British Oscar Winners

[rskershaw]

In bed suffering with the flu since Friday, but when I can I've been reading (and sweating into) 'Entirely Up to You, Darling' by Dickie Attenborough and his assistant Diana Hawkins.

He writes early on;



" I don't regard my two Oscars as trophies; they're memorabilia. I like having them, as I like having BAFTAs and Golden Globes. There are people who use them as doorstops. I find that self-conscious. Ostensibly, they show they dont care. Bollocks. Of course they care. Mine are on a mantelpiece in the office. I don't pretend they don't exist, but I don't display them in my house."



Despite the defensive middle bit, he really is saying that Oscars are no more important than any other film industry award. Thinking about it haven't all other Oscar winning Brits taken it the same way? I can't remember David Lean making a great deal about them, and didn't Glenda Jackson give hers to her Mum to ensure that at least they'd be polished! (or was it Glenda who used them as door stops?).



I agree with Sir. A except, err.... didn't he starting boohooing all over the place on receiving his brass covered statuettes?



Sorry if this is long, I'm still a bit delirious

[Steve Crook]

After Jack Cardiff was awarded his Oscar, which admittedly was an honorary award for his complete body of work so was more personal, he came to a screening of something or other (I think it was Black Narcissus) where he was being interviewed on stage. He brought his Oscar along to show us of course. He had it in a plastic supermarket bag!



I went to see Kevin Macdonald soon after he'd won the Oscar for One Day in September. I had gone there mainly to talk about his grandfather, Emeric Pressburger but of course I congratulated him on his win. I must have said that I didn't see it on display or something like that because he did dig it out to show it to me. It was tucked behind a few bottles on wine on top of his fridge!



So Dickie's attitude to them doesn't surprise me. Although he may well have shed a tear as they were awarded



I don't think the Oscars are much more important than other industry award. They show that you were considered the best by a wide group of your peers which must be nice. But there is a lot of politics that goes on to determine who is even nominated, let alone who wins



Steve

[rskershaw]

Great stuff. When are we going to be able to read your memoirs, Mr. Crook?

[Steve Crook]

name='rskershaw']Great stuff. When are we going to be able to read your memoirs, Mr. Crook?

Members of the PaPAS group already do read them as they happen - and they don't all drop dead from boredom



Steve