Cinema: The Oscars

The presentation of Oscars — Hollywood's annual pat on the back to itself—has to be seen to be believed. TIME Correspondent Dwight Whitney, who saw it last week, fought his way through acres of diamonds, mink and glossy black limousines to report:

Everything about this year's Academy Awards show was the biggest. There were more jewels, more big names, more hoopla—and more bleachers for more middle-aged women who arrived early in the day with lunchboxes for a glimpse of the stars. There were 35 Oscars, 16 searchlights (crisscrossing in contrasting shades of white, blue,...