When an actor accepts their Oscar award, they are given a limited amount of time to deliver their acceptance speech before the iconic music begins to play and cuts them off. Some winners come prepared with a lengthy speech, overflowing with gratitude and emotion, only to be abruptly cut short by the orchestra. On the other hand, some actors choose to simply accept their award, say a few brief words, and gracefully exit the stage.
While both approaches are acceptable, the anticipation and hype surrounding these Oscar-winning roles often leave audiences wanting more. When the triumphant winner opts to keep their speech short and sweet, it can feel somewhat anticlimactic, leaving viewers vying for more insight and emotion from the victor. So, here are six times when actors delivered underwhelming Oscar speeches.
6. William Holden for Stalag 17 (1954)
Billy Wilder was one of the most renowned filmmakers of the 1950’s, and in 1953, his film Stalag 17 became one of the most talked-about movies of the year. The film follows a group of American prisoners of war held in a German prisoner of war camp during World War II. As suspicions arise that there may be a spy among the group leaking secrets to the enemy, tensions run high as the men work to uncover the traitor in their midst.
William Holden‘s performance in the film is nothing short of mesmerizing, as he portrays the cynical and rebellious prisoner, Sefton. Holden’s portrayal in Stalag 17 is still considered iconic to this day. Despite his Oscar win for Best Actor for this role, Holden had very few words to share during his acceptance speech, simply stating “Thank you, thank you” before swiftly exiting the stage, leaving the audience craving more insight into his acclaimed performance.
5. Billy Wilder for The Apartment (1961)
The 1961 Oscars proved to be a monumental moment for Billy Wilder, as his now-iconic film The Apartment swept the ceremony, garnering him three Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Picture. Despite the incredible success of the film, each time Wilder took the stage to accept his awards, he opted to keep his words brief and to the point. When presented with the Best Director Oscar by Gina Lollobrigida, Wilder humorously quipped, “Thank you so much, you lovely discerning people. Thank you.” His concise and witty acceptance speeches only added to his enigmatic charm and solidified his status as a legendary figure in Hollywood. Outside of these wins, Wilder won a further three Oscars throughout his storied career, putting him alongside John Ford as the two filmmakers with the most Oscar wins.
4. Rita Moreno for West Side Story (1962)
The classic 1962 musical West Side Story enthralled audiences with its timeless tale of love and rivalry set against the backdrop of New York City. A loose re-telling of Shakespeare‘s Romeo and Juliet, the film brought to life the forbidden love between Tony and Maria, two young lovers from rival gangs. West Side Story made a lasting impact on cinema history, winning a staggering 10 Academy Awards in 1962.
At the forefront of the movie was Rita Moreno, whose electrifying performance as Anita shot her to worldwide fame and earned her the coveted Best Supporting Actress award. Already a beloved figure in Hollywood due to her role in The King and I, many were eager to hear her story when she took the stage to accept her award. However, Moreno chose to keep things minimal, simply expressing her disbelief with a heartfelt, “I can’t believe it! Good Lord. I leave you with that!”
3. Alfred Hitchcock – Irving G.Thalberg Memorial Award in 1968
It is almost unbelievable that legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock never won an Oscar despite being nominated on five occasions throughout his illustrious career. However, in 1968, The Academy finally acknowledged his immense contribution to cinema by presenting him with the prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award. By this point, Hitchcock had been nominated for four Oscars and had yet to secure a win. When he took the stage to accept the Thalberg Award, his short and monotone speech of “Thank you, very much indeed.” struck a somber note to some, hinting at a tinge of bitterness that the coveted golden statuette had eluded him throughout his career.
2. Joe Pesci for Goodfellas (1991)
Joe Pesci‘s 1991 Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor was truly well-deserved, recognizing his outstanding performance as the psychotic gangster Tommy DeVito in the crime classic Goodfellas. Pesci’s portrayal of Tommy was nuanced and utterly menacing, with one scene in particular standing out as possibly the finest acting he has exhibited in his entire career. While his character was loud, fast-talking, and confident on screen, Pesci’s Oscar speech was a stark contrast – short, shy, and abrupt, simply saying, “It’s my privilege. Thank you.”
1. Louie Psihoyos for The Cove (2010)
Upon receiving the award for Best Documentary, filmmaker Louie Psihoyos was only able to utter two words – “Thank you” – before the orchestra swiftly played him off stage. This abrupt ending was a result of producer Fisher Stevens exceeding his allotted speech time. As the infamous music began to play, Psihoyos appeared visibly embarrassed by the premature interruption. Fortunately, he later released a video showcasing the Oscar speech he would have delivered if given the chance to speak uninterrupted. Want to read more about the Oscars? Here are 6 directors who won their Oscar with their feature debut.
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