I remember being at a merry Oscar watching party with great food, guests and ambiance. But when the opening number started, everything stopped and people just stood there watching the screen - like it was an automobile accident. I'll never forget Rob Lowe and Snow White, it was like something from a dream - only it was real!!
4:26 Opening ("N-n-notorious") 32:04 Bird wins Best Sound 34:57 Who Framed Roger Rabbit wins Best Sound Effects Editing 38:23 Beetlejuice wins Best Makeup 58:44 Dangerous Liaisons wins Best Costume Design 1:10:12 "Let the River Run" wins Best Original Song from Working Girl 1:13:49 Pelle the Conqueror (🇩🇰) wins Best Foreign Language Film 1:25:25 Who Framed Roger Rabbit wins Best Visual Effects 1:46:58 Hotel Terminus: The Life and Times of Klaus Barbie wins Best Documentary Feature 1:58:45 Mississippi Burning wins Best Cinematography 2:03:24 Tin Toy wins Best Animated Short Film 2:07:52 Dustin Hoffman wins Best Actor for Rain Man 2:17:21 Who Framed Roger Rabbit wins Best Film Editing
I mean, certainly not because the Academy members and its choices weren't political. 😅 The show itself just didn't come across as that political, because the artists wouldn't dare to speak up about the various social and political grievances at an award show, certainly not live in front of "the firm" with all its political bias. ... But since you brought it up, I hear quite a few political statements in this video.
Not that long ago 1989, but already I can say they don't make them this good anymore, genuine movie stars with bags of talent. Jodie Foster in the late 1980s was pure heat to the eyes.
I can't believe THIS is the number people have been complaining about for over 30 years. Prior to Rob Lowe ruining it with his flat voice and barely-there charisma, the opening piece was...surprisingly spectacular! Funny, imaginative, weird, experimental. Utterly unlike anything attempted on this annual telecast before or since. It does make me ask "wtf?" but with a smile. They took a big swing with this, and I applaud them for it. It's nuts!
Oh yes, the infamous Snow White Oscars. When they finally do that Chinese theatre number, the audience applauded as if it were the best thing they had ever seen. Any other year they would have groaned at that too so I can only assume they were just relieved to have Snow White and Rob Lowe stop embarrassing themselves.
I've loved Dustin Hoffman from the first time I saw him in "The Graduate". One of the greatest actors of his generation but with something extra missing in most: a boyish vulnerability that's so appealing. Seeing him on the stage accepting his second best actor Oscar I was moved by his boyish half smiles, kind of shy looks, and heartfelt speech- until I realized that he never once mentioned his co-star, Tom Cruise. Not once. Did research and found out that Tom had been voted in January of 1989 - 2 months before the Oscars - the #1 top box office star of 1988 (same as in 1986) and that Dustin - who in real life is not boyishly shy or all that vulnerable - was "upset" that his co-star was a bigger star than him.
It was moments like this that caused Allan Carr to quit show business after being scathingly slammed for this ceremony. As a result, the following year, Gilbert Cates was brought in instead.
even knowing i was a baby at this time but the 61st academy awards in 1989 honoring the films made in 1988 should be ashamed at themselves for not having these 10 songs in the best original song category 'love is my decision' from 'arthur 2: on the rocks 'nobody's fool' from 'caddyshack II' surrender to me' from tequila sunrise 'why should i worry?' from oliver & company 'coming to america' from 'coming to america' 'colors' from 'colors' 'da butt' from school daze' kokomo' from 'cocktail 'hole in my heart' from 'vibes' ' "If We Hold On Together" from 'the land before time' these 10 songs would have been in competition with 'let the river run' from 'working girl' which won that year i dont know about 'put a little love in my heart' from 'scrooged' because it was a song written in 1969
you need to remember the animation industry was just finding it's footing again thanks to Roger Rabbit (Little Mermaid would get released months after this ceremony) which is why they probably didn't include Why Should I worry or If We Hold On Together
yes the opening number is cheesy and dumb, but it was nice that they highlighted all the stars that were still with them (at the time, hell Lucille Ball was gone not long after this but amazingly Kim Novack is still here) I kind of feel bad for the lady that portrayed Snow White (why was she even there? at the time her last re-release was two years prior, and the last one would be in 1993 and then it finally got a VHS release) gee it's too bad they didn't have Billy Crystal on Speed Dial at the time then Don't worry Frances you'll get your first soon man Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum looked like an awesome couple, what happened? 27:51 oh very funny Jane Thankfully the A-hole that killed those civil rights workers (subject of Mississippi Burning) was finally sentenced to life in prison in 2005...and died last year Take a good look people, in 14 months Sammy Davis Jr will be gone (I'm just sorry it was on the same day as Jim Henson) oh please none of those people have won oscars (dang Holly Robinson Pete has an amazing voice) gee I wonder who taught Corey Feldman to dance, eh Patrick Dempsey didn't need an Oscar he landed Grey's Anatomy....a comeback is better than nothing, and Savion Glover would win a Tony award, but I guess most of the people in the number still had decent enough careers I just googled Jason Gaes...he died in 2018.....from a tumor caused by the radiation that treated his childhood cancer was Dan Quayle that much of a joke back then? Don't worry Robin you'll get yours Kind of ironic that reality imitated art for Ryan O'Neal (may he RIP same goes for those that have passed since this ceremony most recently Donald Sutherland)
I really wish Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Bull Durham, and Dead Ringers had received more Oscar love. I would have replaced Accidental Tourist and Dangerous Liaisons with Bull Durham and Roger Rabbit for Best Picture. Jeremy Irons (Dead Ringers) would replace Max Von Sydow in the Best Actor category. Susan Sarandon (Bull Durham) would replace Sigourney Weaver in the Best Actress category. I would also replace Alec Guinness with Tim Robbins (Bull Durham) in the Supporting Actor category. And, give Howard Shore a nomination for his work on Dead Ringers instead of George Fenton for Dangerous Liaisons. I honestly can't remember that film's music while Dead Ringers score was chilling and tragic.