Jane Fonda and Hackman Win Oscars — but It's Chaplin's Night

From The Times: April 11, 1972

Jane Fonda and Gene Hackman won top acting honors and "The French Connection" was named best picture of 1971at the 44th annual Academy Awards ceremonies Monday night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center, but it was Charlie Chaplin's night, too.

Miss Fonda, who won her Oscar for her portrayal of a stylish and wily call girl in "Klute," was cool and brief as she accepted the statuette.

Hackman, award winner for his role as a tough narcotics detective in "The French Connection," was profuse and obviously near tears in his own acceptance speech.

The emotional high point of the evening came a few minutes later.

The slick and enameled audience of nearly 2,500 came to its feet, cheering and shouting "Bravo" as Chaplin returned from 20 years of self-imposed exile to accept a special award for the "incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century."

The appearance of Chaplin, still lively and sharp-eyed, despite the fact that he was only six days from his 83rd birthday, was the final event of the evening and came after a showing of a number of clips from his best-known films.

But no member of the audience was seen to leave the auditorium, and none remained seated as the little man came onstage to smile, nod and then tremble near tears himself as he said, "Words seem so futile — so feeble."

With him were his wife, Oona O'Neil Chaplin, and several friends, all of whom were joined by as many other well-wishers from the crowd as could make their way to the stage after the special award was presented.

In the Oscar race itself, it was "The French Connection" all the way; the picture won five awards, including Hackman's and the one for best picture.

These included the Oscars for best achievement in film editing, best screenplay based on material from another medium and the best achievement in directing award that went to William Friedkin.

Awards for best supporting actress and actor of the year went to Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson.

Miss Leachman, an Iowa-born mother of five who has a regular role in the Mary Tyler Moore television series, won her Oscar for the part of the lonely and passionate wife of a football coach in "The Last Picture Show."

"I've fought all my life against clichés," she said, glowing and teary-eyed as she accepted the award, "And now look at me. I'm a helpless cliché."

And as if to prove it, she went on to thank her Des Moines piano teacher, her dancing teacher, her mother and her father.