I'd put Julia Roberts' "I'm staying up here all night" speech on the list. It was before I was born but apparently Greer Garson went on even longer. Guinness Book of World Records credits her with the longest Oscar acceptance speech, at five minutes and 30 seconds, after which the Academy Awards instituted a time limit.
To me the memorable speeches are the emotional, heartfelt and, yes, short ones not the laundry list of names we typically get. Nobody cares about your agent.
I think the best course would be for actors to emulate Jim Rockford in the memorable Rockford Files 1st Lance White (played by Tom Selleck) episode, when Rockford accepted the "P.I of the Year" award and said simply "Thank You." Of course, Rockford had to return the award later, due to a voter miscount 8-)
Sandra Bullock's chewing out the Academy for giving her an Oscar is one of the few speeches I've watched as it was transmitted (it was either after or during a commercial break on something I was actually watching). That one was pretty amusing.
Joe Pesci's "It was my privilege. Thank you," was short but rather enigmatic. Perhaps not bad, just odd. The worst to me was Jennifer Connolley reading from list! Hey Jen--you're an actress; take a few minutes and, ya know, memorize your lines!
My favorite speech was Steven Soderburgh's: he said he'd thank everyone who needed to be thanked personally the next day and then talked about the importance of everyone doing something creative in their lives.
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Yes, who could ever forget Sacheen Littlefeather?
I'd put Julia Roberts' "I'm staying up here all night" speech on the list. It was before I was born but apparently Greer Garson went on even longer. Guinness Book of World Records credits her with the longest Oscar acceptance speech, at five minutes and 30 seconds, after which the Academy Awards instituted a time limit.
To me the memorable speeches are the emotional, heartfelt and, yes, short ones not the laundry list of names we typically get. Nobody cares about your agent.
Jeff
I remember one by Burt Lancaster that was pretty bad.
I think the best course would be for actors to emulate Jim Rockford in the memorable Rockford Files 1st Lance White (played by Tom Selleck) episode, when Rockford accepted the "P.I of the Year" award and said simply "Thank You." Of course, Rockford had to return the award later, due to a voter miscount 8-)
Sandra Bullock's chewing out the Academy for giving her an Oscar is one of the few speeches I've watched as it was transmitted (it was either after or during a commercial break on something I was actually watching). That one was pretty amusing.
If Lancaster managed to not abuse any women, even those who lead the winners off the stage, during his acceptance, hey, we're ahead of the game.
Joe Pesci's "It was my privilege. Thank you," was short but rather enigmatic. Perhaps not bad, just odd. The worst to me was Jennifer Connolley reading from list! Hey Jen--you're an actress; take a few minutes and, ya know, memorize your lines!
My favorite speech was Steven Soderburgh's: he said he'd thank everyone who needed to be thanked personally the next day and then talked about the importance of everyone doing something creative in their lives.
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