Freeman and Crystal kick off Oscars, first awards go to 'Hugo'
Morgan Freeman opened the 84th Academy Awards tonight before host Billy Crystal appeared in a spoof showreel based on scenes from nominated films including 'The Descendants', 'The Help' and tonight’s hot favourite 'The Artist'.
Crystal told the audience it was his ninth time hosting the event, joking “so tonight, just call me War Horse”.
He then launched into a song based on the films nominated for the best picture Oscar, after joking “Nothing can take the sting out of the world’s economic problems like millionaires presenting each other golden statues”.
Earlier in the night, stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Jessica Chastain and the star of The Artist, Berenice Bejo, greeted fans, signed autographs and posed for photographers outside the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
Tom Hanks presented the first awards of the night for cinematography and art direction to Martin Scorsese's 'Hugo'.
