The La La Land-Moonlight faux pas was probably the most embarrassing, but in its 87-year history, the Oscars has had its share of incidents and bloopers.

1 The longest ovation ever for an Oscar was 12 minutes, in 1972, for a man who came back into America after 20 years abroad to accept his award. It was an honorary award, small compensation for the four decades he had been snubbed by the Academy. Who was the person?

2 In the 1973 ceremony, a certain Marie Louise Cruz had a big part to play in one of the strangest Oscar moments. Who was she, and what did she do?

3 In 1974, Robert Opel became the first person to streak during the Awards, running across the stage with a large Peace sign. Which British actor was hosting the ceremony that night?

4 This actor was 73 when he won an award for Best Supporting Actor for the comedy City Slickers. He proceeded to go on stage and perform push-ups with just one hand to prove to film executives that he was fit to keep working. Name the actor.

5 Who arrived at the 2012 Awards in military uniform, cradling an urn which he insisted carried the ashes of his dear friend Kin Jong-Il, whose dying wish was to be scattered on the red carpet at the Awards?

6 In 1940, who sat on a separate table right at the back of the Coconut Grove at the Ambassador hotel, and had to walk across the length of the room of receive her Oscar?

7 Who was banned for over two decades as an Oscar presenter after he used his opportunity in the 1993 ceremony to condemn the Chinese government for its treatment of Tibetans?

8 Whose rambling six-minute acceptance speech at the 2000 Oscars prompted the Awards committee to impose the 45-second rule for speeches?

9 In 1995, he was the favourite to win the Best Supporting Actor award. However, the Oscar went to Martin Landau for Ed Wood, and the cameras picked him up swearing on live television. Name the actor and the film for which he was nominated?

10 In 1959, the Oscars show ended up finishing 20 minutes early. Which comedian had to ad lib to complete the programming slot?

Answers

1. Charlie Chaplin, who was hounded for his communist sympathies and turbulent personal life

2. Cruz appeared on stage as Sacheen Littlefeather to announce that Marlon Brando would not accept his Oscar for The Godfather to protest the treatment of Native Americans in Hollywood

3. David Niven. Niven recovered to say, “Isn’t it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?”

4. Jack Palance, who won his Oscar in 1992

5. Sacha Baron Cohen, who was nominated for The Dictator

6. Hattie McDaniel, the first African-American to win an Academy Award. She won the Best Supporting Actor Award for Gone with the Wind

7. Richard Gere, who was presenting the award for Best Art Direction

8. Warren Beatty, who was receiving the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award

9. Samuel L Jackson, for Pulp Fiction

10. Jerry Lewis, who won an Honorary Oscar — the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award — 50 years later 

Joy Bhattacharjyais a quizmaster and Project Director, FIFA U-17 World Cup

Follow Joy on Twitter @joybhattacharj

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