image2 = Richard Dreyfuss.jpg

| alt2 = Richard Dreyfuss at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in 1997

| caption2 = Richard Dreyfuss, Best Actor winner

| image3 = Diane Keaton 2012-1 (cropped).jpg

| alt3 = Photo of Diane Keaton in 2006

| caption3 = Diane Keaton, Best Actress winner

| image4 = Jason Robards-1975.jpg

| alt4 = Publicity photo of Jason Robards in 1975

| caption4 = Jason Robards, Best Supporting Actor winner

| image5 = Vanessa Redgrave (2011) cropped.jpg

| alt5 = Vanessa Redgrave at the press conference for the film Coriolanus in 2011

| caption5 = Vanessa Redgrave, Best Supporting Actress winner

| image6 = John Williams tux.jpg

| caption6 = John Williams, Best Original Score winner

| alt6 = Photo of John Williams in 2007

| image7 = Vilmos Zsigmond KVIFF.jpg

| alt7 = Vilmos Zsigmond at the 43rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2008

| caption7 = Vilmos Zsigmond, Best Cinematography winner

| image8 = Richard Chew, 2006.jpg

| alt8 = Portrait of Richard Edlund from Editors Guild Magazine in 2006

| caption8 = Richard Chew, Best Film Editing co-winner

| image9 = Richard Edlund 1 (2).jpg

| alt9 = Richard Edlund at a gallery in Salzburg in 2008

| caption9 = Richard Edlund, Best Visual Effects co-winner

}}

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface and indicated with a double dagger ({{double dagger}}).{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978 |title=The 50th Academy Awards (1978) Nominees and Winners |access-date=October 5, 2011 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111072046/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1978 |archive-date=November 11, 2014 }}

;Special Achievement Award

• To Benjamin Burtt, Jr. for the creation of the alien, creature and robot voices featured in Star Wars.
• To Frank E. Warner for the sound effects editing of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

;Honorary Award

• To Margaret Booth for her exceptional contribution to the art of film editing in the motion picture industry.{{harvnb|Franks|2005|p=246}}

;Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

The award recognizes individuals whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the motion picture industry.{{cite web |title=Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award |url=https://www.oscars.org/governors/hersholt |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |access-date=12 November 2020 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116224625/https://www.oscars.org/governors/hersholt |url-status=live }}

• Charlton Heston

;Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

The award honors "creative producers whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production".{{cite news|title=Irvin G. Thalberg Memorial Award |url=http://www.oscars.org/governors/thalberg |access-date=December 18, 2015 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101224449/http://oscars.org/governors/thalberg |archive-date=January 1, 2016 }}

• Walter Mirisch

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The following individuals (in order of appearance) presented awards or performed musical numbers:{{harvnb|Wiley|Bona|1996|p=547}}

File:Bob Hope 1969 Publicity Photo.jpg hosted the 50th Academy Awards.]]

In December 1977, the Academy announced that actor and comedian Bob Hope was chosen to host the 1978 ceremony. As a result of his selection, he became the first person to emcee the Oscars gala solo since the 40th ceremony held in 1968. Oscars gala producer Howard W. Koch explained his decision to hire Hope as host, stating, "The multiple emcee system of recent years is a good one, but we decided this year's show called for a single master of ceremonies. And we couldn't think of anyone better suited for the role than Bob Hope."{{Cite news |date=December 11, 1977 |title=Bob Hope to Do Oscars Alone |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-bob-hope-oscar/168313315/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |at=sec. F, p. 24 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Reuters}}

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Academy and the Oscars, AMPAS hosted a dinner reception at the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel on May 11, 1977. The gala, which Hope also hosted, took place in the same spot as the organization's first meeting, exactly 50 years earlier.{{Cite news |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |date=May 13, 1977 |title=Motion Picture Academy Fete |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-motion-picture-aca/168313720/ |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |page=94 |via=Newspapers.com}} ABC also aired specials prior to the ceremony to highlight the history of the awards.{{harvnb|Osborne|2013|p=202, 204 |via=Newspapers.com }}

Prior to the ceremony, Vanessa Redgrave's Best Supporting Actress nomination was met with controversy due to her recent involvement with The Palestinian, a documentary chronicling the activities of the Palestine Liberation Organization.{{cite news |title=Oscar Protest |work=The Guardian |date=March 18, 1978 |page=6}} The film garnered controversy from several Jewish groups for its anti-Israel commentary.Multiple sources:

• {{cite news |last1=Shepard |first1=Richard F. |title=Redgrave Film on P.L.O. Stirs a Controversy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/10/archives/westchester-opinion-redgrave-film-on-plo-stirs-a-controversy.html |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=The New York Times |url-access=limited |date=November 10, 1977 |page=70 |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205023046/https://www.nytimes.com/1977/11/10/archives/westchester-opinion-redgrave-film-on-plo-stirs-a-controversy.html |url-status=live }}
• {{cite news |title=Jewish Group Angry at Actress |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-albuquerque-tribune-jane-fonda-jdl-c/168314075/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |work=The Albuquerque Tribune |publisher=United Press International |date=February 16, 1978 |at=sec. C, p. 8 |via=Newspapers.com }}
• {{cite news |last1=Harmetz |first1=Aljean |author-link=Aljean Harmetz |title=Theater for Redgrave Film Bombed |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/06/16/archives/threater-for-redgrave-film-bombed.html |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=The New York Times |url-access=limited |date=June 16, 1978 |at=sec. C, p. 6 |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205193010/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/06/16/archives/threater-for-redgrave-film-bombed.html |url-status=live }} Outside of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on the day of the ceremony, Jewish Defense League protestors burned a statue of the actress, while counter-protestors waved Palestinian flags.{{cite news |last1=Fretts |first1=Bruce |title=Oscars Rewind: The Most Political Ceremony in Academy History |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/11/movies/oscars-1978-politics-vanessa-redgrave.html |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=The New York Times |url-access=limited |date=January 11, 2019 |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329185944/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/11/movies/oscars-1978-politics-vanessa-redgrave.html |url-status=live }} After paying tribute to writer Lillian Hellman and the titular character of Julia for which she won the Best Supporting Actress award, Redgrave remarked in her acceptance speech, "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." She concluded her speech stating, "I salute you and I thank you and I pledge to you that I will continue to fight against Antisemitism and fascism." The comments received both applause and booing amongst the audience.{{harvnb|Wiley|Bona|1996|p=550}} Later during the ceremony, screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky prefaced his presentation of the screenplay awards, saying, "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’ve sufficed."

Los Angeles Times film critic Charles Champlin wrote, "The Oscar show as a show had more of what it has recently been short of, which is the presence of authentic film stars. It had refreshingly less of what it has sometimes had too much of, which is awkward and underrehearsed cross-talk."{{cite news |last1=Champlin |first1=Charles |title=Redgrave's Rhetoric Not a Factor in Voting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-50th-oscars-3/74205238/ |access-date=March 23, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 5, 1978 |page=87 |via=Newspapers.com }} Columnist Aaron Gold of the Chicago Tribune remarked, "Howard Koch and Allan Carr deserve Oscars for the work they did in creating an exciting and glamorous show, as they promised. Master of ceremonies Bob Hope... brought the air of dignity and continuity to the show that it lacked last year."{{cite news |last1=Gold |first1=Aaron |title=Tower Ticker |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-50th-oscars/74201109/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=April 5, 1978 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com }} The News & Observer entertainment columnist commented, "If the evening was never as nimble as a dance by Fred Astaire, it was jam-packed with nostalgia, suspense, laughter, a few tears, and production numbers as striking as anything in Oscar's history."

John Huddy of the Miami Herald observed, "The Redgrave-Chayevsky exchange enlivened a long Oscar night in which there were too many silly songs, too many special awards that nobody gave a hoot about, and too many dreary acceptance speeches by obscure if talented short-subject makers."{{cite news |last1=Huddy |first1=John |title=The Redgrave Flap Gave the Oscars Sizzle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-50th-oscars/74205714/ |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=Miami Herald |date=April 5, 1978 |at=sec. B, p.9 |via=Newspapers.com }} The Arizona Republic columnist Mike Petryni wrote, "Produced this year by Howard Koch, who incidentally co-wrote Casablanca, the show seemed, as usual, rather dull, draggy and sluggish.{{cite news |last1=Petryni |first1=Mike |title=Awards Show Gets No Oscar |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-50th-oscars/74189714/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=April 4, 1978 |at=sec. B, p. 11 |via=Newspapers.com }} Writing for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said, "Monday's Academy Awards telecast seemed like one of the dullest in recent years." He noted that the Best Original Song performances were longer and more ridiculous than in previous years, and he lamented that winners Jason Robards and Woody Allen were absent to collect their awards.{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Perry |title=Mirror, Mirror on a Wall |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-50th-oscars/74202716/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=April 5, 1978 |at=sec. E, p. 6 |via=Newspapers.com }}

The American telecast on ABC drew in an average of 48.5 million people over the length of the entire ceremony, which was a 22% increase from the previous year's ceremony.{{cite web |title=Top-10 Most-Watched Academy Awards Broadcasts |url=https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2009/top-10-most-watched-academy-awards-broadcasts/ |publisher=Nielsen Media Research |date=February 2009 |access-date=March 23, 2023 |archive-date=January 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127130438/http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2009/top-10-most-watched-academy-awards-broadcasts.html |url-status=live }} The show drew higher Nielsen ratings compared to the previous ceremony, with 36.3% of households watching with a 68% share.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-oscars-week-rating/168314506/ |access-date=March 30, 2024 |title=50th Anniversary Oscar Show Leads the Nielsen Ratings |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 12, 1978 |page=83 |via=Newspapers.com}} The ceremony presentation received five nominations at the 30th Primetime Emmys, but failed to win any of its nominations.{{cite web |title=50th Annual Awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/50th-annual-awards-academy-motion-pictur |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=March 23, 2020 }}

• List of submissions to the 50th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

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|title=Entertainment Awards: A Music, Cinema, Theatre and Broadcasting Guide, 1928 through 2003

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|publisher=McFarland & Company

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• {{Citation

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|title=Behind the Oscar: The Secret History of the Academy Awards

|year=1993

|isbn=978-0-6717-0129-1

|location=New York, New York, United States

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|title=85 Years of the Oscar: The Complete History of the Academy Awards

|year=2013

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|oclc=856879222

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• {{Cite book

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|title=Television Specials: 5,336 Entertainment Programs, 1936–2012

|year=2013

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• {{Citation

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|first1=Mason

|author-link=Mason Wiley

|last2=Bona

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|author-link2=Damien Bona

|title=Inside Oscar: The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards

|year=1996

|isbn=978-0-3454-0053-6 |location=New York, New York, United States

|edition=5

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|publisher=Ballantine Books

}}

{{Refend}}

• [http://www.oscar.com/ Academy Awards official website]
• [http://www.oscars.org/ The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences official website]
• [https://www.youtube.com/oscars Oscars' channel] on YouTube run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

;Analysis

• [http://www.filmsite.org/aa77.html 1977 Academy Awards Winners and History] Filmsite

;Other resources

• {{IMDb title|0271340|The 50th Annual Academy Awards}}

{{Academy Awards Chron}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Academy Awards, 50}}

Category:Academy Awards ceremonies

Category:1977 film awards

Category:1978 in Los Angeles

Category:1978 in American cinema

Category:April 1978 in the United States

Academy

Category:Television shows directed by Marty Pasetta