With the Academy Awards coming up tonight, I figured it would be a good time to appreciate and acknowledge some of the greatest speeches ever given at the Oscars. Including Marlon Brando’s Native American Activism speech, Halle Berry’s emotional history-making speech, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s speech which called out those who say climate change isn’t real.
- Marlon Brando (1973): Best Actor for The Godfather
Instead of attending the ceremony, Marlond Brando sent Apache activist Sacheen Littlefeather to decline his award in protest of the treatment of Native Americans in the film industry. These are the kind of speeches that people frown upon today. But they’re also the kind of speeches that are ignored, unappreciated, and considered irrelevant. Especially in the 1970s, this is a speech people needed to hear.
“I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening and that we will in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity. Thank you on behalf of Marlon Brando.” -Sacheen Littlefeather
- Halle Berry (2002): First black woman to win Best Actress for Monster’s Ball
This speech literally made me cry. The amount of emotion Halle Berry had not only in her face, but in the way she spoke. She thanks her manager for being the only father she had ever known, and states that moment was so much bigger than her. She also thanks her mother, her husband, and her director, Marc Forester.
“It’s for the women that stand by me,” -Halle Berry
- Charlie Chaplin (1972): Honorary Award for being a foundational figure in the film industry.
While the speech itself was short and quick, Chaplin recieved a 12-minute standing ovation. This was longest standing ovation in the history of the Oscars. When the celebration relaxed, Chaplin states that words are useless, and all he can say is thank you for the honor. When he was done speaking, the audience stood right back up and began celebrating him yet again. This was the largest deserved Oscar Award ever given. Every movie ever created is a product of Charlie Chaplin’s amazing work, and I think people tend to forget that. Anyone who has ever seen a movie has a piece of Charlie Chaplin in them.
“Words seem so futile.” -Charlie Chaplin
- Louise Fletcher (1976): Best Actress in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Louise Fletcher uses sign language to thank her parents. And in reference to her character, states, “I’ve loved being hated by you.” Not only is this speech meaningful, it pays a kind of respect to people who are deaf that you can very rarely find in the film industry. Louise Fletcher is doing both of those things. Thanking people who need to be thanked, but making the audience realize people who are deaf deserve to hear great speeches too.
“For my mother and my father, I want to say thank you for teaching me to have a dream. You are seeing my dream come true.” -Louise Fletcher
- Leonardo DiCaprio (2016): Best actor for The Revenant
In this speech, Leonardo speaks up against climate change, and tells the audience that The Revenant could be a real situation if we don’t change now. This is another kind of speech that no one truly hears because people think it is unnecessary because it’s supposed to be a fun event about film. But film is more of a political subject than many people think. The amount of movies that embody real-world problems that people who claim they’re not political love is crazy.
“Climate change is real.” -Leonardo DiCaprio
