28th Academy Awards

The 28th Academy Awards were held on March 21, 1956 to honor the films of 1955, at the RKO Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, California. In this year, Jerry Lewis became the host, replacing Bob Hope.

At just 90 minutes, Marty became the shortest film to win Best Picture, as well as the second to have also won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival (after The Lost Weekend in 1945). All of the various winners, with the exception of Anna Magnani, collected their Oscars.

Grace Kelly, soon to be Princess of Monaco, attended the ceremony as a presenter on her way toward retirement from acting. She was chided by Louella Parsons for failing to acknowledge Lewis' tribute to her from the film business. Parsons wrote, "it seems she might have taken a moment to thank him, give him a little kiss or something before leaving the stage so abruptly."

This was the final year in which the Best Foreign Language Film was a Special/Honorary award. Beginning with the 29th Academy Awards, it became a competitive category.

Awards
Nominees were announced on February 18, 1956. Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.

Best Foreign Language Film

 * Samurai, The Legend of Musashi (Japan)

Presenters

 * Ernest Borgnine (Presenter: Best Story & Screenplay)
 * James Cagney (Presenter: Best Special Effects)
 * Cantinflas (Presenter: Cinematography Awards)
 * Maurice Chevalier (Presenter: Best Original Song)
 * Mel Ferrer and Claire Trevor (Presenter: Scientific and Technical Awards)
 * Susan Hayward (Presenter: Costume Design Awards)
 * Audrey Hepburn (Presenter: Best Motion Picture)
 * Jennifer Jones (Presenter: Best Director)
 * Grace Kelly (Presenter: Best Actor)
 * Peggy Lee and Jack Lemmon (Presenters: Art Direction Awards)
 * Jerry Lewis (Presenter: Best Film Editing and Best Actress)
 * Anna Magnani (Presenter: Best Screenplay)
 * Sal Mineo (Presenter: Best Sound Recording)
 * Edmond O'Brien (Presenter: Best Supporting Actress)
 * Eleanor Parker (Presenter: Documentary Awards)
 * Marisa Pavan, Arthur O'Connell and Jo Van Fleet (Presenters: Short Subjects Awards)
 * Frank Sinatra and Jerry Lewis (Presenters: Best Music Score Awards)

Performers

 * André Previn – Conductor the Academy Awards orchestra
 * Harry Belafonte ("Unchained Melody" from Unchained)
 * Maurice Chevalier ("Something's Gotta Give" from Daddy Long Legs)
 * Eddie Fisher ("Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" from Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing)
 * Dean Martin ("(Love Is) The Tender Trap" from The Tender Trap)
 * Jane Powell ("I'll Never Stop Loving You" from Love Me or Leave Me)