Stanley Donen @100: The Most Charming Speech of All Time
Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 3:00PM by Baby Clyde
With their increasingly bizarre choices and lamentable decision to move recipients from the main telecast, long gone are the days when the Academy’s Honorary Awards made any cultural impact. We’re all the losers, because not only did truly deserving legends of the industry being belated rewarded give deep satisfaction to the Oscar nerds at home, from an ailing Myrna Loy and triumphant Charlie Chaplin to a sprightly Lillian Gish and a regal Deborah Kerr, they created some of the most memorable and moving moments in Academy history.
None more so than the man who celebrates his centenary yesterday, Stanley Donen. The master of the movie musical was unaccountably never nominated for a competitive Oscar during his illustrious career but took his opportunity at the 70th Annual Academy awards to give the most charming speech of all time...
As a former producer of the show and creator of numerous indelible musical numbers in movie history, it’s no surprise that Mr Donen came prepared, like the great director that he was.
Introduced by the unlikely figure of cinematic titan Martin Scorsese he’s greeted by the obligatory standing ovation, but this is not the acceptance the star-studded crowd will have been expecting. As someone who started their showbiz career at 16 in the chorus of the original Broadway production of Pal Joey and went on to direct the likes of On The Town, Singin’ In The Rain, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Funny Face he decided to do what he did best, a musical number and the it’s the most delightful 2 minutes that have ever taken place on the Academy stage.
He starts by graciously suggesting that it’s Marty that should be receiving an Oscar before thanking the Academy and making a cute Titanic joke. He then informs the all-star onlookers that words seen inadequate and so as musical director Bill Conti strikes up the band Stanley breaks into a rendition of Irving Berlin’s classic Cheek to Cheek. ‘Heaven I’m in heaven’ he warbles with his newly awarded pressed against his face. Then, when you think it couldn’t possibly get any more adorable, the veteran hoofer breaks into a tap dance. A TAP DANCE!!!
Having only sat down a minute earlier the audience start whooping all over again again. Scorsese is beaming, as are Sean Connery and Brenda Fricker. Cher is there!!!
But he’s not content with wowing us with his song and dance skills, he then turns out to be surely the most modest director in Hollywood. You could barely be more deserving of an Honorary Oscar than Stanley Donen but he refuses to take any of the credit. Reeling off an extensive list of eminent writers, composers and actors that he’d worked with over the years (Including Gregory Peck in the audience) he suggests that all he did to warrant recognition was show up – ‘But, you have to show up.’ What a class act.
I think of this speech often when I hear about tyrannical directors berating their actors, egomaniacal auteurs writing, producing and directing their four-hour follies or when bemoaning how Movie Stars are apparently a thing of the past. It’s a shame we have to head off to YouTube to witness any Governor’s Award honourees these days. I haven’t checked but I doubt very much Angela Basset gave us a soft shoe shuffle.
In 2021 Donen’s longtime romantic partner Elaine May was similarly rewarded. We obviously didn’t get to see it live. She unfortunately didn’t sing.
Reader Comments (4)
One of the most joyous posts on this site in a while!
Thank you.
I once had the immense honour of interviewing Donen for half an hour and he was as charming and ego-free as he was during his much deserved Honorary Oscar speech. Wonderful guy.
And on the subject of great, humble Oscar speeches: add Sidney Lumet to the list, who so wonderfully not only thanked all the people he worked with, but also 'the movies'.
Occasionally I ask myself whether the Oscars really used to be that much better, or am I just a '90s nostalgist who's become middle-aged and grumpy? Obviously, it's the former.
Sorry to be late to this but I have been obsessed with Trump trials and other political news.
By Thursday evening I was sick of it, and watched a double feature of Stanley Donen.
I sat rapt through "Charade", and then "Two For the Road."
Donen is responsible for several films that are my comfort food during hard times.
"Singing in the Rain", "Funny Face", and the ones mentioned above.
What a great speech, and what a lovely man. He gave us many wonderful moments that live on.'
Baby Clyde thank you for your article, and it's awfully appropriate to remember Donen at this time.