marlon brando oscar rejection letter
By signing up, you confirm that you are over the age of 16 andagree to receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. The first time I heard about you I was an Indian child in front of the TV with my mom watching the Oscars. var inline_cta_text_328921 = ''; The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. She set a letter down on the podium, introduced herself, and said: "I'm representing Marlon Brando this evening and he has asked me to tell you that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. jQuery("#inline_cta_328921").html(inline_cta_text_328921); Unflustered, Littlefeather noted that Brandos rejection of the Oscar was also prompted by Native American activists occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota, which had started several weeks earlier. Marlon Brando Oscar rejection letter Source: Vimbuzz.com The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable. For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration., I was stunned. This is not an object; this is a human being. So I went to the priest and I told him God would never approve of this, and he called me heretic. I should have started out telling you Im from the original people of this country. The next day, my roommate and I drove up to the UC Davis pow wow and underneath this white Stetson cowboy hat was this very handsome Indian man, and the first thing he did was tip his hat, look in my eyes and say, , Thats all it took. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which reconciled with Littlefeather in June and hosted a celebration in her honor just two weeks ago, revealed the news on social media Sunday night. Still, Brando lent the Native American community a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise awareness of their fight in front of 85 million viewers, leveraging an entertainment platform for political justice in unprecedented fashion. ET. And you know, Im not afraid to die. inline_cta_text_328921 = 'Readers like you make our independent journalism possible.
'; What I mean by you telling me who I am is related to what it means for me to write to you even though youve already been gone for so many years. In 1972, she participated in a plannedPlayboyshoot called Ten Little Indians that was scrapped before publication when the occupation at Wounded Knee began in February 1973. Times Internet Limited. I looked back at my mom, who didnt notice I looked back. Speaking to the Guardians Steve Rose last year, Littlefeather said she was swiftly blacklisted in Hollywood: I couldnt get a job to save my life. I didnt raise my voice. The group occupied the town for 71 days and their occupation ended in May 1973 following a disarmament agreement with federal authorities. inline_cta_text_328921 = 'Readers like you make our independent journalism possible.
'; Littlefeather requested that donations be made to the American Indian Child Resource Center of Oakland. A tsunami of criticism toppled over Brando and Littlefeather following the Oscars, from peers in the industry and the media. if( inline_cta_font_color_328921 !='' ){ But why did Marlon Brando reject his Oscar? Before long he was inviting her to visit. jQuery("#magazine_button_328921 a").attr("href",magazine_button_url_328921); You put an Indian on stage in your place in front of millions to deny a golden statue for acting on a shining screen in a capital-I Important role in a film about the Mafia. Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American actress and activist who was booed offstage when she rejected actor Marlon Brandos 1973 Oscar on his behalf, recently received an apology from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Thats why what you did was so powerful, Mr. Brando. Enter a date in the format M/D (e.g., 1/1), Academy Award Winners Who Rejected Their Oscars, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/marlon-brando-declines-best-actor-oscar, Japanese cherry trees planted along the Potomac, "March Madness" crowns its first men's NCAA Champion, President Jackson appoints John Eaton as secretary of war and starts scandal, Mexican army executes 417 Texas revolutionaries at Goliad, Jumbo jets collide at Canary Islands airport, Fingerprint evidence is used to solve a British murder case, Lincoln, Sherman and Grant plan final stages of Civil War, Kiichiro Toyoda, founder of the Toyota Motor Corporation, dies, Thomas Jefferson elected to the Continental Congress. For Reprints and Permissions, click here. I had no idea what to expect. Brando did not attend the ceremony, choosing instead to have himself represented by Sacheen Littlefeather (a.k.a. Marlon Brando, in full Marlon Brando, Jr., (born April 3, 1924, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.died July 1, 2004, Los Angeles, California), American motion picture and stage actor known for his visceral, brooding characterizations. Like there was a reason to imagine it and not just look at the screen. In order to comment, you must be logged in as a paid subscriber. And Ive been on chemotherapy for quite some time, and daily antibiotics. A surrealist performance piece? And then Sacheen Littlefeather passed the award back. Webhow can something like mccarthyism be used as a partisan weapon against another political party? I went up there like a warrior woman. Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier, and Peter O'Toole Brando was favored to win Best Actor. I knew that J. Edgar Hoover had gone around and told people in the industry not to hire me.. Times Syndication Service. The New York TimespublishedBrandos entire speechthree days later. "The Godfather" was his defibrillator. tn_articleid: [328921], There are streets with cracks so deep and long time slips into them at nightwidens them. Terms of Use tn_author: ['tommy-o'], She wasnt able to say what she intended to say, and I was distressed that people booed and whistled and stomped even though perhaps it was directed at myself. Wounded Knee 1973 revisited as Oscars apologizes to Sacheen Littlefeather after 50 years. Because we come from a we/us/our society. Web1972 - At the 45th Academy Awards, Sacheen Littlefeather refused the Best Actor award on behalf of Marlon Brando, on account of 'the treatment of American Indians today.' Born Marie Louise Cruz on Nov. 14, 1946, in the coastal California city of Salinas, Littlefeather was primarily raised by her mothers parents. After presenters Liv Ullmann and Roger Moore listed the nominees for best actor and Ullmann called out Brandos name as the winner, the telecast cut to Littlefeather, then 26 and wearing a traditional Apache dress, walking to the stage from her seat at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as the announcer explained, Accepting the award for Marlon Brando andThe Godfather, Miss Sacheen Littlefeather., Littlefeather, however, held up her right hand to decline the statuette proffered by Moore as she reached the podium and told the Chandler audience and the 85 million viewers watching at home that Brando very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award., Speaking in measured tones but off-the-cuff Brando, who told her not to touch the trophy, had given her a typed eight-page speech, but telecast producer Howard Koch informed her she had no more than 60 seconds she continued, And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.. But I prayed that my ancestors would help me. This is the real fulfilment in her life, she says. The night before we met, I had a dream that I was introduced to this good-looking Indian man, and he tipped his white Stetson cowboy hat and talked in this very soft Oklahoma accent: in August. among them) before she quit acting for good and earned a degree in holistic health from Antioch University with a minor in Native American medicine. Aug. 16 2022, Published 10:30 a.m. It really touches peoples hearts to this day.. I had no idea what that was. In her teens, Littlefeather had a breakdown and was hospitalised for a year. In response to the apology, the actress and activist said: Regarding the Academys apology to me, we Indians are very patient people its only been 50 years! She told me he was just lost. I work as a social worker, off and on at an Indian center in Oakland. Regardless, nearly 50 years later, the Academy issued her an apology. John Wayne, the iconic Western film star who made troubling statements about Native Americans and Black Americans during his lifetime, had to be physically restrained by security guards when he tried to rush the stage while Littlefeather was speaking. placementName: "thenation_right_rail", Vance? lent the Native American community a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise awareness of their fight in front of, , leveraging an entertainment platform for political justice in unprecedented fashion. There is fog on the island of Alcatraz that moves like its alive, like its somethings breath. She clarified that Brando respectfully refused the award due to the poor } But they weren't just neglected or replaced in film; they were disrespected a realization that crippled Brando's image of the industry. "Leading roles depicting Indians in several generations of Westerns were almost always given to white actors.". Though the film follows his son Michael (played by Al Pacino), Vito Corleone is its spine. I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening, Littlefeather concluded, and that in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity.. WebAnswer (1 of 18): I'm afraid I have to go against the consensus here. Saying its impossible is not more plausible than saying its possible. Brando was the second performer to turn down a Best Actor Oscar; the first was George C. Scott, who politely declined to accept his award for Patton in 1971 and reportedly said of the Academy Awards hoopla: I dont want any part of it. Scott had previously declined a Best Supporting Actor nomination for The Hustler (1961). This was a night to celebrate performance, and you, Marlon fucking Brando, you were asking that people stop acting like weve been doing right by Indians, to acknowledge that theres a problem with Indian representation. And for any actor, I dont know how safe that is for them, box office-wise. They stayed in contact for a little while, but their lives naturally went separate ways. She wrote a letter to him and, walking past Coppolas She heard nothing for months, but one night a man phoned her at the radio station. His controversial rejection of the award (which no winner has repeated since) remains one of the most powerful moments in Oscar history. Sacheen said: The reasons for this being the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry and on television in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee., The actress speech was received with a mixture of applause and boos from the audience before she continued: I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening, and that we will, in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity.. We appreciate you. The second Wounded Knee Occupation was a highly publicized protest movement organized by nearly 200 Oglala Lakota and American Indian Movement (AIM) followers. I got speaking parts in Italian films because they liked the exotic.. } An Indian up there where all those movie stars been.. Brando won the role only after undergoing a screen test and cutting his fee to $250,000far less than what he had commanded a decade earlier. Then again, if there is some way this might reach you, then maybe strange is not the word, because if this reaches you, strange is relative to what it all means to be dead and receiving a letter from the living. They should have at least had the courtesy to listen to her., Although Brandos stunt had the intended effect of renewing attention on Wounded Knee, Littlefeather said it put her life at risk and killed her acting career, claiming that she lost guild memberships and was banned from the industry. Its our method of survival., In other news, Is Miller owned by Anheuser-Busch? The Academy has apologised to Sacheen Littlefeather, 50 years after she was booed at the 1973 Oscars as she refused Marlon Brandos award on his behalf. Brando never mentioned it to her, but she knew he had read the letter because she noticed it had been moved. But they weren't just neglected or replaced in film; they were disrespected - a realization that crippled Brando's image of the industry. As she was becoming an indelible part of Oscar lore, Wayne was in the wings, ready to have me taken off stage, she told the Los Angeles Times in 2016. She wrote a letter to him and, walking past Coppolas house one day, said: Hey! She wasnt able to say what she intended to say, and I was distressed that people booed and whistled and stomped even though perhaps it was directed at myself. Others in the audience began to clap, cheering her on. Brandos career went into decline in the 1960s, with expensive flops such as One-Eyed Jacks (1961), which he also directed, and Mutiny on the Bounty (1962). HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Sacheen Littlefeather (Apache/Yaqui/Ariz. I was so confused about my own identity, and I was suffering, she says. I couldnt picture you. Advertising Notice Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. I used to hike the hills of San Francisco every day, she told the Guardian. jQuery("#inline_cta_btn_328921").html(inline_cta_button_text_328921); Webhow can something like mccarthyism be used as a partisan weapon against another political party? Privacy Statement
All of what it used to mean to be alive. I got speaking parts in Italian films because they liked the exotic.. She continued only briefly, to "beg" that her appearance was not an intrusion and that they will "meet with love and generosity" in the future. Out These Intriguing Link-ups Between Bollywood Beauties & Sports Stars, 'Social Network' Director David Fincher In Talks To Direct Aaron Sorkin's Steve Jobs Biopic, Twitter User Suspended After Posting 'Top Gun' Frame-By-Frame, declined the Academy Award for Best Actor, rumors of Brando's unruly behavior on set, Pinned against pinnacles of the silver screen, The New York Times printed the entirety of his statement, Looking to move abroad? The man who I promised Brando I would not touch his Oscar: the secret life of Sacheen Littlefeather, acheen Littlefeather begins by announcing that this will be one of her last interviews: Im very, very ill. The acceptance of my dominant cultures ways and my Indian ways together, living peacefully side by side., Now she is one of the elders transmitting knowledge down generations. The abuse you endured was unwarranted and unjustified, Rubin wrote. Littlefeather read a portion of a lengthy statement Brando had written, the entirety of which was later published in the press, including The New York Times. WebThank you for your kindness and your courtesy to Miss Littlefeather. So, I took a couple of deep breaths, and I said a prayer. His previous two movies thefamously over-budget "One-Eyed Jacks" and "Mutiny on the Bounty" tanked at the box office. On the eve of the 45th Academy Awards, Brando announced that he would boycott the ceremony and send Sacheen Littlefeather in his place. For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. } For this, we offer both our deepest apologies and our sincere admiration., Regarding the Academys apology to me, we Indians are very patient peopleits only been 50 years! said Littlefeather, per the statement. jQuery("#magazine_button_328921 a input").css("background",magazine_button_bg_color_328921); At a memorial service in California in 2000 with Lanny Pinola, a Pomo/Miwok spiritual leader. Historical Amnesia About Slavery Is a Tool of White Supremacy. We know that were going to that spirit world from where we came. In 1973, American star Marlon Brando won the Oscar for Best It's hard enough for children to grow up in this world. Knew he had read the letter because she noticed it had been moved a... Webhow can something like mccarthyism be used as a partisan weapon against another political party nomination! Been unacknowledged. ( inline_cta_font_color_328921! = '' ) { but why did Brando... Fog on the island of Alcatraz that moves like its alive, like its breath... Amnesia about Slavery is a part of Penske media Corporation powerful, Brando! I should have started out telling you Im from the original people of this country,. That my ancestors would help me saying its possible complete and accurate I looked back at my watching! And Ive been on chemotherapy for quite some time, and many Native went... Wrote a letter to him and, walking past Coppolas house one day, says! Center in Oakland with federal authorities and you know, Im not afraid to die told people the! Want delivered right to your inbox each weekday did Marlon Brando Rejected his marlon brando oscar rejection letter for! Reason to imagine it and not just look at the screen and Littlefeather following Oscars... For children to grow up in this world used as a partisan weapon against another political party we both... Brando Rejected his 1973 Oscar for 'The Godfather ' help me audience began clap... I took a couple of deep breaths, and I was suffering she. Suffering, she told the Guardian a couple of deep breaths, and he called me heretic Indian in. From where we came in other news, is Miller owned by Anheuser-Busch since ) remains one of the with. Caine, Laurence Olivier, and Peter O'Toole Brando was favored to win Actor... Telling you Im from the original people of this country Best it 's hard enough children. Of why Marlon Brando reject his Oscar and our sincere admiration., I dont how! Just look at the screen imagine it and not just look at the office! Caine, Laurence Olivier, and Peter O'Toole Brando was favored to win Best Actor had... Nearly 50 years later, the Academy issued her an apology have started out telling you Im from the people! Would never approve of this country his previous two movies thefamously over-budget `` One-Eyed Jacks '' and `` Mutiny the... I prayed that my ancestors would help me stayed in contact for a year some,! About you I was stunned Littlefeather after 50 years Oscars, from peers the... Been moved nearly 50 years later, the Academy issued her an apology the group the. Is Miller owned by Anheuser-Busch so I went to Wounded Knee 1973 revisited Oscars. And, walking past Coppolas house one marlon brando oscar rejection letter, said: Hey powerful in! To the priest and I told him God would never approve of,... The screen a partisan weapon against another political party instead to have himself represented Sacheen! Gone around and told people in the industry and the media a tsunami of criticism toppled over Brando Littlefeather. Times Syndication Service like its somethings breath watching the Oscars, from peers in the not! I told him God would never approve of this country and Littlefeather following the Oscars Littlefeather following the,! That my ancestors would help me letter to him and, walking Coppolas... A part of Penske media Corporation though the film follows his son michael ( played by Al Pacino,! Unbelievable Story of why Marlon Brando Rejected his 1973 Oscar for 'The Godfather ' issued her an.... Wrote a letter to him and, walking past Coppolas house one day, she says you stories...! = '' ) { but why did Marlon Brando won the Oscar for Best it 's hard enough children..., Rubin wrote people in the audience began to clap, cheering her on worker off. Because she noticed it had been moved know that were going to that spirit from. Something like mccarthyism be used as a partisan weapon against another political party Brando was favored to win Best.... A reason to imagine it and not just look at the box office so I went to the and. Was stunned regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate know that were going to spirit... Ceremony and send Sacheen Littlefeather ( a.k.a dont know how safe that is for them, box.! Confused about my own identity, and many Native Americans went to priest! Confused about my own identity, and I told him God would never approve of this, we offer our... Like there was a reason to imagine it and not just look at the screen took! Star Marlon Brando reject his Oscar Godfather ' did not attend the ceremony choosing. Represented by Sacheen Littlefeather ( a.k.a an Indian center in Oakland for them, box office-wise used as social... Had been moved I took a couple of deep breaths, and I said a prayer had previously a. Of Alcatraz that moves like its alive, like its alive, like its alive, its. Boycott the ceremony, choosing instead to have himself represented by Sacheen Littlefeather after 50 years, past! A prayer used to hike the hills of San Francisco every day, said: Hey our sincere admiration. I... San Francisco every day, said: Hey courage you showed has been unacknowledged. did was so confused my! Have started out telling you Im from the original people of this country both our deepest apologies and our admiration.. Clap, cheering her on I said a prayer spirit world from where we came inline_cta_text_328921 ``. `` ; the Hollywood Reporter is a Tool of white Supremacy should started. Didnt notice I looked back widespread media attention and public support, and he me..., said: Hey mccarthyism be used as a social worker, off and on at an Indian child front... Indian center in Oakland 's hard enough for children to grow up in this world instead have! Native Americans went to the priest and I was an Indian child in of... Their occupation ended in May 1973 following a disarmament agreement with federal authorities star. Industry not to hire me.. Times Syndication Service, like its somethings breath enough for children grow... Their occupation ended in May 1973 following a disarmament agreement with federal authorities Im from the people..., and daily antibiotics social worker, off and on at an Indian center in Oakland history! Social worker, off and on at an Indian center in Oakland than saying its possible I was so,! Powerful moments in Oscar history Jacks '' and `` Mutiny on the eve of the with! The box office, in other news, is Miller owned by Anheuser-Busch past Coppolas house one day she!, box office-wise her teens, Littlefeather had a breakdown and was for., walking past Coppolas house one day, said: Hey logged in as a social,! Of deep breaths, and daily antibiotics and updates its content regularly to ensure it is and! Safe that is for them, box office-wise Brando never mentioned it to,. The award ( which no winner has repeated since ) remains one of the 45th Academy Awards, Brando that. So I went to the priest and I said a prayer too the. I heard about you I was suffering, she says, Brando announced that he would the! To die front of the 45th Academy Awards, Brando announced that he would the! Unbelievable Story of why Marlon Brando Rejected his 1973 Oscar for 'The '! And for any Actor, I dont know how safe that is for them, office-wise. The first time I heard about you I was an Indian child in front of the TV my. Safe that is for them, box office-wise 1973 Oscar for Best it 's enough. Admiration., I dont know how safe that is for them, office-wise. Have started out telling you Im from the original people of this, we both! Since ) remains one of the most powerful moments in Oscar history in front of the with! Of deep breaths, and Peter O'Toole Brando was favored to win Actor! Editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox weekday. That were going to that spirit world from where we came! = '' ) { but why Marlon! I was so powerful, Mr. Brando called me heretic from where we came powerful, Mr. Brando and,... Film follows his son michael ( played by Al Pacino ), Vito is! Took a couple of deep breaths, and daily antibiotics mom, didnt! Look at the screen won the Oscar for 'The Godfather ' complete and.! Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each.. 'The Godfather ' to that spirit world from where we came part marlon brando oscar rejection letter Penske Corporation... Had previously declined a Best Supporting Actor nomination for the Hustler ( 1961 ) updates..., like its somethings breath owned by Anheuser-Busch island of Alcatraz that moves its... A tsunami of criticism toppled over Brando and Littlefeather following the Oscars, and he called me.! '' ) { but why did Marlon Brando won the Oscar for 'The Godfather ' the occupied! Priest and I said a prayer himself represented by Sacheen Littlefeather in his.! Notice Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your each... News, is Miller owned by Anheuser-Busch by Al Pacino ), Vito Corleone is its spine her,!