Actor Christian Bale holds his award for best supporting actor for 'The Fighter' backstage at the 68th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, January 16, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

Christian Bale, who played a boxer struggling with drug addiction in film drama "The Fighter," took home a Golden Globe trophy on Sunday for best supporting actor in Hollywood's first major awards show of the year.

Joining him among early winners was Katey Sagal who was named best actress in a TV drama for "Sons of Anarchy," but as the Golden Globe Awards come in the middle of film awards season, the movie honors take center stage as fans focus on this year's race for the top movie honors, the Oscars.

Christian Bale joked onstage that previously he didn't know much about the organizers of the Golden Globe Awards, but "now I know who you are and suddenly I realize how wise and perceptive and spectacular you guys are."

Later in the evening, "The King's Speech" and "The Social Network" will compete for the top award, best film drama, in front of A-list stars including Angelina Jolie, Michael Douglas and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, Natalie Portman, Colin Firth and singing sensation Justin Bieber.

"King's Speech," which tells of British King George VI's stammering problem, heads into the glitzy awards ceremony as the most nominated movie with seven nods overall, including best drama. But it faces stiff competition from critics' darling "The Social Network," the Facebook film that has swept many early honors in Hollywood's awards season and comes into the Golden Globes with six nominations.

Three others hope to deliver a knockout punch and win best drama including boxing movie "The Fighter," which had six nods, ballet movie "Black Swan" and thriller "Inception."

The Golden Globe Awards, which are given out by the nearly 90 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, are one of the major Hollywood awards shows leading to the film industry's most-prized honors, the Oscars, which are given away by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Top stars turn out in their finest gowns, dripping in jewels, for the Golden Globes, which is often billed as Hollywood's biggest party.

RED CARPET FASHION

Many of the stars donned colorful gowns for the red carpet. Natalie Portman, star of "Black Swan," wore a light pink Viktor and Rolf dress with a red flower across the front, and Nicole Kidman was in a stunning, cream-colored, off-the-shoulder dress by Prada.

Michael Douglas, fresh off treatment for throat cancer, and his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones turned out for the show.

"It is really a treat" to be at the show, Douglas said on the red carpet. "We haven't gotten out much lately."

Host, comedian Ricky Gervais, got the show off to a start by poking fun at movies like "The Tourist" and at actor Charlie Sheen, who in recent weeks has been reported partying wildly, causing concern at the CBS television network that airs his comedy, "Two and a Half Men."

Gervais also noted a scandal that has rocked the HFPA this year. A former publicist sued the HFPA claiming its members received favors in turn for nominations from movie studios.

Bribes or not, the show must go on -- as the saying goes -- and on Sunday the red carpet had been rolled out as usual for the stars.

Unlike the Oscars, Golden Globe voters also pick best movies in a category for comedies or musicals, but pundits say only two nominees in that category have the critical success and the fans to compete closely for an Oscar -- family comedy "The Kids Are All Right" and fantasy "Alice in Wonderland."

The other three are critically panned "Burlesque," box office flop "The Tourist," and action movie "Red."

Golden Globe voters also give out honors in television categories. Competing for best TV drama are a few veteran shows such as "Dexter," "Mad Men" and "The Good Wife," as well as newcomers "Boardwalk Empire" and "The Walking Dead."

The best comedy race features six nominees: "Glee," "30 Rock," "The Big Bang Theory," "Modern Family," "The Big C" and "Nurse Jackie."