Looking at Film from Every Angle

63rd Academy Awards (1990): The Ceremony

Nominations Announcement

Nominations Announcement Date: Tuesday, February 19, 1991
Nominations Presenters: Denzel Washington, Karl Malden

Ceremony Details

Awards Ceremony Date/Time: Monday, March 25, 1991, 6:00pm
Location: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles
Televised On: ABC
Host: Billy Crystal
Length: 3 hours, 35 minutes
Nielsen Ratings: 28.06 rating
Viewers: 42.79 million

Presenters

President’s Welcoming Remarks: Karl Malden
Introduction: Opening Number: Michael Caine
Supporting Actress: Denzel Washington
Sound Mixing: Dianne Wiest
Best Picture Introduction: Ghost: Jack Lemmon
Makeup & Hairstyling: Anne Archer
Supporting Actor: Brenda Fricker
Live Action Short Film: Chevy Chase, Martin Short
Animated Short Film: Woody Woodpecker
Honorary Award: Myrna Loy: Anjelica Huston
Original Song Introduction: “Somewhere in My Memory”: Joe Pesci
Costume Design: Annette Bening
Scientific & Technical Awards; and Gordon E. Sawyer Award: Stefan Kudelski: Geena Davis
Best Picture Introduction: Goodfellas: Danny Aiello
Visual Effects: Jack Valenti
Irving G. Thalberg Award: David Brown and Richard D. Zanuck: Michael Douglas
Introduction: Original Score dance number: Alec Baldwin
Music: Original Score: Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger
Film Editing: Danny Glover, Kevin Kline
Production Design: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon
Introduction: “My First Movie” montage: Bob Hope
Documentary Short Subject: Phoebe Cates, Ron Silver
Documentary Feature: Phoebe Cates, Ron Silver
Best Picture Introduction: Dances with Wolves: Robert De Niro
Sound Editing: Andy Garcia, Whoopi Goldberg
Original Song Introduction: “Blaze of Glory”: Christian Slater
Cinematography: Glenn Close
Foreign Language Film: Dustin Hoffman
Writing: Adapted Screenplay: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins
Writing: Original Screenplay: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins
Best Picture Introduction: Awakenings: Debra Winger
Honorary Award: Sophia Loren: Gregory Peck
Original Song: Ann-Margret, Gregory Hines
Actress: Daniel Day-Lewis
Actor: Jessica Tandy
Best Picture Introduction: The Godfather, Part III: Jeff Bridges
Directing: Tom Cruise
Picture: Barbra Streisand

Previous Acting & Directing Winners

The tradition of prior acting winners returning the subsequent year to present the opposite-gender category is a long one. Each year, we look to see whether the prior winners returned. There was an intermittent tradition where the prior directing winner returned as well, but this was a rare occurrence.

Actor – Daniel Day-Lewis: Yes
Actress – Jessica Tandy: Yes
Supporting Actor – Denzel Washington: Yes
Supporting Actress – Brenda Fricker: Yes
Directing – Oliver Stone: No

Song Performances

Blaze of Glory: Jon Bon Jovi
I’m Checkin’ Out: Rebe McEntire
Promise Me You’ll Remember: Harry Connick Jr.
Somewhere in My Memory: Children’s Choir
Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man): Madonna

Original Song Film Performers

Was the song performed at the Oscars by the same individuals who performed it in the film?

Blaze of Glory: Yes (Performed in the Film by: Jon Bon Jovi)
I’m Checkin’ Out: No (Performed in the Film by: Meryl Streep, Blue Rodeo)
Promise Me You’ll Remember: Yes (Performed in the Film by: Harry Connick Jr.)
Somewhere in My Memory: No (Performed in the Film by: Chorus)
Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man): Yes (Performed in the Film by: Madonna)

Other Performances

Opening Number: Jasmine Guy, Steve LaChance
Opening Number: Best Picture Spoofs – Goody Goody = Goodfellas; Dancing in the Dark = Dances with Wolves; L-O-V-E = Ghost; Speak Softly Love = The Godfather Part III; All the Way = Awakenings: Billy Crystal

Ceremony Production Staff

Announcer: Charlie O’Donnell
Conductor / Musical Arranger: Bill Conti
Director: Jeff Margolis
Producer: Gilbert ‘Gil’ Cates
Writer: Hal Kanter, Buz Kohan
Writer (Special Material): Billy Crystal, David Steinberg, Bruce Vilanch, Robert Wuhl
Production Design: Ray Klausen, C. David Pina

Emmys

Nominations: 9
Wins: 3
Variety Music or Comedy Series: Winner
Directing for a Variety Special: Nominee
Performance in a Variety or Music Program: Winner (Billy Crystal, host)
Writing for a Variety Series: Winner
Music Direction: Nominee
Lighting Direction for a Drama Series Variety Series Miniseries or Special: Nominee
Art Direction for Variety or Nonfiction Programming: Nominee
Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special: Nominee
Technical Direction Camerawork Video Control for a Miniseries Movie or a Special: Nominee