10 Oscar Moments That Will Leave You Speechless!

1. “They Got the Wrong Envelope!” (2017)

From the wingside, Al Seib, photographer for the Los Angeles Times, snapped the surprised reactions of front-row Oscar spectators – including Meryl Streep, Dwayne Johnson, Matt Damon, Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, and numerous other illustrious figures – as they realized that La La Land had not, in actuality, received the award for best picture (it was Moonlight!), despite Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway’s declaration. The blunder was later found to have been caused by a PwC accountant, Brian Cullinan, who was preoccupied with his starstruck state rather than focused on the task at hand.

2. The Morning After (1977)

After winning the Best Actress Oscar for her role in ‘Network’, Faye Dunaway posed for a well-known photograph taken by Terry O’Neill, her future husband. In this image, she is seen relaxing at the Beverly Hills Hotel pool, enjoying breakfast, displaying her award, and surrounded by newspaper headlines celebrating her victory. (It’s likely that this photo was inspired by a 1972 snapshot of Charlie Chaplin reading newspapers following his honorary Oscar win.)

3. Feeling Better (1946)

As a once-dominant figure in Hollywood’s silent era, I found myself struggling in the 1940s and was labeled as box office poison by the industry. Leaving my longtime studio, MGM, behind, I poured my heart into the role of a working-class single mother in “Mildred Pierce.” This performance propelled me to become the frontrunner for the 1946’s best actress award. Despite my doubts, I chose not to attend the ceremony due to supposed illness. However, when I was indeed named the winner, the film’s director, Michael Curtiz, and my co-star Ann Blyth, accompanied by a flock of photographers, including an unknown snapper, delivered the statue to my bedside, capturing this memorable moment on film.

4. Getting the Party Started (1929)

A photo from the inaugural Academy Awards ceremony was taken by an unidentified photographer in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. This event, although it was only the second gathering of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was significant as it was the first time awards were handed out. Over the years, many faces have changed, but if you look carefully, you can see Louis B. Mayer, Cecil B. DeMille, Douglas Fairbanks, Irving Thalberg, and Norma Shearer among them. Remarkably, the ballroom hasn’t changed much and is still open for rental.

5. The World’s Most Famous Selfie (2014)

Eventually, it became clear that the famous Oscars selfie, instigated by host Ellen DeGeneres and snapped by Bradley Cooper, was actually a well-compensated advertisement — Samsung reportedly shelled out $20 million for the publicity. For a while, this selfie held the record as the most widely shared post on Twitter. With the exception of Peter Nyong’o (Lupita Nyong’o’s brother), who unexpectedly joined the picture and is seen in a bow tie, you will likely recognize all the other faces from that iconic moment.

6. Sibling Rivalry (1945)

After receiving the Best Actress award for “To Each His Own”, Olivia de Havilland deliberately avoided her sister Joan Fontaine, who had won the same honor three years prior for “Suspicion”. Despite their lifelong animosity, they were never photographed expressing their feelings. As her representative put it, “Miss de Havilland had no desire to be pictured with her sister.

7. Blonde and Brunette (1956)

In this photograph taken by Allan Grant, the enigma, elegance, and gravity of the Oscars are beautifully encapsulated in a single image, showcasing Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly – the last two actresses to win the Best Actress award – anxiously anticipating their turn to announce that year’s Best Picture and Best Actor awards. Interestingly, the winning films were “Marty” and its star, Ernest Borgnine.

8. Eight Is Enough (Circa mid-1970s)

As a devoted admirer of the iconic costume designer, Edith Head – who not only left her mark on numerous Oscar ceremonies as a fashion consultant but also served as the inspiration for the character Edna Mode in The Incredibles – I proudly share that she was honored with eight prestigious Oscars throughout her illustrious career. She affectionately referred to these awards as her “children.” My personal collection begins with her 1949 win for The Heiress and concludes with the one she received in 1973 for The Sting. On this particular day, a photographer captured an unforgettable image of our family portrait.

9. Silver Linings (2013)

As a devoted admirer, I was thrilled to learn that Kevin Winter snapped a photo of Jennifer Lawrence, visibly embarrassed after tripping on her dress while ascending the steps to receive her Best Actress award for Silver Linings Playbook. (At only 22 years old, she became the second youngest actress to nab that honor.) Her reputation as a bit of a clumsy one preceded her, but her infectious humor solidified her place in the hearts of fans everywhere.

10. Hat-Checked Oscar (1954)

Photographer Ed Clark captured this amusing snapshot during the Oscars, taken at Romanoff’s restaurant in Beverly Hills – a frequent hangout for Humphrey Bogart. In the hat-check room, producer Buddy Adler placed his freshly won Best Picture trophy for “From Here to Eternity” upon arrival for an afterparty. This image, with Hollywood’s most prestigious award sharing space with ordinary items, has become popular in hotels and restaurants worldwide that appreciate a touch of irreverent humor.

The tale was published in the February 26th edition of The Hollywood Reporter’s magazine. To get future issues, consider subscribing here.

2025-03-02 22:25