The doubters failed to reckon with the magic of Oscar. It was a grand homecoming party indeed, featuring all the glamor, surprise and emotion for which the Academy Awards are legendary.

Hundreds of police and other security forces managed to forestall the anticipated traffic chaos. The limos paraded down one street, the passenger cars approached on another. All were inspected quickly and sent on their way.

The guests entered a white tent, had their tickets checked and strolled to a red carpet covering half of Hollywood Boulevard.

There was ample space for interviewers and camera people, and room for the non-celebrities to proceed to the ceremony, which was back in Hollywood after 40 years and just a block from the very first Oscars in 1929.

The interior of the new Kodak Theatre glittered in crystal and chromium. Perhaps a bit much, but what the heck, this is Hollywood.

"It's ornate but elegant," said Motion Picture Association President Jack Valenti. "I love the panoramic sweep of the theater. The whole ambiance, with its four tiers of opera boxes and three balconies has its roots in the traditional theater."

But what sent the audience away happy was not the glitter or the ease of access. It was the show itself.

Yes, it was long, and how! Four hours and 23 minutes is a long sit, and a new record. Folks on the other side of the continent were dozing off before the major awards appeared long past midnight.

The show had its dull patches, with the deadening number of non-feature categories that movie-goers will never see.

But the number of joyful surprises and heartfelt emotions more than compensated. The audience roared when song writer Randy Newman, Oscar's most notorious loser, finally came home a winner after 15 rejections. He lost for scoring "Monsters, Inc." but won for his song "If I Didn't Have You" from the same movie.

When Sidney Poitier came onstage to receive his honorary award, he was accorded the longest standing ovation since 1971, when an ailing Charlie Chaplin ended his exile from Hollywood to receive his honorary award. Poitier's acceptance speech was a stirring testament to the power of one man to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

The great surprises of the evening came with the announcement of leading actor and actress. The consensus pointed to wins for Sissy Spacek for "In the Bedroom" and Russell Crowe for "A Beautiful Mind." The audience seemed to gasp when presenter Crowe declared, "And the Oscar goes to - Halle Berry for 'Monster's Ball."' Then the cheering began, followed by a sobbing acceptance speech that is sure to go down as one of those special Oscar moments.

Next, Julia Roberts announced, "And the Oscar goes to - Denzel Washington in 'Training Day."' Same reaction.

It could have been argued at that point that perhaps Crowe had been penalized by the stirred-up controversy that "A Beautiful Mind" had overlooked some of the alleged negative aspects of the real-life character Crowe portrayed, Nobel prize-winning mathematician John Nash.

The next two awards seemed to negate that argument: "A Beautiful Mind" won for Ron Howard's direction and as best picture.

Nash was in the Kodak Theatre audience Monday night with his wife, and he received admiring applause. At the Governors Ball afterward, he said, "This is the first time I've been to the awards, though I have seen them on television. I rather enjoyed it. Especially the aerial act that was astounding."

He referred to the thrilling performance of a Cirque du Soleil troupe that flew over the stage and on trapezes over the audience. It was another piece of showmanship that epitomized a fulfilling evening.

Welcome home, Oscar.