Chicago Scoops Six Oscars

Chicago led the field at last night's 75th Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Miramax's star-spanged extravaganza came away with six Oscars, double the haul of its nearest competitor, The Hours.

In winning the crowning best picture Oscar, Chicago becomes the first musical to take the honour since Oliver! way back in 1969.

As predicted, the ceremony itself was a sober and edgy affair, occasionally sparked into uneasy life by anti-war protests. Collecting an Oscar for his documentary, Bowling For Columbine, film-maker Michael Moore used his speech to angrily lambast Beorge Bush's policy on Iraq. His heated attack drew a mixture of boos and applause from the gathered throng.

Elsewhere, Nicole Kidman was named best actress for The Hours, while Britain's Catherine Zeta-Jones picked up the best supporting actress Oscar for her turn in Chicago.

The surprise best actor winner was 29-year-old Adrien Brody, the star of The Pianist, who made history as the youngest best actor victor ever. The Pianist also won the best director Oscar for the absent Roman Polanski, who faces a jail term if he ever returns to the US.

The big loser of the night was the much-fancied Martin Scorsese. Heavily tipped to take the best director trophy at last, the acclaimed film-maker came away empty handed. His long-time labour of love project, Gangs of New York, did not win a single award.