- Title: USA: HIGHLIGHTS OF 11TH ANNUAL AMERICAN CINEMA AWARDS CEREMONY
- Date: 2nd November 1996
- Summary: MACLAINE COMES OUT AS BAND PLAYS "IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW"
- Embargoed: 17th November 1996 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVADPD93JFOM31BVQ47D6N2EJ9S0
- Story Text: An emotional tribute to Bob Hope highlighted the 11th annual American Cinema Awards on Saturday (November 2), where a capacity crowd of more than 1,000 people turned out to see old Hollywood meet the new.
Hope, receiving a standing ovation, slowly walked to the stage as an orchestra played Thanks for the Memories. "The world is a better place where there is hope, and Hope has made this world better for you and for me," said Taylor, who presented the award to the 93-year-old entertainer. His honour was presented as '93 Years of Hope: A Salute to an International Institution'.
Before the ceremony 93-year-old Hope told reporters he was excited at being awarded this honour. When he was told many of his leading ladies were present at the ceremony, Hope responded with mischevious delight,saying "no kidding(" Singer Tony Bennett recalled how it was Hope who had given him his start, when they met in Greenwich village. He said it was Hope who persuaded him his given name, Anthony Dominick Benedetto, was too long.
The event drew such luminaries as Gregory Peck, Burt Reynolds, Patricia Neal and Kirk Douglas. Also in the black-tie crowd were everyone from Laurence Fishburne to Milton Berle. The American Cinema Awards foundation also gave actors Richard Dreyfuss, Morgan Freeman and Shirley MacLaine "Distinguished Achievement" awards for work in the movies. Those announcing and giving out the trophies were equally distinguished - Kirk Douglas for Dreyfuss, Lawrence Fishburne for Freeman and Gregory Peck for MacLaine.
Shirley Maclaine danced out onto the stage to accept her award, with the band playing "If My Friends Could See Me Now", the song she performed in "Sweet Charity". She said she was particularly honoured to receive her award from Gregory Peck with whom she said she had "been in love since the age of two". Maclaine - earlier praised by Dreyfuss for her sardonic wit - then added "and there aren't many people I can say that about who are still alive "( The awards were started in 1984 to honour Hollywood's performers for distinguished achievement, and have also turned into a showcase of entertainment. Tony Bennett, Chaka Khan, Michael Bolton, the Chieftains, the Four Tops, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Montserrat Caballe and Shirley Bassey all performed at Saturday's ceremony. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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