The Academy Awards -- one of cinema's most supreme accolades.

So prestigious that, as many filmmakers and actors claim, it's an "honor" simply to be nominated. A gift from your peers, a historic milestone, a career changer, an ... oh ... where's Sacheen Littlefeather?　　

Oscar is at his best when he goes a bit batty. Cher's see-through dresses? Angelina Jolie's "love" for her brother? Roberto Begnini wanting to make love to the "firmament" (or something), Sean Penn getting agro for Jude Law, Rod Steiger thanking the Maharishi? George C. Scott not showing up. Adrien Brody tongue-wrestling Halle Berry? Now that's a show!

So with this year's Oscars hosted by James Franco (oh yes, and Anne Hathaway, but come now ... Franco), and hoping for some nutty moments (Bansky, what-ya-gonna-do?), I'm looking at some of my favorite crazy moments in Oscar history.

Joan vs. Bette (1963)
I love a good Bette vs. Joan throw-down and this is a great one. Furious when her "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" co-star Bette Davis was nominated for Best Actress and she wasn't, Joan Crawford got supremely crafty in the ongoing grudge match with Miss Bette (their feud went as far back as an affair with Francois Tone). Joan wrote each of the other nominees and offered her services to accept on their behalf should one of them be unable to attend the ceremony. And wouldn't you know it? Anne Bancroft, who couldn't attend, wins for "The Miracle Worker." Sweeping on stage and pawing that golden boy like a jungle cat snatching a fat water buffalo, Joan basked in the limelight while Ms. Davis steamed in her seat. Joan, I love you, and I'm usually on Bette's side (not Christina's, however) but, Bravo and well played. A diva to the death.  　　

Vanessa Redgrave's Pro-Palestine Speech (1978) 　　

Oscars are noted for winners espousing political statements (Michael Moore is a major recent example), but no actor got into the thick of things like Vanessa Redgrave. Redgrave, an outspoken supporter of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), was being picketed by members of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) for her involvement in the documentary "The Palestinians" before she even took the stage. When she won Best Supporting Actress for "Julia," Redgrave delivered a jeremiad supporting Palestinian rights and applauding Hollywood for standing "firm" and refusing "to be intimidated by the threats of a small bunch of Zionist hoodlums whose behavior is an insult to the stature of Jews all over the world and to their great and heroic record against fascism and oppression." But Hollywood wasn't on the same page. Screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky took the stage shortly thereafter and chastised Redgrave to thunderous applause, saying, "Before I get on to the writing awards, there's a little matter I'd like to tidy up -- at least if I expect to live with myself tomorrow morning. I would like to say ... that I'm sick and tired of people exploiting the Academy Awards for the propagation of their own personal propaganda. I would like to suggest to Miss Redgrave that her winning an Academy Award is not a pivotal moment in history, does not require a proclamation, and a simple 'thank you' would have sufficed." No matter how you feel about Redgrave's statements, this was beautifully stated by Chayefsky, and goes to show how much more credit we should give screenwriters in the industry. 　　

The Curious Case of Frank Capra (1934) 　　

This reads like something that would happen in, well, a movie. But it did happen. Director Frank Capra was just plain confused when presenter Will Rogers opened up the Best Picture envelope with the folksy: "Come on up and get it, Frank!" Capra, assuming he was the Frank who'd deserve the accolade (for "Lady for a Day") bounded on stage only to realize... oops ... Frank Lloyd was the winner for "Cavalcade." Capra must have thanked the Lord there was no such thing as a televised Oscar broadcast in 1934. Ever the gentleman, Rogers gamely called third nominee George Cukor to join the two Franks on stage. That had to take the sting out of a potentially long walk back into the audience. Capra was back up there the next year, however, for his masterpiece screwball, "It Happened One Night." 　

Jack Palance Don't Need No Stinkin' Geritol (1992)

This wasn't exactly crazy bur rather an old school, star-studded brand of my-grandpa-can-kick-​your-grandpa's-ass when "City Slickers" star Jack Palance picked up his Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Not content with the requisite "thank you's" delivered by scroll (and Palance has been around -- he'd have a lot of shout-outs), the actor dropped to the floor and performed an impressive set of one-handed push-ups. Not bad for a 72-year-old. His amused "City Slickers" co-star and Oscar host Billy Crystal used Jack as the running gag for the rest of the evening with zingers like: "Jack Palance has just bungee-jumped off the Hollywood sign." Or after a musical number performed by a host of kids, Crystal announced all of the children had, in fact, been seeded by the virile tough guy. No matter how much Palance may have deserved an award for better films in his canon like "Shane" or "The Big Knife" or "Sudden Fear," there's no doubt that he flat-out ruled that night. And yes, he probably could beat up your grandpa.
 
Marlon Brando and Sacheen Littlefeather (1973)

Oscar acceptance speeches have never been quite as elaborate as Marlon Brando's (non) acceptance speech in 1973. Winning Best Actor for "The Godfather," the eccentric thespian not only rejected his well-deserved award, but he appointed a woman dressed as an Apache Indian to refuse it for him. Sacheen Littlefeather, a B actress, appeared on stage and solemnly stated: "Marlon Brando ... very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award ... the reason for this being ... the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry ... excuse me... and on television in movie re-runs, and also the recent happenings at Wounded Knee." Few applauded. Most jeered. The rest of the evening provided grist for presenters, including the usually staid Clint Eastwood, who wondered if the Best Picture award should be accepted "on behalf of all the cowboys shot in John Ford Westerns over the years." It was scandalous then, but through time, it's become a terrifically entertaining bit of Oscar history. And it had to have inspired Neil Young: Marlon Brando, Pochantas and Me....

David Niven and the Streaker (1974)

I adore David Niven. How can you not adore David Niven? It seems a part of one's biolgical makeup to adore David Niven. But David Niven plus Oscars plus a streaker? In that case, I worship David Niven. Shaking up the normally demure affair in 1974 was one naked Robert Opel, a guy who'd managed to sneak onstage and streak past Niven while flashing the peace sign. Debonair Niven craftily upstaged the nude marauder, however, by handling the potentially embarrassing situation with amused aplomb. Not missing a comedic beat, the quick-witted Brit quipped, "The only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping and showing off his shortcomings." One of the most memorable Oscar moments, it's also a sterling example of how to manage a sticky situation -- something many presenters should learn from. In case of emergency, break glass and...resurrect David Niven.