William Holden winning the Oscar® for Best Actor for "Stalag 17" at the 26th Academy Awards® in 1954. Presented by Shirley Booth and hosted by Donald O'Connor.
Man stiff competition that year. Burt Lancaster, Monty Cliff, Richard Burton and Brando! Way to go Bill! A brilliant acceptance speech. "Thank you... Thank you"
I love Mr. Holden's acceptance speech, I wish they could all be like that, heartfelt, short and sweet. He did an incredible acting job (making it look not like a job) in Stalag 17. His entire performance was stellar and because of him, I have watched the movie about 10 times these last few months, there is one scene, a short one, where it would be virtually impossible for anyone to do it better, it was perfection personified.
William Holden, what a man, handsome and elegant. Here he didn't say nothing, what a pity, because I like very much to hear his velvety deep VOICE!!!!!!
So true. I think Clift went downhill after failing to win. He had also been nominated two times previously in the Search and Place in the Sun. Lancaster was completely intimidated by Clifts acting and Holden said Clift should have won. Brilliant actor who destroyed himself and left us far too early. Sadly he is forgotten today except by intelligent film fans.
Agree- I think he and Lancaster split votes. Love Holden and believe he deserved an Oscar for "Sunset Boulevard," but Clift was at a peak in "Eternity" and went very deep into the character of Prewitt.
Omg! Pure class and brilliant Actors like them are no more seen in the current Hollywood scenario 😢 The Oscars back then were so simple yet a dignified event filled with ladies and gentlemen. Now all we see are wannabe politicians, environmentalists and minimally dressed women 🙄
Terrific performances all, and I am very glad William Holden was an Oscar winner. I'd have given it to him in 1950 for SUNSET BOULEVARD and this year would have gone to Montgomery Clift for FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. Enjoyed the "backstage drama" of the phone call, too.
Absolutely agree And the same year as Sunset Blvd he was in Born Yesterday both his leading ladies were up for best actress but Judy Holiday won! Star Power
No preferential seating in those days! William Holden sitting way in the back. Congratulations Bill. Well deserved. Although that Oscar handoff from Donald to Shirley was really clunky. The early days of live television. What a hoot.
He deserved the Academy Awards for best actor for: Sunset Blvd., Bridge on the River Kwai, Love is a Many-Splendored thing, The Country Girl, The Wild Bunch and Network ❗💙
Katsimpourdas Hitchcock actually said "thank you very much indeed" you just couldn't hear because he didn't say the last couple of words properly into the microphone. This is the shortest speech.
@James Craig The comment below with 10 likes as simple a statement as they come shows the intelligence of these times. Greatest respect to your grandfather. Obviously an amazing human being with great intelligence values and courage.
The Outstanding Actor, William Holden, would have been 100 Years Old on April 17, 2018. William Holden was SO HANDSOME, DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS!!!!! I LOVE his Movies!!! Turner Classic Movie Channel has dedicated William Holden, as its "Star of the Month," for APRIL, 2018. Every MONDAY, in April, starting at 8:00P.M., William Holden's Movies will be shown all throughout the Night. Turner Classic Movie Host, Ben Mankiewicz, has invited William Holden's Companion, the Beautiful Actress, Stefanie Powers, as his Guest while viewing William Holden's Movies. Ms. Powers has fascinating stories, about her time with William Holden, who passed away in November, 1981, at the age of 63. I will be in front of My Television every MONDAY Night, to watch William Holden's Movies!!!!! His face was SO HANDSOME, with a Dimple in his Chin, and he was SO Hairy, e.g. Chest, Arms, Legs, etc. He was an Outstanding Actor, starting with "Golden Boy," in 1939, when he was just 21 Years Old. He Deserved the Academy Award for "Stalag 17." He also should have Won for "Sunset Boulevard," His Acting and Narration for "Sunset Boulevard," was BRILLIANT!!!!!! He Achieved his Goal, by winning Best Actor, of 1954. Happy 100th Birthday, William Holden, on April 17, 2018, and R.I.P. You are Deeply Loved, and Sorely Missed!!!!
Thomas Headley, I saw him on the "I Love Lucy" Episode. I have seen all of William Holden's Movies. Regarding "Love is a Many Splendored Thing," he and his Co- Star, Jennifer Jones, had ZERO Chemistry. He wanted Audrey Hepburn as his Co-Star. I would have liked the Movie a lot more, if Audrey Hepburn had been his Co- Star. William Holden and Audrey Hepburn, have Great Chemistry, e.g., such as in The Movie, "Sabrina."
Thomas Headley, I agree with your reply. Chemistry in Movies is important, but you are right, that the Story Lines are even more Important. Yes, I Love Holden/Novak Chemistry in "Picnic," and Rosalind Russell was Fantastic, as Always. I Agree with the other Couples, that you Mentioned, regarding Chemistry. Errol Flynn and Olivia DeHavilland, had Great Chemistry in their (8) Movies, as well. Enjoyed the Chat, Take Care.
Shirley Booth is dressed for her newest play, "The Matchmaker', which was a big success and became..."Hello Dolly!!" Thought I'd throw that in. Like Holden, but Monty Clift playing the horn after his buddy is killed...perfection.
Oh, I just realize that Audrey Hepburn and William Holden won the same year, I'm just not sure if they had affair before or after these Oscars (although I know "Sabrina" was realesed later that year, i don't know when was it filmed).
I heard that the reason for William Holden's brief Oscar Acceptance Speech was because he was told prior to going to the mike that the show was running long and to make a brief speech.
This was his only Oscar - but several of his co-stars won leading role Oscars in movies where he was the male lead. Judy Holiday - BORN YESTERDAY Grace Kelly - THE COUNTRY GIRL Alec Guinness - THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI Faye Dunaway - NETWORK Peter Finch - NETWORK
Allegedly they were running short on time so Holden was given the bum's rush, hence his brief speech. Watch Grace Kelly's clip where he says "Time is running short again." He handled it with grace though. And so handsome!
In my humble opinion, William Holden should've won for Sunset Boulevard in 1951 and this award should've given to Montgomery Clift for From Here to Eternity
Most undervalued actor in Hollywood history (well, almost. There are others as well). Maybe because he was handsome? But Stalag 17 has been one of my favourite movies since I was a child and he is great there as he was in SB. He got it this time probably because Lancaster and Clift took votes from each other. But he was better than both anyway and FHTE is not even half as good as Stalag 17.
His best performance was his I Love Lucy appearance where Lucy lit her nose. And you see a horrified Bill Holden! Still one of the best comedy scenes ever!
I believe Clift and Lancaster split the vote giving Holden the win. Its fine by me. Holden makes the film. He should have won for Sunset Boulevard instead of Jose Ferrer in a very hammy role Cyrano de Bergerac.
Wow, he beat out everyone including the most famous and perhaps the best assembled classical actors in a single in hollywood history namely From Here Go Eternity...!!!
No he wasn't. Stalag 17 was his baby and he knocked it outta the park with a commanding performance. As good as he was in Sunset and Network, those films were ruled by Gloria Swanson's unforgettable character and Paul Scofield's towering lunatic performance. Oscar got it right on all counts this time.
@@randywhite3947 in that year who would put in first, second, third, etc? In other words: Richard Burton, Montgomery clift, Burt Lancaster, William Holden, and Marlon Brando.
Best Actor award should of gone to (In Order): #1 Montgomery Clift for From Here To Eternity, #2 Burt Lancaster for From Here To Eternity, #3 Yves Montand for The Wages Of Fear (Italy-France), #4 William Holden for Stalag 17, #5 Chishu Ryu for Tokyo Story (Japan), #6 Clark Gable for Mogambo, #7 Marlon Brando for The Wild One, #8 Alan Ladd for Shane, #9 Richard Widmark for Pickup On South Street, #10 Kazuo Hasegawa for Gate Of Hell (Japan), #11 John Wayne for Hondo, #12 Gregory Peck for Roman Holiday, #13 Bing Crosby for Little Boy Lost, #14 Niall MacGinnis for Martin Luther, #15 Peter Lind Hayes for The 5000 Fingers Of Dr. T. NOTE: Marlon Brando for Julius Caesar and Richard Burton for The Robe didn't make the grade.
@@drstrangelove6558 in that year who would put in first, second, third, etc? In other words: Richard Burton, Montgomery clift, Burt Lancaster, William Holden, and Marlon Brando.
@@gatewayski1 in that year who would put in first, second, third, etc? In other words: Richard Burton, Montgomery clift, Burt Lancaster, William Holden, and Marlon Brando.
The reason he only said Thank You is because the broadcast was running late and Donald O’Conner told him to “take the thing and get off”. Always bothered him that he was able to thank those he felt indebted to.
My God...!!! the incandescent Grand Dame of stage, film & eventually, television (& last yrs. Best Lead Actress winner 4 'Come Back Little Sheba')... Ms. Shirley Booth (pre-Hazel)! FAR more fulfilling seeing her in her dressing room any day than Holden in a tux @ the actual LA show!!! 🥰
Audrey Hepburn. Shirley Booth. Wm. Holden. Richard Burton. Marlon Brando. Burt Lancaster. ........ He has made tons of beautiful movies. He is a great actor......
Great actor, great film. Maybe if all the winners reverted back to a simple "thank you" in accepting the Oscar, the modern Oscar shows wouldn't be such a drag-out for 3 hours and get it all done in a respectable 1 and a half hours tops.
This was obviously a consolation prize for them not giving him the Oscar for Sunset Boulevard. Montgomery Clift should have won this award, which Holden even said himself, him or Burt Lancaster.
His biography explains that the show was running over and he was only allowed to say "Thank you". He had a speech prepared in which he was going to thank his wife, parents, and director.
What an acceptance speech! I thought it would never end! Seriously though when you WANT him to just stand there 'being Bill Holden' and talking and he's gone in a flash. Oh well, leave them wanting more.
William holden should have at least got nominated for the wild bunch 1969,clift and Lancaster got nominated for best actor in the same film thus leaving the way for holden to win.never did care for any of brandos films except viva Zapata 1952 and one eyed jacks 1961.
He was in another great World War II movie The Bridge on the River Kwai about a Japanese prison camp and a bridge that was built with prisoner slave labor that had to be destroyed.
I heard somewhere that Billy Wilder sent Holden a telegram that said, "Wasn't that second 'Thank You' a bit redundant?" On a sour note, Holden's wife at the time was quoted as saying that Holden was bitter over the "snub" he felt he recieved for not recieving an Oscar for "Sunset Blvd." and actually threw his award in the ocean while boating. Perhaps that explains his terse, (although polite) nod to recieving it. Weird if that's true. I have heard the "tossing in the ocean" part from more than one souirce. Sad if true that he allowed such feelings to mar the event of rhim. For example, look how long John Wayne waited for his after "Sands of Iwo Jima"?
