Oscar Quotes

The Academy Awards usually lacks in surprises and is always too long. However, there is almost always something to be said about them. My favorite quote about the Oscars is from the television show Friends. Phoebe is surprised to find out that an old friend, whom she thought was gay, is actually straight. "How can you be straight?" She asked. "You throw such great Oscar parties."

Below is a collection of quotes pertaining to or said during the Oscar ceremony.

"The Oscar is the most valuable, but least expensive, item of world-wide public relations ever invented by any industry." - Frank Capra upon winning Best Director in 1936 for Mr. Deeds Goes To Town.

"I do not, however, feel Katharine Hepburn should win." - Joan Fontaine giving her opinion of Hepburn's Oscar nomination for Woman of the Year in 1942. Hepburn lost to Greer Garson.

"Lana Turner is to an evening gown what Frank Lloyd Wright is to a pile of Lumber." - Rex Harrison speaking about fellow award presenter Lana Turner in 1946

"The only way to find the best actor would be to let everybody play Hamlet and let the best man win." - Humphrey Bogart in 1951. The year he won Best Actor for The African Queen.

"If Jose Ferrer gets an Oscar for the best acting of the year, the Academy has my resignation." Hedda Hopper in response Jose Ferrer's Best Actor nomination in 1952 for Moulin Rouge. Ferrer lost to Gary Cooper.

"Wait'll the NAACP hears about this." - Sammy Davis Jr. in regards to Sydney Poitier winning Best Actor for Lilies Of The Field in 1963

"For the first time, you can actually see the losers turn green." Bob Hope hosting the first "in color" televised Oscar ceremony in 1965.

"Raquel, you open the envelope. My eyes are busy." - Dean Jones to fellow presenter Raquel Welch in 1966.

"I hope to God I don't win an Oscar. It would really depress me if I did." - Dustin Hoffman before losing the Best Actor award to Rod Steiger in 1967.

"Hello Gorgeous." - Barbra Streisand stealing a line from Funny Girl as she is presented with the Oscar for Best Actress that she tied with Katharine Hepburn in 1968.

"It's so much fun being nominated-everyone is a winner. And then, afterwards, there are four losers." - Liv Ullman, one of four losers to Liza Minnelli's Oscar win for Best Actress in 1972.

"It's a fairy tale, a dream come true." - F. Murray Abraham upon winning Best Actor for Amadeus in 1984.

"You like me. You really like me!" - Sally Field excepting her Best Actress award for Places In The Heart in 1984.

"I think you oughtta give me an Oscar just for attendance." - Longtime Oscar host Bob Hope in 1986.

"Welcome to the Oscars, or as it's known tonight, Cape Fear." - Billy Crystal hosting the Oscars in 1992.

"Here to present the award is Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. And I am sure they are mad as hell about something." - David Letterman hosting the Oscars in 1994.

"I love my life." - Julia Roberts announcing Denzel Washington as Best Actor in 2002.

"One day you're filling out applications to be a waiter, and the next you're nominated for an Oscar. This business is crazy." Alec Baldwin's response to being nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for The Cooler in 2004.

"You won’t be able to take your eyes off these next four presenters, Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek" - Chris Rock hosting the 77th Annual Academy Awards, 2005.