Feature by Julia Smith
On 16th of May 1929, the movies has just begun to talk, and the first Academy Awards were handed out at a banquet in the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. 270 people attended the event and tickets cost just $5 each. There were 15 awards and no ‘nominees’ in attendance, every person who would walk away with an award knew that they would prior to the night’s ceremony. In fac, the newspapers knew the winners by 11pm that night. In the first year of the awards Janet Gaynor was the only woman winner amongst 14 men.
The next year the method of the sealed-envelope ceremony was employed, and was the first of the ceremonies to be broadcast, by a Los Angeles radio station. The banquet was held in a number of hotels over the years, until 1942 when attendance of the awards increased and World War II made banquets a less practical means of holding the ceremony. Since this time it has been held in theatres. The ceremony was first televised in its 25th year on 19th March 1953, in the RKO Pantages Theatre in Hollywood NBC-TV and radio networks with Bob Hope hosting. And the awards were never the same again…
The Academy Awards are not the highest accolade in film despite all that people may think about them. Awards are given on talent, sure, but also on political reasoning and the Academy’s own like or dislike of an actor or industry professional. In the past years, especially, the awards have morphed into ‘the’ celebrity event of the year. The films are forgotten in favour of dresses, money and of course, celebrity.
The awards have been hosted by every sort of popular cultural icon, from Frank Sinatra to Paul Hogan, yes that’s Mr. Crocodile Dundee, but don’t despair; he had company that night… in Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn. Our generation typically thinks of Billy Crystal as the quintessential Oscars host, alternating between him, Whoopi Goldberg and Steve Martin since 1990 (with a one off gig by David Letterman in 1995). But since the Oscar trio has pulled out of proceedings we are starting to see a more obscure and untrustworthy type of host appear. 2004’s awards were hosted by comedian Chris Rock. Not a likely choice, but neither is this year’s, Jon Stewart. Stewart is a comedy actor, who actually seems to get more work as a presenter, why this is we don’t know. But he’s funny, likeable, and a fine replacement for Billy Crystal.
Despite all the glamour and glitz of the Oscars there is a good reason for people to be there, not for the films, but for the dresses. And short of wearing a dazzling dress you can actually win an award, and sometimes people will remember you. If you want to be noticed, and more importantly if you want to be on the front page of the next day’s newspapers, you need to give a stunning speech. But the trick is this, you don’t really have to sound, you don’t even have to be articulate, in fact you can be anything you want to be, as long as it’s entertaining.
Be Important
In 1939 Hattie McDaniel was the first black woman to receive an acting award. This was for her role as Best Supporting Actress in Gone With The Wind. Unfortunately this was before the time when the Oscars were aired on television, meaning that the historic event somehow falls by the wayside. Honorary awards always command a great deal of respect at the Oscars, as they are always given to the greatest and most important icons of our time. Unfortunately these days people are starting to see them for what they are; an Oscar for someone who was always special, always ignored by the Academy and who is now probably quite elderly. It could be seen as the Academy’s last attempt to make amends, but it always come out as a cunning publicity stunt to make this year’s Oscars more important. In 1971, Charlie Chaplin returned from exile to receive an honorary Oscar. Many people seem to have forgotten that Chaplin received one of the first ever Oscars for his film, The Circus. But that was unimportant, what was important was the fact that he was an icon, and he returned to 1970’s Hollywood to entertain the young actors who thought he all but dead. In 1978, a frail John Wayne (suffering with cancer) made it to the stage to present the Oscar for Best Picture. It was only the year before that host Bob Hope had wished ‘The Duke’ luck in making it back the next year. He arrived to a standing ovation.
Be Political
There are many ways in which you can grab attention at the Oscars. But there are some who specifically use the ceremony and all the attention it receives, to make themselves heard. In 1972 Marlon Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather to pick up his Oscar for Best Actor for The Godfather, with her making a speech about how Brando didn’t want to come because of the film industry’s treatment of Native Americans. It later came out that Sacheen wasn’t Apache Indian as she said, she was actually an actress. In 1978 Vanessa Redgrave used her speech for Best Supporting Actress for Julia, to denounce “Zionist hoodlums whose behaviour is an insult to the stature of Jews all over the world”. And then at the 2002 awards, picking up the award for Best Documentary for Bowling For Columbine, Moore shouted, chastising America and George Bush, to the response of much booing from the back rows. This year was fraught with tension over the Iraq war, and outspoken Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon attended the ceremony peacefully. So Moore’s reprise was quite a shock. Following this was an intelligently thought out presentation speech by young Mexican actor, Gael Garcia Bernal, who wasn’t about to let the Academy push him around. The only person that night to get away with discussing the war was actor Adrien Brody, making his speech for winning Best Actor for The Pianist. Brody talked about friends of his fighting in Iraq. The only reason he got away with this is because he wasn’t chastising America, it was okay to talk about how bad the war was, as long as you didn’t blame George Bush.
Be Emotional
Let’s face it, the Oscar moments we remember best are the ones when our strong and noble actresses fall foul of their emotions (I’m afraid it’s hardly ever the men), Beginning in 1975 with Louise Fletcher and her Best Actress Oscar for One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Fletcher burst out crying half way through her speech and carried on using sign language to give thanks to her parents, who were both deaf and watching on television at home. In 1985, Sally Field was a little less noble. Winning her Best Actress Oscar for Places in the Heart, she proclaimed: “I can’t deny the fact you like me, right now, you like me! You really like me!”, not exactly modest. In 1998, Gwyneth Paltrow picked up a well deserved Best Actress Oscar for Shakespeare In Love. She was universally derided for crying throughout her speech, but considering that her grandfather was on his death bed, the woman should really have been excused for becoming so emotional. Most recently it is Halle Berry who has turned on the waterworks to epic proportions. Being the first Black woman to receive the Best Actress Oscar (for her role in Monster’s Ball) was too much for Berry, who choked up when she realized the enormity of what she was being faced with.
Be Interrupted
It is fair to say that the most embarrassing moments come from the times when the 45 second speech limit kicks in and the orchestra begins playing the actor off the stage. This has happened to too many people to mention, but most notably is the case of Martin Landau. Landau received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Ed Wood in 1994. Being of a certain age and only now receiving an award it is imaginable that emotions were high in him and the audience. But the orchestra played him out anyway. Since this time it is noticeable that if the actor seems particularly upset or emotional that the orchestra gives them some leeway.
Be Loud
But those actors who find that there isn’t enough time in the world to make a speech there is always yelling. In 1996 Cuba Gooding Jr. won Best Supporting Actor for Jerry Maguire, and not only shouted though his speech but made sure he was heard even as the orchestra played on. Frequently voted as one the best Oscar moments of all time, Gooding showed true happiness and enthusiasm and that’s exactly what people want to see.
Be in the Wrong Place at the Wrong Time
If you’re not at all interested in causing a stir, you may not have to worry as someone may do the honours for you. In 1973 host David Niven had to deal with a streaker on stage, who, after the man was removed and, himself, recovering from laughter remarked: "Well, ladies and gentlemen, that was bound to happen. But isn't it fascinating to think that the only laugh that man will probably ever get in his life was when he stripped off to show his shortcomings."
Be Stupid
It’s always embarrassing to say the wrong thing on a public occasion, to say or do the wrong thing at the Oscars is another matter entirely. In 1933 the director, Frank Capra, was so convinced that his won the Oscar for Best Director he jumped out of his seat. Cue much confusion as the host urged ‘Frank’ to come up and get his award, he was actually referring to director Frank Lloyd. In 1993, Tom Hanks made the historical Oscar Faux pas. Whilst making an impassioned speech, receiving the Oscar for Best Actor for the film Philadelphia, he accidentally outed an old drama teacher. The man, who had kept his sexuality a secret for years now found himself in the media limelight, thanks to Hanks. Less obvious, and the most entertainingly humiliating in 1998 was the ‘interpretation dancing’. Five dancers took to the stage to ‘interpret’ the music nominated for Best Original Score. But it was clear that they were simply dancing around to the music, it was one of those scenes which, in hindsight, you are sure you are the only one who noticed.
Be Over the Top
Despite the Academy’s attempt at being the most important thing on stage it is always individual performances that steal the show. In 1991, Jack Palance got up on stage to pick up his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (for City Slickers) and in an effort to show off his physique at the age of 71, he began a set of one armed pushups, much to the delight of the audience. But who can forgot James Cameron, sweeping the board with Titanic in 1998. On receiving his award for Best Director, Cameron announced “I’m King of the world!”. He has been ridiculed since, but has recently pointed out that he said that to his parents, he said he was trying to tell them how he felt at the time, and most importantly, it was a quote from the film.
Be Downright Weird
If you really want to get noticed at the Oscars the trick is to be cool about it, to express your emotion, but not to do it for anyone’s entertainment other than your own. In 1973, Katharine Hepburn made her one and only appearance at the Oscars. In her lifetime Hepburn received 12 nominations for acting and received four awards, but only turned up to present the Thalberg award to Lawrence Weingarten, before she stepped into a Limousine and promptly left. Less cool was the impassioned performance of Roberto Benigni in 1998. When his name was read out (for Best Foreign Film) he proceeded to jump on the back of his chair before running up and down the aisle. One of the more interesting but understated moments of 2002, came with Adrien Brody. Picking up his Best Actor Oscar for The Pianist, he made an impassioned speech about the Iraqi war. But what people barely remember is the moment when he ran on stage and bent presenter Halle Berry backwards in a kiss, something he now says was inspired by a photo he’d seen of his parents.
The most recent and possibly best Oscar moment to date actually occurred after the ceremony itself. After the 2004 awards, whilst moving on to the night’s parties, Hilary Swank stopped at a roadside diner to eat a burger. Pictures were splashed across newspapers and magazines, with Swank sitting in her designer dress, Oscar on the table, eating a beef burger. If that doesn’t grab anyone’s attention I’m not sure what else will.
This year I am pretty sure will be free of any enthusiasm and exciting speeches. The people nominated and the people who will probably win are the not the most energetic of speakers. Firstly, there is the subject of Best Actor. This will most likely go to Philip Seymour Hoffman, who is typically a man of few words. The Best Actress Oscar will hopefully be given to Reese Witherspoon for her performance in Walk The Line. She seems too sweet and strong to break into tears. Best Supporting Actor, as always, is hard to predict. It will most likely be between Paul Giamatti and George Clooney, although Jake Gyllenhaal would probably deliver a much more enthusiastic speech. But Giamatti will probably have something warm and positive to say. And most importantly after his many fantastic films he does deserve an Oscar. Best Supporting Actress will either go to Rachael Weisz or Michelle Williams, either I imagine would give a good speech but probably not many tears. Best Director will go to Ang Lee, likewise Brokeback Mountain will receive Best Picture. Lee will make a speech thanking his colleagues and friends, but unfortunately there will be some sentimental speech by Larry McMurty and Dianna Ossana. Presumably this week many people will have applauded them on single-handedly bringing representations of gay men to the cinema screen. The most interesting award of the night will come when the Best Original Screenplay Oscar is given. In this category Woody Allen has received his first ever Oscar nomination for his screenplay, Match Point, but it is unlikely that he will go away with the award, as it will most likely be between Crash and Good Night, and Good Luck. But when has a film’s worth ever bothered the Academy, surely if you like someone enough you can give them all the awards you want, can’t you?
*N.B. all Oscar Ceremonies are referred by the year for which the awards are being given out. For example, this year’s awards, taking place in 2006, are actually the 2005 awards.
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