45th Academy Awards
The 45th Academy Awards, formally the 45th Annual Academy Awards ceremony presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, honored motion pictures released in 1972 and took place on March 27, 1973, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.[1] Co-hosted by Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Charlton Heston, and Rock Hudson, the event awarded The Godfather the Academy Award for Best Picture and Marlon Brando the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the film, though Brando declined the honor.[2][1] Cabaret dominated with eight wins from ten nominations, the most of any film, including Best Director for Bob Fosse and Best Actress for Liza Minnelli.[1] The ceremony gained lasting notoriety for Brando's protest, as he dispatched Sacheen Littlefeather—who introduced herself as Apache and president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee—to decline the award onstage and read a prepared statement decrying Hollywood's stereotypical depictions of Native Americans and the U.S. government's armed response to the Wounded Knee occupation.[3] Littlefeather's assertions of Native American descent were subsequently challenged by her sisters, who stated that the family possessed no Indigenous heritage and that she had fabricated an ethnic identity under the alias "Sacheen Littlefeather" from her birth name Maria Louise Cruz.[4][5]Ceremony Details
Date, Venue, and Broadcast Information
The 45th Academy Awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, March 27, 1973, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.[1][6] This venue, part of the Los Angeles Music Center, hosted the event from 1969 through 1987, with additional uses in later years.[6] The proceedings honored films released in 1972 and were televised live nationally on NBC.[6]Hosts, Presenters, and Performers
The 45th Academy Awards ceremony on March 27, 1973, was hosted by actors Carol Burnett, Michael Caine, Charlton Heston, and Rock Hudson, marking the first time four individuals shared hosting duties for the event.[7][8] Their ensemble approach aimed to blend comedy, drama, and star power, with Burnett providing humorous segments, Caine offering British wit, Heston delivering gravitas, and Hudson handling lighthearted introductions.[2] Presenters for the competitive and honorary categories included a mix of Academy members, past nominees, and industry figures. Notable pairings featured Clint Eastwood and Charlton Heston explaining voting rules; Eddie Albert and his son Edward Albert for Sound; Diana Ross and James Coburn for Supporting Actor; Cher and Sonny Bono for Original Song; and Liv Ullmann and Roger Moore for Actor, during which Sacheen Littlefeather accepted on behalf of Marlon Brando to decline the award in protest.[2] Honorary awards were presented by Charlton Heston to Edward G. Robinson and by Frank Sinatra to Rosalind Russell for the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.[2] Other presenters encompassed Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner for documentaries, Julie Andrews and George Stevens for Directing, and Clint Eastwood for Best Picture.[2]| Category | Presenters |
|---|---|
| Sound | Eddie Albert, Edward Albert[2] |
| Visual Effects | Merle Oberon[2] |
| Short Films (Animated/Live Action) | Beatrice Arthur, Peter Boyle[2] |
| Supporting Actress | Cloris Leachman, Robert Duvall[2] |
| Foreign Language Film | Elke Sommer, Jack Valenti[2] |
| Film Editing | John Gavin, Katharine Ross[2] |
| Supporting Actor | Diana Ross, James Coburn[2] |
| Documentaries | Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner[2] |
| Costume/Production Design | Marisa Berenson & Michael Caine; Greer Garson & Laurence Harvey[2] |
| Music Categories | Burt Reynolds, Dyan Cannon[2] |
| Cinematography | Billy Dee Williams, Candice Bergen[2] |
| Original Song | Cher, Sonny Bono[2] |
| Directing | George Stevens, Julie Andrews[2] |
| Writing | Jack Lemmon[2] |
| Actor | Liv Ullmann, Roger Moore[2] |
| Actress | Gene Hackman, Raquel Welch[2] |
| Picture | Clint Eastwood[2] |
Nominations Process
Eligibility Rules and Disputes
Feature films were eligible for consideration in the 45th Academy Awards if they had a commercial screening of at least one week in a Los Angeles County theater between January 1 and December 31, 1972.[9] This calendar-year window ensured alignment with the Academy's standard practice for qualifying releases, excluding previews or non-public screenings.[10] Category-specific rules applied additional criteria; for Best Original Dramatic Score, the Academy required that "all of the principal thematic material and the development thereof are original with the composer(s)."[11] Nominations were determined by votes from Academy members in relevant branches, with a reminder list of eligible releases distributed prior to balloting.[12] A notable dispute arose over the Best Original Dramatic Score nomination for The Godfather, composed by Nino Rota. The film initially received eleven nominations announced on February 12, 1973, including for its score.[13] The Academy revoked the score nomination after determining that the prominent "Love Theme from The Godfather" was not original, as it reused and adapted thematic material Rota had previously composed for the 1958 Italian film Fortunella.[14][15] This disqualification, occurring before the March 27 ceremony, reduced The Godfather's total to ten nominations, marking a rare post-announcement revocation to enforce originality standards.[13] No further eligibility challenges were reported for other categories or films that year.Awards Presented
Major Competitive Categories
Best PictureThe Godfather, produced by Albert S. Ruddy, received the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 45th ceremony.[1] The film's victory capped a year of commercial and critical dominance, grossing over $135 million domestically against a $6 million budget.[1] Nominees included Cabaret, Deliverance, The Emigrants, and Sounder.[1] Best Director
Bob Fosse won for directing Cabaret, a musical adaptation of the Christopher Isherwood stories set in 1930s Berlin.[1] Fosse's innovative choreography and staging were highlighted as key to the film's stylistic impact.[1] Other nominees were John Boorman for Deliverance, Jan Troell for The Emigrants, Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather, and Joseph L. Mankiewicz for Sleuth.[1] Best Actor
Marlon Brando was awarded Best Actor for his portrayal of Vito Corleone in The Godfather, marking his second Oscar after 1954's On the Waterfront.[1] Brando declined the award, sending Sacheen Littlefeather to protest Hollywood's treatment of Native Americans, though this aspect is detailed in controversies.[1] Nominees comprised Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier for Sleuth, Peter O'Toole for The Ruling Class, and Paul Winfield for Sounder.[1] Best Actress
Liza Minnelli won Best Actress for her role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, delivering a performance noted for its vulnerability and energy in a film that earned eight total Oscars.[1] Nominees were Diana Ross for Lady Sings the Blues, Maggie Smith for Travels with My Aunt, Cicely Tyson for Sounder, and Liv Ullmann for The Emigrants.[1] Best Supporting Actor
Joel Grey received Best Supporting Actor for playing the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret, a dual role emphasizing the film's Weimar-era decadence.[1] The category featured an unusual three nominees from The Godfather: James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Al Pacino, alongside Eddie Albert for The Heartbreak Kid.[1] Best Supporting Actress
Eileen Heckart won for her role as the overprotective mother in Butterflies Are Free, a drama about a blind young man's independence.[1] Nominees included Jeannie Berlin for The Heartbreak Kid, Geraldine Page for Pete 'n' Tillie, Susan Tyrrell for Fat City, and Shelley Winters for The Poseidon Adventure.[1] Best Original Screenplay
Jeremy Larner won Best Original Screenplay for The Candidate, a political satire starring Robert Redford as a idealistic Senate hopeful.[1] The script drew from Larner's experience in 1968 Robert F. Kennedy's campaign, emphasizing themes of compromise in American politics.[1] Best Adapted Screenplay
Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo shared the Best Adapted Screenplay award for The Godfather, adapting Puzo's novel while streamlining its narrative for cinematic focus.[1] Dorothy Puzo accepted on behalf of her husband Mario, who did not attend.[1] The win complemented the film's other major honors.[1]
Special Achievement and Honorary Awards
The Academy presented several honorary and special achievement awards at the 45th ceremony on March 27, 1973.[1] These included recognitions for lifetime contributions, humanitarian efforts, and technical innovation not covered by standard categories.[16] An Honorary Award was given posthumously to Edward G. Robinson "who achieved greatness as a player, a patron of the arts and a devoted citizen in whatever walk of life he was engaged."[17] Robinson, known for roles in films like Little Caesar (1931), had never received a competitive nomination despite a prolific career spanning over 100 films; he died on January 26, 1973, from bladder cancer, two months before the ceremony, with his wife Jane accepting on his behalf.[17] [18] Another Honorary Award went to Charles S. Boren "Leader for 38 years of the industry's enlightened labor relations and architect of its Industrial Welfare Department," honoring his role in stabilizing Hollywood's labor practices through the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.[19] The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award was presented to Rosalind Russell for her charitable work, particularly in supporting causes like the United Nations and women's health initiatives, reflecting her transition from acclaimed actress in films such as His Girl Friday (1940) to philanthropy amid health challenges.[18] [20] A Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects was awarded to The Poseidon Adventure (1972), directed by Ronald Neame, recognizing the innovative model work, miniature sets, and optical effects by L. B. Abbott and A. D. Flowers that depicted the film's dramatic ship capsizing sequence, which contributed to its box office success exceeding $125 million worldwide.[18] This category, used sporadically for exceptional technical feats, underscored the film's practical effects in an era before widespread CGI.[18]Notable Films and Performances
Films with Multiple Nominations and Wins
Cabaret received ten nominations and won eight Academy Awards, the highest number of wins for any film at the 45th ceremony.[1] These included Best Director for Bob Fosse, Best Actress for Liza Minnelli, Best Supporting Actor for Joel Grey, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Sound.[1] The film's success established a record for the most Oscars won by a single motion picture without receiving Best Picture, a distinction it retains.[21] ![Liza Minnelli Publicity 1973.jpg][float-right] The Godfather also garnered ten nominations following the revocation of its original score nomination due to plagiarism concerns with Nino Rota's composition, and it won three awards: Best Picture, Best Actor for Marlon Brando, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola.[22][21] The film uniquely received three nominations in the Best Supporting Actor category for Al Pacino, James Caan, and Robert Duvall, though none won.[23] No other film achieved multiple wins at the ceremony.[24]| Film | Nominations | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Cabaret | 10 | 8 |
| The Godfather | 10 | 3 |