The 1972 Oscars reflect a changing Hollywood.
More than just an awards show, the 1972 Oscars was a spectacular celebration of film that captured a bygone era.
Recently, the Oscars have been bland and dull. It seems more about boasting than recognizing others’ accomplishments.
The ceremony feels less authentic and memorable because the joy and pride in others’ success have faded.
I thought the 1972 Oscars were different.
This extraordinary night had outstanding moments that set the bar for future Oscar ceremonies. Going back to this evening is like entering a Hollywood golden age time capsule, and the unedited photographs show glamor and star power.
What distinguished the 1972 Oscars?
An historic year
To begin, the 44th Academy Awards honored some of the greatest films ever made. The French Connection won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for William Friedkin, and Best Actor for Gene Hackman as New York City Police Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle.
The film’s gritty realism and intense car chases set a new standard for thrillers, and its Oscar win cemented its legacy. A real movie with real actors and a solid story is rare today.
“The film was unlike anything I had done before. I had never shot so much outside, especially in January and under those conditions where we were constantly shooting. I don’t think a filmmaker had challenged me as much, which was excellent for me,” Gene Hackman stated.
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Gene Hackman was so astonished to win that he couldn’t remember getting up and going to the podium. On the stage, the actor expressed his gratitude to his first drama coach and his mother, but soon he was overwhelmed with emotion.
Another masterpiece, A Clockwork Orange, was also nominated that year. Stanley Kubrick’s dystopian vision sparked both controversy and admiration, further adding to the cultural significance of the ceremony. Meanwhile, Fiddler on the Roof brought audiences back to the musical genre, charming the crowd with its sweeping score and heartwarming story.
The Last Picture Show, Peter Bogdanovich’s coming-of-age masterpiece, captivated audiences and earned eight Academy Award nominations. With its evocative black-and-white cinematography, the film’s nostalgic portrayal of small-town life stood out. Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson delivered unforgettable performances, each taking home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and Actor.
No hotpants in sight
The 1972 Academy Awards marked a dazzling return to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s golden era.
Rebecca De Mornay during 44th Annual Academy Awards at Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Gone were the feathers, fringe, and hippy headbands that had characterized recent ceremonies. This year’s gala featured a magnificent mix of classic elegance, with stars clad in flowing chiffons and sumptuous brocades, enhanced by diamonds and furs.
As other writers noticed, there wasn’t a hotpants attire in sight, although Jane Fonda made a big statement in one of the few pant suits on the red carpet.
One reporter also noticed that many of the females displayed “plenty of cleavage,” adding to the evening’s seductive mood.
Protests
As always, the area outside the Los Angeles Music Center was packed with fans anxious to catch a look of the star-studded parade making its way to the awards event.
However, the enthusiasm was tempered with tension, as protests erupted nearby – a typical occurrence in those days. Demonstrators, believed to be fairly vociferous, were held back by a perimeter of police officers.
Dirty Harry, which was not nominated for an Oscar, was criticized for glorifying police violence, prompting protests that year. A startling placard stated, “Dirty Harry is a Rotten Egg.”
Chained and shirtless
Music helped make the 1972 Oscars memorable.
Isaac Hayes became the first African American to win an Oscar for Best Original Song with “Theme from Shaft,” introducing soul music to the Oscars.
His amazing stage performance was a highlight of April night. The celebrity, shirtless and chained, played the keyboard in front of a frenzy of dancers.
When Hayes vanished in smoke, the spectacle peaked, astonishing the audience. That moment defined Oscar magic!
Betty Grable’s goodbye
One of Betty Grable’s last public appearances at the event was a highlight.
Betty Grable is a Hollywood legend. She became the top pin-up girl of World War II with her 1943 bathing-suit poster. However, Grable was a successful actress, earning over $100 million in 42 films in the 1930s and 1940s.
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As America’s highest-paid woman in the mid-1940s, she famously insured her legs for $1 million. I became a star for two reasons, and I’m standing on them,” Grable said of her incredible film career.
Betty Grable arrived in a stunning turquoise gown with silver spangles and a décolleté.
Her fans were heartbroken when she made her final public appearance at the 1972 Oscars. Sadly, she died of lung cancer at 56 a year later.
A weak, white-haired pioneer
One celebrity stood out at the 44th Academy Awards. A fragile, white-haired cinema pioneer appeared unexpectedly after the nearly three-hour awards ceremony. It was Charlie Chaplin, who had been exiled from Hollywood and the U.S. two decades previously for communist sympathies.
Charlie Chaplin in NYC 1972. Photograph by Images Press/Getty Images)
The honoring of Chaplin for his film accomplishments was passionate. The 82-year-old actor entered with his characteristic derby cane to deafening acclaim from 2,900 celebrities.
The 12-minute standing ovation was the longest in Academy Awards history.
For millions at home, viewing this cinematic colossus was almost strange. The most touching moment was Chaplin receiving the Academy of Motion Picture special award.
Thank you so much. This makes me emotional. Words are weak and useless. You honored me by inviting me. “You are wonderful, sweet people,” the English comedian stated.
Old and new
As said, the 1972 ceremony celebrated old and modern Hollywood.
Famous actors like Jane Russell, Macdonald Carey, and Jane Powell Kelly shared the spotlight with rising talents like Jane Fonda, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman, Cloris Leachman, and Raquel Welch.
Stars wore gorgeous gowns and tuxedos that evoked Hollywood’s golden period on the red carpet.
Many images from that night capture the electrifying atmosphere. I was most drawn to the Raquel Welch, Cloris Leachman, and Gene Hackman shot.
In April 1972, Jack Nicholson, Sally Kellerman (L), and Michelle Phillips attend the Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the L.A. Music Center. Photo by Max Miller/Fotos International/Getty Images)
Gene Hackman was smiling, Cloris Leachman had won Best Supporting Actress for The Last Picture Show, and Raquel Welch looked gorgeous in her attire. Welch presented for Best Supporting Actress at the 1972 Oscars and represented Hollywood’s shifting femininity. Her confidence and glamor in the shot signify a moment when women gained industry power.
Behind the shot
I think the snapshot captures a point in time and three important film figures’ careers. Every character reflects a different stage of Hollywood’s development.
As an illustration of the shifting film world, Leachman’s performance stands out. Hollywood moved toward character-driven stories after her won.
Hackman, Leachman, and Welch are also representative of early 1970s societal changes. The films nominated that year showed the film industry’s shift toward diversity storytelling.
Raquel Welch, Gene Hackman, and Cloris Leachman (with her Best Supporting Actress Oscar) at the 44th Academy Awards in Hollywood, CA, April 17, 1972. Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The 1972 Academy Awards will long be remembered through film or applause!