what did you think?

It was a great night! Truly star-studded. I watched it recently.

It was the last Oscar appearance for John Wayne & Jack Haley (they both passed away shortly after.). It was also the last Oscar appearence for the beautiful & glamourous Natalie Wood. It was the first Oscar appearance for Steve Martin, Robin Williams, and Meryl Streep. It was also the night Laurence Olivier gave that wonderful, arresting speach (afterward nobody was quite sure what he said!).A lighter moment was George Burns and a 13 year old Brook Sheilds presenting the Best Supporting Actress Award. Among other odd pairings as presenters: Maureen Stapleton and Maggie Smith; Shirley Jones and 8 year-old Ricky Schroder; and Ginger Rogers and Diana Ross! Embarassing moment: Shirley MacLaine gushing about brother Warren Beatty and 'celibacy'. Weridest moment: What was Francis Ford Coppola's itch??


The show marked a return to Hollywood for both Audrey Hepburn (who had been in Europe for many years) as well as Kim Novak who had been away for 13 years and returned in full glamor. Jane Fonda won her second Oscar after several years in the doldrums. There were musical performances by Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John, Barry Manilow, Debby Boone, and Johnny Mathis. There was also a 15 minute, controversial at the time, medley of non-nominated Oscar songs by Sammy Davis Jr. & Steve Lawrence.
This was also notable as the first year the show was hosted by the late, great (and sorely missed) Johnny Carson. It truly was one of the best Oscar presentations.