Shakespeare, not Spielberg, wins Best Picture

Sunday, March 21, 1999 | 10:35 a.m.

"Shakespeare In Love," a witty tale about William Shakespeare overcoming writer's block by meeting a gorgeous muse, beat the favored "Saving Private Ryan," a harrowing tale of war and loss that assaulted audiences' senses with its depiction of World War II.

Best Director Steven Spielberg dedicated his Oscar to his father, and to the men who died during the D-day invasion. But his glaring - and loud - look at war was surpassed by a 1590s tale of Elizabethan life.

Will Shakespeare, writer of plays and lacking of inspiration, finds love in Lady Viola, who inspires him to revamp his latest play "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter."

Written by playwright Tom Stoppard and Marci Norman, "Shakespeare In Love" won a leading seven Oscars, including Original Screenplay, Best Actress for Gwyneth Paltrow and Best Supporting Actress for Judi Dench.

Miramar chairman Harvey Weinstein, one of several producers who accepted the Oscar on Sunday night, said it was "an ensemble film and it took an ensemble to make it ... This is a movie about life and art, and art and life combining is called magic."

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