34th Academy Awards
The 34th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1961, were held on April 9, 1962, hosted by Bob Hope at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California.
Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins became the first Best Director co-winners for West [Side Story (1961 film)|West Side Story]. The film won 10 of its 11 nominations, including Best Picture and both supporting acting Oscars, becoming the most successful musical in Oscars history.
Legendary filmmaker Federico Fellini received his first Best Director nomination for La Dolce Vita, while Sophia Loren became the List of Italian [Academy Award winners and nominees#Best Actress in a Leading Role|first Italian actress to win for Best Actress in an Italian-language film] as well as the first individual to win for a foreign-language performance. Directors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins became the first pair to share an Oscar for the same film. George C. Scott became the first actor to refuse an award in advance, insisting that the Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance in The Hustler be revoked. It was not, and he lost.
The most memorable event of the night came when Stan Berman, a New York City cabdriver famous for crashing celebrity parties, evaded security and made his way onstage to award Hope a homemade Oscar.
Awards
Nominations are announced on February 26, 1962. Winners are listed first and highlighted with boldface.Honorary Awards
- To William L. Hendricks for his outstanding patriotic service in the conception, writing and production of the Marine Corps film, A Force in Readiness, which has brought honor to the Academy and the motion picture industry.
- To Fred L. Metzler for his dedication and outstanding service to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- To Jerome Robbins for his brilliant achievements in the art of choreography on film.
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
Presenters and performers
Presenters
- Eddie Albert and Dina Merrill
- Fred Astaire
- Carroll Baker and Richard Chamberlain
- Charles Brackett
- Macdonald Carey and Shirley Knight
- George Chakiris and Carolyn Jones
- Cyd Charisse and Tony Martin
- Wendell Corey
- Joan Crawford
- Angie Dickinson and Rod Taylor
- Vince Edwards and Shelley Winters
- Anthony Franciosa and Joanne Woodward
- Arthur Freed
- Greer Garson
- Rock Hudson
- Eric Johnston
- Shirley Jones
- Gene Kelly
- Burt Lancaster
- Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick
- Debbie Reynolds
- Rosalind Russell
Performers
Multiple nominations and awards
| Nominations | Film |
| 11 | Judgment at Nuremberg |
| 11 | West Side Story |
| 9 | The Hustler |
| 7 | The [Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone] |
| 5 | Breakfast at Tiffany's |
| 5 | The Children's Hour |
| 5 | Fanny |
| 5 | Flower [Drum Song (film)|Flower Drum Song] |
| 4 | La Dolce Vita |
| 4 | Summer and Smoke |
| 3 | The Absent-Minded Professor |
| 3 | El Cid |
| 3 | Pocketful of Miracles |
| 2 | Babes in Toyland |
| 2 | The Parent Trap |
| 2 | Splendor in the Grass |
| Awards | Film |
| 10 | West Side Story |
| 2 | Breakfast at Tiffany's |
| 2 | The Hustler |
| 2 | Judgment at Nuremberg |