The 47th Annual Academy Awards

I'll never forget. Frank Sinatra was hosting the awards and was on stage when word swept through the audience that Saigon, Vietnam, had fallen. There was pandemonium and cheering. The camera moved to Jane Fonda,almost a cameo appearance, taking an impromptu bow. Frank Sinatra, to his credit, asked the 'liberal Hollywood' audience to stop the cheering. He then walked off of the stage.

I'll always thank Frank Sinatra for chastising this Hollywood audience for their cheering at the fall of S. Vietnam. Ironic, Hollywood elite wildly cheering the fall of the S. Vietnamese to the communists, and who will never experience the right of free speech.

Joe Reed PhD,JD,former US Marine, Lcpl, An Hoa Vietnam, 1970.

This was the year that "Hearts and Minds" win Best Documentary, and hosts Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra go beserk over the winner's acceptance speech. Would have loved to been backstage as Mr. Hope, Mr. Sinatra and another host, Shirley MacLaine got into a argument over this. "The Godfather, Part 2" wins Best Picture, while Art Carney and Ellen Burstyn win Best Actor and Actress, respectively for "Harry and Tonto" and "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore". Francis Ford Coppola wins three Academy Awards, for producing, directing and writing the Best Picture, "The Godfather, Part 2". The other two awards he was up for was: Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay for "The Conversation". This was also the first time in Academy history that one studio received all nominees in one catagory. Paramount did it with the catagory of Best Costume Design.