quote:Originally posted by the G-man: In 1952 Kazan testified before the House Un-American Activities and informed on eight of his old friends from the Group Theater who, like Kazan, had once been members of the Communist Party.
"Kazan's testimony, and his refusal to apologize for it in later years, made the legendary director something of a nonperson in politically liberal Hollywood. ... Kazan was snubbed by several prestigious Hollywood organizations, including the American Film Institute and the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn., both of which refused Kazan lifetime achievement awards."
In 1999, the decision was made to award Kazan a lifetime achievement Oscar. When the award was announced "Demonstrators had noisily protested the acclaimed director's lifetime achievement award outside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion earlier in the day, urging Oscar-goers to sit on their hands during Kazan's appearance. According to eyewitnesses at the ceremony, many...stayed seated and did not applaud...Steven Spielberg remained seated, although he applauded; actors Nick Nolte, Ed Harris and Amy Madigan made a point of staying in their seats and not applauding."
People can disagree on what Kazan did. However, this clearly demonstrates that politics do influence the awarding of the Oscar.
Furthermore, the fact that Kazan's award was more controversial than Polanski's to the academy raises an even more interesting question: has Hollywood become so liberal that child molesters are more easily tolerated that anti-communists?
I think if Kazan thought his former friends were plotting against the country (much like Middle Eastern terrorists, nowadays), he should turn them in. If they were harmless, and he was turning them in to save his own ass, then he should be shunned.
quote:Originally posted by the G-man: In addition, I think we need to put aside the idea that you honor the art without honoring the artist. Using that idea, we could give "Mein Kampf" awards for being well-written.
This topic came up on the old DC boards when the Oscars were announced. I addressed the posters who defended Polanski and asked if Hitler directed an Oscar-worthy movie, would they give him an Oscar. One poster (don't remember who) said they would, and that they were awarding the art and not the artist. I feel, even if The Pianist is a great movie, I wouldn't feel right giving an award to someone who did what he did.
As for Ford, well, that's kind of a gray area with me yet. I'm not sure I'd boycott Ford, but I probably should because he supports Polanski.
By the way, you still didn't answer my Liddy question, G-Man. :)
