63rd Academy Awards
Official poster promoting the 63rd Academy Awards in 1991.
Official poster
DateMarch 25, 1991
SiteShrine Auditorium
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Hosted byBilly Crystal
Produced byGil Cates
Directed byJeff Margolis
Highlights
Best PictureDances with Wolves
Most awardsDances with Wolves (7)
Most nominationsDances with Wolves (12)
TV in the United States
NetworkABC
Duration3 hours, 30 minutes[1]
Ratings42.7 million
28.4% (Nielsen ratings)

The 63rd Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), took place on March 25, 1991, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles beginning at 6:00 p.m. PST / 9:00 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, Academy Awards (commonly referred to as the Oscars) were presented in 22 categories. The ceremony, which was televised in the United States on ABC, was produced by Gil Cates and directed by Jeff Margolis.[2] Actor Billy Crystal hosted for the second consecutive year.[3] Three weeks earlier in a ceremony held at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on March 2, the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement were presented by host Geena Davis.[4]

Dances with Wolves won seven awards, including Best Picture.[5] Other winners included Dick Tracy with three awards, Ghost with two awards, and American Dream, Creature Comforts, Cyrano de Bergerac, Days of Waiting, Goodfellas, The Hunt for Red October, Journey of Hope, The Lunch Date, Misery, Reversal of Fortune, and Total Recall with one. The telecast garnered nearly 43 million viewers in the United States.

Winners and nominees

The nominees for the 63rd Academy Awards were announced on February 13, 1991, at 5:38 a.m. PST (13:38 UTC) at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, by Karl Malden, president of the Academy, and actor Denzel Washington.[6] Dances with Wolves led the nominations with twelve total; Dick Tracy and The Godfather Part III tied for second with seven each.[7][8]

The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on March 25, 1991.[9] Kevin Costner became the fifth person to earn the Best Director Award for his directorial debut and to earn nominations for Best Actor and Best Director for the same film.[10][11] Best Supporting Actress winner Whoopi Goldberg was the second African American woman to win an award. Hattie McDaniel previously won in the same category for Gone With the Wind.[12][13]

Awards

Kevin Costner, Best Director winner and Best Picture co-winner
Jeremy Irons, Best Actor winner
Photo of Kathy Bates at PaleyFest 2014.
Kathy Bates, Best Actress winner
Photo of Joe Pesci in 2009.
Joe Pesci, Best Supporting Actor winner
Photo of Whoopi Goldberg at Comic Relief 2006.
Whoopi Goldberg, Best Supporting Actress winner
Michael Blake, Best Adapted Screenplay winner
Photo of Barbara Kopple 2015 Montclair Film Festival.
Barbara Kopple, Best Documentary Feature co-winner
Photo of Nick Park at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2007.
Nick Park, Best Animated Short Film winner
John Barry, Best Original Score winner
Stephen Sondheim, Best Original Song Winner
Russell Williams II, Best Sound co-winner
Photo of Doug Drexler at the 2013 Phoenix Comic-Con.
Doug Drexler, Best Makeup co-winner

Winners[14] are listed first, highlighted in boldface and indicated with a double-dagger (‡).

Multiple nominations and awards

Presenters and performers

The following individuals, listed in order of appearance, presented awards or performed musical numbers.[18][19]

Presenters

Name(s)Role
Charlie O'DonnellAnnouncer for the 63rd annual Academy Awards
Karl Malden (AMPAS President)Gave opening remarks welcoming guests to the awards ceremony
Michael CainePresenter of the opening number
Denzel WashingtonPresenter of the award for Best Supporting Actress
Dianne WiestPresenter of the award for Best Sound
Jack LemmonPresenter of the film Ghost on the Best Picture segment
Anne ArcherPresenter of the award for Best Makeup
Brenda FrickerPresenter of the award for Best Supporting Actor
Chevy Chase
Martin Short		Presenters of the awards for Best Live Action Short Film
Woody WoodpeckerPresenter of the award for Best Animated Short Film
Anjelica HustonPresenter of the Honorary Academy Award to Myrna Loy
Joe PesciIntroducer of the performance of Best Original Song nominee "Somewhere in My Memory"
Annette BeningPresenter of the award for Best Costume Design
Geena DavisPresenter of the segment of the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement and the Gordon E. Sawyer Award
Danny AielloPresenter of the film Goodfellas on the Best Picture segment
Jack ValentiPresenter of the award for Best Visual Effects
Michael DouglasPresenter of the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Awards to David Brown and Richard D. Zanuck
Alec Baldwin
Kim Basinger		Introducers of the special dance number to the tune of the Best Original Score nominees and presenters of the award for Best Original Score
Danny Glover
Kevin Kline		Presenters of the award for Best Film Editing
Richard Gere
Susan Sarandon		Presenters of the award for Best Art Direction
Bob HopePresenter of the "My First Movie" montage
Phoebe Cates
Ron Silver		Presenters of the awards for Best Documentary Short Subject and Best Documentary Feature
Robert De NiroPresenter of the film Dances with Wolves on the Best Picture segment
Andy García
Whoopi Goldberg		Presenters of the awards for Best Sound Effects Editing
Christian SlaterIntroducer of the performance of Best Original Song nominee "Blaze of Glory"
Glenn ClosePresenter of the award for Best Cinematography
Dustin HoffmanPresenter of the award for Best Foreign Language Film
Jodie Foster
Anthony Hopkins		Presenters of the awards for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen and Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
Debra WingerPresenter of the film Awakenings on the Best Picture segment
Gregory PeckPresenter of the Honorary Academy Award to Sophia Loren
Ann-Margret
Gregory Hines		Presenters of the award for Best Original Song
Daniel Day-LewisPresenter of the award for Best Actress
Jessica TandyPresenter of the award for Best Actor
Jeff BridgesPresenter of the film The Godfather Part III on the Best Picture segment
Tom CruisePresenter of the award for Best Director
Barbra StreisandPresenter of the award for Best Picture

Performers

Name(s)RolePerformed
Bill ContiMusical arranger and conductorOrchestral
Jasmine Guy
Steve LaChance		PerformersOpening number
Billy CrystalPerformerOpening number:
Goodfellas (to the tune of "Goody Goody"),
Dances With Wolves (to the tune of "Dancing in the Dark" from The Band Wagon),
Ghost (to the tune of "L-O-V-E"),
The Godfather Part III (to the tune of "Speak Softly Love" from The Godfather) and
Awakenings (to the tune of "All the Way")[20]
MadonnaPerformer"Sooner or Later" from Dick Tracy
Children's choirPerformers"Somewhere in My Memory" from Home Alone
Reba McEntirePerformer"I'm Checkin' Out" from Postcards from the Edge
Bon JoviPerformers"Blaze of Glory" from Young Guns II
Harry Connick Jr.Performer"Promise Me You'll Remember (Love Theme from The Godfather Part III)" from The Godfather Part III

Ceremony information

Photo of Billy Crystal in 2018
Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony.

Riding on the critical praise from last year's ceremony, the Academy rehired former film producer and former Directors Guild of America president Gilbert Cates to oversee production of the Oscar ceremony for the second straight time.[21] Two months before the awards gala, Cates selected actor and comedian Billy Crystal to host the show for the second consecutive year.[22] In a statement released by AMPAS, Crystal joked, "It's a great honor, and I hope to bring the show in under nine hours."[22]

As with the last year's theme of "Around the World in 3 1/2 Hours," Cates centered the show around a theme. He christened the ceremony with the theme "100 Years of Film" in celebration to the centennial of the development of both the kinetoscope by Thomas Edison and celluloid film by Eastman Kodak.[23] In tandem with the theme, the show featured an ambitious opening segment. Actor Michael Caine introduced the segment live via satellite from the Salon Indien du Grand Café in Paris, where the short film L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat made its debut in 1895.[24] After a brief clip of the film, the show cut back to the Shrine Auditorium stage where actress Jasmine Guy and other dancers performed whilst a montage of film clips were projected in the background.[25] Filmmaker Chuck Workman filmed a vignettes featuring actors such as Sally Field, Andy García, and Anjelica Huston discussing the first movie the actors watched.[26]

Several other people participated in the production of the ceremony. Film composer and musician Bill Conti served as musical director for the ceremony.[27] Dancer Debbie Allen choreographed a dancer number showcasing the Best Original Score nominees.[28] Despite losing eight members of her band in a plane crash, a visibly emotional Reba McEntire performed the Best Original Song nominee "I'm Checkin' Out" from the film Postcards from the Edge.[29] At the beginning of the ceremony, wrangler Lisa Brown escorted host Crystal, and Beechnut, a horse that was prominently featured in the upcoming film City Slickers.[30]

This ceremony was the last year in which there were no official nominees for Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Back to the Future Part III, Dick Tracy, Ghost and Total Recall advanced to a second stage of voting, but only Total Recall received a requisite average and it was given a special achievement Oscar.[31]

Box office performance of nominees

At the time of the nominations announcement on February 12, the combined gross of the five Best Picture nominees at the US box office was $458.2 million with an average of $41 million per film.[32] Ghost was the highest earner among the Best Picture nominees with $213.5 million in domestic box office receipts. The film was followed by Dances with Wolves ($104.3 million), The Godfather Part III ($62.5 million), Goodfellas ($41 million), and finally Awakenings ($36.7 million).[32]

Of the top 50 highest-grossing films of the year, 51 nominations went to 12 films on the list. Only Ghost (2nd), Pretty Woman (3rd), Dances with Wolves (8th), Dick Tracy (9th), The Godfather Part III (17th), Goodfellas (30th), and Awakenings (34th) were nominated for Best Picture, directing, acting or screenwriting. The other top 50 box office hits that earned the nominations were Home Alone (1st), The Hunt for Red October (5th), Total Recall (6th), Days of Thunder (12th), and Edward Scissorhands (22nd).[33]

Critical reviews

The show received a mixed reception from media publications. Some media outlets were more critical of the show. Rick DuBrow of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "It was a long day's journey into night for Oscar, one of the most effective sleeping pills of the year." He also added that while host Crystal started out strong, his jokes fell flat as the night progressed.[34] The Washington Post television critic Tom Shales noted that Crystal, "followed many gags by instantly rating the reaction of the audience, as if it were up to them to please him instead of the other way around." In addition, he commented, "The Oscars seemed more of a fizzle than usual this year."[35] Columnist Dan Craft of The Pantagraph remarked, "The Oscar show has become innocuously hip and yuppified. Kitsch and nostalgia have given way to efficiency and upward mobility. Everyone is tiresomely well-behaved and, worse, well-dressed." He also commented that host Crystal's insider showbiz jokes fell flat and were confusing to television audiences.[36]

Other media outlets received the broadcast more positively. Columnist Harold Schindler of The Salt Lake Tribune wrote, "Billy Crystal kept things moving Monday night in such a manner that the extra quarter-hour was scarcely noticeable." He also said of the telecast's theme of film history, "The Academy used its film library to excellent advantage."[37] Film critic Leonard Maltin remarked, "Emotions ran high and they gave us all a chance to feel vicariously what it might be like to win this kind of award...good guys finishing first and the part of Hollywood we like best, a happy ending."[25] Orlando Sentinel film critic Jay Boyar complimented Crystal for invigorating the gala noting that his "clever remarks at the academy's 63rd annual awards presentation struck an entertaining balance between inside-Hollywood quips and general-audience jests."[38]

Ratings and reception

The American telecast on ABC drew in an average of 42.7 million people over its length, which was a 6% increase from the previous year's ceremony.[39] An estimated 76 million total viewers watched all or part of the awards.[40] The show also drew higher Nielsen ratings compared to the previous ceremony with 28.4% of households watching over a 48 share.[41] It was the most watched Oscars telecast since the 56th ceremony held in 1984.[42]

In July 1991, the ceremony presentation received nine nominations at the 43rd Primetime Emmys.[43] The following month, the ceremony won three of those nominations for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Program (Gil Cates), Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (Billy Crystal), and Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program (Hal Kanter, Buz Kohan, Billy Crystal, David Steinberg, Bruce Vilanch, and Robert Wuhl).[44]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 809
  2. ↑ "Credits". Jeff Margolis Productions. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  3. ↑ Kleid, Beth (January 24, 1991). "Awards Update". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Past Scientific & Technical Awards Ceremonies". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  5. ↑ Rother, Larry (March 26, 1991). "Kevin Costner and 'Dances With Wolves' Win Top Oscar Prizes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 795
  7. ↑ Fox, David J (February 14, 1991). "Oscar Dances With 'Wolves' : Costner Film Leads Pack With 12 Nominations". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  8. ↑ Ryan, Desmond (February 14, 1991). "Oscar's Choices In The Academy Award Nominations, Kevin Costner's Epic, "Dances With Wolves," Did What No Movie Had Done Since "Reds" - Get A Dozen Nods". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  9. ↑ Rickey, Carrie (March 26, 1991). "Kevin Costner's Night To Howl "Dances With Wolves" Takes Home Seven Oscars From 12 Nominations, While Kathy Bates And Jeremy Irons Take Top Acting Awards". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  10. ↑ Lyttelton, Oliver (February 20, 2013). "Oscar Trivia: 50 Fun Facts To Prepare You For The 85th Academy Awards". IndieWire. Snagfilms. Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 1166
  12. ↑ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 798
  13. ↑ Lewis, Claude (March 27, 1991). "Whopee for Whoopi Goldberg". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  14. ↑ "The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  15. 1 2 Kinn & Piazza 2002, p. 269
  16. ↑ Puig, Claudia (January 28, 1991). "Movies". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
  17. ↑ Silver, Edward (March 25, 1991). "The Highs and Lows of Future Special Effects : Movies: Character-driven stories are dominating due to a recession mentality. But summer releases will pack plenty of visual ingenuity". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  18. ↑ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 800
  19. ↑ "Prelude to the Oscars : Awards: The nominees and other party-goers had another race to contend with--going from a publicists' luncheon to a Scorsese tribute to the independent filmmakers awards". Los Angeles Times. March 25, 1991. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  20. ↑ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 802
  21. ↑ "Short Takes: Dates for '91 Oscars Scheduled". Los Angeles Times. September 21, 1990. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  22. 1 2 "Crystal Will Again Be Host Of Academy Awards Show". Orlando Sentinel. January 25, 1991. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  23. ↑ Sloan, Eugene (March 25, 1991). "Movies Are the Star of the Show". USA Today. p. 5D.
  24. ↑ Scott, Jay (March 26, 1991). "Oscar awards". The Globe and Mail. p. C1.
  25. 1 2 Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 812
  26. ↑ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 806
  27. ↑ "Events". Bill Conti. Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  28. ↑ Wiley & Bona 1996, p. 805
  29. ↑ MacCambridge, Michael (March 26, 1991). "Wolves' leads the pack with seven awards". Austin American-Statesman. p. D1.
  30. ↑ Wilson 2007, p. 150
  31. ↑ Cohn, Lawrence (February 17, 1991). "Oscar Choices/Omissions Reflect Quirky Voting Rules". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  32. 1 2 "1990 Academy Award Nominations and Winner for Best Picture". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  33. ↑ "1990 Box Office Grosses (as of February 12, 1991)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  34. ↑ DuBrow, Rick (March 26, 1991). "Oscar Endures Another Hard Day's Night". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  35. ↑ Shales, Tom (March 27, 1991). "The Show Doesn't Make A Spectacle of Itself". The Washington Post. p. B1.
  36. ↑ "New Academy Awards version isn't much fun". The Pantagraph. Lee Enterprises. March 29, 1991. p. C2.
  37. ↑ Schindler, Harold (March 27, 1991). "Academy Gives Its Best Performance As Crystal Sparkles on Oscar Night". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. A5.
  38. ↑ Boyar, Jay (March 29, 1991). "Oscar Night's Improvements Are Crystal-clear". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  39. ↑ Johnson, Greg (March 18, 1999). "Call It the Glamour Bowl". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  40. ↑ Margulies, Lee (April 3, 1991). "TV Ratings: The Ratings Award Goes to Oscar". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  41. ↑ DuBrow, Rick (March 27, 1991). "Ratings Up Slightly for ABC's Oscar Telecast". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  42. ↑ Gorman, Bill (February 26, 2011). "1-Featured With No 'Avatar' Expect 'Academy Awards' Viewership To Fall; Ratings History + Your Guess For This Year (Poll)". TV by the Numbers. Tribune Company. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Primetime Emmy Award database". Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Emmy Awards: The Other Winners". Los Angeles Times. August 26, 1991. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014.

Bibliography

  • Kinn, Gail; Piazza, Jim (2002), The Academy Awards: The Complete Unofficial History, New York, United States: Workman Publishing Company, ISBN 978-1579123963
  • Wiley, Mason; Bona, Damien (1996), Inside Oscar: The Unofficial History of the Academy Awards (5 ed.), New York, United States: Ballantine Books, ISBN 0-345-40053-4, OCLC 779680732
  • Wilson, Staci Lynne (2007), Animal Movies Guide, Running Free Press, ISBN 978-0-967518-534, OCLC 779680732

Official websites

Analysis

Other resources

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