Ben--
 
Your mistake is taking any of it seriously.  Why would tokenism in the
industry be any different during a celebration of the industry?
 
In April of 1973 I escorted Frank Capra around our campus for a three day
visit.  He most generously agreed to come at no fee, and all said, it was a
great experience for the students, faculty, and public who heard him speak.
 
However, when in one of my classes he was asked about his opinion of the film
THE STING which had just one the Best Picture award the week before, he went
into a long defense of the film, the awards process etc.  Capra said that THE
STING was clearly the best film, he liked it and so did the experts in the
industry. Another student informed him of a professor's story about how the
studio and Cliff Robertson had bought the award in 1969? for his role in
CHARLY by spending megabucks on ads in DAILY VARIETY and such. Again Capra in
effect said that this professor (who was by now squirming in his presence as
all eyes in the room except his focused upon me) knew squat about the
process. The Best awards really were the best and only industry people like
himself could vouch for the honesty of the process.
 
This attitude should haven't been surprising having come from a six-time
President of the Academy.  Anyway after this episode, we were in another class
where a different student asked a different variation of the Oscar question.
She asked what Capra thought of the nominated film CRIES AND WHISPERS?  He
said he hadn't seen it, heard it had too much sex and was depressing.  Well
then, continued the student, what did he think about THE EXORCIST?  Hadn't
seen it, he replied.  Friends said it was way too violent and gory.  In
short, he hadn't seen any of the nominated films except THE STING.
 
Yours truly wasn't quite impertinent enough to point out the contradiction in
Mr. Capra's presence.  I waited until the day after he left.
 
I think I understand the dilemma that the Academy Awards show presents us,
however.  We know it's hype, hoopla, and horseshit, but we want it to be truth
and beauty, life-affirming anyway. Like most Hollywood films themselves.
 
Roger Bullis
Professor of Communication
University of Wisconsin
Stevens Point, WI
 
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