52nd Academy Awards

Winners and nominees

The nominees for the 52nd Academy Awards were announced on February 25, 1980, by Academy president Fay Kanin and actors Ed Asner and Yvette Mimieux. All That Jazz and Kramer vs. Kramer tied for the most nominations, with nine each. The winners were announced at the awards ceremony on April 14. At age eight, Best Supporting Actor nominee Justin Henry became the youngest person nominated for an Oscar.

Awards

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

Special Achievement Award (Sound Editing)

• The Black Stallion – Alan Splet.

Honorary Awards

• To Alec Guinness for advancing the art of screen acting through a host of memorable and distinguished performances.
• To Hal Elias for his dedication and distinguished service to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

The award recognizes individuals whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the motion picture industry.

• Robert Benjamin

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award

The award honors "creative producers whose bodies of work reflect a consistently high quality of motion picture production".

• Ray Stark

Multiple nominations and awards

Presenters and performers

The following individuals, listed in order of appearance, presented awards or performed musical numbers:

Presenters

Performers

Ceremony information

In September 1979, the academy hired film producer Howard W. Koch to produce the telecast for the sixth time. Upon being named producer, Koch responded in a press release, stating, "I plan to involve all the professional and creative talents of the motion picture community in this program, as the Academy Awards, in the public's mind, represents the entire field of filmmaking." Two months later, it was announced that comedian and The Tonight Show host Johnny Carson would preside over emceeing duties for the 1980 ceremony. "Johnny Carson is one of our national treasures. He was selected as this year's host because his wit and verve made him an outstanding master of ceremonies at last year's show," said Koch in a statement justifying his selection for host.

Marty Pasetta directed the telecast. Henry Mancini served as musical director and conductor for the ceremony, where he conducted an overture performed by the orchestra at the beginning of the show. A song-and-dance number featuring actor and singer Donald O'Connor paid tribute to choreography in film.

Critical reviews

The ceremony received a mixed reception from critics. The Arizona Republic columnist Michael Maza wrote, "Watching last night's 52nd Annual Academy Award ceremonies was like sitting through three hours and 15 minutes of near-flawless close order drill. It wasn't long before the feet seemed to blur." Jack Mathews of the Detroit Free Press commented, "In any event, the 52nd Academy Awards presentation will stand as one of the smoothest, most predictable, and most reasonable Oscar nights in history. Also, alas, one of the most boring." The Baltimore Sun television critic Bill Carter quipped, "We found out Monday night when this year's edition of the Oscarcast streamlined to the point of emaciation (and still more than three hours long), thudded along like some awards dinner of the meat-packing industry." He praised Carson's hosting performance, but said, "For all the excitement this parade of stars provided, they might as well have sent in their stand-ins, or maybe some robot, or well dressed mannequins from a boutique on Rodeo Drive. This just wasn't a little boring, this was mind-numbingly boring."

Others received the broadcast more positively. Los Angeles Times film critic Charles Champlin mused, "As a show, the Marty Pasetta-Howard Koch special revealed again a gift for all that pizzazz." He added, "If nobody in fact was dozing, it was thanks to Carson's own relaxed and engaging presence. Among his virtues, he is an emcee who seems to love the movies." Film critic Gene Siskel from the Chicago Tribune commented, "The show was a visual delight, thanks to special electronic effects that presented scenes from each nominated film as its title was announced." Columnist Patrick Taggart of the Austin American-Statesman wrote, "Aren't we entitled to at least one upset victory among the nominees? The 52nd running of the Academy Awards was distinguished by the utter lack of any such color; but somehow, in spite of its slickness, Monday's show was a relatively good one."

Ratings and reception

The American telecast on ABC drew in an average of 49 million people over the length of the entire ceremony, which was a 6% increase from the previous year's ceremony. However, the show drew lower Nielsen ratings compared to the previous ceremony, with 33.7% of households watching with a 55% share. Furthermore, the ceremony presentation received five nominations at the 32nd Primetime Emmys, but failed to win any of its nominations.

Notes

References

Bibliography

• {{Citation
• {{Cite book
• {{Cite book
• {{Citation

References

1. (April 15, 1980). "Academy Awards Ceremony Called a 'Show Biz Miracle'". [[Ottawa Citizen]].
2. {{harvnb. Osborne. 2013
3. "Past Scientific & Technical Awards Ceremonies". [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]].
4. (April 15, 1980). "Oscars Won by ''Kramer'', Hoffman and Miss Field; ''All That Jazz'' Takes Craft Awards ''Kramer vs. Kramer'' Is the Oscar Leader 'New and Old Managements' Carson's 2d Year as Emcee Honorary Awards Streets Are Quieter". The New York Times.
5. (February 26, 1980). "''All That Jazz'', ''Kramer'' Lead Oscar Nominations". [[The Spokesman-Review]].
6. (February 26, 1980). "''Kramer'' and ''Jazz'' . . .". [[The Washington Post]].
7. {{harvnb. Kinn. Piazza. 2002
8. "The 52nd Academy Awards (1980) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
9. "Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
10. "Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
11. "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
12. "Irvin G. Thalberg Memorial Award". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
13. (January 20, 2004). "Hollywood Film Producer, Power Broker Ray Stark". The Washington Post.
14. {{harvnb. Wiley. Bona. 1996
15. {{harvnb. Terrance. 2013
16. (September 30, 1979). "Koch Again". [[South Bend Tribune]].
17. (September 7, 1979). "Howard W. Koch to Produce 52nd Annual Oscar Show". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
18. (November 27, 1979). "Carson to Host Show". [[Reno Gazette-Journal]].
19. (November 6, 2013). "Johnny Carson Set As Master of Ceremonies for 52nd Annual Academy Awards". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
20. (April 14, 1980). "Marty Pasetta Has Hopes for a Lively Oscar Show". [[The Baltimore Sun]].
21. {{harvnb. Wiley. Bona. 1996
22. (April 15, 1980). "Ho-Hum Oscars Was a 'Bowling Boquet of Stars'". [[The Arizona Republic]].
23. (April 15, 1980). "How Divorce, War and Death Can Turn Into a Big Yawner". [[Detroit Free Press]].
24. (April 16, 1980). "Oscarcast Without Silliness: How Boring". The Baltimore Sun.
25. (April 16, 1980). "The Oscar Derby: A Horse Race After All". Los Angeles Times.
26. (April 15, 1980). "Oscars to Field, Hoffman, ''Kramer''". [[Chicago Tribune]].
27. (April 16, 1980). "Awards Show Sailed on Calm Waters". [[Austin American-Statesman]].
28. (February 21, 2013). "Spotlight's on Oscars But for ABC, Ratings Wins Begin on Red Carpet". [[Broadcasting & Cable]].
29. (April 18, 1980). "Ratings Race a Photo Finish?". Los Angeles Times.
30. "Primetime Emmy Awards Database". [[Academy of Television Arts and Sciences]].
31. (Aug 8, 1980). "Academy of TV Arts & Sciences 1979-80 Emmy Nominations".