The 59th Annual Academy Awards (1987 TV Special) User Reviews (2)

So-so show! Much redeemed by Old Time Glamour & Star Power.

[HelenaHatcheese · 7/10 · 14 February 2007]

Michael Caine and Paul Newman were no-shows, Dianne Wiest & Marlee Matlin were touching but they won everything also so their Oscar moment was anti-climatic.

I agree the highlight was a prickly Bette Davis putting a befuddled Robert Wise in his place. It was Bette's final Oscar appearance. The introductions to the greats by showing clips of their great films and then having them walk out was wonderful. Anthony Quinn, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck, Olivia DeHavilland, and a very jittery Jennifer Jones making her first Oscar appearance as a presenter in decades (it would also be her last as a presenter, though she had appeared twice with the past winners on the 70th & 75th).

Another great moment: Co-host Goldie Hawn's surprise reaction when old friend Lee Grant takes the stage to receive an award for Best Documentary Feature.

Hilarious performances from Bette Davis and Robert Wise!!

[SkippyDevereaux · 9 March 2003]

This is the year that Paul Newman finally won the Best Actor award after six losses, but his win was somewhat overshadowed by the onstage antics of Miss Bette Davis and Mr. Robert Wise!! You had to have seen it to really appreciate how hilarious the Oscar telecasts can be!! Bette Davis presented the award, Robert Wise accepted the award and what followed was funny to watch. Here you had two people bickering onstage about who is going to talk first about the winning actor, and before they knew it, BOOM, their microphones were cut off and the hosts, Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn were getting ready to introduce the next presenter!! "Platoon" wins Best Picture, Marlee Matlin wins Best Actress for "Children of A Lesser God" and the supporting performances were from one movie. Michael Caine and Dianne Wiest for "Hannah and Her Sisters".