75th Academy Awards
The 75th Academy Awards ceremony took place on the 23rd of March 2003, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. This event marked the eleventh time producer Gilbert Cates oversaw the telecast for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Actor Steve Martin returned to host the show for the second time after presiding over the 73rd ceremony in 2001. Cates selected Martin because he possessed wit, intelligence, and a sharp sense of humor suitable for the occasion. The Los Angeles Times reported that Cates had initially approached Billy Crystal but ultimately offered the role to Martin when Crystal remained undecided. Martin joked about hosting again by noting that fear and nausea always made him lose weight. This broadcast was also the first Oscar ceremony transmitted in high-definition television.
Chicago won six awards including Best Picture during the ceremony held in 2003. Adrien Brody became the youngest person ever to win Best Actor at age 29 for his role in The Pianist. Nicole Kidman became the first Australian actress to win Best Actress for her performance in The Hours. Meryl Streep earned her 13th nomination making her the most nominated actor in Oscar history. Jack Nicholson received his 12th nomination extending his record as the most nominated male performer. Julianne Moore became the ninth performer to earn two acting nominations in the same year. The song Lose Yourself from 8 Mile became the first hip hop track to win the Best Original Song award. Roman Polanski won Best Director for The Pianist while Hayao Miyazaki took home Best Animated Feature Film for Spirited Away.
The American-led invasion of Iraq affected the telecast and its surrounding events shortly after news broke three days prior. Several actors including Cate Blanchett, Jim Carrey, and Will Smith resigned from their roles as presenters citing safety concerns. AMPAS president Frank Pierson refused to delay the gala despite pleas from broadcaster ABC to postpone proceedings up to a week. Moving the festivities to a different venue would have been too expensive for the Academy according to Pierson. Red carpet festivities were severely curtailed and bleacher seats along Hollywood Boulevard were dismantled. Periodically during commercial breaks ABC News anchor Peter Jennings gave news brief updates regarding events happening overseas. Michael Moore accepted the Best Documentary Feature award for Bowling for Columbine by speaking out against President George W. Bush and the war.
At the time of the nominations announcement on February 11, the combined gross of the five Best Picture nominees reached $486 million in the US box office. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was the highest earner among the Best Picture nominees with $321 million in domestic receipts. Gangs of New York followed with $70.1 million while Chicago earned $64.5 million. The Hours made $21.8 million and The Pianist brought in only $9.1 million. Of the top 50 grossing movies of the year 47 nominations went to 14 films on the list. Only The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers ranked second overall while My Big Fat Greek Wedding came fifth. Spider-Man held the number one spot but received no major acting or directing nominations despite its massive success.
The American telecast drew an average of 33.04 million viewers over its length which represented a 21% decrease from the previous year's ceremony. An estimated 62.55 million total viewers watched all or part of the awards show. Television critic Robert Bianco of USA Today commended Martin's hosting performance for using wit and insider status to win crowd confidence. Tom Shales of The Washington Post gave high marks to Martin calling him a welcome sardonic voice amid usual self-adulation. Some media outlets were more critical of the show claiming Martin looked as though he had thrown in the towel backstage. Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly bemoaned that Martin seemed off-key especially in the early going. Cable news coverage of the Iraq War diverted home viewers' attention and contributed to lower ratings compared to prior ceremonies.
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Common questions
When and where did the 75th Academy Awards ceremony take place?
The 75th Academy Awards ceremony took place on the 23rd of March 2003 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. This event marked the eleventh time producer Gilbert Cates oversaw the telecast for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Who won Best Actor at the 75th Academy Awards and how old was he?
Adrien Brody became the youngest person ever to win Best Actor at age 29 for his role in The Pianist. Roman Polanski also won Best Director for The Pianist during this same ceremony.
Why were red carpet festivities curtailed during the 75th Academy Awards?
Several actors including Cate Blanchett, Jim Carrey, and Will Smith resigned from their roles as presenters citing safety concerns following the American-led invasion of Iraq. AMPAS president Frank Pierson refused to delay the gala despite pleas from broadcaster ABC to postpone proceedings up to a week.
Which film earned the highest box office gross among the 75th Academy Awards Best Picture nominees?
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was the highest earner among the Best Picture nominees with $321 million in domestic receipts. Gangs of New York followed with $70.1 million while Chicago earned $64.5 million.
How many viewers watched the 75th Academy Awards telecast on television?
The American telecast drew an average of 33.04 million viewers over its length which represented a 21% decrease from the previous year's ceremony. An estimated 62.55 million total viewers watched all or part of the awards show.