The enchanting suspense of Oscar night
During the 14th Academy Awards Ceremony in 1942, the results of the secret ballots were announced live during the broadcast for the first time. In prior years, winners were revealed beforehand so stars enjoyed a night of relative ease and composed celebration, unencumbered by suspense.
1939 | Vivien Leigh wins the Best Actress Academy Award for her role as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind. | (Bettmann/Corbis)
The awards show never looked back and would come to benefit from the hype of Oscar anticipation. Meanwhile, the stars, vulnerable to the raw emotion of hearing his or her name called live on TV, were more likely to give an acceptance speech beautifully free of filters ("I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me."). Take a walk through a selected history of Hollywood's biggest night and enjoy the glamour, elation, and stoicism of past Oscar winners.
1954 | Audrey Hepburn accepts the Oscar for best actress for her role in Roman Holiday. | (Bettmann/Corbis)
1955 | Grace Kelly accepts the Oscar for best actress for her performance in The Country Girl. | (Bettmann/Corbis)
1958 | Joanne Woodward accepts the award for best actress for her split personality role in The Three Faces of Eve. | (AP Photo)
1965 | Julie Andrews accepts the Oscar for best actress for her role in Mary Poppins. | (AP Photo)
1967 | Walter Matthau accepts his Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in The Fortune Cookie. | (AP Photo)
1972 | Cloris Leachman accepts her award for best supporting actress for her role in The Last Picture Show. | (AP Photo)
1976 | Jack Nicholson accepts his Oscar for his performance in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. | (AP Photo)
1979 | Jane Fonda delivers her acceptance speech with sign language when winning an Oscar for best actress for her role in Coming Home. | (AP Photo)
1978 | Richard Dreyfuss accepts the award for best actor for his role in the film The Goodbye Girl. | (AP Photo)
1985 | Robert De Niro accepts the Oscar for his performance in Raging Bull. | (AP Photo)
1985 | Sally Field accepts her Academy Award for best actress in the film Places in the Heart. | (AP Photo/Files)