By the way, two minutes after the Indian Maiden departed, Clint Eastwood took the podium and accepted the lone Oscar (still left standing) on behalf of all the cowboys killed off by 'Injuns' in Hollywood westerns. In Tinseltown legends die-hard.
In 1969 when Gregory Peck picked up the Hersholt Humanitarian Oscar for his Cancer Research support he was joined by Charlton Heston, Hugh O'Brian and Kirk Douglas as the four gun-slinging movie stars. He accepted the award urging Americans to have gun sales curbed by law. "In the name of humanity," said Greg "Contact your congressman to outlaw mail-order gun sales. We must not be passive."
Maverick Brando, however was not the first nominee to refuse the 18 carat gold statuette. That precedent was set in 1971 by George C. Scott. He declined his award (for some obscure reason no records have ever cited) for Best Actor in PATTON.
Producer, Frank McCarthy accepting the award on his behalf, pleaded, "it only goes to prove the Academy is unbiased in its choices..."
On the subject of unbiased choices, one needs to look no further than the list of rec eivers of the Honorary Awards. These are consolation awards for, 'achievements for one reason or another, not recognised in the standard annual categories.' In other words, if you live long enough, you're bound to get one.
This was never more apparent than in 1988 when the ageless Olivia de Havilland was Honor-ized. She was introduced, as the sole survivor (from the cast of thousands) of the greatest movie ever made, GONE WITH THE WIND. Now that deserves an Oscar in itself. Not so lucky was Barbara Stanwyck who died Oscar-less. Nor did she make it in time to receive the oldies Hall of Fame award. Unlike Lucille Ball who in 1989, just made it.
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