Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 26, 1991 TAG: 9103260344
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Kathy Bates, the demented recluse who imprisons her favorite author in "Misery," and Jeremy Irons, the silky, sinister Claus Von Bulow of "Reversal of Fortune," won Academy Awards for best leading performances.
Whoopi Goldberg, the fake psychic who surprises herself by contacting the dead in "Ghost," and Joe Pesci, the maniacal mobster of "GoodFellas," won for supporting performances.
"Dances," which takes the side of the Indians in their struggle for survival, became only the second Western to win best picture; the other was "Cimarron" 60 years ago. The film, which led with 12 nominations, also won for sound, original score, film editing, cinematography and Michael Blake's screenplay adapted from his own novel.
"It's very easy for people to trivialize what we do sometimes," an exultant Costner said, accepting his award as co-producer with Jim Wilson. "While it's not as important as the rest of the world situation where it sits, it will always be important to us and we thank you for this.
"My family will never forget what happened here," Costner added. "My Native American brothers and sisters across the country, especially the Lakota Sioux, will never forget. The people I went to school with will never forget."
Costner also won an Oscar in his debut as director.
The three-hour spectacle - complete with subtitles to translate the Sioux dialogue - had been dubbed "Kevin's Gate" after the notorious film fiasco "Heaven's Gate." Then it confounded skeptics by becoming a critical and popular sensation, taking in more than $136 million at the box office.
Bates was perhaps the night's biggest surprise. Most observers had predicted that either Anjelica Huston or Joanne Woodward would walk off with the best actress prize.
"I'd like to thank the academy - I've been waiting a long time to say that!" she said, tears in her eyes. Despite a successful stage career and numerous small parts in films, "Misery" was her first starring movie role.
"This is great!" Irons said. He thanked his wife, who is in England, saying, "I wish you were there to carry this, because you helped me win it."
"Ever since I was a little kid I wanted this," said an emotional Goldberg, who had struggled professionally since receiving a best actress nomination for her screen debut in the 1985 film "The Color Purple."
"When I was a little kid, I lived in the projects. You are the people I watched, the people who made me want to be an actor," she told the star-packed crowd.
She became only the second black woman to win an Oscar; Hattie McDaniel was honored for the 1939 film "Gone With the Wind." "Ghost" also won an Oscar for original screenplay.
Pesci was much more subdued than Goldberg, saying, "It's my privilege, thank you," and walking off.
Comedian Billy Crystal emceed the show in style, starting off with a hilarious musical tribute to the five best picture nominees for the 63rd annual ceremonies, which took place at the Shrine Auditorium and was televised by ABC-TV.
"Dick Tracy," Warren Beatty's big-budget detective adventure, won prizes for makeup and art direction and song. The best costume award went to the French period drama, "Cyrano de Bergerac," and the sound effects editing prize went to "The Hunt for Red October."
The Oscar for best documentary feature went to "American Dream" and the documentary short subject award went to "Days of Waiting."
"Journey of Hope," a Swiss movie, won the award as best foreign film.
Several special Academy nods were presented: the Irving G. Thalberg award to producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown, an honorary award to actress Myrna Loy and a special achievement Oscar to actress Sophia Loren.
Loren was on hand to receive her award, but the 85-year-old Loy has been ill and had to accept the honor via satellite from her apartment in Manhattan.
Presentation of the nominees for best original song had a tragic overtone.
Country singer Reba McEntire sang one entry, "I'm Checkin' Out" from "Postcards From the Edge." She had withdrawn from the show after seven members of her band and her road manager were killed in a private plane crash on March 16.
But the widow of her road manager, Jim Hammon, persuaded the singer to perform as scheduled, reasoning, "Jim worked all these years to get you where you would sing on the Oscars."
Reacting to terrorism jitters in the wake of the Persian Gulf War, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invoked stringent security inside and outside the Shrine Auditorium. Fans in the bleachers outside were not allowed to bring cameras, binoculars or electronic equipment. They also were kept away from the bleachers until 8 a.m. About 50 die-hard fans endured a steady downpour overnight waiting for the bleachers to open.
For nominations, each of the Academy's branches votes for its peers. Actors nominate actors, directors nominate directors, and so on. All members vote for best picture nominations.
After the nominations, a final ballot is sent to the entire voting membership to vote for final awards in every category except documentary, short and foreign language films. Voting in those categories is done immediately after screenings.
by CNB