Originally scheduled for April 8, the awards were postponed to two days later due to the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.[1] Bob Hope was once again the host of the ceremony.

This year marked the first of two times that three different films were nominated for the "Big Five" Oscars (Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay): Bonnie and Clyde, The Graduate and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

While all three won major Oscars, Best Picture was awarded to Norman Jewison's thriller/mystery film, In the Heat of the Night.

Due to an all-out push by Academy President Gregory Peck, 18 of the 20 acting nominees were present at the ceremony.

[2] Gregory Peck Alfred Hitchcock Arthur Freed was presented for distinguished service to the Academy and the production of six top-rated Awards telecasts.