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A royal night for 'The King's Speech'

Film wins best picture, director, original screenplay, actor for Colin Firth

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Video: ‘King’ rules at the Academy Awards

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    >> let's begin with highlights from the 83rd annual academy awards .

    >>> with stars showing old world style and flair, the oscars are always regal. but it was a movie about brittle royalty that stole the show.

    >> and the oscar goes to -- "the king's speech".

    >> the academy didn't stammer in crowning "the king's speech" with best film , best director for tom hooper and best actor for colin firth .

    >> i have a feeling my career's just peaked.

    >> a pregnant natalie portman earned best actress for " black swan ." she thanked her choreographer and fiance for her next role.

    >> my beautiful love benjamin who choreographed the film and who's now given me my most important role of my life.

    >> reporter: "the fighter's" christian bale and melissa leo both took home oscars for supporting actor and supporting actress .

    >> bloody hell. what a roomful of talented people. what am i doing here?

    >> reporter: leo who campaigned for the award seemed genuinely stunned she'd won.

    >> golly sakes, there's people up there, too.

    >> "inception."

    >> reporter: kwo.z

    >> reporter: "inception's" wins all came in technical categories for sound and cinematography.

    >> the dance of the brown duck.

    >> reporter: first time hosts anne hath and james franco even poked fun at charlie sheen .

    >> the weird part is i just got a text message from charlie sheen .

    >> reporter: withal all the pressure of a more contemporary oscar, a couple of known faces shared the spotlight.

    >> no, no. [ applause ]

    >> well, so, where was i?

    >> you know -- [ laughter ]

    >> reporter: afterle all the anticipation this was a night of few surprises where favorites took home the gold.

    >> reporter: and proved that hollywood dreams can come true. we'll have much more on the oscars throughout the morning from here in los angeles . for now, back to matt in new york.

    >> all right, meredith. thank you

    Show transcript

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  1. Related story A royal night for 'King's Speech'

    In the beginning ...

    Hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway opened the show at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on Feb. 27 in Hollywood, Calif. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  2. James Franco and Anne Hathaway

    Hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway had a laugh during the show's opening. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  3. Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis

    "Social Network" star Justin Timberlake and "Black Swan" actress Mila Kunis presented the award for best animated feature to "Toy Story 3." (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  4. Aaron Sorkin

    Writer Aaron Sorkin accepted the award for best adapted screenplay for "The Social Network." (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  5.  Related video Melissa Leo on Oscar F-bomb, Kirk Douglas

    Melissa Leo

    Actress Melissa Leo dropped the F-bomb after winning the trophy for best supporting actress. Kirk Douglas (center) presented Leo with the award. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  6. Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem

    Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem presented the award for best adapted screenplay, which went to Aaron Sorkin. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  7. Lee Unkrich

    Director Lee Unkrich accepted the Oscar for best animated feature film for "Toy Story 3." (Gary Hershorn / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation

  8. Anne Hathaway

    Co-host Anne Hathaway sang a song that brought laughter from the audience as it teased actor and former Oscar host Hugh Jackman. (Gary Hershorn / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
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  9. Anne Hathaway and James Franco

    The show's hosts got some laughs when they swapped attire (Hathaway in the tux and Franco in the gown) in a skit that followed a song performance by the actress. (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  10. Christian Bale

    British actor Christian Bale accepted the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role in "The Fighter." At the end of his speech, Bale choked up as he thanked his wife and daughter. (Gary Hershorn / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related video Bale on 'bizarre but touching' win
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  11. David Seidler

    Screenwriter David Seidler accepted the Oscar for best original screenplay for the film "The King's Speech." (Gary Hershorn / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related video Screenwriter: 'King's Speech' helps stutterers
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  12. Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman

    Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, who starred together in the 2008 movie "Australia," presented the award for best score, which went to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for "The Social Network." (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related video Reznor, Ross on writing 'Social Network' music

  13. Russell Brand and Helen Mirren

    Russell Brand and Helen Mirren presented the award for best foreign film to "In A Better World." (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  14. Richard King

    Richard King, the winner for best sound editing for the movie "Inception," addressed the audience as presenters Scarlett Johansson, second from right, and Matthew McConaughey looked on. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  15. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law

    Robert Downey Jr., left, and Jude Law, who were co-stars in "Sherlock Holmes," presented an award. (Gabriel Bouys / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image: GERMANY-CINEMA-IRON MAN
    Related slideshow Robert Downey Jr. 

  16. Oprah Winfrey

    Oprah Winfrey handed Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs their Oscars for best documentary feature for "Inside Job." (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
    Image: Oprah Winfrey
    Related slideshow It's Oprah's world

  17. Florence Welch

    Singer Florence Welch performed the song "If I Rise" from the movie "127 Hours." She sang with A.R. Rahman, who co-wrote the song with Dido. (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  18. Randy Newman

    Randy Newman performed the Oscar nominated song "We Belong Together." Newman went on to win the award for best original song for "Toy Story 3" (Gary Hershorn / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation

  19. Gwyneth Paltrow

    Actress Gwyneth Paltrow performed "Coming Home" from the motion picture "Country Strong," which was a nominee for best original song. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  20. Billy Crystal

    Billy Crystal, who has hosted the Oscars several times in the past, made an appearance and told the crowd, "Some things never change: The producers asked me to say we're running a little long ... so here are the nominees for best picture." (Gary Hershorn / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
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  21. Natalie Portman

    Natalie Portman addressed the crowd after winning the Oscar for best actress for her leading role in "Black Swan." (Mark J. Terrill / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related video Portman: Baby helps keep me centered

  22. Colin Firth

    Actor Colin Firth accepted the award for best actor for his role in "The King's Speech," which also won the award for best picture. Firth opened his speech with the quip, "I have a feeling my career has just peaked." (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related video Firth on becoming King George VI
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  23. The big winners

    From left to right, "The King's Speech" producers Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Gareth Unwin stood in front of cast members as they accepted the award for best picture. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related video 'King's Speech' nervous before win
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  24. The last song

    At the end of the show, the student choir from the New York City/Staten Island School PS 22 performed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with all of the Oscar winners on stage. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

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  1. Image: 83rd Annual Academy Awards - Show
    Kevin Winter / Getty Images
    Above: Slideshow (24) 2011 Academy Awards - Awards show
  2. Image: 83rd Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals
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    Slideshow (29) 2011 Academy Awards - Red Carpet
  3. Image: Anne Hathaway
    Chris Pizzello / AP
    Slideshow (44) 2011 Academy Awards - After parties
  4. Image: 83rd Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals
    Ethan Miller / Getty Images
    Slideshow (29) 2011 Academy Awards red carpet - Red carpet
  5. Image: 83rd Annual Academy Awards - Show
    Kevin Winter / Getty Images
    Slideshow (24) 2011 Academy Awards red carpet - Awards show

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