Evening star., 1949-03-30
1948 Oscar Awards
Might Be Last Made,
|Hersholt Intimates
BY the Assoeloted Press

HOLLYWOOD, Mar. 30.-The
future of the Motion Picture
Academy Awards was the big
topic of conversation here today.
Jean Hersholt asserts that the
New York Offices of picture COM
panies oppose the awards idea
and that the Association of Mo-
ton Picture Producers will with
draw its support after this year.
At the same time, MIR. Hersholt
announced his retirement as pres
ident of the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences, spon-
sor of the annual oscar" presen-
tations. He added he won't re-
main on the Academy Board Of
Governors.
May Be Last Awards.
II don't think the academy will
go out of existence" said Mr..
Hersholt, who has served as its
president four years. But unless
the studios take a more active
interest and agree to make
financial contributions, the 1948
awards will be the last
He declared that without the
support Of the Association Of Mo-
ton Picture Producers, which
Eric Johnston heads. lit will be
difficult if not impossible for this
program to proceed"
Mr.. Hersholt said he was speak
ing in answer to an undercurrent
of criticism heard in the industry
after the awards ceremony last
Thursday, and he declared:
Voices in the industry say they
don't want academy standards
foisted upon us. They say We
want to make commercial pictures
unhampered by considerations OF
artistic excellence.
Producers Criticize Standards.
The veteran actor said certain
producers feel that too much
time and money are wasted trying
to make pictures Of Academy
Award caliber." They think
academy standards are too high.
Mr.. Hersholt emphasized that
the academy, in reality the cultural
and educational branch of the In
dustry, will not lower its stand
ards. The coveted gold statuettes,
presented for 81 years. are award
ed for the highest achievements
in the motion picture art.
Before this year, the presenta-
ton ceremony was an annual
Hollywood spectacle with crowds
up to 1000 attending. This year.
to cut the usual cost of the affair
in half-to $50,000-it was held
in the academy's own theater
which seats less than 1000.
There was criticism in the film
industry about holding the awards
ceremony in so small theater this
year. The industry also was sur
prised that the academy should
choose the British film Hamlet"
for its best picture award. the first
time a foreign Aim has been so
recognized.
Columbia Not in sympathy.
Several major studios, including
Columbia, Universal and Republic.
did not even contribute this year,
Mr.. Hersholt said.
B. B. Hakane, vice president at
Columbia, declared his studio has
not been in sympathy with the
manner in which the awards have
been handled in the past few
years"
William Goetz, head of Univer-
sal, and Herbert Yates, president
Of Republic Studio, had no COM
ment.
Perry Lieber. RKO publicity
director, said Either the Academy
gets the full support of the pro-
ducers and exhibitors or there
should be no Academy"
Robert Montgomery, Academy
secretary: Charles Bracket, pro-
ducer-writer at Paramount and
Academy board member. and Pro-
ducer Walter Wanger, who was
Academy president for six years
preceding Mr.. Hersholt, all con-
CURED with Mr.. Horsholt's views.