An Oscar dream

Ranjan Das Gupta

Sir Charles Chaplin once pointed out that every creative filmmaker dreams to win an Oscar. So do all actors, scriptwriters, composers and technicians. The Oscar is awaited with as much eagerness as the Golden Palm E’ Dour at Cannes and Golden Bear at Berlin.

The most acclaimed international awards for cinematic excellence have ushered in joys, high expectations as well as sorrows for countless hearts. Just as they have received encomiums, severe criticism has also greeted Oscars time and again. The pros and cons of partiality and impartiality have been with the Oscars ever since its birth.

In 1948, when Ingrid Bergman did not win an Oscar for her superb performance as Joan of Arc, she was moved to tears. She, however, won an Oscar later for Anastasia. Holding the Oscar in her hand, Ingrid Bergman flashed her million-dollar smile and acknowledged the encomiums. Sophia Loren also did not hide her emotions after winning an Oscar for Two Women. She openly confessed her deep gratitude towards Carlo Ponti and Vittorio D’Sica after she was selected best actress.

John Wayne spoke very few words after winning an Oscar for True Grit. He was not the type to be overwhelmed by awards or accolades. The ideal picture of calm and composure after winning Oscars was Sir David Lean. He was the proverbial Englishman going by the ideology of restrain. Peter O’Toole was initially reluctant to receive the Life Times Achievement Award as he felt he had more to contribute. An eight time nominee he never won the coveted Best Actor award. He accepted the Life Times Award on an earnest request from Meryl Streep.

Just as the Oscars have duly recognized talent; it has failed to credit many who deserved it. No wonder Marlon Brando, who avoided the Oscar razzmatazz, sent a Red Indian to receive it on his behalf for God Father I. When Brando won his Oscar for On The Waterfront, he just accepted it without speaking many words. George S. Scott refused an Oscar for Patton as he felt audience appreciation was far above any award.

Oscars are mainly Hollywood centric. Of course, there are awards for Best Foreign Language Films. Regarding this Jean Luc Goddard once told Ingmar Bergman,” I am an alien to Oscars.” The high priest of French neo wave cinema was never attracted towards Oscars.

Racism dominated Oscars. Sidney Poitier and Omar Sharif have been victims of racism. Both were denied Oscars despite being nominated for To Sir With Love, Lawrence Of Arabia (Best Supporting Actor) and Dr. Zhivago. The noble Gregory Peck resigned as Oscar committee chairman protesting against Oscar apathy towards left minded film people. Richard Burton was sporting enough to say that Oscars or not, an actor should carry on improving his/her performances in film after film. In a personal letter to Elizabeth Taylor he stated that each Oscar night was quite a tension for him.

In the last one-and-a-half decades, the Oscars have failed to arouse passion and evoke response as they did earlier. Films in recent times which won Oscars have not truly stood the test of time like a Gone with the Wind or To Kill A Mocking Bird did. One eagerly hopes the latest Oscar ceremony heralds back its lost glory.