71st Academy Awards

The 71st Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best of 1998 in film and took place on March 21, 1999, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST / 8:30 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, AMPAS presented Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 categories. The ceremony, televised in the United States by ABC, was produced by Gil Cates and directed by Louis J. Horvitz.[3][4] Actress Whoopi Goldberg hosted the show for the third time.[5] She first hosted the 66th ceremony held in 1994 and had last hosted the 68th ceremony in 1996.[6] Nearly a month earlier in a ceremony held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on February 27, the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement were presented by host Anne Heche.[7]

71st Academy Awards
Official poster
DateMarch 21, 1999
SiteDorothy Chandler Pavilion
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Hosted byWhoopi Goldberg
Preshow hostsGeena Davis
Jim Moret[1]
Produced byGil Cates
Directed byLouis J. Horvitz
Highlights
Best PictureShakespeare in Love
Most awardsShakespeare in Love (7)
Most nominationsShakespeare in Love (13)
TV in the United States
NetworkABC
Duration4 hours, 2 minutes[2]
Ratings45.51 million
28.63% (Nielsen ratings)

Shakespeare in Love won seven awards including Best Picture.[8] Other winners included Saving Private Ryan with five awards, Life Is Beautiful with three, and Affliction, Bunny, Election Night, Elizabeth, Gods and Monsters, The Last Days, The Personals, The Prince of Egypt and What Dreams May Come with one. The telecast garnered nearly 46 million viewers in the United States.

Winners and nominees

The nominees for the 71st Academy Awards were announced on February 9, 1999, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California, by Robert Rehme, president of the Academy, and the actor Kevin Spacey.[9] Shakespeare in Love earned the most nominations with thirteen; Saving Private Ryan came in second place with eleven.[10]

The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on March 21, 1999.[11] Life Is Beautiful was the second film nominated simultaneously for Best Picture and Best Foreign Language Film in the same year (the first being Z in 1969).[12] Moreover, its seven nominations were the most for a foreign language film, to date.[13] Best Actor winner Roberto Benigni was the second person to direct himself to an acting Oscar win. Laurence Olivier first achieved this feat for his performance in 1948's Hamlet.[14] He also became the fourth individual to earn acting, directing, screenwriting nominations for the same film.[15] In addition, Benigni was the third performer to win an Oscar for a non-English speaking role.[16] By virtue of their nominations for portraying Queen Elizabeth I of England, Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett and Best Supporting Actress winner Judi Dench became the first pair of actresses to earn acting nominations in the same year for portraying the same character in different films.[17]

Awards
Edward Zwick, Best Picture co-winner
Steven Spielberg, Best Director winner
Roberto Benigni, Best Actor and Best Foreign Language Film winner
Gwyneth Paltrow, Best Actress winner
James Coburn, Best Supporting Actor winner
Judi Dench, Best Supporting Actress winner
Tom Stoppard, Best Original Screenplay co-winner
Anders Thomas Jensen, Best Live Action Short Film co-winner
Chris Wedge, Best Animated Short Film winner
Janusz Kamiński, Best Cinematography winner
Sandy Powell, Best Costume Design winner

Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger ().[18]

Academy Honorary Award

Irving G. Thalberg Award

Films with multiple nominations and awards

Presenters and performers

The following individuals presented awards or performed musical numbers.[21][22]

Presenters
Name(s)Role
Randi ThomasAnnouncer for the 71st annual Academy Awards
Robert Rehme (AMPAS President)Gave opening remarks welcoming guests to the awards ceremony
Kim BasingerPresenter of the award for Best Supporting Actor
Gwyneth PaltrowPresenter of the award for Best Art Direction
Patrick StewartPresenter of the films Elizabeth and Shakespeare in Love on the Best Picture segment
Mike MyersPresenter of the award for Best Makeup
Christina RicciIntroducer of the performance of Best Song nominee "When You Believe"
Brendan FraserPresenter of the award for Best Live Action Short Film
Flik
Heimlich		Presenters of the award for Best Animated Short Film
Robin WilliamsPresenter of the award for Best Supporting Actress
Chris RockPresenter of the award for Best Sound Effects Editing
Liv TylerIntroducer of the performance of Best Song nominee "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
Anjelica HustonPresenter of the award for Best Sound
Tom HanksIntroducer of presenter John Glenn
John GlennPresenter of the "Historical Figures in Cinema" montage
Sophia LorenPresenter of the film Life Is Beautiful on the Best Picture segment and the award for Best Foreign Language Film
Andy García
Andie MacDowell		Presenters of the award for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score
Geena DavisIntroducer of the special dance number to the tune of the Best Original Dramatic Score nominees and presenter of the award for Best Original Dramatic Score
John TravoltaPresenter of the Frank Sinatra tribute montage
Anne HechePresenter of the segment of the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement and the Gordon E. Sawyer Award
Jim CarreyPresenter of the award for Best Film Editing
Renée ZellwegerIntroducer of the performance of the Best Song nominee "A Soft Place to Fall"
Nicolas CagePresenter of the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to Norman Jewison
Liam NeesonPresenter of the award for Best Visual Effects
Val KilmerPresenter of the Gene Autry and Roy Rogers tribute montage
Helen HuntPresenter of the award for Best Actor
Lisa KudrowIntroducer of the performance of Best Song nominee "That'll Do"
Ben Affleck
Matt Damon		Presenters of the awards for Best Documentary Short Subject and Best Documentary Feature
Robert De Niro
Martin Scorsese		Presenters of the Honorary Academy Award to Elia Kazan
Whoopi GoldbergPresenter of the award for Best Costume Design
Catherine Zeta-JonesIntroducer of the performance of Best Song nominee "The Prayer"
Jennifer LopezPresenter of the award for Best Original Song
Annette BeningPresenter of the In Memoriam tribute
Jack ValentiIntroducer of presenter Colin Powell
Colin PowellPresenter of the films Saving Private Ryan and The Thin Red Line on the Best Picture segment
Uma ThurmanPresenter of the award for Best Cinematography
Jack NicholsonPresenter of the award for Best Actress
Steven SpielbergPresenter of the Stanley Kubrick tribute montage
Goldie Hawn
Steve Martin		Presenters of the awards for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen and Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Kevin CostnerPresenter of the award for Best Director
Harrison FordPresenter of the award for Best Picture

Performers
Name(s)RolePerformed
Bill ContiMusical arrangerOrchestral
Mariah Carey
Whitney Houston		Performers"When You Believe" from The Prince of Egypt
AerosmithPerformers"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" from Armageddon
Joaquín Cortés
Savion Glover
Tai Jiminez
Desmond Richardson
Rasta Thomas[23]		PerformersPerformed dance number synchronized with selections from Best Original Dramatic Score nominees
Allison MoorerPerformer"A Soft Place to Fall" from The Horse Whisperer
Peter Gabriel
Randy Newman		Performers"That'll Do" from Babe: Pig in the City
Celine Dion
Andrea Bocelli		Performers"The Prayer" from Quest for Camelot

Ceremony information
Whoopi Goldberg hosted the 71st Academy Awards

Riding on the success of the previous year's ceremony which garnered record-high viewership figures and several Emmys, AMPAS sought changes to the festivities that would help build upon this recent success. In June 1998, Academy president Robert Rehme announced that the show would be held on a Sunday for the first time in history.[24] AMPAS and network ABC hoped to capitalize on the high television ratings and viewership that benefit programs airing on that particular day of the week.[25] The Academy also stated that the move to Sunday would ease concerns about traffic gridlock and transportation that are significantly lower on weekends.[26]

The following January, Gil Cates was selected as a producer of the telecast.[27] He immediately selected Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg as host of the 1999 ceremony.[28] Cates explained his decision to bring back Goldberg as host saying, "The audience adores Whoopi and that affection, plus Whoopi's extraordinary talent makes her a terrific host for the show."[29] In a statement, Goldberg expressed that she was honored and excited to be selected to emcee the telecast commenting, "I am thrilled to escort Oscar into the new millennium. Who would have thought that I would be hosting the last Oscar telecast of the century? It's a huge deal."[29]

Several other people participated in the production of the ceremony and its related events. Bill Conti served as musical director for the festivities.[30] In addition to supervising the Best Song nominee performances, choreographer Debbie Allen produced a dance number featuring five dancers from around the world showcasing the nominees for Best Original Dramatic Score.[31] For the first time, the Academy produced its own pre-show that preceded the main telecast. Produced by Dennis Doty, the half-hour program was hosted by actress Geena Davis and CNN reporter Jim Moret.[32] Similar to coverage of red carpet arrivals on networks such as E!, the pre-show featured interviews with nominees and other guests, recaps of nominations and segments highlighting behind-the-scenes preparations for the telecast.[33]

Box office performance of nominees

At the time of the nominations announcement on February 9, the combined gross of the five Best Picture nominees was $302 million with an average of $60.4 million per film.[34] Saving Private Ryan was the highest earner among the Best Picture nominees with $194.2 million in domestic box office receipts. The film was followed by Shakespeare in Love ($36.5 million), The Thin Red Line ($30.6 million), Elizabeth ($21.5 million), and finally Life is Beautiful ($18.4 million).[34]

Of the top 50 grossing movies of the year, 36 nominations went to 13 films on the list. Only Saving Private Ryan (2nd), The Truman Show (11th), A Civil Action (40th) and Primary Colors (50th) were nominated for Best Picture, directing, acting or screenwriting.[35] The other top 50 box office hits that earned nominations were Armageddon (1st), A Bug's Life (5th), Patch Adams (12th), Mulan (13th), The Mask of Zorro (17th), The Prince of Egypt (18th), The Horse Whisperer (24th), What Dreams May Come (37th) and Pleasantville (49th).[35]

Critical reviews

The show received a mixed reception from media publications. Columnist Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly quipped that "Whoopi bombed last night, she knew it—and yet, crassly, she took it as a sign of her own outrageousness."[36] The Washington Post television critic Tom Shales bemoaned that Goldberg "spent a great deal of time laughing at her own jokes, many of which were dirty, a few dirty." He also lambasted the host's presentation of the five Best Costume Design nominees saying calling it time-consuming and tasteless.[37] Film critic John Hartl of The Seattle Times lamented that the telecast "was the longest and possibly the dullest Oscar show of the century, clocking in at four hours."[38]

Other media outlets received the broadcast more positively. Television columnist Robert Bianco of USA Today commended Goldberg's hosting performance writing that he liked "the sharper, more socially conscious edge Goldberg brings."[39] The Boston Globe television critic Matthew Gilbert commented, "It was the perfect year with more than enough Hollywood intrigue and a battle for her to play off."[37] Joanne Ostrow of The Denver Post raved that "Whoopi definitely was on, more so than in her two previous hosting stints." She added that "the show was exceptionally smooth."[40]

Ratings and reception

The American telecast on ABC drew an average of 45.51 million viewers over its length, which was an 18% decrease from the previous year's ceremony.[41][42] An estimated 78.10 million total viewers watched all or part of the awards.[42] The show also drew lower Nielsen ratings compared to the previous ceremony with 28.63% of households watching over a 47.79 share.[43] It also drew a lower 18–49 demo rating with an 18.85 rating over a 37.31 share among viewers in that demographic.[44]

In July 1999, the show received seven nominations at the 51st Primetime Emmy Awards.[45] Two months later, the ceremony won two of those nominations for Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program (Roy Christopher and Stephen Olson) and Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Drama Series, Variety Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special (Robert Dickinson, Robert T. Barnhart, Andy O'Reilly, Matt Ford).[46]

In Memoriam

The annual In Memoriam tribute was presented by actress Annette Bening. The montage featured an excerpt of the main title from Ever After composed by George Fenton.[47]

A separate tribute to actor, singer and former Oscar host Frank Sinatra was presented by John Travolta.[48] Later, actor Val Kilmer presented one to actors Gene Autry and Roy Rogers.[49] After the In Memoriam segment was shown, host Goldberg and director Steven Spielberg eulogized film critic Gene Siskel and director Stanley Kubrick respectively.[50][51]

See also

References
  1. "Geena Davis to Do Pre-Oscar Telecast". Chicago Tribune. January 12, 1999. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. Richmond, Ray (March 21, 1999). "The 71st Annual Academy Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  3. Bona 2002, p. 231
  4. Bona 2002, p. 233
  5. "Whoopi Goldberg to host Oscars". BBC News. January 13, 1999. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  6. Wallace, Amy (January 13, 1999). "Whoopi Goldberg Gets Tapped to Host 71st Oscar Ceremony". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  7. Graser, Marc (February 28, 1999). "Avid has fan in Oscar at Sci-tech ceremony". Variety. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  8. Rosen, Steven (March 22, 1999). "'Love,' not war Best-picture Oscar goes to 'Shakespeare'". The Denver Post. p. A1.
  9. Munoz, Lorena (February 10, 1999). "It's the Early Birds That Get to Squirm". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  10. Anthony, Todd (February 10, 1999). "71st Academy Awards". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  11. "Oscar loves 'Shakespeare' Bard's film takes 7 Academy Awards; Benigni, Paltrow named best actors". San Antonio Express-News. March 22, 1999. p. 1D.
  12. Bona 2002, p. 401
  13. Bona 2002, p. 209
  14. Osborne 2013, p. 423
  15. Welkos, Robert W. (March 19, 1999). "Benigni Rising Has Hollywood Gushing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  16. O'Neil, Tom (September 22, 2010). "Quiz: Who won Oscars for foreign-lingo roles?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  17. Kinn & Piazza 2002, p. 299
  18. "The 71st Academy Awards (1999) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. AMPAS. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  19. Goldstein, Patrick (January 15, 1999). "Film Director Elia Kazan to Receive Oscar, Forgiveness". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  20. Higgins, Bill (January 10, 1999). "Jewison will receive Thalberg memorial". Variety. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  21. "The Scheduled Oscar Lineup". Los Angeles Times. March 20, 1999. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  22. Bona 2002, p. 228
  23. Bona 2002, p. 234
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  25. Welkos, Robert W. (March 13, 1999). "Cinema's Super Sunday". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  26. Bona 2002, p. 213
  27. Madigan, Nick (January 4, 1999). "Cates to produce Oscars". Variety. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  28. Bona 2002, p. 214
  29. "Whoopi! Goldberg to host Oscars". CNN. January 13, 1999. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  30. "Morning Report: Arts And Entertainment Reports From The Times, News Services And The Nations's Press". Los Angeles Times. January 23, 1999. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  31. Pond 2005, p. 199
  32. Shister, Gail (March 18, 1999). "CNN's Jim Moret Working Swing Shift On Oscar Night". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  33. Pond 2005, p. 211
  34. "1998 Academy Award Nominations and Winner for Best Picture". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  35. "1998 Domestic Grosses". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  36. Schawrzbaum, Lisa (March 22, 1999). "Vulgar disfavors". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  37. Bona 2002, p. 244
  38. Hartl, John (March 22, 1999). "'Love' Conquers All–Oscar Gets Fickle In Night Of Close Calls And Upsets". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  39. Bianco, Robert (March 22, 1999). "Show makes lead of Hollywood gold". USA Today. p. D1.
  40. Ostrow, Joanne (March 22, 1999). "The African Queen trumps Billy Crystal". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  41. Gorman, Bill (February 24, 2012). "With No Blockbusters Up For Best Picture, Expect 'Academy Awards' Viewership To Fall; Ratings History + Your Guess For This Year (Poll)". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  42. Lowry, Brian (March 23, 1999). "Oscars Draw Big Numbers, Though Not as Big as Hoped". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  43. Bierbaum, Tom (March 22, 1999). "Oscars don't push aud envelope". Variety. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  44. "Academy Awards ratings" (PDF). Television Bureau of Advertising. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 15, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  45. "Primetime Emmy database". Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. ATAS. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  46. "51st Annual Emmy Awards: Creative Arts Emmy Winners". Los Angeles Times. September 13, 1999. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  47. Bona 2002, p. 237
  48. Carter, Bill. "After the Oscars, The Complaints". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 21, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  49. Bona 2002, p. 235
  50. Warren, Ellen (March 23, 1999). "Oscar Night Salute To Siskel Was All Whoopi". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  51. Bona 2002, p. 238

Bibliography
  • Bona, Damien (2002), Inside Oscar 2, New York, United States: Ballantine Books, ISBN 0-345-44970-3
  • Kinn, Gail; Piazza, Jim (2002), The Academy Awards: The Complete Unofficial History, New York, United States: Workman Publishing Company, ISBN 978-1579123963
  • Osborne, Robert (2013). 85 Years of the Oscar: The Complete History of the Academy Awards. New York, United States: Abbeville Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7892-1142-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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
Official websites
News resources
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