1997 Academy Awards: Oscar Winners, Nominees and Highlights
The 69th Academy Awards ceremony, held on March 24, 1997, celebrated the best films of 1996 and marked a significant year in cinema history
Hosted by comedian Billy Crystal for the fifth time, the event was broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles
The night's big winner was "The English Patient," which swept nine awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Anthony Minghella
In a historic moment, Cuba Gooding Jr
delivered an exuberant acceptance speech for his Best Supporting Actor win in "Jerry Maguire." The ceremony also saw Frances McDormand clinch Best Actress for "Fargo" and Geoffrey Rush take home Best Actor for "Shine." Against the backdrop of the burgeoning independent film scene and the twilight of the 1990s, this Oscars ceremony reflected Hollywood's evolving landscape and celebrated a diverse array of cinematic achievements.
Major Award Categories: Winners and Nominees
In 1997, during the 69th Academy Awards Cerimony, held on 24/03/1997 the following movies, actors, actresses and directors were awarded with the Oscar in 5 categories honoring the films released in 1997:
What movie won the Best Picture Oscar in 1997?
Who won the Best Director Oscar in 1997?
Who won the Best Actor Oscar in 1997?
Who won the Best Actress Oscar in 1997?
Who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1997?
Memorable Moments and Trivia
- "The English Patient" dominated the ceremony, winning 9 awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Anthony Minghella.
- Cuba Gooding Jr. gave an enthusiastic, high-energy acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor in "Jerry Maguire," which became one of the most memorable Oscar speeches ever.
- Billy Crystal hosted the ceremony for the fifth time, opening with a musical medley spoofing the nominated films.
- Frances McDormand won Best Actress for "Fargo" and used her speech to call for more roles for all actresses in the room.
- Geoffrey Rush's win for Best Actor in "Shine" was considered a surprise upset over favorites Tom Cruise and Ralph Fiennes.
- Juliette Binoche expressed shock at winning Best Supporting Actress for "The English Patient," saying she thought Lauren Bacall would win for "The Mirror Has Two Faces."
- Muhammad Ali made a surprise appearance alongside George Foreman to present the Best Documentary Feature award.
- Celine Dion performed "Because You Loved Me" from the film "Up Close and Personal," which was nominated for Best Original Song.
- The ceremony paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of the first televised Oscar ceremony.
- "When We Were Kings," a documentary about Muhammad Ali's 1974 fight in Zaire, won Best Documentary Feature 22 years after the events it depicted.
FAQ
- Who was the host of the 1997 Academy Awards?
Billy Crystal hosted the 69th Academy Awards ceremony in 1997. It was his fifth time hosting the Oscars. - What were the biggest surprises at the 1997 Oscars?
One of the biggest surprises was 'The English Patient' winning nine awards, including Best Picture, despite being considered a dark horse. Another surprise was Cuba Gooding Jr.'s win for Best Supporting Actor for 'Jerry Maguire', as many expected William H. Macy to win for 'Fargo'. - What were the most memorable speeches at the 1997 Academy Awards?
The most memorable speech was Cuba Gooding Jr.'s enthusiastic acceptance for Best Supporting Actor, where he continued talking even after the music started playing. Another notable speech was Frances McDormand's win for Best Actress, where she encouraged more leading roles for women in film.
What happened in 1997?
Discover what the world looked like in 1997: