Oscars Playback: When ‘Gandhi’ swept and even Meryl Streep’s competition wanted her to win

Joyce Eng and Christopher Rosen
·2 min read

Welcome back to Oscars Playback, in which Gold Derby editors and Experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng revisit Oscar ceremonies and winners of yesteryear. This week, we cover the 55th Academy Awards in 1983, honoring the films of 1982.

There was no suspense as to what would win heading into the ceremony. “Gandhi” dominated from top to bottom, winning eight awards from its leading 11 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Richard Attenborough and Best Actor for Ben Kingsley. The biopic did not have a Best Actress contender, but even if it did, there was no beating Meryl Streep, who prevailed for “Sophie’s Choice.” She was such a lock that even fellow nominee Debra Winger‘s parents were rooting for Streep.

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1982 was a breakout year for Jessica Lange, who became the first performer in 38 years to receive two acting nominations with her lead bid for “Frances” and supporting one for “Tootsie.” With Streep’s stranglehold on the Best Actress statuette, Lange was no match there, but she quickly became the Best Supporting Actress favorite after critics groups started awarding her. Before that, Glenn Close, who was up for her film debut in “The World According to Garp,” was the critical favorite. “Garp” was the first of three consecutive supporting actress nominations for the now eight-time nominee. Could Close have won were it not for Lange’s banner year?

Elsewhere, we discuss the hosting quartet of Walter Matthau, Liza Minnelli, Dudley Moore and Richard Pryor, their awkward opening number and more.

Timestamps:
Intro and ceremony thoughts (0:00)
Our favorite films of 1982 (10:40)
Best Picture (32:55)
Best Director (48:47)
Best Actor (52:27)
Best Actress (1:00:15)
Best Supporting Actor (1:12:22)
Best Supporting Actress (1:17:22)
Screenplay awards (1:22:45)
Other categories (1:25:54)
Final thoughts (1:27:20)

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