The ceremony, televised in the United States by ABC, was produced by Gregory Peck, Robert Wise, Larry Gelbart, and Gene Allen, and was directed by Marty Pasetta.

[5] Other winners included The Killing Fields with three awards, A Passage to India and Places in the Heart with two, and Charade, Dangerous Moves, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Purple Rain, The Stone Carvers, The Times of Harvey Milk, Up, and The Woman in Red with one.

[17] Determined to revive interest surrounding the awards and reverse declining ratings, the Academy recruited a four-person committee in December 1984 comprised of actor Gregory Peck, director Robert Wise, screenwriter Larry Gelbart, and AMPAS president Gene Allen to oversee producing duties.

Allen explained the decision to hire Carson, saying, "Jack's untiring energy, zest for living, and imaginative talents have won respect and approval of everyone in the film community.

[23] In addition, producers warned nominees prior to the ceremony that winners would have 45 seconds to finish their speeches before a blinking red light would flash and the orchestra would begin playing them off.

[25] In view of the Academy nominating movies reflecting life in the American heartland such as Places in the Heart, The River, and Songwriter, singers Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Lonette McKee performed a medley of country songs.

[27] Jerry Coffey of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram commented, "Monday night's Academy Awards show was the best in recent memory, a snappy, disciplined event that sacrificed nothing of value and trimmed off much of the obligatory baggage and extraneous clutter."

"[29] Chicago Tribune television columnist Jon Anderson wrote, "Like a whale on a diet, Monday night's 57th Academy Awards ceremony on ABC-TV Channel 7 was leaner and trimmer than past shows, but seemed to have lost something.

He criticized the decision to cut off various winners' speeches and several technical production errors such as flashing the Amadeus logo when The Killing Fields won Best Cinematography.

[31] Harold Schindler, writing for the The Salt Lake Tribune, said despite the ceremony's shorter runtime, "It wasn't noticeably better, but it did provide plenty a copy for a TV bloopers and outtakes or a segment in 'Life's Most Embarrassing Moments' if ABC cares to use it someday.