It’s not just Envelopegate and the slap that made our jaws drop.
Maugham’s the word
Once upon a time, Academy voters could write in nominees.
That practice started with Bette Davis turning in the then-performance of the century in 1934’sOf Human Bondage.
Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022; Sacheen Littlefeather declines Marlon Brando’s Best Actor Oscar on his behalf at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973; Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty announce the wrong Best Picture winner at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017.Credit:Neilson Barnard/Getty; Michael Ochs Archvies/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty
But, a decade later, it went missing.
Her Oscar is still missing.
Then again, after all that plaque has been through, it may not want to be found.L.F.B.
(From left to right) Reginald Denny, Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Tempe Pigott in ‘Of Human Bondage’.John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Getty
Chill Wills was no Mary Pickford, but he wanted that little 8.5-pound trophy just as badly.
Wills was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the John Wayne-directedThe Alamoin 1961.
A veteran actor and friend of Wayne, Wills hired a publicity agent to help him snag the gold.
Hattie McDaniel.Everett Collection
Not a bad idea in itself, but the agent was W.S.
“Bow-Wow” Wojciechowicz.
Cousin Chill’s acting was great.
Chill Wills.Everett
Talk about putting the “Wow” in Bow-Wow.
Chill basically said, “Forget the Alamo.
Wayne took out an ad of his own, distancing himself as much as possible from Wills' thirst.
Katharine Hepburn in ‘The Lion in Winter’; Barbra Streisand winning her Oscar for ‘Funny Girl’ in 1969.Bettmann Archive; Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
AndSpartacus' Peter Ustinov won Best Supporting Actor that year.L.F.B.
And it was “gorgeous.“L.F.B.
It’s 1989,Rob Lowelooks the same.
Sacheen Littlefeather at the 1973 Oscars.Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
At the end of it all,Lily Tomlinstrolled out and the Oscars, sadly, had just begun.L.F.B.
Tomei?!
Because the Oscars hate comedy.
Robert Opel at the 1974 Academy Awards.Bettmann Archive
There’s kissing cousins and then there’s this…
Angelina Jolieused to be wild, kids.
TheHackers/Gia/Girl, InterruptedJolie was at the Golden Globes jumping into a pool with her gown still on.
She was wearingBilly Bob Thornton’s blood around her neck.
Rob Lowe and Eileen Bowman at the 1989 Academy Awards.Reed Saxon/AP/Shutterstock
In 2013, Jolie won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Oscar as a woman no one would dare interrupt.L.F.B.
Blame LSD!
There was a lot happening at the 2000 Oscars.
Marisa Tomei at the 1993 Academy Awards.Steve Starr/CORBIS/Getty
Before that awful decision,they decided they would not address their dresses…at all.
What were they expecting, reverence?
What’s worse, for Parker at least, was losing topersonal nemesisPhil Collins.L.F.B.
Angelina Jolie and James Haven at the 2000 Academy Awards.Mediapunch/Shutterstock
But then again, you weren’tHalle Berry.
How many people let this happen?
Billy Crystal popularized his Sammy Davis Jr. impersonation in the ’80s onSaturday Night Live.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone at the 2000 Academy Awards.Steve Granitz/WireImage
It was a different time, as they say, but 2012 was not that long ago.
That was literally the extent of the campaigning.”
Christian captivity narrative historical dramas have never been the same.L.F.B.
Adrien Brody and Halle Berry at the 2003 Academy Awards.Brian Vander Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty
Take that, ghost of Luise Rainer!L.F.B.
Bonnie and Clyde strike again
Everyone just leaveFaye DunawayandWarren Beattyalone.
This is not a joke.”
Billy Crystal at the 2012 Academy Awards.Mark Davis/WireImage
Until the 2022 ceremony, this was easily the most WTF moment at the Oscars.
But then…L.F.B.
With his third Best Actor nomination, forKing Richard, the erstwhile Fresh Prince was heavily favored to win.
Bruce Broughton in 2014.Earl Gibson III/Getty
Janejoke about Smith’s wife,Jada, who had recently gone public with her battle with alopecia.
Smith won that night.
In a big way.
Luise Rainer in ‘The Good Earth’; Halle Berry with her Oscar for ‘Monster’s Ball’; Michelle Yeoh in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’.Donaldson Collection/; Frank Micelotta/Getty; Allyson Riggs/A24
The slap and his “Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth!”
exclamation quickly became the most talked-about moment of 2022.
And we’re still talking about it.
Jordan Horowitz holds up the winner card reading actual Best Picture winner ‘Moonlight’ at the 2017 Academy Awards.Kevin Winter/Getty
It’s like ifOf Human Bondagehad a #JusticeForBette hashtag.
“The film industry is abhorrently unequal in terms of opportunity,” RiseboroughtoldThe Hollywood Reporter.
Chris Rock and Will Smith at the 2022 Academy Awards.ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images
Andrea Riseborough in ‘To Leslie’.Everett Collection
Lily James, Halle Bailey, and Naomi Scott at the Oscars.ABC via Getty
Karla Sofía Gascón.Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty
