Aside from best picture, "Return of the King" also won Best Director (Peter Jackson), adapted screenplay (Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens), song ("Into the West"), score (Howard Shore), visual effects, art direction, costume design, makeup, sound mixing and film editing awards.

This year's Oscar red carpet highlighted more glamour, after two years of relatively toned-down awards, as 2003's ceremony came weeks after the invasion of Iraq, and 2002's reflected the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Billy Crystal, playing host to the Oscars for the eighth time, was in a fine form. Crystal kept the laughs coming from the beginning. He made fun of piracy, trailers and several nominees.

Among the popular awards Sean Penn won best actor for his performance in "Mystic River." Charlize Theron, who gave a career-making performance as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster," won the best actress award. "This has been such an incredible year," she said in a choked voice. For Renee Zellweger, the third nomination was a charm. The star won the best supporting actress award for her performance in "Cold Mountain." She had been nominated for best actress the previous two years, for "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Chicago."

"I am overwhelmed," she said emotionally. Tim Robbins won the first Oscar of the night, an award for best supporting actor for his performance in "Mystic River."

Sofia Coppola, the daughter of multiple Oscar-winner Francis Ford Coppola, won the Oscar for original screenplay. "The Barbarian Invasions" won the best foreign-language film award. Among other Oscar winners, "Finding Nemo" won best animated feature and "Master and Commander" won for sound editing.

"The Fog of War," Errol Morris' film about former Defence Secretary Robert McNamara and lessons learned from the Vietnam War, won best documentary feature.

The three tributes were handled with class where Blake Edwards was given an honorary Oscar, Julia Roberts introduced a tribute to Katharine Hepburn, while Tom Hanks introduced the tribute for the late Bob Hope, who was host of the Oscars numerous times.

Security was tight as the stars arrived for the show. Helicopters hovered over the Kodak Theatre, and streets around the Hollywood and Highland district were blocked off. This year's show included a five-second delay to prevent an outbreak of Janet Jackson-type controversy.

Complied by: Afsar Ahmed