| Number: | 70 |
| Award: | Academy Awards |
| Date: | March 23, 1998 |
| Site: | Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Host: | Billy Crystal |
| Producer: | Gil Cates |
| Director: | Louis J. Horvitz |
| Best Picture: | Titanic |
| Most Wins: | Titanic (11) |
| Most Nominations: | Titanic (14) |
| Network: | ABC |
| Duration: | 3 hours, 47 minutes |
| Ratings: | 57.25 million 35.32% (Nielsen ratings) |
| Last: | 69th |
| Next: | 71st |
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.[1] [2] Actor Billy Crystal hosted the show for the sixth time.[3] He had first hosted the 62nd ceremony held in 1990, and most recently the previous year's awards.[4] 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.[5]
Titanic won 11 awards, including Best Picture, a number that is tied with Ben-Hur and .[6] [7] 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.[8]
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.[9] Titanic received the most nominations with a record-tying fourteen (1950's All About Eve, and later 2016's La La Land, also achieved this distinction); Good Will Hunting and L.A. Confidential came in second with nine apiece.[10] [11]
The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on March 23, 1998. With eleven awards, Titanic tied with Ben-Hur for the most Academy Awards in Oscar history.[12] It also became the first film to win Best Picture without a screenwriting nomination since 1965's The Sound of Music.[13] Jack Nicholson became the fourth performer to win at least three acting Oscars.[14] 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. 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.[15] At age 87, Stuart also became the oldest performer nominated for a competitive Oscar.
Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger .[16]
The following 16 films received multiple nominations:
| Nominations | Film |
|---|---|
| 14 | Titanic |
| 9 | Good Will Hunting |
| L.A. Confidential | |
| 7 | As Good as It Gets |
| 4 | Amistad |
| The Full Monty | |
| Kundun | |
| The Wings of the Dove | |
| 3 | Boogie Nights |
| Men in Black | |
| 2 | Air Force One |
| Anastasia | |
| Con Air | |
| Mrs Brown | |
| The Sweet Hereafter | |
| Wag the Dog |
The following four films received multiple awards:
| Awards | Film |
|---|---|
| 11 | Titanic |
| 2 | As Good as It Gets |
| Good Will Hunting | |
| L.A. Confidential |
The following individuals presented awards or performed musical numbers.[18]
| Name(s) | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Announcer for the 70th annual Academy Awards | ||
| (AMPAS President) | Gave opening remarks welcoming guests to the awards ceremony | |
| Presenter of the award for Best Supporting Actress | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Costume Design | ||
| Presenter of the 70 years of Best Picture winners montage | ||
| Presenter of the performances of Best Original Song nominees "Journey to the Past" and "Go the Distance" | ||
| Presenter of the film Titanic on the Best Picture segment | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Supporting Actor | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Sound | ||
| Presenter of the award for Sound Effects Editing | ||
| Presenter of the film As Good as It Gets on the Best Picture segment | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Visual Effects | ||
| Introducer of presenters Ben Affleck and Matt Damon | ||
| Presenters of the awards for Best Live Action Short Film and Best Animated Short Film | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Actress | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Original Dramatic Score | ||
| Introducer of the special dance number to the tune of the nominees for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score and presenter of the award for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Makeup | ||
| Presenter of the film L.A. Confidential on the Best Picture segment | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Film Editing | ||
| Presenter of the segment of the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement and the Gordon E. Sawyer Award | ||
| Presenter of the Honorary Academy Award to Stanley Donen | ||
| Presenter of the film Good Will Hunting on the Best Picture segment | ||
| Introducer of the performances of Best Original Song nominees "How Do I Live", "Miss Misery" and "My Heart Will Go On" and presenter of the award for Best Original Song | ||
| Presenter of the Best Documentary Short | ||
| Presenter of the Best Documentary Feature | ||
| Presenter of the In Memoriam tribute | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Art Direction | ||
| Presenter of the 70 Years of Oscars montage | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Actor | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Foreign Language Film | ||
| Presenters of the awards for Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published and Best Original Screenplay/Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Cinematography | ||
| Presenter of the Oscar Family Album segment | ||
| Presenter of the film The Full Monty on the Best Picture segment | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Director | ||
| Presenter of the award for Best Picture |
| Name(s) | Role | Performed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composer | "Fanfare for Oscar" | ||
| Musical arranger | Orchestral | ||
| 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!) | ||
| Performer | "Go the Distance" from Hercules | ||
| Performer | "Journey to the Past" from Anastasia | ||
| Performer | "How Do I Live" from Con Air | ||
| Performer | "Miss Misery" from Good Will Hunting | ||
| Performer | "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic |
In December 1997, the academy hired veteran Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates to oversee the 1998 ceremony.[19] "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."[19] 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."[20] 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. His sixth stint would make him second only to Bob Hope in number of ceremonies hosted.
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. 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.
Several others participated in the production of the ceremony. Bill Conti served as musical director for the telecast.[21] Dancer Daniel Ezralow choreographed a dance number showcasing the nominees for Best Original Comedy or Musical Score. Bart the Bear made a surprise appearance during the presentation of the Best Sound Effects Editing award with Mike Myers.
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.[22] Titanic was the highest earner among the Best Picture nominees with $338.7 million in domestic box office receipts.[22] 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).[22]
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.[23] 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).
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."[24] 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."[25] 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."[26]
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."[27] Boston Globe television critic Matthew Gilbert bemoaned,"There was hardly a spontaneous moment during last night's Oscarcast."[28] 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."[29]
The popularity of Titanic greatly increased television ratings for the ceremony.[30] 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.[31] An estimated 87.50 million total viewers watched all or part of the awards. The show also earned higher Nielsen ratings compared to the previous ceremony with 35.32% of households watching over a 55.77 share.[32] In addition, it garnered a higher 1849 demo rating with a 24.90 rating over a 44.30 share among viewers in that demographic. It overtook the network's own telecast of the 1983 Academy Awards to become, as it remains to date, the highest viewership for both an Academy Award telecast (since figures were compiled beginning with the 46th ceremony in 1974) and any live awards show airing in U.S. television history.[33]
In July 1998, the ceremony presentation received eight nominations at the 50th Primetime Emmys.[34] 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).[35] [36]
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.
Official websites
Analysis
Other resources