JUDY HOLLIDAY BLOWS OFF THE 1951 OSCARS

What does it say about me that, even though I function as a modern-day show-biz professional (what a dismal combination of words), I'd rather watch the Oscars from 1951 then the event that I assume will be airing sometime in the next few weeks. (I haven't watched a live Oscar telecast in years). Yesterday I posted the strange best director win of Joe Mankiewicz in 1951 for 'All About Eve.' I call it strange since he gave no speech, nor did it seem as if he were expected to. The speech is what the Oscars has become all about, hasn't it? What the hell?

But things were different for actors, apparently. Even actors who didn't win an award themselves were gifted with the opportunity of delivering a speech. Above watch as Broderick Crawford presents Judy Holliday, who isn't there, with the Best Actress Oscar for 'Born Yesterday'. The award is accepted on her behalf by Ethel Barrymore, who promptly goes into a well rehearsed little speech, possibly using up the time allocated for Mankiewicz's non-speech. At least she doesn't cry...

 Subscribe in a reader