# 46th Academy Awards

The 46th Academy Awards were presented on Tuesday, April 2, 1974, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. The ceremonies were presided over by Burt Reynolds, Diana Ross, John Huston, and David Niven.
The Sting won 7 awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for George Roy Hill. The Exorcist and The Way We Were were the only other films to win multiple awards. Marvin Hamlisch won 3 awards, making him the third person to achieve this feat and, to date, the only person who has won 3 Oscars in one year without winning Best Picture. As of 2023, it is the most recent ceremony in which the 3 highest-grossing films of the year were nominated for Best Picture (The Exorcist, The Sting and American Graffiti).

## Winners and nominees

Nominations announced on February 19, 1974. Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface and indicated with a double dagger (‡).
| Best Picture | Best Directing |
| The Sting – Tony Bill, Julia Phillips and Michael Phillips, producers‡ American Graffiti – Francis Ford Coppola, producer; Gary Kurtz, co-producer Cries and Whispers – Ingmar Bergman, producer The Exorcist – William Peter Blatty, producer A Touch of Class – Melvin Frank, producer | George Roy Hill – The Sting‡ George Lucas – American Graffiti Ingmar Bergman – Cries and Whispers William Friedkin – The Exorcist Bernardo Bertolucci – Last Tango in Paris |
| Best Actor | Best Actress |
| Jack Lemmon – Save the Tiger as Harry Stoner‡ Marlon Brando – Last Tango in Paris as Paul Jack Nicholson – The Last Detail as Billy "Badass" Buddusky Al Pacino – Serpico as Frank Serpico Robert Redford – The Sting as Johnny Hooker | Glenda Jackson – A Touch of Class as Vicki Allessio‡ Ellen Burstyn – The Exorcist as Chris MacNeil Marsha Mason – Cinderella Liberty as Maggie Paul Barbra Streisand – The Way We Were as Katie Morosky Joanne Woodward – Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams as Rita Pritchett-Walden |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| John Houseman – The Paper Chase as Professor Charles W. Kingsfield Jr.‡ Vincent Gardenia – Bang the Drum Slowly as Dutch Jack Gilford – Save the Tiger as Phil Jason Miller – The Exorcist as Damien Karras Randy Quaid – The Last Detail as Larry Meadows | Tatum O'Neal – Paper Moon as Addie Loggins‡ Linda Blair – The Exorcist as Regan MacNeil Candy Clark – American Graffiti as Debbie Dunham Madeline Kahn – Paper Moon as Trixie Delight Sylvia Sidney – Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams as Mrs. Pritchett |
| Best Writing (Story and Screenplay -- Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced) | Best Writing (Screenplay -- Based on Material from Another Medium) |
| The Sting – David S. Ward‡ American Graffiti – George Lucas, Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck Cries and Whispers – Ingmar Bergman Save the Tiger – Steve Shagan A Touch of Class – Melvin Frank and Jack Rose | The Exorcist – William Peter Blatty based on his novel ‡ The Last Detail – Robert Towne based on the novel by Darryl Ponicsan The Paper Chase – James Bridges based on the novel by John Jay Osborn Jr. Paper Moon – Alvin Sargent based on the novel Addie Pray by Joe David Brown Serpico – Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler based on the book by Peter Maas |
| Best Foreign Language Film | Best Documentary (Feature) |
| Day for Night – France‡ The House on Chelouche Street – Israel L'Invitation – Switzerland The Pedestrian – Germany (West) Turkish Delight – Netherlands | The Great American Cowboy – Kieth Merrill‡ Always a New Beginning – John D. Goodell Battle of Berlin (Schlacht um Berlin) – Franz Baake and Jost von Morr Journey to the Outer Limits – Alexander Grasshoff Walls of Fire – Herbert Kline and Edmund Penney |
| Best Documentary (Short Subject) | Best Short Subject (Live Action) |
| Princeton: A Search for Answers – Julian Krainin and DeWitt L. Sage Jr.‡ Background Christo's Valley Curtain Four Stones for Kanemitsu Paisti ag obair | The Bolero – Allan Miller and William Fertik‡ Clockmaker – Richard Gayer Life Times Nine – Pen Densham and John Watson |
| Best Short Subject (Animated) | Best Music (Original Dramatic Score) |
| Frank Film – Frank Mouris‡ The Legend of John Henry – Nick Bosustow and David Adams Pulcinella – Emanuele Luzzati and Guilo Gianini | The Way We Were – Marvin Hamlisch‡ Cinderella Liberty – John Williams The Day of the Dolphin – Georges Delerue Papillon – Jerry Goldsmith A Touch of Class – John Cameron |
| Best Music (Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation -or- Scoring: Adaptation) | Best Music (Song) |
| The Sting – Adapted by Marvin Hamlisch‡ Jesus Christ Superstar – Adapted by André Previn, Herbert W. Spencer and Andrew Lloyd Webber Tom Sawyer – Song Score by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman; Adapted by John Williams | "The Way We Were" — The Way We Were • Music by Marvin Hamlisch • Lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman‡ "All That Love Went to Waste" — A Touch of Class • Music by George Barrie • Lyrics by Sammy Cahn "Live and Let Die" — Live and Let Die • Music and Lyrics by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney "Love" — Robin Hood • Music by George Bruns • Lyrics by Floyd Huddleston "(You're So) Nice to Be Around" — Cinderella Liberty • Music by John Williams • Lyrics by Paul Williams |
| Best Costume Design | Best Sound |
| The Sting – Edith Head‡ Cries and Whispers – Marik Vos Ludwig – Piero Tosi Tom Sawyer – Donfeld The Way We Were – Dorothy Jeakins and Moss Mabry | The Exorcist – Robert Knudson and Chris Newman‡ The Day of the Dolphin – Richard Portman and Larry Jost The Paper Chase – Donald O. Mitchell and Larry Jost Paper Moon – Richard Portman and Les Fresholtz The Sting – Ronald Pierce and Robert R. Bertrand |
| Best Art Direction | Best Cinematography |
| The Sting – Art Direction: Henry Bumstead; Set Decoration: James W. Payne‡ Brother Sun, Sister Moon – Art Direction: Lorenzo Mongiardino and Gianni Quaranta; Set Decoration: Carmelo Patrono The Exorcist – Art Direction: Bill Malley; Set Decoration: Jerry Wunderlich Tom Sawyer – Art Direction: Philip Jefferies; Set Decoration: Robert De Vestel The Way We Were – Art Direction: Stephen B. Grimes; Set Decoration: William Kiernan (posthumous nomination) | Cries and Whispers – Sven Nykvist‡ The Exorcist – Owen Roizman Jonathan Livingston Seagull – Jack Couffer The Sting – Robert Surtees The Way We Were – Harry Stradling Jr. |
| Best Film Editing ||
| The Sting — William H. Reynolds‡ American Graffiti — Verna Fields and Marcia Lucas The Day of the Jackal — Ralph Kemplen The Exorcist – Jordan Leondopoulos, Bud S. Smith, Evan A. Lottman and Norman Gay Jonathan Livingston Seagull — Frank P. Keller and James Galloway ||

### Honorary Awards

* To Henri Langlois for his devotion to the art of film, his massive contributions in preserving its past and his unswerving faith in its future.
* To Groucho Marx in recognition of his brilliant creativity and for the unequalled achievements of the Marx Brothers in the art of motion picture comedy.

### Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

* Lew Wasserman

### Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Awards

* Lawrence Weingarten

## Streaking incident

The 46th Academy Awards ceremony is perhaps best remembered as the one in which a streaker named Robert Opel ran across the stage naked while flashing a peace sign with his hand. In response, host David Niven jokingly quipped, "Isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?" Terrence O'Flaherty, a columnist from San Francisco, responded by saying that "there's only one trouble with streaking—the wrong people usually do it. The ones who should have removed their clothes were Cher Bono, Twiggy and Elizabeth Taylor".
The incident would be referenced 50 years later during the 96th Academy Awards in 2024; host Jimmy Kimmel brought up the streaker and asked the audience, "can you imagine a naked man at the Oscars today?" Eventually, a "nude" John Cena, holding the award envelope for Best Costume Design over his crotch, emerged from backstage.

## Other notable events

* First-time nominee George Lucas made his debut at the Academy Awards with his nostalgic teen drama American Graffiti. It was nominated for Best Picture (Francis Ford Coppola and Gary Kurtz), Director & Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Produced or Published (Lucas), Editor (Marcia Lucas) and Candy Clark for Best Supporting Actress.
* Jack Lemmon bet his friend Walter Matthau $1,000 to $500 that he would lose the Academy Award for Best Actor; he did not win the bet.
* William Friedkin announced that he would not attend the ball celebrating the Oscars out of enragement that The Exorcist failed to win Best Picture.
* Katharine Hepburn made her first and only appearance at the ceremony to present The Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award to her longtime friend Lawrence Weingarten. Whenever she won an Oscar, she always had either the presenter or another person associated with her film accept it on her behalf. Upon taking the stage, she received a standing ovation, to which she replied "I'm living proof that a person can wait forty-one years to be unselfish."
* Coincidentally, Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor and Connie Stevens, who were all ex-wives of Eddie Fisher's, each appeared in some form.
* This was Susan Hayward's last public appearance before she died of brain cancer a year later (1975).
* At 10 years, 148 days of age, Tatum O'Neal won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Paper Moon. She became the youngest winner of an Oscar, a feat unmatched to this day.
* During the ceremony, the whole in memoriam tribute was for legendary producer Samuel Goldwyn, who had died at age 94, three months prior to the event. He is the only person to have an Academy Awards ceremony dedicated solely to him.
* Longtime film veteran/comedian Groucho Marx was presented with an Honorary Academy Award for his contributions to the cinema.
* Julia Phillips of The Sting became the first female producer to win for Best Picture.
* With Tatum O'Neal being 10 years old and John Houseman being 71 years old, this was the biggest age gap ever for 2 acting wins.

## Multiple nominations and awards

Films that received multiple nominations :
| Nominations | Film |
| 10 | The Exorcist |
| 10 | The Sting |
| 6 | The Way We Were |
| 5 | American Graffiti |
| 5 | Cries and Whispers |
| 5 | A Touch of Class |
| 4 | Paper Moon |
| 3 | Cinderella Liberty |
| 3 | The Last Detail |
| 3 | The Paper Chase |
| 3 | Save the Tiger |
| 3 | Tom Sawyer |
| 2 | The Day of the Dolphin |
| 2 | Jonathan Livingston Seagull |
| 2 | Last Tango in Paris |
| 2 | Serpico |
| 2 | Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams |
Films that received multiple awards :
| Awards | Film |
| 7 | The Sting |
| 2 | The Exorcist |
| The Way We Were |

## 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 46th Academy Awards |
| Walter Mirisch (AMPAS President) | Gave opening remarks welcoming guests to the awards ceremony |
| Linda Blair Billy Dee Williams | Presenters of the Short Subjects Awards |
| James Caan Raquel Welch | Presenters of the Documentary Awards |
| Jack Valenti | Presenter of the Honorary Award to Henri Langlois (with Gene Kelly serving as his English-language interpreter) |
| Candice Bergen Marcel Marceau | Presenters of the award for Best Sound |
| Richard Benjamin Paula Prentiss | Presenters of the award for Best Film Editing |
| Alfred Hitchcock | Presenter of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Lew Wasserman |
| Sylvia Sidney Paul Winfield | Presenters of the award for Best Art Direction |
| Peter Falk Twiggy | Presenters of the award for Best Costume Design |
| Peter Lawford Cicely Tyson | Presenters of the award for Best Cinematography |
| Yul Brynner | Presenter of the award for Best Foreign Language Film |
| Donald O'Connor Debbie Reynolds | Presenters of the award for Best Original Song and/or Adaptation Score |
| Cher Henry Mancini | Presenters of the award for Best Original Dramatic Score |
| Marsha Mason Neil Simon | Presenters of the award for Best Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Produced or Published |
| Angie Dickinson Jason Miller | Presenters of the award for Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium |
| Ann-Margret Burt Bacharach | Presenters of the award for Best Song |
| Ernest Borgnine Cybill Shepherd | Presenters of the award for Best Supporting Actor |
| Charles Bronson Jill Ireland | Presenters of the award for Best Supporting Actress |
| Shirley MacLaine Walter Matthau | Presenters of the award for Best Director |
| Katharine Hepburn | Presenter of the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award |
| Jack Lemmon | Presenter of the Honorary Award to Groucho Marx |
| Susan Hayward Charlton Heston | Presenters of the award for Best Actress |
| Liza Minnelli Gregory Peck | Presenters of the award for Best Actor |
| Elizabeth Taylor | Presenter of the award for Best Picture |

### Performers

| Name | Role | Performed |
| Henry Mancini | Musical arranger and Conductor | Orchestral |
| Liza Minnelli | Performer | "Oscar" |
| Academy Awards Chorus | Performers | "Thank You Very Much" from Scrooge during the Academy Awards' 45th Anniversary montage |
| Dyan Cannon | Performer | "All the Love That Went to Waste" from A Touch of Class |
| Connie Stevens | Performer | "Live and Let Die" from Live and Let Die |
| Jodie Foster and Johnny Whitaker | Performers | "Love" from Robin Hood |
| Peggy Lee | Performer | "The Way We Were" from The Way We Were |
| Telly Savalas | Performer | "You're So Nice to Be Around" from Cinderella Liberty |
| Academy Awards Orchestra | Performers | “Hooray for Hollywood” (orchestral) during the closing credits |