Linda Blair and Ben Johnson presenting George Burns with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar® for his performance in "The Sunshine Boys" at the 48th Academy Awards® in 1976.
Burns was a very good actor. He showed it in "The Sunshine Boys," the "Oh, God!" movies and "Going in Style," which is a surprisingly moving performance. Rare for a performer to have such a good run that late in his career.
The last Oscar won by an actor born in the 19th century. In many ways it feels like the grand finale for a whole generation, an actor old enough to remember when the first cinemas were being opened and movies were silent, still an award winner all the way into the 1970s. Remarkable to behold.
George Burns was so brilliant. Even his thank you speech was brilliant. A single sentence can get laughs in the first half ("If you get to be old enough") and end up heartwarming ("You get to be new again"). What a talent
Most Oscar winners forget to express their thanks to their co-stars and their director, producer and screenwriter. Burns, at 80, remembered to thank everyone responsible for his success.
George Burns absolutely deserved it for his performance in the Sunshine boys. At 80 he was sharp, witty and remembered to thank everyone who deserved to be thank. He was one of the truly greats. Multi talented and a real gentleman. RIP Nathan Birnbaum....there will never be another.
John Cazale should have been nominated for Dog Day Afternoon. His performance is so memorable. I’m on edge wherever he is on the screen in that film. Cazale or Dourif should have won.
George Burns was always an under appreciated talent; for proof, watch the dance sequence with Gracie Allen and Fred Astaire in which Burns acquits himself beautifully, matching Astaire step for step. Originally, Jack Benny was cast in The Sunshine Boys opposite Walter Matthau; when Benny died suddenly before production started, Burns, his close friend, was cast and his success in the role revived his career.
I just read that the in the Blu Ray version of the Sunshine Boys they show a frail Jack Benny rehearsing the part his friend George Burns later got before it was decided he was too sick to do it.
As much as I enjoyed Chris Sarandon's performance in Dog Day, I felt that I would have preferred to see John Cazale nominated as his performance as Sal was phenomenal. Would have been nice to see Brad Dourif win though.
George Burns was not the actual pick to play the movie The Sunshine boys The Producers choose Jack Benny for the movie but due to pancreas cancer Jack Benny cannot do it so Jack Benny informed produces to have his best friend and next-door neighbor George Burns played the part George Burns was down but got the part for the sunshine boys and with that became George Burns second time around the produces started to picking him up off the ground to do oh God book 1 2 and 3 now George Burns is not a nobody he's back on top with that he did 18 Again as a movie as well as the soundtrack and many other movies before he died at the age of 100
Haven't seen Burns' performance so I can't tell, but I think Dourif was amazing in "One Flew ..." but seriously, the only one who should've got this Oscar wasn't even nominated, I'm talkin' about Robert Shaw in "Jaws" ...
George Burns won a lifetime achievement award for playing himself. Brad Dourif and Chris Sarandon were two young guys thought to have plenty of time but neither ever got another comparable role.
I loved the movie and I'm happy he got the Oscar.. but looking back.. I think Brad Dourif should have won it. One of the most memorable performances ever on the big screen. Still happy George got it though.
Johnny Carson: Now George, how many cigars do you smoke every day? Burns: Between 12 and 14. Carson: What do your doctors say about that? Burns: My doctors are all dead.
I like looking at the faces of each of the nominees just as they announce the winner. Some are happy for him/her, some looked pissed off while others are surprised but also glad for him/her's win.
Fun trivia fact: Three of these five nominees would go on to star in films where a doll may be alive. Meredith would go on to star in Magic and Dourif and Sarandon would go on to star in Child's Play.
Two things to consider: 1. George Burns was appearing in his first feature film since 1939. 2. Six weeks before filming started, he had triple bypass heart surgery.
What a tough call, but as much as I love George Burns and anything that Brad Dourif does, it really should have been a tie between two greats who unbelievably weren't even nominated for their memorable performances in the same unforgettable movie: Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw for Jaws.
The Gap between the last movie Burns did and this one is huge, excluding The Solid Gold Cadillac in 1956 (where he is only the narrator, so I am not counting that), the last acting role he had was Honolulu (1939) with his wife Gracie Allen. This was before Chris Sarandon and Brad Dourif were even born.
"If you stay in this business long enough, and you get to be old enough, you get to be new again." He wasn't wrong - the Oh, God! movies came after this and Burns was pretty much seen as one of the Cool Old Guys of Hollywood from then on until his death at 100 years old.
Ok that was Melissa “Lisa” Miller next to George in the audience. She was his companion, and in some stories, girlfriend, in his later years. Given the 50+ year difference in ages, I’m not sure girlfriend is very accurate.
5. Jack Warden in Shampoo- Warden is descent and humorous enough in the stock role of a hapless rich guy always being fooled by some hip young guy. (3/5) 4.Chris Sarandon in Dog Day Afternoon- Sarandon in his two scenes is great creating an interesting character as well as a complex a believable relationship with Pacino's character. (4.5/5) 3. Brad Dourif in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest- Dourif adds well to his film giving a heartbreaking performance as a very troubled young man that effectively adds to the ensemble and has one truly great individual moment. (4.5/5) 2. George Burns in The Sunshine Boys- Burns gives a very enjoyable and funny dead pan performance. He never budges an inch and is entertaining in every scene. (5/5) 1. Burgess Meredith in Day of the Locust- Coming down to two aging vaudevillian only makes this race even closer. This choice was one of my hardest to make in the category, and really they are both equally great in their own ways, and this is really a case I don't have much of a reason otherwise than Meredith is terrific in his role of both a tragic and inspiring man who seems to always be on death door yet there is always a great deal of joy and life in him as well. (5/5) Deserving Performances: Robert Shaw in Jaws John Cazale in Dog Day Afternoon Charles Durning in Dog Day Afternoon Max von Sydow in Three Days of the Condor
Very good summation but I think Burns deserved it, Meredith's performance in Rocky was much more dynamic than Day of the Locust, If Jason Robards hadn't been nominated for All the President's Men that he would've easily won.
Jason Robards did get an oscar nomination and won the oscar only it was a year later at the april 1977 oscars for the 1976 movies, and it was for All the President's Men, his first, he won again a year later in april 78 for Julia too
It would have really been something if Jack Benny had lived to play his part in The Sunshine Boys as originally intended (opposite George Burns). Walter Matthau was only 55 and just hamming it up "playing" old. Benny would have brought real depth and authenticity to the part.
I agree and I think I have a similar comment here. Jack was probably rolling over in his grave thinking about all the times he was cheated out of the award. The Horn Blows at Midnight for example. Yes that’s a joke. It was a running gag on his radio show about him never winning.
Loved George Burns Movies " OH GOD." ETC.? I see one of my favorite Actor in the Audience.? Charles Bronson R.I.P. George Burns & Charles Bronson.? For you guys are sadly missed by all of your Fans.?
gman2010ification I liked very much his perfomance, but honestly I hope that Brad won. He gave one of the most heartbreaking performance in history, but I understand you point of view.
