'Hitch' Steals Golden Globe Awards Show

By Mary Murphy

Alfred Hitchcock, here pictured at Cannes in 1972. (Raph Gatti / AFP)

From The Times: Feb. 8, 1972

"To be a director, you simply say to an actor — COME IN THAT DOOR, and walk across the middle of the room. "And then you say to the actress — come in this room and walk across to the middle of the room. "You tell the actress to kick the actor in the groin. And then — you call lunch." — Alfred Hitchcock, Golden Globe Awards, 1972

In his imitable and totally charming way, Hitchcock brought the house up to a standing ovation and howls of laughter as he received the Cecil B. De Mille Award from Rosalind Russell (who also got a standing ovation) at the banquet Sunday night given by the Hollywood Foreign Press.

Gene Hackman was humble and gracious and written-all-over-his-face pleased to be named best dramatic actor for his role as Popeye Doyle in "The French Connection." Hackman was nominated for an Oscar as best supporting actor last year for "I Never Sang for My Father" and in '68 for "Bonnie and Clyde."

He says of the two latest films: "'Father' was classic drama and I wasn't as involved in it; this was film-making."

Best Picture, Drama

"The French Connection," Phillip D'Antoni's cops-and-robbers thriller for 20th Century-Fox, was named best picture-drama and William Friedkin won top directorial honors for "Connection."

Jane Fonda ("Klute") was named best actress in a drama and sent an ex-Vietnam veteran to accept her award. There was audible dissent directed at her winning the award and at the veteran picking it up. She was filming "Tout Va Bien" with Jean-Luc Godard in France.

This was Hollywood with the TV and movie cameras turned off. No one was monitering from across the country. This can and has lead to a drunken celebration, but Sunday evening there was less liquorish laughter and more serious fun. It was like a spring day after a barren winter and the night was filled with glitter and glamour, warmth, hope and FAN-tastic fun. Especially for the winners.

In the musical comedy division, "Fiddler on the Roof" was named best motion picture. Norman Jewison, who directed the film, thanked the audience as he felt Sholom Aleichem would: "Go in peace, and God be with you."

Twiggy, who wasn't there, and Topol, who was, shared honors as best motion picture actor and actress in a musical comedy, Twiggy, for "The Boyfriend," and Topol for "Fiddler on the Roof." Twiggy also was named most promising female newcomer. Desi Arnaz Jr. was most promising male.

Ann-Margret, moved almost to the point of tears, beat out such fine performances as Cloris Leachman and Ellen Burstyn in "The Last Picture Show" to win best supporting actress for "Carnal Knowledge." Ben Johnson, the down-home Sam from "Picture Show," was named best supporting actor.

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" was named the best English-language foreign film. Someone thanked Penelope Gilliatt for her script. And then cohosts Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme thanked critic Pauline Kael for her review.

Miss Kael and Miss Gilliatt alternate as film critics for the New Yorker.

"The Policeman" from Israel was named the best foreign language film.

Best Laugh Line

On a scale of 100, Harvey Korman gets a 99.9% for his remarks. In accepting for Carol Burnett as best television actress in a musical/comedy, Korman, her sidekick, announced, "First of all, I'd like to thank Harvey Korman." He brought the house down.

Carroll O'Connor gave the longest and the best acceptance speech (besides Hitchcock) for best television actor in a musical/comedy, "All in the Family."

He started out as Archie Bunker. Holding up the golden statuette, he said, "Whadda we gonna do wit this 'here, Edith, put it on the piano?" and ended up as a very witty Carroll O'Connor: "I'd like to say, it is an award to which I am richly entitled."

'Snow Goose'

The best movie made for television, a new category this year, went to Universal's "The Snow Goose," produced by Frank O'Connor. It won over such excellent nominations as "Brian's Song," "Duel," "The Last Child" and "The Homecoming," which earned Patricia Neal this year's Golden Globe for best television actress, drama.

Other Golden Globe Awards went to "All in the Family" and "Mannix" as the best television shows, musical/comedy and drama. Robert Young was named best actor in a drama for "Marcus Welby, M.D."

The best supporting actor and actress awards in television went to Edward Asner for the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" and Sue Langdon for "Arnie."

'Shaft' Scores

"Shaft" was named the best musical score in a motion picture. The award went to composer Isaac Hayes. The best song in a motion picture was "Life Is What You Make It" ("Kotch") by Marvin Hammerlisch and Johnny Mercer.

Paddy Chayefsky won for best motion picture screenplay for "The Hospital."

Special awards went to Ali MacGraw, Charles Bronson and Sean Connery as world film favorites.

Performing the evening's songs were Jimmy Smith, Jack Jones, Johnny Mathis, Michael Dees and Mel Carter.

One of the film's grand old men, John Huston, summed up the feeling and the hope of the evening as he pondered: "Our industry is far from being calm and in the doldrums. It's up anchor and around the Golden Globe."