The Oscars: glamor, shine and large scandals

In the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, the world's most famous film award was awarded for the 97th time - theAcademy Awards, better known as the Oscars! Every year the biggest stars in the film industry gather to knock each other onto the shoulder and to stroll over the red carpet in designer robes.

But behind the shine and glamor of the Academy Awards is a story full of surprises, scandals and unforgettable moments. Let us take a look at the fascinating history of the Oscars and at some of the largest scandals that have shaken the award ceremony.

The Oscars, officially known as the Academy Awards, were first awarded in 1929. At that time, the event was a modest banquet at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, where only 270 guests were present. The winners have been announced three months in advance - no trace of the dramatic envelopes we know today. The trophy, the famous golden statue, was designed by Cedric Gibbons and has been the most coveted accessory in Hollywood since then.

Of course, no Oscar ceremony would be completely without a little drama. Here are some of the most memorable scandals that the Academy Awards have shaken over the years.

Hattie McDaniel wrote history in 1940 when she was the first black actress to win an Oscar for her role as Mammy in "Glossing the Wind". However, despite her historical victory, she was not allowed to sit at the table with her co-stars due to the racial separation laws. Her Oscar, which consisted of a badge instead of the usual statue, has been lost since the 1970s. The whereabouts of the trophy remains a mystery to this day.

Joan Crawford, one of the most legendary actresses of Hollywood, won the Oscar as the best leading actress for her role in "As long as a heart beats" in 1946 (original "Mildred Pierce"). But instead of participating in the glamorous award in the Pantesis Theater in Los Angeles, Crawford decided to follow the event from home. She claimed to be sick, which many saw as a clever tactic in order not to have to experience the possibility of a defeat. However, when she was announced as a winner, her bedroom turned into an improvised photo studio. Photographers were invited to their house to capture the moment when Crawford accepted their Oscar in bed. The pictures show you elegantly and perfectly styled while holding the golden statue in her hands. This staging became an iconic picture and contributed to her mysterious and glamorous image.

At the 1969 Oscar ceremony there was a rare and surprising situation: Barbra Streisand and Katharine Hepburn were both honored as the best leading actress. The divided Oscar win was the result of an exact tie in the votes of the Academy members, which is extremely rare. Barbra Streisand received the Oscar for her role as Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl", her first film, which immediately made her a star. Her presentation of the talented and idiosyncratic entertainer brought her great applause and recognition. Katharine Hepburn, on the other hand, was honored for her role as an eleanor of Aquitaine in "The Lion in Winter". Hepburn, who was already an established and highly respected actress, provided a powerful and nuanced representation that continued to consolidate her position as one of the greatest actresses of her time. Since Katharine Hepburn did not take part in the ceremony, it was Barbra Streisand who entered the stage to accept her Oscar. At an unforgettable moment she looked at the statue and said: "Hello, Gorgeous!" - A quote from "Funny Girl" that immediately achieved cult status.

During the 1974 Oscar ceremony, a naked man who took place behind the moderator David Niven caused a sensation. Niven, known for his British humor, commented dryly that the man probably "exposed his defects". This incident remains one of the most bizarre and unexpected moments in Oscar history.

Marlon Brando won the Oscar in 1973 as the best leading actor for his role in "The Godfather", but he did not appear to be awarded. Instead, he sent the indigenous activist to Littlefeather to reject the price and draw attention to the abuse of the American indigenous people by the film industry. This brave and controversial step caused a lot of conversation and politicized the Oscars in a new way.

When Vanessa Redgrave won the Oscar as the best supporting actress for "Julia" in 1978, she used her acceptance speech to criticize the "Zionist racket" that protested against her documentary. Her speech led to boos in the audience and a sharp reply of moderator Paddy Chayefsky, who entered the stage to condemn political speeches at the Oscars.

Another iconic picture of Oscar history is that of Faye Dunaway, which was taken in the morning after winning the Oscars as the best leading actress for "Network" in 1977. The photo shows Dunaway in a bathrobe surrounded by newspapers and her Oscar statue, while sitting at the pool of the Beverly Hills Hotel. This picture, taken by the famous photographer Terry O'Neill, captures the mixture of triumph and exhaustion, which many winners feel after the big night.

When Adrien Brody won the Oscar as the best leading actor for "The Pianist" in 2003, he surprised everyone by passionately kissing the moderator Halle Berry on stage. The unforeseen kiss caused mixed reactions and was criticized as inappropriate, although Berry later explained that it was not offended.

Another unforgettable moment occurred in 2013 when Jennifer Lawrence won the Oscar as the best leading actress for her role in "Silver Lining Playbook". On the way to the stage, she stumbled across her long dior dress and fell on the stairs. Lawrence took the incident with humor and later commented that the applause was probably only pity. Her charming dealing with the mishap made her even more popular with the fans.

In 2015 and 2016, the Oscars were under fire because almost exclusively white actors were nominated in the main categories. The hashtag #oscarssowhite went viral and led to a broad debate about diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. The Academy reacted with measures to increase diversity among its members, which led to a noticeable change in the following years.

The 2018 Oscar Awards was all about the Metoo movement, which was launched last year by the revelations over Harvey Weinstein. Many stars wore black clothes to show solidarity with the victims of sexual harassment. The event was characterized by speeches that demanded equality and respect, and marked a turning point in the way in which Hollywood deals with abuse of power.

One of the most shocking moments in Oscar history occurred in 2017 when "La La Land" was incorrectly announced as the winner of the best film. The producers were already on the stage to keep their acceptance speeches when the mistake was noticed. The actual winner was "Moonlight". The incident was caused by the handover of the wrong envelope to the moderators Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway and led to one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of the Oscars.

Another unforgettable moment was the incident in 2022, when Smith went on stage during the live broadcast and Chris Rock missed a slap in the face. The reason? A joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The incident led to heated discussions about adequate behavior and consequences at live events and overshadowed the actual award ceremony.

Historically, men have won the Oscars more often than women, especially in the categories of directing and script. In the "Best Director" category, only a few women won the Oscar by 2023, including Kathryn Bigelow for "The Hurt Lock" (2010) and Chloé Zhao for "Nomadland" (2021). This inequality is also reflected in other technical categories in which women are traditionally underrepresented. Of course, there is an even distribution in the acting categories, since there are separate categories for men and women, namely "Best main actor" and "best leading actress" as well as "best supporting actress" and "best supporting actress".

Nevertheless, discussions about the need for more gender diversity and representation in all areas of the film industry have increased in recent years. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has taken steps in recent years to improve gender parity by absorbing more women and people from underrepresented groups. These efforts aim to increase the variety of nominees and winners and to make the Oscars more inclusive.

The Oscars have developed over the years in order to meet the changing social and cultural expectations. The award ceremony is not only a celebration of the cinematic excellence, but also a platform for important social issues. From the promotion of diversity to the support of movements such as #metoo and Time's Up, the Oscars have played an important role in the discussion about equality and inclusion. Despite the scandals and breakdowns, the Oscars remain the ultimate of the film industry. They offer a platform for outstanding services, fashionable statements and occasionally also for political messages.

The award remains an integral part of pop culture, and every year millions of viewers are eagerly awaiting the surprises and unforgettable moments the next Oscar night. Whether they turn on because of the films, fashion or the unpredictable moments - the Oscars always guarantee an entertaining show.