51st Annual Academy Awards Results and Commentary (1979)
©A.M.P.A.S.®
- Date of Ceremony: Monday, April 9, 1979
- For films released in: 1978
- Host(s): Johnny Carson (video)
The 51st Annual Academy Awards were hosted by Tonight Show host Johnny Carson on Monday, April 9th, 1979.
Carson wasted no time skewering the proceedings, opening with the line “Welcome to two hours of sparkling entertainment spread out over a four-hour show.”
The Deer Hunter took home five Oscars including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken and Best Director for Michael Cimino.
Coming Home’s leads, Jon Voight and Jane Fonda, took home Best Actor and Actress. Voight’s acceptance commented on the earlier presentation of an Honorary Oscar to Laurence Olivier.
“I am still reeling really from the appearances just recently on this stage. I don’t think there’s an actor here or watching this proceeding tonight who doesn’t acknowledge a great debt to the continuing legacy of Laurence Olivier. And his presence here tonight has put a great perspective and just, on the proceedings for me, and a warm and generous and dignified one, and I’m not quite able to recover from it, I tell you.” – Jon Voight
Meanwhile, his co-star Jane Fonda, signed part of her speech.
“I’m signing part of what I’m saying tonight because, while we were making the movie, we all became more aware of the problems of the handicapped. Over 14 million people are deaf. They are the invisible handicapped and can’t share this evening, so this is my way of acknowledging them. “ – Jane Fonda
One of the hits of the show had Sammy Davis Jr. and Steve Lawrence performing a medley of songs that had been overlooked by Oscar. One of the misses was poor Warren Beatty, who was nominated in four categories and didn’t win one.
John Wayne presented the Best Picture category. Sadly the Hollywood icon died of cancer two months later.
Results
Best Picture
- The Deer Hunter
Barry Spikings [Producer], Michael Deeley [Producer], Michael Cimino [Producer] and John Peverall [Producer]
Best Directing
- The Deer Hunter
Michael Cimino
Best Actor in a Leading Role
- Coming Home
Jon Voight
Best Actress in a Leading Role
- Coming Home
Jane Fonda
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- The Deer Hunter
Christopher Walken
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
- California Suite
Maggie Smith
Best Foreign Language Film
- Get Out Your Handkerchiefs
Best Art Direction
- Heaven Can Wait
Paul Sylbert [Art Direction], Edwin O'Donovan [Art Direction] and George Gaines [Set Decoration]
Best Cinematography
- Days of Heaven
Nestor Almendros
Best Costume Design
- Death on the Nile
Anthony Powell
Best Documentary (Feature)
- Scared Straight!
Arnold Shapiro
Best Documentary (Short Subject)
- The Flight of the Gossamer Condor
Jacqueline Phillips Shedd and Ben Shedd
Best Film Editing
- The Deer Hunter
Peter Zinner
Best Music (Adaptation Score)
- The Buddy Holly Story
Joe Renzetti
Best Music (Original Score)
- Midnight Express
Giorgio Moroder
Best Music (Original Song)
- Thank God It's Friday "Last Dance"
Paul Jabara [Music and Lyrics by]
Best Short Film (Animated)
- Special Delivery
Eunice Macaulay and John Weldon
Best Short Film (Live Action)
- Teenage Father
Taylor Hackford
Best Sound
- The Deer Hunter
Richard Portman, William McCaughey, Aaron Rochin and Darin Knight
Best Writing (Screenplay - based on material from another medium)
- Midnight Express
Oliver Stone
Best Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)
- Coming Home
Nancy Dowd [Story by], Waldo Salt [Screenplay by] and Robert C. Jones [Screenplay by]
Special Achievement Award (Visual Effects)
- Superman
Les Bowie, Colin Chilvers, Denys Coop, Roy Field, Derek Meddings and Zoran Perisic
Honorary Award
- Walter Lantz
Note: …for bringing joy and laughter to every part of the world through his unique animated motion pictures. - The Museum of Modern Art Department of Film
Note: …for the contribution it has made to the public's perception of movies as an art form. - Laurence Olivier
Note: …for the full body of his work, for the unique achievements of his entire career and his lifetime of contribution to the art of film. - King Vidor
Note: …for his incomparable achievements as a cinematic creator and innovator.
Medal of Commendation
- Linwood G. Dunn
Note: …in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. - Loren L. Ryder
Note: …in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. - Waldon O. Watson
Note: …in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
- Leo Jaffe
Scientific or Technical Award (Academy Award of Merit)
- Eastman Kodak Company
Note: …for the research and development of a Duplicating Color film for Motion Pictures. - Stefan Kudelski [of Nagra Magnetic Recorders Incorporated]
Note: …for the continuing research, design and development of the Nagra Production Sound Recorder for Motion Pictures. - Panavision Inc.
Note: …and its engineering staff under the direction of Robert E. Gottschalk, for the concept, design and continuous development of the Panaflex Motion Picture Camera System.
Scientific or Technical Award (Scientific and Engineering Award)
- Ray M. Dolby [of Dolby Laboratories Incorporated], Ioan R. Allen [of Dolby Laboratories Incorporated], David P. Robinson [of Dolby Laboratories Incorporated], Stephen M. Katz [of Dolby Laboratories Incorporated] and Philip S.J. Boole [of Dolby Laboratories Incorporated]
Note: …for the development and implementation of an improved Sound Recording and Reproducing System for Motion Picture Production and Exhibition.
Scientific or Technical Award (Technical Achievement Award)
- Karl Macher [of Isco Optische Werke] and G.M. Berggren [of Isco Optische Werke]
Note: …for the development and introduction of the Cinelux-ULTRA Lens for 35mm Motion Picture Projection. - David Degenkolb [of DeLuxe General Incorporated], Arthur L. Ford [of DeLuxe General Incorporated] and Fred Scobey [of DeLuxe General Incorporated]
Note: …for the development of a Method to Recycle Motion Picture Laboratory Photographic Wash Waters by Ion Exchange. - Kiichi Sekiguchi [of CINE-FI International]
Note: …for the development of the CINE-FI Auto Radio Sound System for Drive-In Theaters. - Leonard Chapman [of Leonard Equipment Company]
Note: …for the design and manufacture of a small, mobile, motion picture camera platform known as the Chapman Hustler Dolly. - James L. Fisher [of J.L. Fisher Incorporated]
Note: …for the design and manufacture of a small, mobile, motion picture camera platform known as the Fisher Model Ten Dolly. - Robert Stindt [of Production Grip Equipment Company]
Note: …for the design and manufacture of a small, mobile, motion picture camera platform known as the Stindt Dolly.