Academy Announces First Honorary Award For 74th

Jrcasey · 24th January 2002, 04:33 AM

AMPAS announced today that Sidney Poitier will receive an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement during the 74th Annual awards.

I was holding out a thread of hope that Mr. Lee would be honored this year........

Of course, it's not over yet. The board of governors may name up to three more honorary awards this year. It is exceedingly rare for the Academy to name more than one lifetime achievement award in a single year, but it has happened once in the last decade.

This would be a perfect year to honor Mr. Lee, although next year could be more likely, given the releases of EPISODE II and the second LOTR movie.

**David Vasser** · 24th January 2002, 04:07 PM

Mr. Lee is still compiling great achievements in his career! Lately especially he has been working almost continuously. Why give him the "You Had a Great Career" award when his travel and work schedule leaves most younger actors in the dust? I believe he is peaking right now and this may not be the time to signify the "end" of his career!

Would it not be somewhat of an anti-climax for him to win Best Actor next year for his Star Wars work after receiving the Lifetime award this year? Let's see how his career plays out before we metaphorically put the "period" at the end of the sentence! Well, at least let Mr. Lee slow down some before packing him off with his "gold watch", which is what the Academy's Lifetime award has historically meant.

Harrison Ford was just given the Golden Globe lifetime achievement award which I felt was somewhat inappropriate. Mr. Ford himself called it the "Old Geezer" award!

Jrcasey · 25th January 2002, 12:47 AM

Dave:

Your point is well taken, although an honorary Oscar does not necessarily equate the end of one's career. Many recipients continued their careers after their award, e.g. Ralph Bellamy.

Personally, I'm still hoping Mr. Lee gets one!

**David Vasser** · 25th January 2002, 02:14 AM

Latest buzz is that finally NEW LINE CINEMA is getting behind Mr. Lee on the inital LOTR performance. Better late than never!

Maybe, just maybe, he could win TWO at once! Lifetime achievement plus Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor.

That would be fabulous! But if anyone has ever won a lifetime achievement AND an "active duty" Oscar I would be interested in knowing about it. That would be truly remarkable! What a great and well deserved tribute for Mr. Lee!

It would not be one minute too soon either!

Jrcasey · 26th January 2002, 12:43 AM

Today, AMPAS announced that Robert Redford will receive the 2nd Honorary Oscar for his contribution to independent filmmaking. Arthur Hiller has been announced as the 3rd (probably the Thalberg award). The last honorary award will be the Gordon Sawyer technical award.

I am really saddened that the Academy did not choose to honor Mr. Lee this year. As I mentioned above, perhaps he will be considered next year.

I hate to be sour grapes, but I personally feel that Mr. Lee is much more interesting that Redford or Poitier, but AMPAS tends to favor "Hollywood" insiders and that's certainly reflected in this year's honors.

Mistressbunny · 26th January 2002, 05:43 PM

They have annouced Robert Redford also for Lifetime Achievement for his work with the Sundane Film Initutite that he started 20 years ago.

I'd love to see Mr Lee get some sort of recogniztion from the Acdemey, but they rarely do anything if anything for Horror stars

**Maria Silbermann** · 28th January 2002, 03:27 PM

Only Hollywood understand the "classic image" they wish to project, in regards to their choices for honorees. Continued fan support and work is the true test of the actor's craft. Mr. Lee had certainly proved himself several times over in that regard. Was it Peter Cushing that said a successful actor is one that is working? I think he expressed his humble gratitude more than once. What a gracious man he was.

MariaS

**David Vasser** · 3rd February 2002, 05:53 PM

jrcasey you are right on target. I don't know of anyone who would say that any of the honorees has accomplished more in their lifetimes than CL. In fact no one living has!

The King of Film is -without a doubt- Christopher Lee! It must be good to be the king. Everytime his name appears on the credits of another film, he is setting a record that likely will stand forever as the most prolific. No one gave this to him like some award. He earned it one film at a time. While honors and awards are nice, I think that Mr. Lee's actual accomplishments will be far more tangible and enduring. BUT, an Oscar or two couldn't hurt.