‘Kramer vs Kramer’ scoops Oscars pool

Press, 16 April 1980, Page 8

‘Kramer vs Kramer’ scoops Oscars pool

NZPA-Reuter Los Angeles Dustin Hoffman has won an Academy Award, an Oscar, for best actor for his role in “Kramer vs Kramer,” which scooped the pool with five golden statuettes. The film, the emotional portrait of a father fighting to keep custody of his young son, was voted the best film of the year. Meryl Streep, who. played the ex-wife fighting to regain custody, won an Oscar for best supporting actress, and Robert Benton collected Oscars for directing the film and for adapting the screenplay. Sally Field, aged 34, won the Oscar for best actress for her portrayal of a woman fighting to bring a trade union into a tex-* tile mill in the United States south in “Norma Rae.” Hoffman, aged 42, who had been nominated three times before for best actor but had never won an Oscar, told his audience of fellow film stars, directors, and producers: “I would like to thank my parents for not practising birth control.”

But, referring to other actors nominated for his award, Hoffman declared: “I refuse to believe I beat Jack Lemmon, I beat Al Pacino, I beat Peter Sellers. We are part of an artistic family.” Hoffman’s mother, who was in the audience, sobbed silently as her son accepted his Oscar. The winners were chosen by members of the film industry who belong to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. One of the most popular wins was that of the 79-year-old Melvyn Douglas, the s-uave leading man of the 1930 s and a veteran of more than 40 films, who won the award for best suoporting actor for his role as an ailing Presidential adviser in “Beihg There.” Winners at the fiftysecond Academy Awards: Best picture: “Kramer vs Kramer.” Best actor: Dustin Hoffman, “Kramer vs Kramer.” Best actress: Sally Field, “Norma Rae.” Best supporting actor: Melvyn Douglas, “Being There.”

r Best supporting actress: s Meryl Streep, “Kramer vs : Kramer.” t Best director: Robert ’ Benton, “Kramer vs Kra- ■ mer.” Original song: “It Goes Like it Goes,” from ’ “Norma Rae.” Foreign language film: • “The Tin Drum.” ■ Original screenplay: ’ “Breaking Away.” Adapted screenplay: • “Kramer vs Kramer.” ’ Art direction: “All That Jazz.” Original score :“A Little ■ Romance.” ; Costume design: “All • That Jazz.” Visual effects: “Alien.” Feature documentary: “Best Boy.” , Short subject documentary: ‘Taul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist.” Animated shot: “Every Child.” Sound: “Apocalypse Now.” Cinematography: “Apocalypse Now.” Film editing; “All That Jazz.” Special: Alec Guiness. Special: Hall Elias. Special: Moviola System.