Academy Awards

56th Academy Awards

April 9, 1984Dorothy Chandler PavilionFilms from 198328 categories
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Best Picture Winner

Terms of Endearment

Terms of Endearment

Best Picture

Director: James L. Brooks

Studio: Paramount

The complicated relationship between a mother and her daughter, spanning over thirty years.

All Categories (28)

Best Picture

Terms of EndearmentJames L. Brooks, Producer
Winner
Tender MerciesPhilip S. Hobel, Producer
The Big ChillMichael Shamberg, Producer
The DresserPeter Yates, Producer
The Right StuffIrwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, Producers

Actor In A Leading Role

Robert DuvallTender Mercies {"Mac Sledge"}
Winner
Albert FinneyThe Dresser {"Sir"}
Michael CaineEducating Rita {"Dr. Frank Bryant"}
Tom ContiReuben, Reuben {"Gowan McGland"}
Tom CourtenayThe Dresser {"Norman"}

Actor In A Supporting Role

Jack NicholsonTerms of Endearment {"Garrett Breedlove"}
Winner
Charles DurningTo Be or Not to Be {"Col. Erhardt"}
John LithgowTerms of Endearment {"Sam Burns"}
Rip TornCross Creek {"Marsh Turner"}
Sam ShepardThe Right Stuff {"Chuck Yeager"}

Actress In A Leading Role

Shirley MacLaineTerms of Endearment {"Aurora Greenway"}
Winner
Debra WingerTerms of Endearment {"Emma Horton"}
Jane AlexanderTestament {"Carol Wetherly"}
Julie WaltersEducating Rita {"Rita"}
Meryl StreepSilkwood {"Karen Silkwood"}

Actress In A Supporting Role

Linda HuntThe Year of Living Dangerously {"Billy Kwan"}
Winner
Alfre WoodardCross Creek {"Geechee"}
Amy IrvingYentl {"Hadaas"}
CherSilkwood {"Dolly Pelliker"}
Glenn CloseThe Big Chill {"Sarah"}

Directing

Terms of EndearmentJames L. Brooks
Winner
Fanny & AlexanderIngmar Bergman
SilkwoodMike Nichols
Tender MerciesBruce Beresford
The DresserPeter Yates

Writing (Screenplay Based On Material From Another Medium)

Terms of EndearmentJames L. Brooks
Winner
BetrayalHarold Pinter
Educating RitaWilly Russell
Reuben, ReubenJulius J. Epstein
The DresserRonald Harwood

Writing (Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen)

Tender MerciesHorton Foote
Winner
Fanny & AlexanderIngmar Bergman
SilkwoodNora Ephron, Alice Arlen
The Big ChillLawrence Kasdan, Barbara Benedek
WarGamesLawrence Lasker, Walter F. Parkes

Cinematography

Fanny & AlexanderSven Nykvist
Winner
FlashdanceDon Peterman
The Right StuffCaleb Deschanel
WarGamesWilliam A. Fraker
ZeligGordon Willis

Music (Original Score)

The Right StuffBill Conti
Winner
Cross CreekLeonard Rosenman
Return of the JediJohn Williams
Terms of EndearmentMichael Gore
Under FireJerry Goldsmith

Music (Original Song)

"Flashdance...What A Feeling" from FlashdanceMusic by Giorgio Moroder; Lyric by Keith Forsey and Irene Cara
Winner
"Maniac" from FlashdanceMusic and Lyric by Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
"Over You" from Tender MerciesMusic and Lyric by Austin Roberts and Bobby Hart
"Papa, Can You Hear Me?" from YentlMusic by Michel Legrand; Lyric by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
"The Way He Makes Me Feel" from YentlMusic by Michel Legrand; Lyric by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

Art Direction

Fanny & AlexanderAnna Asp
Winner
Return of the JediArt Direction: Norman Reynolds, Fred Hole, James Schoppe; Set Decoration: Michael Ford
Terms of EndearmentArt Direction: Polly Platt, Harold Michelson; Set Decoration: Tom Pedigo, Anthony Mondello
The Right StuffArt Direction: Geoffrey Kirkland, Richard J. Lawrence, W. Stewart Campbell, Peter Romero; Set Decoration: Pat Pending, George R. Nelson
YentlArt Direction: Roy Walker, Leslie Tomkins; Set Decoration: Tessa Davies

Film Editing

The Right StuffGlenn Farr, Lisa Fruchtman, Stephen A. Rotter, Douglas Stewart, Tom Rolf
Winner
Blue ThunderFrank Morriss, Edward Abroms
FlashdanceBud Smith, Walt Mulconery
SilkwoodSam O'Steen
Terms of EndearmentRichard Marks

Sound

The Right StuffMark Berger, Tom Scott, Randy Thom, David MacMillan
Winner
Never Cry WolfAlan R. Splet, Todd Boekelheide, Randy Thom, David Parker
Return of the JediBen Burtt, Gary Summers, Randy Thom, Tony Dawe
Terms of EndearmentDonald O. Mitchell, Rick Kline, Kevin O'Connell, Jim Alexander
WarGamesMichael J. Kohut, Carlos de Larios, Aaron Rochin, Willie D. Burton

Sound Effects Editing

The Right StuffJay Boekelheide
Winner
Return of the JediBen Burtt

Costume Design

Fanny & AlexanderMarik Vos
Winner
Cross CreekJoe I. Tompkins
Heart Like a WheelWilliam Ware Theiss
The Return of Martin GuerreAnne-Marie Marchand
ZeligSanto Loquasto

Documentary (Feature)

He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin'Emile Ardolino, Producer
Winner
Children of DarknessRichard Kotuk and Ara Chekmayan, Producers
First ContactBob Connolly and Robin Anderson, Producers
Seeing RedJames Klein and Julia Reichert, Producers
The Profession of ArmsMichael Bryans and Tina Viljoen, Producers

Documentary (Short Subject)

Flamenco at 5:15Cynthia Scott and Adam Symansky, Producers
Winner
In the Nuclear Shadow: What Can the Children Tell Us?Vivienne Verdon-Roe and Eric Thiermann, Producers
Sewing WomanArthur Dong, Producer
Spaces: The Architecture of Paul RudolphRobert Eisenhardt, Producer
You Are Free (Ihr Zent Frei)Dea Brokman and Ilene Landis, Producers

Short Film (Animated)

Sundae in New YorkJimmy Picker, Producer
Winner
Mickey's Christmas CarolBurny Mattinson, Producer
Sound of Sunshine - Sound of RainEda Godel Hallinan, Producer

Short Film (Live Action)

Boys and GirlsJanice L. Platt, Producer
Winner
Goodie-Two-ShoesIan Emes, Producer
Overnight SensationJon N. Bloom, Producer

Foreign Language Film

Fanny & AlexanderSweden
Winner
CarmenSpain
Entre NousFrance
Job's RevoltHungary
Le BalAlgeria

Honorary Award

To Hal Roach, in recognition of his unparalleled record of distinguished contributions to the motion picture art form.
Winner
Dr. John G. Frayne
GORDON E. SAWYER AWARD

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

M. J. Frankovich
Winner

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

YentlSong Score by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
Winner
The Sting IIAdaptation Score by Lalo Schifrin
Trading PlacesAdaptation Score by Elmer Bernstein

Scientific Or Technical Award (Academy Award Of Merit)

To DR. KURT LARCHE of OSRAM GmbH for the research and development of xenon short-arc discharge lamps for motion picture projection. [Projection]
Winner

Scientific Or Technical Award (Scientific And Engineering Award)

To JONATHAN ERLAND and ROGER DORNEY of Apogee, Incorporated, for the engineering and development of a reverse bluescreen traveling matte process for special effects photography. [Special Photographic]
Winner
To GERALD L. TURPIN of Lightflex International Limited for the design, engineering and development of an on-camera device providing contrast control, sourceless fill light and special effects for motion picture photography. [Camera]
To GUNNAR P. MICHELSON for the engineering and development of an improved, electronic, high-speed, precision light valve for use in motion picture printing machines. [Laboratory]

Scientific Or Technical Award (Technical Achievement Award)

To WILLIAM G. KROKAUGGER of Mole-Richardson Company for the design and engineering of a portable, 12,000 watt, lighting-control dimmer for use in motion picture production. [Lighting]
Winner
To CHARLES J. WATSON, LARRY L. LANGREHR and JOHN H. STEINER for the development of the BHP (electro-mechanical) fader for use on continuous motion picture contact printers. [Laboratory]
To DAVID J. DEGENKOLB for the design and development of an automated device used in the silver recovery process in motion picture laboratories. [Laboratory]
To DOUGLAS FRIES, JOHN LACEY and MICHAEL SIGRIST for the design and engineering of a 35mm reflex conversion camera system for special effects photography. [Camera]
To ELIZABETH D. DE LA MARE of De La Mare Engineering, Incorporated, for the progressive development and continuous research of special effects pyrotechnics originally designed by Glenn W. De La Mare for motion picture production. [Stage Operations]
To JACK CASHIN of Ultra-Stereo Labs, Incorporated, for the engineering and development of a 4-channel, stereophonic, decoding system for optical motion picture sound track reproduction. [Sound]

Special Achievement Award (Visual Effects)

Return of the JediRichard Edlund, Dennis Muren, Ken Ralston, Phil Tippett
Winner
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The breakdown of every Best Picture winner from past to present.

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