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My commenters and emailers are pointing out whom AMPAS failed to honor this year. (Please let me know if there are more names.) There's outrage over missing Patrick McGoohan, so good in Braveheart. Also Eartha Kitt. I think my pals Bernie Brillstein and Guy McElwaine weren't included. Don LaFontaine, THE voiceover artist on most film promotion, was omitted even though he was also the voice of the Oscars. Not included was George Carlin. And it's inexplicable why Irv Brecher, one of the movies' greatest writers and actually nominated for an Oscar (Meet Me in St. Louis) was left off the list. I'm told Irv's widow was devastated that he wasn't shown onscreen. After all, he was the only writer to receive sole credit for a Marx Bros movie (At the Circus and Go West.) He also wrote the screenplay for Bye, Bye, Birdie and Dubarry Was A Lady -- not to mention directed Ernie Kovacs in his last movie, and Robert Wagner in his first. How could they not have paid tribute to him? Because he starred in a YouTube video that was instrumental to keeping morale high during last year's writers strike? And, one of my commenters points out, "It’s interesting that they included film critic Manny Farber this year, although in 1999 they refused to include Gene Siskel despite much lobbying from Roger Ebert. I think at the time they said film critics were not part of the Academy, so it wasn’t appropriate to include him. Was this a one-time exception, or will the 'In Memoriam' montage include critics from now on?" (Heath Ledger was prominent in last year's.)
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Didn’t see Brad Renfro…again.
I thought Patrick McGoohan died in January, which according to my quick unofficial survey of several calenderical experts, was in 2009.
They didn’t include Brad Renfro for last year’s memorium, either because they said he wasn’t a member of the Academy or whatever. so maybe George Carlin wasn’t a member, either?
Donald Westlake
Dec. 31, 2008
Guy McElwaine died last year and wasn’t mentioned. Major agent and studio exec.
Nikki,
Perhaps you can learn of the Academy selection process. I know for a fact that all those names were considered, yet for some reason chosen not to be included. Through the years, outsiders (like family members or fan clubs) have campaigned the Academy to insure that certain indivduals would not be left out – with very little success.
What is the mysterious process? How does the Academy choose Robert Doqui over Patrick McGoohan? I’m not suggesting that one is more deserving over another. But when the Academy chooses to omit the likes of Patrick McGoohan and Bernie Brillstein in favor of others, they are certainly making that suggestion.
They also forgot Guy M, who certainly should have been mentioned.
They didn’t include Joaquin Phoenix, but I guess it was too late, and “in memoriam” is about lives not careers.
The tribute section is always an embarrassment, but frankly, this year’s was by far the worst (and not just because of Queen Latifah’s awful song). Because of the half-assed choice of not showing the deceased and their name up on the TV screen — as opposed to the monitors at the Kodak Theater — it was impossible to tell who was or wasn’t eulogized. I literally blinked and missed Ricardo Montalban; it wasn’t until now that I realized the great Patrick McGoohan — who died on the exact same day as Montalban — was omitted. The weird dutch angles and focus on the side monitors (showing clips on the side) prevented you from getting a good look at things. In a show that was largely an embarrassment, this section — already under fire for missing Brad Renfro the year before — sticks out like a sore thumb.
Eartha Kitt.
Eartha Kitt?
The In Memoriam segment was poorly done. We got shots of TV screens with photos/names from afar while the camera tried to capture Queen Latifah singing (bad taste/lame). I personally had a hard time even reading most of the names and we heard no audience reaction throughout.
I also heard they left out Estelle Getty?
It’s interesting that they included film critic Manny Farber this year, although in 1999 they refused to include Gene Siskel despite much lobbying from Roger Ebert. I think at the time they said film critics were not part of the Academy, so it wasn’t appropriate to include him. Was this a one-time exception, or will the “In Memoriam” montage include critics from now on?
Am I wrong or do you need to have been an Academy member to be included?
A few years ago, many of us lobbied–very hard– for our friend the late Adrienne Shelley to be included and were told that because she wasn’t a member of the Academy that she could not be memorialized.
Short-sighted at best; obnoxious at worst.
This addenda is hardly complete, and not all of these people were exclusively in movies, but many made at least one mark on the silver screen in addition to those on the cathode ray iteration: Barry Morse, John Phillip Law, director Joseph Pevney, Harvey Korman, Mel Ferrer, Fred Crane (the other Tarleton Twin), Edie Adams, director Milton Katselas, Paul Benedict, Robert Prosky, Sam Bottoms. Writers are especially ignored: Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Gregory Mcdonald, William Gibson (the “Miracle Worker” Gibson, not the cyber Gibson), Tad Mosel, Forrest J. Ackerman. Also, Brad Renfro and Suzanne Pleshette (or were they in last year’s necrology?).
What about Anita Page, who died in September of 2008? She was widely touted as the “last star of the silents” before her death. She had a famous turn in “Our Dancing Daughters” with Joan Crawford, but the film that made her a legend, “The Broadway Melody,” was the first sound film to win an Oscar. Incidentally, she was also probably the last living person to have attended the first Academy Awards.
What about Anita Page, who died in September of 2008? She was widely touted as the “last star of the silents” before her death. She had a famous turn with Joan Crawford in “Our Dancing Daughters,” but her status as an icon was secured by her starring role in “The Broadway Melody,” the first sound film to win an Oscar. Incidentally, she was probably the last living person to have attended the first Academy Awards.
FYI, here’s a list of the people they *did* honor, in the honor they mentioned them:
Cyd Charisse
Bernie Mac
Bud Stone (executive)
Ollie Johnston (animator)
Van Johnson
J. Paul Huntsman (sound editor)
Michael Crichton (producer writer director)
Nina Foch
Pat Hingle
Harold Pinter (writer)
Charles H. Joffe (producer)
Kon Ichikawa (director)
Charles H. Schneer (producer)
Abby Mann (screenwriter)
Roy Scheider
David Watkin (director of photography)
Robert Mulligan (director)
Evelyn Keyes
Richard Widmark
Claude Berri (director)
Maila Nurmi (”Vampira”)
Isaac Hayes (actor musician)
Leonard Rosenman (composer)
Ricardo Montalban
Manny Farber (film critic)
Robert DoQui
Jules Dassin (director)
Paul Scofield
John Michael Hayes (screenwriter)
Warren Cowan (publicist)
Joseph M. Caracciolo (producer)
Stan Winston (special effects)
Ned Tanen (producer executive)
James Whitmore
Charlton Heston
Anthony Minghella (director producer)
Sydney Pollack (director producer actor)
Paul Newman
In the past, the Academy has set a time limit on including names, so I’m almost certain they mean to have McGoohan (who died in January) or Kitt (who died on Christmas Day) on next year’s list (and maybe even Brecher who died in November). Otherwise, with all due respect to Robert DoQui and Vampira, how can they justify the omissions?
And why didn’t they include Heath Ledger?
Thank you so much for this post Nikki… I may be the commenter who originally brought up the McGoohan omission… I was and am a huge fan of his work and I almost wonder if the fact he was somewhat anti-authority (see the Prisoner) made some decisionmaker mix him… The man turned down James Bond for pete’s sake!
The ceremony included a tribute to the “Hollywood Musical!” but “In Memoriam” left out the screenwriter for “Meet Me in St. Louis” and “Bye Bye Birdie.” That’s a disgrace.
who cares! the pettiness of who was and wasn’t showcased. it’s soooo high school. but then again this whole industry is!
Suzanne Pleshette was in last year’s ‘In Memoriam’ clipshow. Where was Renfro, Anita Page, Patrick McGoohan, Eartha Kitt, Harvey Korman, Edie Adams, Mel Ferrer (Audrey Hepburn’s first hubby), Susanna Foster?
I was perplexed years ago when Stanley Kramer didn’t make the cut. His films were nominated for 85 Oscars and he was one of the rare producers to get the Academy’s Irving G. Thalberg award. Was a glaring omission that I never understood. At least Sidney Poiter mentioned him during an acceptance or presenting speech but really not the same. Hmm….
I have to mention that Patrick McGoohan starred in one of the coolest jazz movies ever called “All Night Long”, a British film from 1962. He was the scheming JOHNNY COUSIN, an ambitious drummer trying to start his own jazz band. Inter-racial couples, spliff smoking, the film was pretty daring for its time, loosely based on Othello. Plus, performances by Gerry Mulligan, Charles Mingus and more. And of course Eartha Kitt.
Forrest J Ackerman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_J_Ackerman
An ICON in the Science Fiction/Fantasy community. Even created the term “Sci-Fi”. Had cameos in over 200 movies. Led tours for fans of his legendary memorabilia collection at his home in Los Angeles for 50+ years.
His Bacon number was 2, so there.
Forry is FAR more important than 98% of the list that made it into the show, and second only to Heston and Newman.
Ann Savage? Or did I just miss her?
They left out Edie Adams (”The Apartment,” “Under the Yum Yum Tree” and so many others) — a beautiful woman, a terrific comedic actress and performer. She really should have been included — it’s a major oversight that she wasn’t in there.
also, they didn’t include that many below-the-liners and a lot of them passed this year. I think the in memoriam should be for ampas members only.
You would think by now that the Academy would get it. Unfortunately they don’t.
This isn’t rocket science, and one would think this doesn’t have to be said. Obviously it does.
Memo to the Academy – You don’t represent just your members or the “film” industry. You represent HOLLYWOOD. You represent the ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. Whether you like it or not, that is fact. You hand out little gold statues for movies; You setup this self induldging, self promoting, self glorifying performance (both the show, and what goes on outside for days before); You invite people from all forms of entertainment. The very least you can do is pay your respect to them.
Patrick McGoohan. Anita Page (You didn’t thank her… are you kidding me, what were you thinking???) George Carlin (There isn’t a Comedic actor or entertainer that hasn’t been infulenced by him) Don LaFontaine?????
If you are going to insist on limiting someone like Peter Gabriel to 65 seconds of his song (which he rightfully said no thanks), then the least you can do is extend a segment to thank those who paved the way for many of us who work in the industry.
Beverly Garland, who was Corman’s leading lady…
Ann Savage, star of the landmark noir film DETOUR in the 1950s, Paramount contract player, and most recently starred as Guy Maddin’s mother in MY WINNIPEG, rated by Time Magazine one of the best ten films of last year.
From the LOUSY way the “tribute screen” was shot, who could even tell
who’s passing was being recognized?? The camera was constantly “in motion,” a really overused “style” these days. In years gone by, the viewers at home were shown a FULL SCREEN, STATIC image of the lately departed with type face that was large enough to actually read!
I guess the Academy was trying to be “edgy” in their presentation, but it ended up simply being UNWATCHABLE. For shame…
You need to be an active member of the academy at their time of death to be in the memorial.
Against my better judgement, I turned the Oscars on for curiosity. I was pretty appalled at how pathetic the whole affair appeared. The magic that Hollywood once could conjure is gone for good. It is over, kaput, finis. The “In Memoriam” segment should have been a very moving part of the ceremony. Instead we were treated to a forgettable musical number with crooked and distant images of the deceased Hollywood icons as a back drop. Then Charlton Heston’s image appeared and the audience went almost silent. That bunch of phony S.O.B.s couldn’t set aside their ideological differences for one damn moment to pay tribute to a Hollywood icon. They are a pathetic and disgusting bunch of narcissistic bores.
It matters not since I have no doubt that Mr. Heston is regarded more highly than that collective gathering.
They also overlooked makeup artist Charlie Schram. He worked on WIZARD OF OZ.
Bettie page ertha kitt and beverly garland oh and harvey coreman every year im upset by the “oscar death reel” omissions whatever Fuck the oscars>
AaronSch:
It wasn’t that the audience went silent for Heston, it was the goddam music that drowned it out!
The only person who got a recognizable applause was Paul Newman.
Even Richard Widmark got almost no applause, at least I think he got nothing, it wasn’t possible to actually tell.
This memorial montage was a total disaster, easily the worst ever!
Everyone involved must apologize for their fuckup!
Thosed the Academy did not acknowledge in Memoriam:
Yma Sumac, Robert Prosky who appeared in so many supporting roles – one of which was in Mrs Doubtfire,
Harvey Korman – the comedian sidekick on the Carol Burnette Show – Joey Bishop . Estelle Getty from the Golden Girls – but the greatest disrespect shown was to Charlton Heston a movie Icon a fighter for equal and black rights.
Nikki,
My father, John Daly, was omitted as well. He founded the independent film company, Hemdale, which produced films that won 13 Oscars and earned 21 nominations. He won back to back Best Picture awards for “Platoon” and “The Last Emperor.” He was also an Academy member.
When we heard he was not going to be mentioned in the tribute, we spoke to the Academy and were told that his achievements did not merit him being mentioned. Several of his colleagues in the industry called to complain and were given other reasons for the omission. One was told that the Academy learned too late of his October 2008 passing and to include him would ruin the timing of the video tribute with the accompanying song.
If somebody who is both a member of the Academy as well as an Oscar winner is not worthy of making the cut, then I’m not exactly sure how the Academy makes their determinations.
What about Ingmar Bergman? Michaelangelo Antonioni? minor blemishes in film history.
It’s not Queen Latifah’s fault…she was just doing her job and being a pro. Who chose to shoot it that way…to have the people who were to be memorialized on a distant screen in the backround and often at weird angles … made a really bad call. Shameful that many deserving people were omitted. But PATHETIC that many of those who did make the cut to be “honored” were not honored properly. Many could not be made out. From our party: “Was that… Ricardo Mantablan?” “I don’t know… I couldn’t see.” “Who was that?” “I couldn’t tell.”
THE WORST TRIBUTE SECTION I CAN REMEMBER. EVER.
Ok, lots of legitimate gripes here about people shamefully left out of the broadcast. But let’s focus on who was include: Joe Caracciolo, a line producer was included. Nice man, but what on earth was that about?!!!!
Someone at the Academy decided that Joe rated above all the other people mentioned here in this thread. Astounding.
What about Maury Winetrobe, film editor, responsible for editing many major films, including an Academy Award nomination for Funny Girl! http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0934883/
What about Rudy Ray Moore? DOLOMITE is forever!
First, you couldn’t even see the screens on tv with the tribute names half the time because the camera was all over the place and not focused on the screen. Second, not having Guy McElwaine on there is basically saying one of the great agent/producer/managers ever, who truly represented the glory days of hollywood, wasn’t part of our industry. That is a shame.Honestly the academy should put out a trade announcement correcting these errors and honor these people. (by the way I bet the publicist who was mentioned in the reel was friends with the producers).
I totally agree about Don La Fontaine too. I mean seriously, you don’t honor the former voice of the Oscars and the voice that sold like a trillon dollars worth of your films at the box office? What’s wrong with these people?
Sadly, they forgot to mention actor Sam Bottoms who has been wonderful as a character actor over the years. Who can forget him as Billy in THE LAST PICTURE SHOW or as Lance, the surfer guy, in APOCALYPSE NOW. Sam sadly died of brain cancer in December. He was a really good guy. Hopefully the Academy can include him next year. GH
WTF? What jackass decided to film the “In Memoriam” segment in a Blair Witch style? Not only was this a horrible segment technically speaking, I found it to be quite disrespectful to those who passed.
Wow, the Academy is beginning to sound more and more like the HFPA every day. When the Oscars become the Globes we are in serious trouble.
As a fan of “The Prisoner” and its influence on pop culture, I’m glad that I’m not the only person who noticed Patrick McGoohan’s omission. And as others pointed out, folks like Eartha Kitt, Bernie Brillstein, Harvey Korman, etc. were also thoroughly worth mentioning and got overlooked. I think somebody fell down on the job somwhere in Oscarville…
I don’t understand the timing excuse for not including Patrick McGoohan. Ricardo Montalban also died in January 2009 (after McGoohan), yet he was included. What gives?
Yet another outrageously-botched part of the Oscars. Second every criticism others have made above. Queen Latifah cannot sing and wtf was with the direction? Director was Roger Goodman. Who? Oh, yes, he’s directed all those fab David Blaine specials and a bunch of news stuff. Great choice. Just watch ATAS nominate him… AND not just where were the clips of this year’s movies, but how about showing a scene or two from the nominated performances; those “tributes” from other actors/actresses were lame and made the show even more tedious. Who cares what Cuba Gooding thinks of Robert Downey, Jr? The Academy is completely out of touch with reality. And so are the stars who refused to present the awards. Does the Academy have to bring back the goodie bags to lure them? Aren’t they rich enough already? I’ve watched every Oscar show since the 1960s. Next year, I’m GOING to a movie instead.
John Daly not being mentioned could very well top the cake (not that its a competition).
An academy member AND Oscar winner not getting mention????
RE: Look’s complaint that Forry Ackerman was left out…
For once the Academy got it right, Thank God!
Ackerman was a narcisstic dolt who knew nothing about film history, let alone the horror or science fiction film genres.
His claim to fame, if you can call it that, was as figurehead editor of a Monster magazine for kids, plus a few Ed Wood-quality acting bit parts in schlock films.
For “Look” to claim that “Forry is FAR more important than 98% of the list that made it into the show” truly shows what a kool-aid drinker he/she is.
In Shatner’s words: “Get a life!”
“And why didn’t they include Heath Ledger?”
Comment by Max Zook — February 23, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
–
Earth to Max Zook — Wrong year! Heath Ledger was predominantly featured in the Oscars 2008 memorial segment. Don’t you remember the big fuss about him being included and Brad Renfro being excluded, when Renfro died a week earlier?
How dare for the Academy to have not include George Bush.
I demand his inclusion next year!
Not mentioning Anita Page was unforgivable!
Also, Robert Anderson, who played the young George Bailey in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, a character everyone knows and loves.
TCM as usual produced by far the best, most touching In Memoriam tribute and you can find it at youtube, here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhFiMeMV4_M
Chloe Bishop ditto! What a final slap to Eartha. What about gorgeous John Phillip Law? And they wonder why the Oscar’s have viewership in the toilet and no one goes to the movies. Penn? Tell me that wasn’t a vote on the current political agenda in California? Mickey was robbed! Screw the Oscars. No wonder so many foreign films have become more prevalent in recent years with some of the crap produced and brought to market in this country.
I’m not sure how they pick who to include in the footage, but they have a list of all members who passed since 2.1.08 on their site. No Eartha Kit, although many other names mentioned are there (including Carlin who was in Dogma, Bill & Ted’s, and many more movies).
http://www.oscars.org/academy/members/memoriam.html
Just so you guys know, Heath Ledger was the first person they showed. I think he was shown even before the song started.
They also DID show Eartha Kitt. I know because when her picture came up I even said it out loud to my husband.
The problem was, though, that the images were so quick and often so hard to see. If you blinked you missed at least one, maybe more.
My husband and I were very disappointed.
Anyone wishing to see a tribute to Ann Savage hosted by loving firends (with LOTS of clips) is welcome to attend her tribute FREE OF CHARGE at 1:30 PM on April 19th at the Egyptian theater in Hollywood as part of the Festival of Noir.
Will also include FREE screenings of PASSPORT TO SUEZ (1943) with archival print provided by Sony Pictures and MY WINNIPEG 2008 provided by Guy Maddin and Company. Guy will also pay tribute to Ann on video. Ann loved The American Cinematheque, and had appeared in person at the Egyptian many, many times. As Ann would often say: “stick with your friends and f*** the rest”. Academy of WHAT??? WHO???
script_super, the list I posted upthread was based on this YouTube that begins with the words IN MEMORIAM and ends with the final honoree, Paul Newman. No Heath Ledger, no Eartha Kitt. Further, as Jack pointed out — and I thank him for doing so — Ledger was honored last year.
Absent any word to the contrary, I think it’s fairly likely that that McGoohan and Kitt’s passings missed the deadline. But whomever at the Academy told John Daly’s son that his father wasn’t important enough should be ashamed of themselves.