Academy Awards

52nd Academy Awards

April 14, 1980Dorothy Chandler PavilionFilms from 197929 categories
Share this ceremony:

Best Picture Winner

Kramer vs. Kramer

Kramer vs. Kramer

Best Picture

Director: Robert Benton

Studio: Columbia

A recently divorced man must learn to care for his young son while facing a bitter custody battle.

From the Worthy Podcast

Divorce Films and Divorce Rates: Art Holds a Mirror to Reality

How was divorce portrayed in early Hollywood?

Was it seen as a comedic misunderstanding (The Awful Truth (1937), The Philadelphia Story (1940)?

The Hays Code (started in 1934) affected its depiction, losing its sense of realism.

How did cultural shifts influence divorce films?

Post-WWII: Did movies reflect how war strained marriages (Mrs. Miniver)?

All Categories (29)

Best Picture

Kramer vs. KramerStanley R. Jaffe, Producer
Winner
All That JazzRobert Alan Aurthur, Producer
Apocalypse NowFrancis Coppola, Producer; Fred Roos, Gray Frederickson and Tom Sternberg, Co-Producers
Breaking AwayPeter Yates, Producer
Norma RaeTamara Asseyev and Alex Rose, Producers

Actor In A Leading Role

Dustin HoffmanKramer vs. Kramer {"Ted Kramer"}
Winner
Al Pacino...And Justice for All {"Arthur Kirkland"}
Jack LemmonThe China Syndrome {"Jack Godell"}
Peter SellersBeing There {"John Chance, the gardener (aka Chauncey Gardiner)"}
Roy ScheiderAll That Jazz {"Joe Gideon"}

Actor In A Supporting Role

Melvyn DouglasBeing There {"Benjamin Rand"}
Winner
Frederic ForrestThe Rose {"Dyer"}
Justin HenryKramer vs. Kramer {"Billy Kramer"}
Mickey RooneyThe Black Stallion {"Henry Dailey"}
Robert DuvallApocalypse Now {"Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore"}

Actress In A Leading Role

Sally FieldNorma Rae {"Norma Rae"}
Winner
Bette MidlerThe Rose {"Rose"}
Jane FondaThe China Syndrome {"Kimberly Wells"}
Jill ClayburghStarting Over {"Marilyn Homberg"}
Marsha MasonChapter Two {"Jennie MacLaine"}

Actress In A Supporting Role

Meryl StreepKramer vs. Kramer {"Joanna Kramer"}
Winner
Barbara BarrieBreaking Away {"Mrs. Stohler"}
Candice BergenStarting Over {"Jessica Potter"}
Jane AlexanderKramer vs. Kramer {"Margaret Phelps"}
Mariel HemingwayManhattan {"Tracy"}

Directing

Kramer vs. KramerRobert Benton
Winner
All That JazzBob Fosse
Apocalypse NowFrancis Coppola
Breaking AwayPeter Yates
La Cage aux FollesEdouard Molinaro

Writing (Screenplay Based On Material From Another Medium)

Kramer vs. KramerRobert Benton
Winner
A Little RomanceAllan Burns
Apocalypse NowJohn Milius, Francis Coppola
La Cage aux FollesFrancis Veber, Edouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Jean Poiret
Norma RaeIrving Ravetch, Harriet Frank, Jr.

Writing (Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen)

Breaking AwaySteve Tesich
Winner
...And Justice for AllValerie Curtin, Barry Levinson
All That JazzRobert Alan Aurthur, Bob Fosse
ManhattanWoody Allen, Marshall Brickman
The China SyndromeMike Gray, T.S. Cook, James Bridges

Cinematography

Apocalypse NowVittorio Storaro
Winner
1941William A. Fraker
All That JazzGiuseppe Rotunno
Kramer vs. KramerNestor Almendros
The Black HoleFrank Phillips

Music (Original Score)

A Little RomanceGeorges Delerue
Winner
10Henry Mancini
Star Trek - The Motion PictureJerry Goldsmith
The Amityville HorrorLalo Schifrin
The ChampDave Grusin

Music (Original Song)

"It Goes Like It Goes" from Norma RaeMusic by David Shire; Lyric by Norman Gimbel
Winner
"I'll Never Say 'Goodbye'" from The PromiseMusic by David Shire; Lyric by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
"It's Easy To Say" from 10Music by Henry Mancini; Lyric by Robert Wells
"The Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet MovieMusic and Lyric by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher
"Through The Eyes Of Love" from Ice CastlesMusic by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyric by Carole Bayer Sager

Art Direction

All That JazzArt Direction: Philip Rosenberg, Tony Walton; Set Decoration: Edward Stewart, Gary Brink
Winner
AlienArt Direction: Michael Seymour, Les Dilley, Roger Christian; Set Decoration: Ian Whittaker
Apocalypse NowArt Direction: Dean Tavoularis, Angelo Graham; Set Decoration: George R. Nelson
Star Trek - The Motion PictureArt Direction: Harold Michelson, Joe Jennings, Leon Harris, John Vallone; Set Decoration: Linda DeScenna
The China SyndromeArt Direction: George Jenkins; Set Decoration: Arthur Jeph Parker

Visual Effects

AlienH.R. Giger, Carlo Rambaldi, Brian Johnson, Nick Allder, Denys Ayling
Winner
1941William A. Fraker, A. D. Flowers, Gregory Jein
MoonrakerDerek Meddings, Paul Wilson, John Evans
Star Trek - The Motion PictureDouglas Trumbull, John Dykstra, Richard Yuricich, Robert Swarthe, Dave Stewart, Grant McCune
The Black HolePeter Ellenshaw, Art Cruickshank, Eustace Lycett, Danny Lee, Harrison Ellenshaw, Joe Hale

Film Editing

All That JazzAlan Heim
Winner
Apocalypse NowRichard Marks, Walter Murch, Gerald B. Greenberg, Lisa Fruchtman
Kramer vs. KramerJerry Greenberg
The Black StallionRobert Dalva
The RoseRobert L. Wolfe, C. Timothy O'Meara

Sound

Apocalypse NowWalter Murch, Mark Berger, Richard Beggs, Nat Boxer
Winner
1941Robert Knudson, Robert J. Glass, Don MacDougall, Gene S. Cantamessa
MeteorWilliam McCaughey, Aaron Rochin, Michael J. Kohut, Jack Solomon
The Electric HorsemanArthur Piantadosi, Les Fresholtz, Michael Minkler, Al Overton
The RoseTheodore Soderberg, Douglas Williams, Paul Wells, Jim Webb

Costume Design

All That JazzAlbert Wolsky
Winner
AgathaShirley Russell
Butch and Sundance: The Early DaysWilliam Ware Theiss
La Cage aux FollesPiero Tosi, Ambra Danon
The EuropeansJudy Moorcroft

Documentary (Feature)

Best BoyIra Wohl, Producer
Winner
Generation on the WindDavid A. Vassar, Producer
Going the DistancePaul Cowan and Jacques Bobet, Producers
The Killing GroundSteve Singer and Tom Priestley, Producers
The War at HomeGlenn Silber and Barry Alexander Brown, Producers

Documentary (Short Subject)

Paul Robeson: Tribute to an ArtistSaul J. Turell, Producer
Winner
DaeRisto Teofilovski, Producer
Koryo CeladonDonald A. Connolly and James R. Messenger, Producers
NailsPhillip Borsos, Producer
Remember MeDick Young, Producer

Short Film (Animated)

Every ChildDerek Lamb, Producer
Winner
Dream DollBob Godfrey and Zlatko Grgic, Producers
It's So Nice to Have a Wolf around the HousePaul Fierlinger, Producer

Short Film (Live Action)

Board and CareSarah Pillsbury and Ron Ellis, Producers
Winner
Bravery in the FieldRoman Kroitor and Stefan Wodoslawsky, Producers
Oh Brother, My BrotherCarol Lowell and Ross Lowell, Producers
Solly's DinerHarry Mathias, Jay Zukerman and Larry Hankin, Producers
The Solar FilmSaul Bass and Michael Britton, Producers

Foreign Language Film

The Tin DrumFederal Republic of Germany
Winner
A Simple StoryFrance
Mama Turns a HundredSpain
The Maids of WilkoPoland
To Forget VeniceItaly

Honorary Award

To Alec Guinness for advancing the art of screen acting through a host of memorable and distinguished performances.
Winner
IRVING G. THALBERG MEMORIAL AWARD
Ray Stark
To Hal Elias for his dedication and distinguished service to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Medal Of Commendation

To John O. Aalberg in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Winner
To Charles G. Clarke in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
To John G. Frayne in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Music (Original Song Score And Its Adaptation Or Adaptation Score)

All That JazzAdaptation Score by Ralph Burns
Winner
Breaking AwayAdaptation Score by Patrick Williams
The Muppet MovieSong Score by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher; Adaptation Score by Paul Williams

Scientific Or Technical Award (Academy Award Of Merit)

To MARK SERRURIER for the progressive development of the Moviola from the 1924 invention of his father, Iwan Serrurier, to the present Series 20 sophisticated film editing equipment. [Editorial]
Winner

Scientific Or Technical Award (Scientific And Engineering Award)

To NEIMAN-TILLAR ASSOCIATES for the creative development and to MINI-MICRO SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED, for the design and engineering of an Automated Computer-Controlled Editing Sound System (ACCESS) for motion picture post-production. [Sound]
Winner

Scientific Or Technical Award (Technical Achievement Award)

To MICHAEL V. CHEWEY, WALTER G. EGGERS and ALLEN HECHT of M-G-M Laboratories for the development of a Computer-controlled Paper Tape Programmer System and its applications in the motion picture laboratory. [Laboratory]
Winner
To A. D. FLOWERS and LOGAN R. FRAZEE for the development of a device to control flight patterns of miniature airplanes during motion picture photography. [Stage Operations]
To BRUCE LYON and JOHN LAMB for the development of a Video Animation System for testing motion picture animation sequences. [Cartoon Process]
To IRWIN YOUNG, PAUL KAUFMAN and FREDRIK SCHLYTER of Du Art Film Laboratories, Incorporated, for the development of a Computer-controlled Paper Tape Programmer System and its applications in the motion picture laboratory. [Laboratory]
To JAMES S. STANFIELD and PAUL W. TRESTER for the development and manufacture of a device for the repair or protection of sprocket holes in motion picture film. [Projection]
To PHOTO RESEARCH DIVISION OF KOLLMORGEN CORPORATION for the development of the Spectra Series II Cine Special Exposure Meter for motion picture photography. [Photography]
To ROSS LOWELL of Lowel-Light Manufacturing, Incorporated, for the development of compact lighting equipment for motion picture photography. [Lighting]
To ZORAN PERISIC of Courier Films, Limited, for the Zoptic Special Optical Effects Device for motion picture photography. [Special Photographic]

Special Achievement Award (Sound Editing)

The Black StallionAlan Splet
Winner
WorthyWorthy

The breakdown of every Best Picture winner from past to present.

Newsletter

New episodes, in your inbox.

Worthy Podcast

Disclaimer: This website is a non-profit, fan-made project created for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not associated with, affiliated with, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the Academy Awards, or the Oscars. "Academy Awards," "Oscars," and the Oscar statuette design are registered trademarks and copyrighted property of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other trademarks, service marks, and trade names referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended. All film data, ratings, and historical information are compiled from publicly available sources.