1980 ceremony · films of 1979
The 52nd Oscars
106 nominations in 22 categories.
Nominations and wins
The night's big films
5 of 9
4 of 9
2 of 8
1 of 5
2 of 4
0 of 4
Winners first
Every category
Best Picture
Stanley R. Jaffe, Producer
Robert Alan Aurthur, Producer
Peter Yates, Producer
Best Director
Best Actor
- Dustin Hoffman · Ted Kramer
- Roy Scheider · Joe Gideon
- Al Pacino · Arthur Kirkland
- Peter Sellers · John Chance, the gardener (aka Chauncey Gardiner)
- Jack Lemmon · Jack Godell
Best Actress
- Sally Field · Norma Rae
- Marsha Mason · Jennie MacLaine
- Jill Clayburgh · Marilyn Homberg
- Jane Fonda · Kimberly Wells
- Bette Midler · Rose
Best Supporting Actor
- Melvyn Douglas · Benjamin Rand
- Robert Duvall · Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore
- Justin Henry · Billy Kramer
- Mickey Rooney · Henry Dailey
- Frederic Forrest · Dyer
Best Supporting Actress
- Meryl Streep · Joanna Kramer
- Barbara Barrie · Mrs. Stohler
- Jane Alexander · Margaret Phelps
- Mariel Hemingway · Tracy
- Candice Bergen · Jessica Potter
Best Original Screenplay
Announced as Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Announced as Writing (Screenplay Based On Material From Another Medium)
Best International Feature
Announced as Foreign Language Film
Federal Republic of Germany- France
- Spain
- Poland
- Italy
Best Documentary Feature
- Paul Cowan and Jacques Bobet, Producers
- Steve Singer and Tom Priestley, Producers
- Glenn Silber and Barry Alexander Brown, Producers
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Production Design


Art Direction: Dean Tavoularis, Angelo Graham; Set Decoration: George R. Nelson
Art Direction: Harold Michelson, Joe Jennings, Leon Harris, John Vallone; Set Decoration: Linda DeScenna
Art Direction: George Jenkins; Set Decoration: Arthur Jeph Parker
Best Costume Design
Best Original Score
Best Song Score or Adaptation Score
Announced as Music (Original Song Score and Its Adaptation -or- Adaptation Score)
Adaptation Score by Ralph Burns
Adaptation Score by Patrick Williams
Best Original Song
Norma Rae · It Goes Like It GoesMusic by David Shire; Lyric by Norman Gimbel
10 · It's Easy To SayMusic by Henry Mancini; Lyric by Robert Wells- Ice Castles · Through The Eyes Of LoveMusic by Marvin Hamlisch; Lyric by Carole Bayer Sager
The Muppet Movie · The Rainbow ConnectionMusic and Lyric by Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher- The Promise · I'll Never Say 'Goodbye'
Best Sound
Announced as Sound
Best Visual Effects
Best Documentary Short
- Risto Teofilovski, Producer
- Donald A. Connolly and James R. Messenger, Producers
- Phillip Borsos, Producer
- Dick Young, Producer
Best Animated Short
- Derek Lamb, Producer
- Bob Godfrey and Zlatko Grgic, Producers
Best Live Action Short
- Sarah Pillsbury and Ron Ellis, Producers
- Roman Kroitor and Stefan Wodoslawsky, Producers
- Carol Lowell and Ross Lowell, Producers
- Saul Bass and Michael Britton, Producers
Not competitive
Honorary and special awards
Honorary Award
- Alec Guinness
To Alec Guinness for advancing the art of screen acting through a host of memorable and distinguished performances.
- Hal Elias
To Hal Elias for his dedication and distinguished service to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
- Ray Stark
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
- Robert Benjamin
Special Achievement Award (Sound Editing)
Medal of Commendation
- Charles G. Clarke
To Charles G. Clarke in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- John G. Frayne
To John G. Frayne in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- John O. Aalberg
To John O. Aalberg in appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.