'Midnight Cowboy' is year's top film
By RICHARD GEARY
Assistant Arts & Reviews Editor After such tremendous suspense and buildup, the Academy Award ceremony can never help but be a disappointment. So rarely do one's favorite artists win, and so rarely do even those obviously deserving of the award walk off with it, that the whole thing sometimes seems like a joke; a silly in-game for the Hollywood old guard, with no purpose save publicity for the various movies.
Last night's activities occasionally brought that feeling to life, though the show was quite gratifying in many ways. First of all, the image-conscious academy members simply could not ignore the unmistakable fact that "Midnight Cowboy" was the best picture of the year. That such a picture was even nominated was a breakthrough of sorts, and it's good to know that those people
can recognize a genuine work of art when they see one.
High points of the ceremony included a delightful montage of film clips from Cary Grant's old movies, though Grant looked depressingly old and tired when he accepted his special award; a few dance steps by Fred Aaire, who is beginning to show his years too; and an all-too-short series of interviews with world film directors—Bergman, Fellini, Kurosawa, etc. Entertainment-wise, the rest of the show was a string of low points, reaching the all time depth with Shani Wallis singing—yes, singing—the names of those nominated for best adaptation of a musical score.
It was pre-ordained that John Wayne would be chosen best actor; there was no getting around the fact. He has been a fixture in Hollywood, playing the same role, for 40 years, and it's best to just sit back and accept the academy's
irrationality in cases like these. Big John made his presence known at various times during the evening, to prepare us for the inevitable, and even went so far as to mention that he does his work with his clothes on, which is reassuring.
At least Maggie Smith deserved her award for her superbly controlled, solidly professional performance in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," though Liza Minnelli brought more depth and range to Pookie Adams in "The Sterile Cuckoo."
Gig Young was excellent in "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" but Jack Nicholson gave life and wit to "Easy Rider."
Goldie Hawn proved herself an adept comedy actress in "Cactus Flower," but it was a sin to overlook Catherine Burns' miraculous portrait of dumpy Rhoda in "Last Summer."
Good choices—adequate choices
—But not great choices.
As for the technical awards, who's to know who deserved what? In most cases, good cinematography means you can see the actors, and good sound means you can hear them.
The evening's only really maddening disappointment was the honoring of William Goldman for his original screenplay for "Butch Cassidy." With the flawless scripts of "The Wild Bunch" and "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" in competition, it seems a crime to award Goldman's collection of lame gags and one-liners.
The evening's big relief was that Bob Hope gave his traditional opening monologue and was seen or heard for but little the rest of the show.
One cannot help but be slightly schizoid about the Academy Awards. The suspense and the
John Wayne chosen as Oscars' best actor; 'Butch Cassidy' 'Hello Dolly' each win four
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) — The 1969 Academy Award winners in the 42nd annual Oscar competition Tuesday:
Best achievement in sound:
"Hello, Dolly," by Jack Solomon and Murray Spivack.
Live action shorts: "The Magic Machines," by Joan Keller Kern.
Cartoon short subjects: "It's Tough to be a Bird," by Ward Kimball for Disney Productions.
Best achievement in cinematography: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," Conrad Hall.
Best achievement in film editing: "Z," by Francois Bonnot.
Best achievement in special visual effects: "Marooned," by Robbie Robertson.
Best score of a musical picture:
"Hello, Dolly," by Lennie Hayton and Lionel Newman.
Best original score: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," Burt Bacharach.
Best achievement in documentary production: Features-"Arthur Rubinstein—the Love of Life," Barnard Chevry. Short subjects-"Czechoslovakia, 1968." Denis Sanders and Robert M. Fresco.
Photo by Marilyn McMullen
Dondaro, played by Steve Anderson, Topeka sophomore, listens to his mistress. Janet Svoboda, Chapman freshman, tell him she has taken a husband in his prolonged absence. "Kyogen" continues through April 12 in the Experimental Theatre.
Dondaro hears the truth
French Club speaker will discuss plays
The French Club, Le Cercle Francais, will meet at 4:30 p.m. today in the Kansas Union, Jayhawk Room. Kenneth White,
associate professor of French and Italian, will speak on two plays by Ionesco which will be shown in Lawrence next week.
Best achievement in art direction: "Helly, Dolly," John Decuir, Jack Martin Smith and Herman Blumenthal.
Set decoration: "Helly, Dolly," Walter M. Scott, George Hopkins and Raphael Brettoh.
Best achievement in costume design; "Anne of the Thousand Days," Margaret Furse.
Best foreign language film:
"Z," Algeria.
Best performance by an actor in a supporting role: Gig Young, "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?"
Best performance by an actress in a supporting role: Goldie Hawn, "Cactus Flower."
Best song: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
Best screenplay based on material from another medium:
\*\*\*
By VERNON SCOTT
BFT Hollywood Correspondent
Placard carrying Chicanos
chanted at movie stars stepping
from limousines for the 42nd annual
Academy Awards Tuesday
night crying for more Mexican-Americans in films.
Despite the uproar outside, arriving celebrities waved at bleachers filled with cheering fans.
Among the early arrivals were Jean Peters, Raquel Welch, Jerry Lewis, Angie Dickinson, Cliff Robertson, Kim Darby and nominees Jane Fonda, Genevieve Bujold, Jon Voight.
Biggest cheer was reserved for John Wayne, popular favorite to win the Oscar for best actor in "True Grit."
"Midnight Cowboy," Waldo Salt.
Best story and screenplay based on material not previously published: "Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid," William Goldman.
Best achievement in directing: "Midnight Cowboy," John Schlesinger.
Best performance by an actor:
John Wayne, "True Grit."
Best performance by an actress: Maggie Smith, "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie."
Best picture of the year: "Midnight Cowboy" produced by Hal Wallis.
tradition and the personalities have their tantalizing elements, and it's interesting, sometimes, to know the politics of the organization. But the elaborate process of presentation is glossy and phony, as only Hollywood can make things glossy and phony, and the selections are erratic, to say the least. Surely more than one film buff turned his set off in disgust last night and vowed never again to watch the travesty, but chances are most of them will be sitting expectantly in front of the tube again next year.
6 KANSAN Apr. 8
1970