1.
EXTERIOR Pantages Theatre - 4 SHOTS.
0.16

2.
Gary Cooper and daughter.
0.21

3.
Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood.
0.27

4.
Keenan and Ed Wynn.
0.31

5.
John Wayne.
0.35

6.
Ella Fitzgerald.
0.40

7.
Sammy Davis jr.
0.45

8.
Ann Blythe.
0.50

9.
Charlton Heston and wife.
0.55

10.
James Stewart and wife - 2 SHOTS.
1.08

11.
Eddie Fisher and Elizabeth Taylor.
1.20

12.
Buster Keaton and Tony Randall.
1.25

13.
Shelley Winters and Edmund O'Brien.
1.29

14.
CU. Ditto.
1.35

15.
Working Press.
1.37

16.
Simone Signoret and husband Yves Montand.
1.44

17.
Group: Charlton Heston, William Wyler, Mrs Sam Zimbalist, Simone Signoret, Shelley Winters. In BG: John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Yves Montand and Rock Hudson.
1.48



Initials PC/V/AW/KJ



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Hollywood's Pantages Theatre was the scene of a glittering occasion, Apr 4, as dozens of famous film stars arrived at the "Castle of Fame" for the 32nd Film Academy Awards presentations, much to the great excitement of thousands of film-fans who had crowded the streets for hours.

It came as no surprise when French film actress Simone Signoret, who gave such a brilliant performance in the British film "Room at the Top", was awarded the Oscar for the best actress of 1959. She had already gained the equivalent award for the film in Britain.

Metro Goldwyn Mayer's mighty religious spectacle, "Ben-Hur", gained a record 11 Oscars. Its star Charlton Heston won the best actor award, and William Wyler - who guided this colossal film through a year of shooting - won the Oscar for best film direction. Previous record-holder had been "Gone with the Wind" which gathered 10 Oscars in 1939.

Award for best supporting actor of the year went to Hugh Griffith for his part in "Ben-Hur". Best supporting actress was Shelley Winters, for her role as the middle-aged mother in "The Diary of Anne Frank".

Presenters of the famed Oscars included Gary Cooper, Arlene Dahl, Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida and Doris Day. The awards show cost he Motion Picture Association of America GBP200,000.