Jennifer Lawrence stumbles on way to Best Actress Oscar

Jennifer Lawrence was tripped up by her Christian Dior gown at the Academy Awards. But Jennifer Lawrence was endearing her acceptance of the Best Actress award for her performance in 'Silver Linings Playbook.'

Jennifer Lawrence's performance in "Silver Linings Playbook" was flawless enough to capture the Best Actress Oscar. She wasn't so adroit in claiming the trophy.

Ms. Lawrence stumbled as she took the steps to the Oscar stage, falling to her knees in her flowing Christian Dior gown. That drew a sympathetic ovation from the auditorium.

She remained endearingly flustered during her acceptance speech, thanking her family, those who worked with her on the film and wishing a "Happy Birthday" to a fellow nominee, Emmanuelle Riva of "Amour," who turned 86.

"Look at this dress. I tried to walk up stairs in this dress," Lawrence said of her white, floor-length gown. "I think I stepped on the fabric and they wax the stairs."

Lawrence said she thought of a "bad word" to say when she tumbled but kept it to herself.

She had already been bleeped by ABC when she let loose with a four-letter word while joking with Kristin Chenoweth on the red carpet.

The Christian Science Monitor's film critic Peter Rainer wasn't a big fan of the film but he wrote that Lawrence "salvaged" it.

"Fortunately, both for Pat and for the movie, Jennifer Lawrence’s tough-talking neighbor Tiffany, a recent widow with her own share of mental baggage, is on hand to salvage the situation. She dragoons Pat into rehearsing as her partner for an upcoming local dance competition. We can see what he can’t: Tiffany, and not his wife, is his true soul mate.

Russell directs the movie almost as if Pat were behind the camera; the visual rhythms are manic and short-fused. In every other way, this neo-'David and Lisa' sugarcoats the sufferings of these people in order to boost a sentimental wrap-up that’s right out of 'Dancing With the Stars.' It’s slick stuff, but Lawrence, in her most high-low, sad-comic turn yet, is remarkable."