50 years of his historic rejection of the Oscars
The echoes of the scandal still resonate before Will Smith's slap to Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscar Awards. Although this year's gala has been much more peaceful and calm in these terms, the previous edition gave a lot to talk about. However, it is not the only situation of tension that has been experienced in the history of the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. In fact, there have been situations and attitudes that are even more problematic and demanding than the one starring Will Smith. And Marlon Brando is a good example of this. It was in 1973, and that was his year. It was the edition of the Oscars in which "The Godfather" risked making history (and he succeeded), since the Francis Ford Coppola film had been released a few months earlier, in 1972. Well, the person in charge of Playing the iconic Vito Corleone was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor, one of the most representative and important statuettes of the famous awards. However, he did not attend the gala to pick it up. And not because he felt indisposed, far from it, but as a claim, in order to carry out a protest that came to travel the entire world.
On a day like today in 1973, Marlon Brando was aware that he would win the grand prize, and so it happened, but it was not he who went on stage to collect it. He saw in this recognition an unparalleled opportunity to make an appeal and a warning that would reach the eyes of thousands of people, and therefore he sent Sacheen Littlefeather to reject the Hollywood Academy statuette. This young indigenous actress and activist, dressed as an Apache, was commissioned to deliver a speech written by Brando, in which the humiliating treatment to which the industry subjected the Indians was criticized. However, due to lack of time, Littlefeather limited himself to briefly explaining the actor's absence on the microphone, and indicating that he would offer said speech to the press after the ceremony.
"Unfortunately, Brando cannot accept this very generous award, and the reasons for this are the treatment that the film industry gives to Native Americans today," explained the activist to applause and boos. The following day, the "New York Times" published the entire four-page speech Brando had written for the ceremony, explaining the following: "The film community has been as responsible as anyone for demeaning the Indian and mocking his character, portraying his as savage, hostile, and evil.. It's hard enough for children growing up in this world, and when Indian children watch TV and movies, they see their race represented in such a way that their minds are hurt in ways we'll never know."
The repercussion of these words and this denunciation was absolute. Above all, taking into account the person who had orchestrated it, and the success of the film for which he was nominated. "The Godfather" settled worldwide with a collection of more than 240 million euros, as well as at the same Oscar gala he won the statuette for Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay, taking into account that he was also a candidate Coppola for Best Director, along with James Caan, Al Pacino and Robert Duvall. in the Best Supporting Actor category.
