The 29th Annual Academy Awards (1957) (TV)

Directors:

Bill Bennington
Max Miller

Release Date:

27 March 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Family

Plot Keywords:

TV Special | Awards Show | Number In Title

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Jerry Lewis	...	Himself - Host
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carroll Baker	...	Herself - Presenter: Best Original Song
Ingrid Bergman	...	Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Leading Role & Presenter: Best Director (taped)
Ernest Borgnine	...	Himself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Leading Role
Yul Brynner	...	Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a Leading Role
Gower Champion	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Art Direction-Set Decoration Awards
Marge Champion	...	Herself - Co-Presenter: Art Direction-Set Decoration Awards
Bing Crosby	...	Himself - Performer
Dorothy Dandridge	...	Herself - Performer & Presenter: Best Special Effects
Kirk Douglas	...	Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role & Presenter: Best Film Editing
The Four Aces	...	Themselves - Performers
Janet Gaynor	...	Herself - Presenter: Best Picture
Cary Grant	...	Himself - accepting Best Actress Award for Ingrid Bergman
Gogi Grant	...	Herself - Performer
Celeste Holm	...	Herself - Host: New York
Rock Hudson	...	Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Leading Role & Presenter: Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture
Nancy Kelly	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role & Presenter: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Deborah Kerr	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Leading Role & Presenter: Writing Awards
Jack Lemmon	...	Himself - Presenter: Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Anna Magnani	...	Herself - Presenter: Best Actor in a Leading Role
Dorothy Malone	...	Herself - Winner: Best Actress in a Supporting Role & Presenter: Best Sound
Mercedes McCambridge	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role & Co-Presenter: Documentary Awards
Patty McCormack	...	Herself - Nominee: Best Actress in a Supporting Role & Presenter: Best Short Subject, Cartoons
Anthony Quinn	...	Himself - Winner: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Mickey Rooney	...	Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in a Supporting Role & Presenter: Best Short Subject, Two-reel
Eva Marie Saint	...	Herself - Presenter: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture
Tommy Sands	...	Himself - Performer
George Seaton	...	Himself - Presenter: Best Foreign Language Film, Honorary Award, Irving G. Thalberg Award & Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
Robert Stack	...	Himself - Co-Presenter: Documentary Awards
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Herself - Presenter: Costume Design Awards
Claire Trevor	...	Herself - Presenter: Cinematography Awards

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Century Theater - 21 Central Park West, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)

Trivia:

1957 was the last year in which the Academy Awards would be bi-coastal, with ceremonies in both Hollywood and New York. Since 1958, the ceremony has been exclusively in Hollywood, and East Coast viewers have come into work yawning the next day, ever since.

Movie Connections:

Followed by The 65th Annual Academy Awards (1993) (TV)

Soundtrack:

True Love

Final Bi-Coastal Oscars Has Something For Everyone!

As the 80th Academy Awards rolls around--finally!-- I thought I'd look back at the 29th Oscars for the year 1956. From the pit, Johnny Green conducts a medley of film themes. Academy President George Seaton appears announces the show's theme, a celebration of 50 Years of the Movies. Seaton then intros Jerry Lewis, the host from Hollywood. In his second and final year as host (or as they are referred Master of Ceremonies), Lewis proves just the ticket for a show which temporarily lost Bob Hope when Chrysler gave sponsorship to Oldsmobile. Jerry introduces lovely Celeste Holm who is hosting from NBC theater in NY. This is the last time the Oscars would be a totally bi-coastal show.

Nominees Mercedes McCambridge & Robert Stack appear rather stiff ("Mr. Stack", "Miss McCambridge") in presenting the technical and Documentary Awards. The winner, in NY, was Jacques Cousteau who was a No-Show. Back in LA, Jerry introduces Gogi Grant who performs "Que Sera, Sera"

Nominee Mickey Rooney appears to present Short Subjects which leads to the inevitable titters. He muses over his own Mickey McGuire shorts and how wealthy he'd be if there were residuals.

Nominee Patty McCormack appears and engages in banter with Jerry. She's 10; he's 31! McCormack is the youngest presenter up until that time.

Celeste Holm brings out Nancy Kelly in NY to present Best Supporting Actor. The surprise winner, in Hollywood, is Anthony Quinn. Jerry enters the audience with a bullhorn for some tired slapstick before the business at hand resumes.

Later, Liz Taylor appears to dispense of the Costume Design Awards. One of the awards is accepted by Rita Moreno who says a few words a full 5 years before HER Oscar!

Kirk Douglas, on film from Munich, presents the editing Award while a hilarious Hermoine Gingold accepts an award for the writers of AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. "They cannot be here for a variety of reasons. All of them spicy."

After presenting a Special Effects Award to THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, Jerry approaches presenter Dorothy Dandridge about a 'crisis'. And Dorothy agrees to perform the nominated "Julie" in lieu of the absent Doris Day. Dorothy's performance is masterful. It is the first time a musical number is performed by an African-American female on the Oscars. She was an amazing talent!!

Jack Lemmon gives the Supporting Actress to Dorothy Malone who goes on at length causing Jack to show her his watch!! Over the years some have speculated that Ms. Malone may have had a few too many drinks. Watching it now, I can safely say that is not true.

Marge and Gower Champion do a little routine with Marge doing her usual "You're sooo strong" to Gower. Tommy Sands (Remember him??) sings the final song, "Friendly Persuasion" before the Award is given to Livingston & Evans.

To a round of applause, Anna Magnani appears and divulges Yul Brynner as the winner. "This better not be a mistake because I won't give it back for the world" The excited Yul announces.

A subdued Ernest Borgnine appears and crowns an absent Ingrid Bergman Best Actress. Cary Grant climbs up and accepts on her behalf. This was the last year all 6 major awards went to six different films. It would not be repeated until the 78th Awards in 2005.

Finally Janet Gaynor arrives to crown 80 DAYS and Mike Todd the Best Film on 1956.

High points: Exuberant Winners. Fast-paced show.

Low points: Too many Oldsmobile commercials!! The show almost seemed like filler for the ads!