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Jon Voight, Jane Fonda win top Oscars
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time in two years. But last year she was at the awards to film her role as an English actress nominated for an Oscar in "California Suite."
"I just really don't believe it," she gasped to the Music Center audience. "I am very honored and very grateful." She thanked writer Neil Simon and director Herbert Ross and then a gave a special thanks to Michael Caine, who played her homosexual husband in the film.
She termed him "the most supporting actor ever in the world, and this (the Oscar) should be split down the middle."
The award for best foreign language film went to the French bitter comedy, "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs."
Walken, a native of Queens, N.Y., won the best supporting Oscar on his first nomination.
The actor added his thanks to members of the Academy and Robert De Niro, the star of the film about young Pennsylvanians before and after the Vietnam War. Parts of "The Deer Hunter" were filmed in Cleveland, including the wedding scene shots which were filmed at St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral, 733 Starkweather Ave., in the Tremont area.
Meanwhile, 13 members of a group protesting "The Deer Hunter" as an allegedly racist apology for the Vietnam War were arrested outside the Music Center where the awards were being presented. Police said they were booked for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon on an officer or incitement to riot.
Walter Lantz, who has been creating animated comedies for 60 years, was presented a special Oscar for his long service to cartoons.
Host Johnny Carson, whose own movie appearances have been limited to walk-ons, warmed up the packed audience with some jabs at the movie establishment and the Oscar show itself. Said Carson: "Welcome to two hours of sparkling entertainment spread out over a fourhour show."
Other awards included: "Teenage Father” for best live action short and "Special Delivery" by the National Film Board of Canada, a steady winner in documentary and short film categories, for animated short. "Scared Straight," produced by Golden West Television, won the best documentary feature award.
Documentary films can qualify from any medium and "Scared Straight" appeared on television. It was a hard-hitting exchange between long-term convicts and juvenile delinquents who were subject to language and reallife abuse rarely encountered on TV.
For documentary short: "The Flight of The Gossamer Condor"; art direction: "Heaven Can Wait"; costume design: "Death on the Nile."
The art direction award was presented by former Oscar winner Shirley Jones and Ricky Schroder, co-star of "The Champ" and at the age of 8, the youngest presenter in Oscar history.
Nestor Almendros of Spain was presented the award for best cinematography for his naturally photographed "Days of Heaven."
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"Last Dance" from "Thank God It's Friday" was named best song, Ruby Keeler was seen on a huge screen dancing the title song of her 1932, "42nd Street" and then on the Music Center stage with Kris Kristofferson to present the song award.