70th Academy Awards
Category:Featured lists Category:Use mdy dates from February 2025
Category:Articles with short descriptionCategory:Short description is different from Wikidata| 70th Academy Awards | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Date | March 23, 1998 |
| Site | Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Hosted by | Billy Crystal |
| Produced by | Gil Cates |
| Directed by | Louis J. Horvitz |
| Highlights | |
| Best Picture | Titanic |
| Most awards | Titanic (11) |
| Most nominations | Titanic (14) |
| TV in the United States | |
| Network | ABC |
| Duration | 3 hours, 47 minutes[1] |
| Ratings | 57.25 million 35.32% (Nielsen ratings) |
The 70th Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), took place on March 23, 1998, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles beginning at 6:00 p.m. PST / 9:00 p.m. EST. During the show, AMPAS presented Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 categories honoring films released in 1997. The ceremony, which was televised in the United States by ABC, was produced by Gil Cates and directed by Louis J. Horvitz.[2][3] Actor Billy Crystal hosted the show for the sixth time.[4] He had first hosted the 62nd ceremony held in 1990, and most recently the previous year's awards.[5] Nearly a month earlier in an event held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on February 28, the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement were presented by host Ashley Judd.[6]
Titanic won 11 awards, including Best Picture, a number that is tied with Ben-Hur and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.[7][8] Other winners included As Good as It Gets, Good Will Hunting, and L.A. Confidential with two awards, and Character, The Full Monty, Geri's Game, The Long Way Home, Men in Black, A Story of Healing, and Visas and Virtue with one. The telecast garnered more than 57 million viewers in the United States, making it the most-watched Oscars broadcast in history.[9]
Winners and nominees
The nominees for the 70th Academy Awards were announced on February 10, 1998, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, by Robert Rehme, president of the academy, and actress Geena Davis.[10] Titanic led all nominees with fourteen nominations, tying the record for the most nominated film in Oscar history with All About Eve (1950)[a]; Good Will Hunting and L.A. Confidential came in second with nine apiece.[12]
The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on March 23, 1998. With eleven awards, Titanic tied with Ben-Hur (1959) for the most Academy Awards in Oscar history.[13][b] It also became the first film to win Best Picture without a screenwriting nomination since The Sound of Music (1965).[15] Jack Nicholson became the fourth performer to win at least three acting Oscars.[16] Both Nicholson and Helen Hunt won for their roles in As Good as It Gets, making it the seventh film to win both lead acting awards.[17] Nominated for their performances as Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic, Best Actress nominee Kate Winslet and Best Supporting Actress nominee Gloria Stuart became the first pair of actresses nominated for portraying the same character in the same film.[18][19]
Awards
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Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger (‡).[20]
Honorary Award
- To Stanley Donen in appreciation of a body of work marked by grace, elegance, wit and visual innovation.[21]
Films with multiple nominations and awards
|
The following 16 films received multiple nominations: |
The following four films received multiple awards:
|
Presenters and performers
The following individuals presented awards or performed musical numbers.[22][23]
Presenters
Performers
| Name(s) | Role | Performed |
|---|---|---|
| Jerry Goldsmith | Composer | "Fanfare for Oscar" |
| Bill Conti | Musical arranger | Orchestral |
| Billy Crystal | Performer | Opening number: Titanic (to the tune of "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" from Gilligan's Island), As Good as It Gets (to the tune of "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" from Shall We Dance), Good Will Hunting (to the tune of "Night and Day" from The Gay Divorcee), L.A. Confidential (to the tune of "Fascinating Rhythm" by George Gershwin) and The Full Monty (to the tune "Hello, Dolly!" from Hello, Dolly!)[24] |
| Michael Bolton | Performer | "Go the Distance" from Hercules |
| Aaliyah | Performer | "Journey to the Past" from Anastasia |
| Trisha Yearwood | Performer | "How Do I Live" from Con Air |
| Elliott Smith | Performer | "Miss Misery" from Good Will Hunting |
| Celine Dion | Performer | "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic |
Ceremony information
In December 1997, the academy hired veteran Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates to oversee the 1998 ceremony.[25] "Gil has become the consummate Oscar show producer, consistently garnering top television ratings for the telecast," said AMPAS President Robert Rehme in a press release announcing the selection. "His shows are full of wit, charm and surprise."[25] A few days later, actor and comedian Billy Crystal was chosen to emcee the upcoming telecast. Cates explained his reason to bring back the veteran comedian saying, "Billy's performance last year was spectacular. There is nobody like him."[26] In an article published in USA Today he initially requested to Cates and AMPAS five months after the previous year's ceremony that he would like to take a break from hosting duties. However, pressure from the academy, Cates, and several friends and family members made him reconsider his decision.[27] His sixth stint would make him second only to Bob Hope in number of ceremonies hosted.[28]
To commemorate the seventieth anniversary of the Academy Awards, 70 actors who have received both competitive and honorary awards appeared seated onstage together during a segment called Oscar's Family Album.[29] Each former winner was acknowledged by announcer Norman Rose with the films he or she won for. At the end of the segment newly minted winners Kim Bassinger, Helen Hunt, and Robin Williams joined them. This marked the largest gathering of former winners since the 50th ceremony held in 1978.[30] The Academy also commissioned musician and composer Jerry Goldsmith to compose a new leitmotif for the Oscars telecast entitled "Fanfare for Oscar".[31]
Several others participated in the production of the ceremony. Bill Conti served as musical director for the telecast.[32] Dancer Daniel Ezralow choreographed a dance number showcasing the nominees for Best Original Comedy or Musical Score.[33] Bart the Bear made a surprise appearance during the presentation of the Best Sound Effects Editing award with Mike Myers.[34]
Box office performance of nominees
At the time of the nominations announcement on February 10, the combined gross of the five Best Picture nominees was $579 million with an average of $116 million per film.[35] Titanic was the highest earner among the Best Picture nominees with $338.7 million in domestic box office receipts.[35] The film was followed by As Good as It Gets ($92.6 million), Good Will Hunting ($68.9 million), L.A. Confidential ($39.7 million), and finally The Full Monty ($38.7 million).[35]
Of the top 50 grossing movies of the year, 40 nominations went to 15 films on the list. Only Titanic (1st), As Good as It Gets (16th), Good Will Hunting (20th), and In & Out (24th) were nominated for directing, acting, screenwriting, or Best Picture.[36] The other top 50 box office hits that earned nominations were Men in Black (2nd), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (3rd), Air Force One (5th), My Best Friends Wedding (7th), Face/Off (9th), Con Air (12th), Contact (13th), Hercules (14th), The Fifth Element (25th), Anastasia (30th), and Starship Troopers (34th).[36]
Critical response
The show received a positive reception from most media publications. Television critic Howard Rosenberg of the Los Angeles Times lauded Crystal's performance writing that he "would earn top billing as that unusual comedian as artful at doing musical comedy as jokes."[37] San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Carman raved,"It was the best Oscar show in two decades." He also gave high marks for the host, commenting, "But last night, Crystal was back in razor form."[38] The Seattle Times television editor Kay McFadden praised Crystal commenting that "he possesses nearly impeccable timing and judgment." In addition, she noted that while the ceremony dragged on, "Last night was one of television's smartest live ceremonies in recent memory."[39]
Some media outlets were more critical of the show. Ray Richmond of Variety complained that the ceremony proved to be a "Yawner of an Oscarcast." He added that Crystal's "off-the-cuff one-liners sank faster than the great ship herself."[40] Boston Globe television critic Matthew Gilbert bemoaned,"There was hardly a spontaneous moment during last night's Oscarcast."[41] Film critic Carrie Rickey from The Philadelphia Inquirer lamented that the inevitable Titanic sweep "sank a telecast loaded with montages of previous years' Oscar highlights."[42]
Ratings and reception
The American telecast on ABC drew in an average of 57.25 million people over its length, which was a 29% increase from the previous year's ceremony.[43] An estimated 87.50 million total viewers watched all or part of the awards.[44] The show also earned higher Nielsen ratings compared to the previous ceremony with 35.32% of households watching over a 55.77 share.[45] In addition, it garnered a higher 18–49 demo rating with a 24.90 rating over a 44.30 share among viewers in that demographic.[45] It was the most watched Oscar ceremony in television history since viewership figures were compiled beginning with the 46th ceremony in 1974.[46]
In July 1998, the ceremony presentation received eight nominations at the 50th Primetime Emmys.[47] Two months later, the ceremony won five of those nominations for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (Billy Crystal), Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program (Louis J Horvitz), Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, or Movie (Bob Barnhart, Robert Dickinson, Matt Ford, Andy O'Reilly), Outstanding Music Direction (Bill Conti), and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special (Patrick Baltzell, Robert Douglass, Edward J. Greene, Tommy Vicari).[48][49]
"In Memoriam"
The annual "In Memoriam" tribute was presented by actress Whoopi Goldberg. The montage featured an excerpt of "Appassionata" from The Passage composed by Michael J. Lewis.[50]
- Lloyd Bridges - Actor
- Richard Jaeckel - Character actor
- Saul Chaplin – Composer/Musical Director
- Stanley Cortez – Cinematographer
- William Hickey - Actor
- Paul Jarrico – Screenwriter
- Dorothy Kingsley – Screenwriter
- Sydney Guilaroff – Hairstylist
- William H. Reynolds – Editor
- Billie Dove - Actress
- Jacques Cousteau – Filmmaker
- Stubby Kaye - Actor, comedian
- Red Skelton - Comedy entertainer
- Dawn Steel – Executive
- Toshiro Mifune - Japanese actor
- Brian Keith - Actor
- Chris Farley - Actor, comedian
- Leo Jaffe – Executive
- Samuel Fuller – Director
- Burgess Meredith - Actor
- J. T. Walsh - Character actor
- Robert Mitchum - Actor
- James Stewart - Actor
See also
Notes
- ↑ La La Land (2016) has since equaled this record with fourteen nominations.[11]
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) has since equaled this record with eleven wins.[14]
References
- ↑ Osborne 2008, p. 337
- ↑ Snow, Shauna (December 12, 1997). "Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
- ↑ "Horvitz to helm Academy broadcast". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. January 8, 1998. Archived from the original on November 7, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ↑ "Crystal set for sixth Oscar stint". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. December 21, 1997. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
- ↑ Crowe, Jerry (December 20, 1997). "Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ↑ "Judd named presenter at 70th Oscars". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. February 20, 1998. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
- ↑ Harden, Mark (March 24, 1998). "Epic film sails away with Oscar boatload". The Denver Post. MediaNews Group. p. A-01.
- ↑ Weinraub, Bernard (March 24, 1998). "'Titanic' Ties Record With 11 Oscars, Including Best Picture". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ↑ Scanton, Julian (January 27, 2010). "Could Avatar Boost Oscar Ratings to Record Heights?". Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
- ↑ "'Titanic' cruises into Oscars lead". CNN. Time Warner. February 10, 1998. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ↑ Lang, Brett (January 24, 2017). "Oscars: 'La La Land' Ties All-Time Record With 14 Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ↑ Multiple sources:
- Ebert, Roger (February 10, 1998). "Oscar hopefuls"Titanic' ties a record; DiCaprio misses boat". The Denver Post. MediaNews Group. p. F-01.
- "'Titanic' lands 14 Oscar nominations; ties 1950 record". San Diego Union-Tribune. Tribune Publishing. February 11, 1998. p. A-3.
- Waxman, Sharon (February 10, 1998). "'TITANIC' TOPS OSCARS LIST". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
- ↑ Goldsten, Patrick (March 24, 1998). "'Titanic' Snags 11, Ties for Record". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 5, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ↑ Smith, Neil (March 1, 2004). "Rings joins Oscar's big winners". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ↑ Guthmann, Edward (March 24, 1998). "'Titanic' Rides an Oscar Tidal Wave / But Hunt and Nicholson take the top acting awards". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ↑ Glaister, Dan (March 25, 1998). "Titanic sinks British Oscar hopes". The Guardian. p. 5.
- ↑ Symons 2004, p. 138
- ↑ Osborne 2008, p. 396
- ↑ Germain, David (September 27, 2010). "Gloria Stuart, 'Titanic' co-star, dies at 100". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ↑ "The 70th Academy Awards (1998) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. AMPAS. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
- ↑ Anderson, John (March 25, 1998). "Stanley Donen: Just Dancin' and Singin' of His Reign". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ↑ "List of Presenters". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. March 20, 1998. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- ↑ Bona 2002, p. 163
- ↑ Bona 2002, p. 168
- 1 2 Hindes, Andrew (December 11, 1997). "And Cates makes eight". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ↑ "News Lite Veteran DJ Will End Storied Career". Los Angeles Daily News. MediaNews Group. December 20, 1997. p. N2.
- ↑ Bona 2002, p. 156
- ↑ Bona 2002, p. 157
- ↑ Pond 2005, pp. 185–186
- ↑ Bona 2002, p. 177
- ↑ Karon, Paul (January 26, 1998). "Goldsmith pens official theme for academy awards". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Conti named musical director of 70th Academy Awards". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. January 14, 2014. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
- ↑ Pond 2005, p. 170
- ↑ Pond 2005, p. 168
- 1 2 3 "1997 Academy Award Nominations and Winner for Best Picture". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- 1 2 "1997 Domestic Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ↑ Rosenberg, Howard (March 24, 1998). "Crystal Persuasion". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ↑ Carman, John (March 24, 1998). "Oscar Polishes Up His Image / Crystal clearly a winner for best show in decades". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ↑ McFadden, Kay (March 24, 1998). "Ceremony Shapes Up As A Night To Remember". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ↑ Richmond, Ray (March 23, 1998). "Review: 'The 70th Annual Academy Awards'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on February 25, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ↑ Gilbert, Matthew (March 24, 1998). "Telecast Sinks Under TIred Bits, Little Spark". Boston Globe. p. D1.
- ↑ Rickey, Carey (March 24, 1998). "'Titanic' Ties Record With 11 Oscars; 'Good As It Gets' Takes Acting Honors". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Network. p. A1.
- ↑ Crupi, Anthony (February 6, 2013). "ABC Strikes Gold With the Oscars". Adweek. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ↑ Pond 2005, p. 187
- 1 2 "Academy Awards ratings" (PDF). Television Bureau of Advertising. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
- ↑ Gorman, Bill (March 8, 2010). "Academy Awards Averages 41.3 Million Viewers; Most Since 2005". TV by the Numbers. Tribune Media. Archived from the original on March 10, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2010.
- ↑ "Primetime Emmy Award database". Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. ATAS. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ↑ "The Emmy Winners Announced on Saturday". Los Angeles Times. August 31, 1998. Archived from the original on November 6, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
- ↑ "1998 Emmy Winners". The New York Times. September 15, 1998. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
- ↑ Bona 2002, pp. 173–174
Bibliography
- Bona, Damien (2002), Inside Oscar 2, New York, United States: Ballantine Books, ISBN 0-345-44970-3
- Osborne, Robert (2008). 80 Years of the Oscar: The Complete History of the Academy Awards. New York, United States: Abbeville Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7892-0992-4.
- Pond, Steve (2005), The Big Show: High Times and Dirty Dealings Backstage at the Academy Awards, New York, United States: Faber and Faber, ISBN 0-571-21193-3
- Symons, Mitchell (2004), That Book ...of Perfectly Useless Information, New York, United States: HarperCollins, ISBN 978-0-06-073254-7
External links
Official websites
- Academy Awards Official website Archived 2009-03-04 at the Wayback MachineCategory:Webarchive template wayback links
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Official website Archived 2009-01-22 at the Wayback MachineCategory:Webarchive template wayback links
- Oscar's Channel Archived 2018-10-02 at the Wayback MachineCategory:Webarchive template wayback links at YouTube (run by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
Analysis
- 1997 Academy Awards Winners and History Archived 2013-11-02 at the Wayback MachineCategory:Webarchive template wayback links Filmsite
- Academy Awards, USA: 1998 Archived 2017-12-06 at the Wayback MachineCategory:Webarchive template wayback links Internet Movie Database
Other resources
