Death on the Nile Wins Costume Design: 1979 Oscars

Ray Bolger and Jack Haley present Anthony Powell with the Oscar for Costume Design for Death on the Nile at the 51st Academy Awards.

[@kristi8812]

I'm just reading "Heart of the Tin Man" and this Oscar moment was referenced. ♡ I'm emotional for many reasons watching this, but mostly: knowing that Jack Haley passed away just 1 month later, knowing that Haley had a brief backstage conversation with Robin Williams just before this and in his memoir stated, "I believe this young man is going to make a name for himself in show business, he is an original, and very genuine as well." May they both rest in peace. ♡

[@hardlines4]

Bolger and Haley...Top Class Acts!!

[@zachtheobald3802]

40 years later, this moment at the 1979 Oscars is still wonderful.

[@LassiePlayDead]

God, what chemistry those two had. Untapped "Odd Couple" there! Great.

[@dodge96neon]

thanks for putting this on youtube. bolger and hailey have got great chemistry. it looks like they had fun doing this

[@johnyzero2000]

Why didn't Haley and Bolger get offered a sitcom? Those two play well off each other, comic gold!

[@rony41165]

Haley died shortly after this

[@warrencroom7621]

Because when sitcoms started jack was in early retirement

[@Lionstar16]

"And I thought you had a heart." "I thought you had a brain." He got you there Ray!

[@aarondaguio7179]

As soon as they started dancing to “We’re off to see the Wizard”, everyone’s inner child came out.

[@Femsa2012]

Ray Bolger, still in character after 40 years.

[@miroslavtomic7038]

Sadly, this event marked the final public appearance of Jack Haley. This event took place on April 9, 1979. Haley died on June 6, 1979.

[@JerseySurvivor]

Another gem! Two Hollywood greats- together again!

[@AMTProductionCo]

Two months later, Jack Haley passed away. Less than ten years later, Bolger passed away. Very funny to think, considering these two looks so healthy here.

[@louanne801]

Rockin' the Boston accents.

[@Funtasaurus]

How adorable are they?

[@ifeelpretty5790]

Imagine being alive in 1979 and seeing these two film legends reunited ❤

[@jimnething1264]

I saw it and I was thrilled! I was 14 at the time! ☺

[@Janen74]

A very well deserved Oscar for an outstanding work - Mr Powell also acknowledges those who've made the costumes, a very nice gesture.

[@71crm]

I felt like it would have been better if the two of them just hosted the Oscars!

[@AarHan3]

The Tin Man and The Scarecrow together for one last time.

[@Harringtonml54]

Deserving winner indeed. Nice to see those two gents, who were both from Dorchester, Massachusetts and hahd-lee lohst thayr accents.

[@hirampriggott1689]

"We need the Cowardly Lion, is what we need". Bert Lahr passed away in 1967. :-(

[@Dave-qj1vx]

I can almost see Ben Affleck and Matt Damon poking fun at each other when they get to that age. Lol.

[@johnsonwaite9865]

In addition to the Cowardly Lion, they also needed Dorothy.

[@WWChampion16]

Imagine if Buddy Ebsen didn't get sick and drop out. Then it would be him and Ray Bolger on that stage.

[@Scottwilkie18]

Jack haley final tv appearance before his death on june 6th 1979

[@dylans.1741]

It's so weird hearing Ray reference The Wiz. Like, it kinda slipped my mind that these two guys were still alive when The Wiz was made. I wonder what Ray and Jack thought about Michael Jackson and Nipsey Russell's performances in the movie?

[@kenzie9594]

bro that’s what i was about to ask LOL i knew he made a wiz reference. i was shocked to cause i thought they passed before it

[@thewizboy]

It was quoted that Ray Bolger who played the Scarecrow in the 1939 The Wizard of Oz film, did not think highly of The Wiz, stating "The Wiz is overblown and will never have the universal appeal that the classic MGM musical has obtained". Quote taken from Wikipedia. Screw these old white bastard they don't know SH💩T ! They couldn't take the competition of how amazing THE WIZ truly is.

[@dylans.1741]

@@thewizboy That was the original "ok Boomer" moment right there

[@allys744]

The only two things missing are Dorothy and the lion. :’(

[@gageperuti5519]

Unfortunately, the actors who played them died years before.

[@mustakim7876]

@@gageperuti5519 sadly Lion And Dorothy Died In The Same Year 1960s

[@cimarronhopper4605]

Not exactly Bert lahr died in December 1967 and judy Garland died in June 1969

[@pikemeredith5604]

Don't forget TOTO too.

[@mustakim7876]

@That One Guy You Walk Past too bad that some builder destroyed toto grave .

[@mr.napoleon6235]

back when the Oscars were watchable

[@MaskedMan66]

Haley looks a little like Jack Benny with his specs on. :-)

[@WSenator1]

One odd thing about seeing Ray Bolger and Jack Haley together: from all accounts, Bolger relished his experience in "The Wizard of Oz" while Haley was not all that overjoyed with HIS experience with it. Oh, well. . .

[@rony41165]

He was probably not happy that he was the first choice. Buddy Ebsen was cast as the tin man but left when he had an allergic reaction to the make up used. That’s when they got Haley to play the role.

[@hunterolaughlin]

Well, of course he wasn’t thrilled with his experience because of the setbacks to his costume like stiffening his back that he had to rest on a reclining board and getting eye infection from the makeup he wore. If you suffered through those things throughout every day of filming, you’d feel like him too.

[@rony41165]

Haley wasn’t offered the role originally he got the part after buddy r den who was suppose to play the part was nearly killed by the makeup they used.

[@johnyzero2000]

Admit it, the low cut, green beaded evening gown that Lois Chiles wore was the outfit that snagged Powell the Oscar. My favorite movie costume of all time.

[@msbeckyleigh]

John Hintergardt agree. Stunning dress she was breathtaking

[@MrRocktex1978]

it was silver wasnt it

[@johnyzero2000]

@@MrRocktex1978 Light green or au de nil silk embroidered with crystal and silver beads.

[@melokc7257]

Designs 40 years ahead of his time. Salute'

[@neilmcdonald9164]

The "ease on down" reference refers,of course,to "The Wiz"🎩

[@FrancoCee11]

Iconic!

[@HeberTrigueiro]

Mr. Powell is an absolute genious! Great work on "Nile"!

[@Katsimpourdas]

A major LOL at the nomination of "The Swarm" in this category!

[@elizabethgalligan1805]

Love this. 2 legends 😊😍👌🏻

[@MaskedMan66]

Amazing; when the glasses went on, Jack Haley suddenly looked like Jack Benny! Or maybe a shorter version of Eric Morecambe

[@christianmanansala8817]

LMAO at The Swarm nomination!! Because you know, those flame-retardant hazmat suits of the guys using flamethrower on the killer bees are fabulous!

[@angelafishburn7654]

How much do I love this? Watching "The Wizard of Oz" on TCM right now. Their "schtick" was wonderful!

[@BradleyPilkerton]

Two legends 💜 💙

[@MrFrigolilla]

Maravilloso vestuario!!!

[@gageperuti5519]

Sadly, Haley died just two months later.

[@hebertorivera-patino5126]

Anthony Powell won well deserved Oscar for DEATH ON THE NILE. This was his 2nd Oscar; his first was TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT (72) with also featured Maggie Smith. N he won his 3rd Oscar for TESS (80); all these 3 years, he won over the dreadful costumes by Paul Zastupnevich for POSEIDON ADVENTURE (72), SWARM (78) n WHEN TIME RAN OUT...(80).

[@goodowner5000]

Paul Zastupnevich's best design was the gorgeous gown worn by Faye Dunaway in "The Towering Inferno ", (1974).

[@klausweasley]

I think I read somewhere that the guy who designed "The Swarm" is like a big shot in the costume designers branch or something.

[@HeberTrigueiro]

Couldn't agree more!

[@christianmanansala8817]

People barely applauded as well when they mentioned The Swarm lol

[@regannem]

The Wiz should've won

[@prousaburttly1577]

WHAT !!!. The WIZ didn't Win ! that Film was Robbed, it received 4 Nominations and lost,what a SHOCK.

[@supermariofan03]

This list should have been: Death on the Nile Superman Days of Heaven Caravans The Wiz

[@danielvieira7437]

Lendas ❤

[@alexandrebertrand-lafleur3114]

L'épouvantail et le bucheron présentent un prix!

[@johnyzero2000]

Hehehe an interesting bit of gossip, when Powell won for Tess ol' Paul was so pissed that he kicked Powell in the shin while he was on his way up to the podium. How Zastupnevich was nominated for those films I'll never know.

[@steealconwyrick1999]

Of course, congratulations to Anthony Powell, but can we all just take a second to ask how the hell The Swarm got a nomination in this category?

[@emiliobello2538]

Too bad Death On The Nile 2021 didn’t get nominated for this

[@FilmDisney]

Could you please post The Last Emperor winning Best Director and Best Picture?

[@raycarr1389]

I suppose no Academy members saw The Wiz. Hands down the best Costume Design in film that year. As much as I've enjoyed the designs of Anthony Powell, this Oscar belonged to the brilliant Broadway and film designer Tony Walton who also designed the wonderful sets in the film. Remember, the voting Academy on1979 were predominantly white and male and don't imagine they would have spent two hours watching a film with an all black cast. Shame! If nominated today, those Costumes and Production Design would be hard to beat. Heaven Can Wait took the Oscar that year for Art Direction. Shame!

[@BradleyPilkerton]

I read this was 1979 jack haley died that year

[@jdearnray]

The only people clapping were the three people who saw it.

[@Winduct]

''The Swarm'' is a film about a swarm of bees invading New York and killing people. How was such a film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design? Seriously, what costumes did they design for a disaster film? Odd nomination.

[@renan.csmaia]

Stop to cut the scenes, Oscar channel! It's ridiculous.

[@thomasdelvin3683]

The reason the wiz didn't win because all the costumes by Halston and others were fought over in the press.they didn't get paid

[@maxipazz8214]

The wiz had a big chance but u can’t beat Powell’s