47th Academy Awards

47th Academy Awards
47th Academy Awards
Date	April 8, 1975
Site	Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles
Hosted by	Bob Hope, Shirley MacLaine, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra
Produced by	Howard W. Koch
Directed by	Marty Pasetta
Highlights
Best Picture	The Godfather Part II
Most awards	The Godfather Part II (6)
Most nominations	Chinatown and The Godfather Part II (11)
TV in the United States
Network	NBC
	← 46th ; Academy Awards ; 48th →;

Last updated May 23, 2024

The 47th Academy Awards were presented Tuesday, April 8, 1975, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, honoring the best films of 1974. The ceremonies were presided over by Bob Hope, Shirley MacLaine, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra. Before ABC, the ceremony's current broadcaster, acquired the U.S. broadcast rights, this was the last ceremony to air on NBC.

The success of The Godfather Part II was notable; it received twice as many Oscars as its predecessor (six) and duplicated its feat of three Best Supporting Actor nominations (as of the 96th Academy Awards, it is the last film to receive three nominations in a single acting category). Between the two of them, father and son Carmine and Francis Ford Coppola won four awards, with Carmine winning for Best Original Dramatic Score (with Nino Rota) and Francis for Picture, Director, and Best Screenplay Adapted from Other Material (with Mario Puzo).

Prior to the ceremony, Dustin Hoffman, who was nominated for his performance in the film Lenny , described the awards as "ugly" and "grotesque" and likened the ceremony to a beauty pageant, causing host Hope to remark that "if Dustin Hoffman wins tonight, he's going to have a friend pick it up for him—George C. Scott."^[1] Ingrid Bergman felt that she won her Academy Award out of a collective showbusiness guilt over her being ostracized from Hollywood in 1949 due to her affair with director Roberto Rossellini and that Valetina Cortese was worthy of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.^[1] Upon winning the Best Documentary Feature Oscar for Hearts & Minds, co-producer Bert Schneider said, "It's ironic that we're here at a time just before Vietnam is about to be liberated," and then read a telegram containing "Greetings of Friendship to All American People" from Ambassador Dinh Ba Thi of the Provisional Revolutionary Government (Viet Cong) ^[2] delegation to the Paris Peace Accords.^[1]^[3] The telegram thanked the anti-war movement "for all they have done on behalf of peace".^[4] The speech infuriated Hope, who later wrote a telegram that he had Sinatra read to the divided audience. The note said: "The academy is saying, 'We are not responsible for any political references made on the program, and we are sorry they had to take place this evening.'"^[1]^[5]

This was the only Oscar ceremony in which all five of the nominees in a single category were released by the same studio: all five Best Costume Design nominations were for films released by Paramount Pictures.

Winners and nominees

Francis Ford Coppola, Best Director winner, Best Picture co-winner, and Best Adapted Screenplay co-winner

Art Carney, Best Actor winner

Ellen Burstyn, Best Actress winner

Robert De Niro, Best Supporting Actor winner

Ingrid Bergman, Best Supporting Actress winner

Robert Towne, Best Original Screenplay winner

Will Vinton, Best Animated Short Film co-winner

Nominees were announced on February 24, 1975. Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface and indicated with a double dagger (‡).^[6]^[7]


Best Picture	Best Director
The Godfather Part II – Francis Ford Coppola, producer; Gray Frederickson and Fred Roos, co–producers‡ Chinatown – Robert Evans, producer The Conversation – Francis Ford Coppola, producer; Fred Roos, co-producer Lenny – Marvin Worth, producer The Towering Inferno – Irwin Allen, producer	Francis Ford Coppola – The Godfather Part II ‡ Roman Polanski – Chinatown François Truffaut – Day for Night Bob Fosse – Lenny John Cassavetes – A Woman Under the Influence
Best Actor	Best Actress
*Art Carney – Harry and Tonto* as Harry Coombes*‡ Albert Finney – Murder on the Orient Express* as Hercule Poirot Dustin Hoffman – Lenny as Lenny Bruce Jack Nicholson – Chinatown as J.J. "Jake" Gittes Al Pacino – The Godfather Part II as Michael Corleone	*Ellen Burstyn – Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore* as Alice Hyatt** ‡ Diahann Carroll – Claudine as Claudine Price Faye Dunaway – Chinatown as Evelyn Cross Mulwray Valerie Perrine – Lenny as Honey Bruce Gena Rowlands – A Woman Under the Influence as Mabel Longhetti
Best Supporting Actor	Best Supporting Actress
*Robert De Niro – The Godfather Part II* as Vito Corleone** ‡ Fred Astaire – The Towering Inferno as Harlee Claiborne Jeff Bridges – Thunderbolt and Lightfoot as Lightfoot Michael V. Gazzo – The Godfather Part II as Frank Pentangeli Lee Strasberg – The Godfather Part II as Hyman Roth	*Ingrid Bergman – Murder on the Orient Express* as Greta Ohlsson*‡ Valentina Cortese – Day for Night* as Severine Madeline Kahn – Blazing Saddles as Lili von Shtupp Diane Ladd – Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore as Florence "Flo" Castleberry Talia Shire – The Godfather Part II as Connie Corleone
Best Original Screenplay	Best Screenplay Adapted from Other Material
Chinatown – Robert Towne ‡ Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore – Robert Getchell The Conversation – Francis Ford Coppola Day for Night – François Truffaut, Suzanne Schiffman and Jean-Louis Richard Harry and Tonto – Paul Mazursky and Josh Greenfeld	The Godfather Part II – Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo based on the novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo‡ The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz – Mordecai Richler and Lionel Chetwynd based on the novel by Mordecai Richler Lenny – Julian Barry based on his play Murder on the Orient Express – Paul Dehn based on the novel by Agatha Christie Young Frankenstein – Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks based on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
Best Foreign Language Film	Best Documentary Feature
Amarcord – Italy ‡ Cats' Play – Hungary The Deluge – Poland Lacombe, Lucien – France The Truce – Argentina	Hearts and Minds – Peter Davis ‡ The 81st Blow – Haim Gouri Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman – Judy Collins and Jill Godmilow The Challenge... A Tribute to Modern Art – Herbert Kline The Wild and the Brave – Natalie R. Jones and Eugene S. Jones
Best Documentary Short Subject	Best Live Action Short Film
Don't – Robin Lehman ‡ City Out of Wilderness Exploratorium John Muir's High Sierra Naked Yoga	One-Eyed Men Are Kings – Paul Claudon and Edmond Sechan‡ Climb – Dewitt Jones The Concert – Julian Chagrin and Claude Chagrin Planet Ocean – George V. Casey The Violin – Andrew Welsh and George Pastic
Best Animated Short Film	Best Original Dramatic Score
Closed Mondays – Will Vinton and Bob Gardiner ‡ The Family That Dwelt Apart – Yvon Mallette and Robert Verrall Hunger – Peter Foldes and René Jodoin Voyage to Next – John Hubley and Faith Hubley Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too – Wolfgang Reitherman	The Godfather Part II – Nino Rota and Carmine Coppola ‡ Chinatown – Jerry Goldsmith Murder on the Orient Express – Richard Rodney Bennett Shanks – Alex North The Towering Inferno – John Williams
Best Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation or Scoring: Adaptation	Best Song
The Great Gatsby – Adapted by Nelson Riddle ‡ The Little Prince – Song Score by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe; Adapted by Angela Morley and Douglas Gamley Phantom of the Paradise – Song Score by Paul Williams; Adapted by Paul Williams and George Aliceson Tipton	*"We May Never Love Like This Again" — The Towering Inferno* • Music and Lyrics by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn** ‡ "Benji's Theme (I Feel Love)" — Benji • Music by Euel Box • Lyrics by Betty Box "Blazing Saddles" — Blazing Saddles • Music by John Morris • Lyrics by Mel Brooks "Little Prince" — The Little Prince • Music by Frederick Loewe • Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner "Wherever Love Takes Me" — Gold • Music by Elmer Bernstein • Lyrics by Don Black
Best Costume Design	Best Sound
The Great Gatsby – Theoni V. Aldredge ‡ Chinatown – Anthea Sylbert Daisy Miller – John Furniss The Godfather Part II – Theadora Van Runkle Murder on the Orient Express – Tony Walton	Earthquake – Ronald Pierce and Melvin Metcalfe Sr. ‡ Chinatown – Bud Grenzbach and Larry Jost The Conversation – Walter Murch and Arthur Rochester The Towering Inferno – Theodore Soderberg and Herman Lewis Young Frankenstein – Richard Portman and Gene Cantamessa
Best Art Direction	Best Cinematography
The Godfather Part II – Art Direction: Dean Tavoularis and Angelo P. Graham: Set Decoration: George R. Nelson ‡ Chinatown – Art Direction: Richard Sylbert and W. Stewart Campbell; Set Decoration: Ruby R. Levitt Earthquake – Art Direction: Alexander Golitzen and E. Preston Ames; Set Decoration: Frank R. McKelvy The Island at the Top of the World – Art Direction: Peter Ellenshaw, John B. Mansbridge, Walter H. Tyler and Al Roelofs; Set Decoration: Hal Gausman The Towering Inferno – Art Direction: William J. Creber and Ward Preston; Set Decoration: Raphaël Bretton	The Towering Inferno – Joseph Biroc and Fred J. Koenekamp ‡ Chinatown – John A. Alonzo Earthquake – Philip H. Lathrop Lenny – Bruce Surtees Murder on the Orient Express – Geoffrey Unsworth
Best Film Editing
The Towering Inferno — Harold F. Kress and Carl Kress ‡ Blazing Saddles — John C. Howard and Danford Greene Chinatown — Sam O'Steen Earthquake — Dorothy Spencer The Longest Yard — Michael Luciano

Special Achievement Award

Frank Brendel, Glen Robinson, and Albert Whitlock for the visual effects of Earthquake

Academy Honorary Award

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

Arthur B. Krim

Multiple nominations and awards

Films with multiple nominations
Nominations	Film
11	Chinatown
11	The Godfather Part II
8	The Towering Inferno
6	Lenny
6	Murder on the Orient Express
5	Earthquake
3	Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
	Blazing Saddles
	The Conversation
	Day for Night
2	The Great Gatsby
	Harry and Tonto
	The Little Prince
	A Woman Under the Influence
	Young Frankenstein

Films with multiple awards
Awards	Film
6	The Godfather Part II
3	The Towering Inferno
2	Earthquake
The Great Gatsby

Presenters and performers

The following individuals, listed in order of appearance, presented awards or performed musical numbers:

Presenters

Name	Role
Hank Simms	Announcer for the 47th Academy Awards
Walter Mirisch (AMPAS President)	Giver of opening remarks welcoming guests to the awards ceremony
Ryan O'Neal Tatum O'Neal	Explainers of the voting rules to the public and presenters of the award for Best Supporting Actor
Francis Ford Coppola	Recipient of the award for Best Supporting Actor on behalf of Robert De Niro
Roddy McDowall Brenda Vaccaro	Presenters of the Short Films Awards
Lauren Hutton Danny Thomas	Presenters of the Documentary Awards
Ingrid Bergman	Presenter of the Honorary Award to Jean Renoir
Bob Hope	Presenter of the Special Achievement Award to Frank Brendel, Glen Robinson and Albert Whitlock for their work in Earthquake
Gene Kelly	Presenter of the award for Best Original Song
Joseph Bottoms Deborah Raffin	Presenters of the award for Best Sound
John Wayne	Presenter of the Honorary Award to Howard Hawks
Diahann Carroll Johnny Green	Presenters of the Music Awards
Lauren Bacall	Presenter of the award for Best Costume Design
Peter Falk Katharine Ross	Presenters of the award for Best Supporting Actress
Susan Blakely O. J. Simpson	Presenters of the award for Best Art Direction
Jon Voight Raquel Welch	Presenters of the award for Best Cinematography
Macdonald Carey Jennifer O'Neill	Presenters of the award for Best Film Editing
Susan George Jack Valenti	Presenters of the award for Best Foreign Language Film
Frank Sinatra	Presenter of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Arthur J. Krim
Goldie Hawn Robert Wise	Presenters of the award for Best Director
James Michener	Presenter of the awards for Best Screenplay Adapted from Other Material and Best Original Screenplay
Glenda Jackson	Presenter of the award for Best Actor
Jack Lemmon	Presenter of the award for Best Actress
Warren Beatty	Presenter of the award for Best Picture

Performers

Name	Role	Performed
Johnny Green	Musical arranger and conductor	Orchestral
Frankie Laine	Performer	"Blazing Saddles" from Blazing Saddles
Jack Jones	Performer	“Little Prince” from The Little Prince
Aretha Franklin	Performer	"Wherever Love Takes Me" from Gold
Frankie Laine Jack Jones Aretha Franklin	Performers	"We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno and "Benji's Theme (I Feel Love)" from Benji
Frank Sinatra Shirley MacLaine Sammy Davis Jr. Bob Hope Academy Awards Orchestra	Performers	"That's Entertainment!"

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References

1 2 3 4 Wallechinsky, David; Wallace, Irving (1975). The People's Almanac. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc. p. 847. ISBN 0-385-04060-1.
↑ Biskind, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, p. 275.
↑ Robinson, George. Sometimes A Thank You Isn't Enough", The New York Times , March 4, 2001. Accessed May 29, 2008.
↑ Schulzinger, Robert D., "A Time for Peace: The Legacy of the Vietnam War", page 155, Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York, 2006
↑ Efron, Eric. " The World: Acting Out; At the Oscars, a Cause and Effect", The New York Times , March 30, 2003. Accessed May 29, 2008.
↑ "The Official Academy Awards Database". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Select "1974" in the "Award Year(s)" drop-down menu and press "Search".
↑ "The 47th Academy Awards (1975) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2011.

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[Oscars_'74_Notes-1] 1 2 3 4 Wallechinsky, David; Wallace, Irving (1975). The People's Almanac. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc. p. 847. ISBN 0-385-04060-1.

[2] Biskind, Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, p. 275.

[3] Robinson, George. Sometimes A Thank You Isn't Enough", The New York Times , March 4, 2001. Accessed May 29, 2008.

[Schulzinger,_Robert_D._page_155-4] Schulzinger, Robert D., "A Time for Peace: The Legacy of the Vietnam War", page 155, Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York, 2006

[5] Efron, Eric. " The World: Acting Out; At the Oscars, a Cause and Effect", The New York Times , March 30, 2003. Accessed May 29, 2008.

[6] "The Official Academy Awards Database". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Select "1974" in the "Award Year(s)" drop-down menu and press "Search".

[Oscars1975-7] "The 47th Academy Awards (1975) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2011.

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