Famous last words

By Times staff

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 25, 2001

Coverage from AP Oscar Nominees list Best picture Oscars 2001 A.D. When the Gladiator meets the Tiger tonight, the traditions of the academy will prevail. E! stays with Oscar all day Broadcast of the 73rd annual Academy Awards begins at 8 tonight on WFTS-TV Ch. 28, and is bound to go past midnight. Inside Oscar's arena Ever wonder what it would be like to be a member of the Academy on a night like tonight? Wonder no more. Here's an insider's look. And the winners are . . . Check the Oscar predictions by St. Petersburg Times film critic Steve Persall, academy member Ed. Cassidy and readers who entered the Times Oscar Contest, predicting the winners as well as picking their favorites. And for those of you keeping score at home tonight, there's room to pencil in your vote. Speaking of winners, we'll announce the winners of our Oscar contest in Thursday's Weekend section.

Winning an Academy Award is easy compared to figuring out what to say after your name is announced.

Just for fun, we've compiled a list of memorable quotes from past Oscar acceptance speeches. See how many winners -- and the pictures that brought them Oscar glory -- you can identify.

1. "I was going to thank all the little people, but then I remembered I am the little people."

2. "Thank you." (the winner's entire speech)

3. "Hello, gorgeous."

4. "It couldn't happen to a nicer fella."

5. "You like me, you really like me."

6. "I deserve this."

7. "There's a great deal to say, but I'm not going to say it tonight."

8. "I can't tell you how encouraging a thing like this is."

9. "I'm king of the world!"

10. ". . . the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels. We know their names. They number a thousand for each one of the red ribbons that we wear here tonight. They finally rest in the warm embrace of the gracious creator of us all, a healing embrace that cools their fevers, that clears their skin, and allows their eyes to see the simple, self-evident common sense truth that is made manifest by the benevolent creator of us all."

11. "This is the best drink of water after the longest drought of my life."

12. "It has been a long journey to this moment."

13. "I think awards in this country at this time are inappropriate to be received or given until the condition of the American Indian is drastically altered. If we are not our brother's keeper, at least let us not be his executioner."

14. "I would like to be Jupiter and kidnap everybody and lie down in the ground making love to everybody."

15. "I should have put on that eyepatch years ago."

16. "I think half of this belongs to a horse somewhere out in the Valley."

Answers

1. Paul Williams, diminutive 1976 best song composer (Evergreen, A Star is Born).

2. Joe Pesci, succinct 1990 best supporting actor (Goodfellas).

3. Barbra Streisand, 1968 best actress (Funny Girl).

4. Ben Johnson, 1971 best supporting actor (The Last Picture Show).

5. Sally Field, 1984 best actress (Places in the Heart).

6. Shirley MacLaine, 1983 best actress (Terms of Endearment).

7. Jane Fonda, social activist and 1971 best actress (Klute).

8. Ruth Gordon, 1968 best supporting actress (Rosemary's Baby). Gordon was 72 at the time.

9. James Cameron, 1997 best director (Titanic).

10. Tom Hanks, 1993 best actor (Philadelphia).

11. Steven Spielberg, 1993 best director (Schindler's List).

12. Sidney Poitier, 1963 best actor (Lilies of the Field), the first African-American male to win an acting Oscar.

13. Sacheen Littlefeather, speaking on behalf of reluctant 1972 best actor Marlon Brando (The Godfather).

14. Roberto Benigni, 1998 best actor (Life is Beautiful).

15. John Wayne, 1969 best actor (True Grit).

16. Lee Marvin, 1965 best actor (Cat Ballou).

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.