Oscar-winning films started talking 75 years ago and never looked back. Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, where silence was most definitely not golden, was no exception.
Here are some of the more memorable jokes, comments and one-liners from the stars both on-stage and off at the 76th annual Oscars:
"What am I wearing tonight? Boxers." (Bill Murray, before the show's start, answering the ubiquitous question asked of every arriving female star.
"Don't worry, I'm under a restraining order." (Last year's best actor winner Adrien Brody, referring to the sustained kiss he planted on presenter Halle Berry when he won. Before announcing best-actress winner Charlize Theron, he paused to take a spritz of breath spray.)
"No, I didn't think `finally.' I don't know what I thought. I'm a little overwhelmed." (Renee Zellweger, named best supporting actress for Cold Mountain, backstage on her reaction to winning after several nominations.)
"I think Renee Zellweger is incredible (and) not only in this performance. She's like pizza. She's always good." (Theron, paying a backstage compliment to Zellweger.)
"Considering I stole my entire performance from Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast, I think I'm in pretty good shape." (Alec Baldwin, assessing, not very seriously, his chances of winning the prize for best supporting actor before the show's start.)
"For the very, very first time, we're being simulcast in Aramaic." (Host Billy Crystal, referring to the controversial Mel Gibson film The Passion of the Christ and the ancient language for much of its dialogue.
"There's no shame and weakness in seeking help and counseling." (Tim Robbins, named best supporting actor for playing a victim of child abuse in Mystic River, directing his comments to real-life victims of abuse).
"Look at us -- a San Francisco wedding cake." (Presenter Robin Williams, standing next to Crystal, both in black tuxedos, in an allusion to the recent flurry of same-sex weddings in San Francisco.)
"I think I'll have a few sips of champagne, then I'm going to crash out." (Annie Lennox, best song winner, backstage, on how she was planning to celebrate).
"It just popped into my head, I didn't really plan it. I've only been going out with him for two months." (Best animated short film winner Adam Elliot, who thanked his "beautiful boyfriend" in his acceptance speech).
"I couldn't have done it without the foes." (Honorary Oscar winner Blake Edwards, referring to his need to prove his detractors wrong.)
"It's now official. There is nobody left in New Zealand to thank." (Crystal, after Lord of the Rings won its first five Oscars, out of total of 11 on the night.)
"I fear we're going down a rabbit hole once again." (Errol Morris, winner of best documentary for The Fog of War, drawing a parallel between the Vietnam War and the current conflict in Iraq, in one of the few pointedly political remarks of the night.)
"I can't wait for his tax audit -- scary times." (Crystal, after Morris' remarks, which drew loud applause from the audience).
"We might have had a better shot in another year." (Russell Boyd, Oscar winner for best cinematography on Master and Commander, on the Oscar sweep of Return of the King.
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