Global Information69th Academy Awards information
| 69th Academy Awards | |
|---|---|
 Official poster | |
| Date | March 24, 1997 |
| Site | Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Hosted by | Billy Crystal |
| Produced by | Gil Cates |
| Directed by | Louis J. Horvitz |
| Highlights | |
| Best Picture | The English Patient |
| Most awards | The English Patient (9) |
| Most nominations | The English Patient (12) |
| TV in the United States | |
| Network | ABC |
| Duration | 3 hours, 35 minutes[1] |
| Ratings | 40.08 million 27.49% (Nielsen ratings) |
The 69th Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) took place on March 24, 1997, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles beginning at 6:00 p.m. PST / 9:00 p.m. EST. During the ceremony, AMPAS presented the Academy Awards (commonly referred to as Oscars) in 24 categories honoring films released in 1996. The ceremony, televised in the United States by ABC, was produced by Gil Cates, and directed by Louis J. Horvitz.[2][3] Actor Billy Crystal hosted the show for the fifth time. He first presided over the 62nd ceremony held in 1990 and had last hosted the 65th ceremony held in 1993.[4] Three weeks earlier, in a ceremony held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on March 1, the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement were presented by host Helen Hunt.[5]
The English Patient won nine awards, including Best Picture.[6][7] Other winners included Fargo with two awards and Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien, Dear Diary, Emma, Evita, The Ghost and the Darkness, Independence Day, Jerry Maguire, Kolya, The Nutty Professor, Quest, Shine, Sling Blade, and When We Were Kings with one.
- ^ Richmond, Ray (March 24, 1997). "Review: 'The 69th Annual Academy Awards'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
- ^ Williams, Jeannie (November 19, 1996). "Crystal takes on role of Oscar host again". USA Today.
- ^ Hindes, Andrew (December 19, 1996). "Horvitz set to direct Oscar telecast". Variety. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2014.
- ^ Sinclair, Tom (November 29, 1996). "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ^ "Past Scientific & Technical Awards Ceremonies". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on February 13, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ^ Bates, James (March 25, 1997). "An 'English' Epic". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ^ Thomas, Bob (March 25, 1997). "Independent Films Take Major Honors". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. A-1.