44th Academy Awards
| 44th | |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, April 10, 1972 |
| Site | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles |
| Hosted by | Helen Hayes, Alan King, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jack Lemmon |
| Produced by | Howard W. Koch |
| Directed by | Marty Pasetta |
The 44th Academy Awards were presented April 10, 1972 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. The ceremonies were presided over by Helen Hayes, Alan King, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Jack Lemmon.
Winners
Feature Films
| Category | Winner | |
|---|---|---|
| Best motion picture | The French Connection | Philip D'Antoni |
| Best foreign language film | The Garden of the Finzi-Continis | Italy |
| Best documentary feature | The Hellstrom Chronicle | Walon Green |
Acting
| Category | Winner | Movie |
|---|---|---|
| Best actor in a leading role | Gene Hackman | The French Connection |
| Best actress in a leading role | Jane Fonda | Klute |
| Best actor in a supporting role | Ben Johnson | The Last Picture Show |
| Best actress in a supporting role | Cloris Leachman | The Last Picture Show |
Screenplay & Direction
| Category | Winner | Movie |
|---|---|---|
| Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen | Paddy Chayefsky | The Hospital |
| Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium | Ernest Tidyman | The French Connection |
| Best Director | William Friedkin | The French Connection |
Charles Chaplin
Charles Chaplin received an honorary award at this ceremony, for "the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this ceremony". Chaplin, who had been living in self-imposed exile in Switzerland for twenty years, came back to the United States specifically to receive this award.
