Spielberg Wins Golden Globe for ‘Schindler’s’ : Awards: Director gets standing ovation. Other winners include Holly Hunter as best dramatic actress, Robin Williams for ‘Mrs. Doubtfire.’

Steven Spielberg won a Golden Globe and a standing ovation Saturday night for his direction of “Schindler’s List,” the searing film about a German profiteer’s rescue of Jews caught in the Holocaust.

“ ‘Schindler’s List’ was the experience of my motion picture life,” the director told the packed audience in the Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom. “The sad thing for me, I don’t know what I’m going to do next.”

“Schindler’s List” and the Australian-made “The Piano” led with six nominations each.

Holly Hunter won the award for best actress in a dramatic role for her performance in “The Piano.” Tom Hanks won best actor in a drama for his portrayal of a lawyer with AIDS in “Philadelphia.”

The awards for best performance in a musical or comedy were presented to Angela Bassett for her portrayal of rock star Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” and to Robin Williams, who masquerades as a British nanny in “Mrs. Doubtfire.”

After thanking “the greatest co-star ever imagined, Laurence Fishburne,” Bassett gave her thanks to “the most generous national treasure I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and portraying, Miss Tina Turner.”

The effervescent Williams made a reference to the Los Angeles earthquake: “If I start shaking, it’s my nerves, not the room. The exits are over there and there.”

The ceremony began with honors to “Seinfeld” and its star Jerry Seinfeld as best TV series and best actor in a musical or comedy series.

Seinfeld could not resist a typical crack: “Wow--there’s a lot of cleavage in this room, and that’s why the Golden Globe is the highest honor.”

He added modestly that his hit TV show is “just having fun, which makes you look good.”

The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. named Helen Hunt, the newly married executive of “Mad About You,” as best actress in a musical or comedy.

The ballroom at the Beverly Hilton Hotel seemed festive despite the devastation of the past week in Los Angeles.

“We all thank God that we’re alive and well and able to be here tonight,” said emcee Faye Dunaway.

The first motion picture Golden Globes were presented to Winona Ryder of “The Age of Innocence” and Tommy Lee Jones of “The Fugitive” as best supporting players.

Jones was said to be on location in Utah, but Ryder appeared on stage and commented: “It’s an incredible feeling to be honored for a film that’s so brilliant.”

The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. attracted a stellar list of presenters, including Gregory Peck, Al Pacino, Mariel Hemingway, Carol Burnett, Morgan Freeman, Lou Gossett Jr., Laura Dern, Charlton Heston, Tim Robbins, Andy Garcia and Sam Waterston.

The 51st annual show had two presenter dropouts: Kirstie Alley and Arsenio Hall. The homes of both were reportedly damaged by the earthquake.

The Golden Globes are carefully watched by the film community because they often indicate who will win the Oscars.

Complete report in Monday’s Calendar.