So what are your favourite Oscar moments? Donal O’Donoghue picks out the historic, the heroic and the bizarre.
10. King of the World
Shy and retiring James Cameron shook his brace of Oscars at the audience and modestly declared himself King of the World when Titanic won him Best Picture and Best Director in 1998. In total the cliched epic scooped 11 Oscars, tying for all-time first place with Ben Hur (1959). In 2010 Cameron’s Avatar was pipped when his ex-wife, Kathryn Bigelow, became the first woman ever to win the Best Director gong, with The Hurt Locker. Curiously she didn’t refer to herself as Queen of the World in her acceptance speech.
9. Close Encounters at Last
In 1994 Hollywood’s box-office king Steven Spielberg finally claimed top honours after years in the wilderness despite such seminal work as Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and ET. "Oh, wow. This is the best drink of water after the longest drought of my life,” said a genuinely moved Spielberg. "I have friends who have won these before, but I swear I have never held one before."
8. Cuban Crisis
Ryan Tubridy might have found him a bit of handful when he appeared on his show recently, but then you should always expect the unexpected from Cuba Gooding Jnr. In 1997 he lost the plot when he collected his Best Supporting Oscar for Jerry Maguire. “I love you!” Cuba screamed to the world, hopping about the stage like a cat on a hot time roof. Even the orchestra failed to shut him up as he declared his love for everybody, everywhere. Go Cuba!
7. The Godfeather?
In 1973 Marlon Brando marked a triumphant return to Hollywood’s top table when he was awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his large-than-life portrayal of Vito Corleone in The Godfather. But maverick Marlon decided to give the gong-giving a miss and sent a native American in his stead. Sacheen Cruz Littlefeather relayed Brando’s protest message at the portrayal of native Americans in the film industry.
6. Field of Dreams
Forget Kate Winslet when it comes to emotion there’s only one contender for the crown. Sally Field won her second Best Actress Oscar in 1985 for Places in the Heart (she won for Norma Rae in 1980). This time round she didn’t go easy on the tear-jerking. "I haven't had an orthodox career, and I've wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn't feel it, but this time I feel it, and I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!"
5. Jack the Lad
The great Jack Palance finally won his Oscar as a crusty cowpoke in City Slickers in 1992. After he accepted his gong, the sprightly septugenarian dropped to the floor and performed one-armed press-ups. As the crowd whooped and hollered, Jack the Lad returned to the podium and said: “That was nothing really, as far as the two handed ones are concerned, you can do that all night!”
4. The Return of the Little Tramp
In 1972, after a twenty-year self imposed exile from the US, Charlie Chaplin made an emotional return to the Academy Awards to collect an honorary Oscar. One of Hollywood’s most iconic figures, the Little Tramp had been tainted with the suspicion of ‘un-American activities’ in the dark days of the 1950s. That night in 1972 he received a five minute standing ovation from the audience, the longest in the Academy’s history.
3. The Streak
David Niven, perhaps the most dapper and dashing actor in Hollywood’s history, also proved himself to be the most unflappable when a streaker attempted to upstage his presentation at the 1974 Awards. Robert Opal, subsequently dubbed ‘The Oscar Streaker,’ dashed onto the set in his birthday suit during Niven’s introduction of Elizabeth Taylor. Without missing a beat, Niven blithely quipped: “Probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings.”
2. Poitier makes History
When Sidney Poitier won the Best Actor Oscar for Lillies of the Field in 1964, the great man was up to the great occasion. "It has been a long journey to this moment,” he said as he accepted the statuette, the first black man in history to do so.
1. His Left Foot
Finally it has to be an ‘Irish’ moment. When Daniel Day-Lewis won the Best Actor Oscar for My Left Foot, it was a magical moment in Irish cinema history. Day-Lewis made a memorable speech to match a memorable performance. “You’ve just provided me with the makings of one hell of a weekend in Dublin,” he began. And with Brenda Fricker winning the Best Supporting actress award the same night, it was a night to remember.
