THE ENVELOPE

The Duke Delivers

John Wayne fetes Hal Wallis at the 1975 Golden Globes.

By Joyce Haber

From The Times: Jan. 28, 1975

The Golden Globes, which were seen Saturday night on some 130 Metromedia stations, caused talk in this town that was equalled only by the talk about Norman Lear's new series, "Hot L Baltimore," which debuted Friday night. It was as though TV had taken posession of everyone in Hollywood this weekend — as it already has of most everyone else across the United States.

The talk on the tennis courts, in living rooms, over telephone lines and dry martinis revolved around nothing else. Consensus was that both the Globes and the debuting ABC series were appalling — although in different ways. The annual Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. awards came out ahead, if only because that telecast had some humorous (not to say hysterical) moments to it. And, in at least one or two cases, touches of dignity.

The outstanding example of merit and dignity was the presentation of the special Cecil B. De Mille award, voted by the organization's board of directors, to Hal B. Wallis. By the time John Wayne, that giant, came on to one of the few well-deserved ovations, one was startled. What is superstar Wayne doing here, among the otherwise predictable presenters, one wondered.

The Duke was there to honor his friend, producer Wallis, veteran of more than 100 major, quality films, from the late Eddie Robinson's "Little Caesar" to Wayne's "True Grit" and its upcoming sequel, "Rooster Cogburn." Earlier, at Wallis' and Universal's table, Hal told the Duke: "I hope you can read the cue cards." "Are you kidding?," Wayne answered. "After all those written ultimatums I got from you on the set?"

Hal's acceptance, like his career and his person, was modest and elegant. His wife, Martha Hyer, was as usual the evening's simplest but smartest dazzling lady, in beige chiffon.

Another notable exception to the evening's bad behavior and blunders was the standing ovation for, and the acceptance of, Fred Astaire (best supporting actor, "Towering Inferno"). Fred's was also, to judge by audience reaction, the night's most popular award. The spoiler (but only briefly: no one can spoil an award to Astaire) was Valerie Perrine, who gave Fred the statue. She fiddled about, declaring "Oh, I've never done this before," and called the film's great dancer Fred "a gypsy," which is the insider's term for chorus kid that just didn't work for the general audience.

Hollywood's funniest lady, Carol Burnett, was splendid. When Carol came on to present the award to "Upstairs, Downstairs" (best TV show, drama), she ad-libbed "Oh, I've never done this before," in a takeoff of Perrine.

With exceptions like Miss Perrine and Raquel Welch — who took the award for worst dressed once more, in a 1940's Carmen Miranda-lipstick red form-fitting costume — there were fewer flashily dressed stars than in other years. Frederick's of Hollywood lost to St. Laurent. The only streak at the Beverly Hilton was in Marylou (Mrs. Mike) Connors' natural hair. Paramount took the most Golden Globes of any studio — eight of 16, four for Robert Evans' "Chinatown" — and CBS the most for any network — six of eight.

TV's "Rhoda" won best comedy-musical show and "Rhoda's" Valerie Harper best TV comedy-musical actress. What you didn't hear on TV was Valerie, on arrival, stepping out her classic1955 avocado Thunderbird. "What the hell is this?" she said. "The Photographer's Ball?" Valerie wasn't far off. The Hollywood paparazzi had a field day.

But no wonder. There was Globe winner Telly Savales (best TV actor, drama); Faye Dunaway with Paramount studio chief Robert Evans; Sue Mengers with Paramount board chairman Barry Diller; James Caan (the handsome rodeo guy, in black tie, yet); Brenda Vaccaro with Michael Douglas; Burt Reynolds with companion Dinah Shore and Burt's costar. Catherine Deneuve ('Hustle') with Rupert Allan; the Gary (Lucille Ball) Mortons; Charles (Carol Channing) Lowes; Diahann Carroll; Madeline Kahn; Jennifer Nairn-Smith with William Friedkin; Universal's Edd Henry's and Murray (Gracia Lee) Weissmans; Walter Mirisches; Al Ruddy (he won best movie, comedy-musical, "The Longest Yard"); George Peppard; Paul Winfield (in a black satin suit); Jeff (Helen Reddy) Walds. And more.

I have to give the entire brouhaha special categories.

Most Candid, Amusing Acceptance: Angie Dickinson (best TV actress, drama) "I'm not used to being referred to as an actress."

Most Embarrassing Moment: The silence, or lack of applause, that greeted Stanley Donen when he accepted, off-camera, for Lerner and Loewe (best original movie score,"Little Prince").

Second and Third Most Embarrassing: Catherine Deneuve, butting in on Bob Evans' acceptance for "Chinatown" (best movie, drama) and saying of director Roman Polanski's win — "Roman's so conceited he'll love the award."

Most Tactless Acceptance: Raquel Welch (best comedy-Musical actress, over Helen Hayes, yet) Using the lyrics to a current pop hit, "If lovin' you is wrong, I don't wanna be right."

Most Conspicuous Nonpresence: Marcello Mastroianni, whose two most recent flames, Deneuve and Dunaway, were but a table apart.

Bon Mot of the Night: Emcee John Davidson — "Brando's not here because he's donating a condominium to Keely Smith."

Second Bon Mot: John Wayne, after the two-millionth winner was announced — "Is Margaret Truman nominated?"

Biggest Upstager: Benji, the darling dog, who came on in the arms of "Benji's" winner composer Euel Box (best original movie song, "I Feel Love").

Someone in the foreign press should learn to pronounce the name of Swedish superstar Max Von Sydow: it rhymes with sea dove." But that's the way the night went.

Not a great improvement over "Hot L Baltimore," though. Consensus is it's the most obscene and tasteless show ever on prime-time TV, at an hour when children can watch and listen. It's principals: two hookers, two aging queens, a 27-year-old psychopath who still wears diapers and a black militant. Still, the show got the only respectable overnight rating of ABC's "Second Season," perhaps because debuting shows attract audiences. This one must have attracted lots of viewers to the bathroom for Pepto-Bismol.

We'll see if the curiosity lasts on this one. In New York, "Hot L" chalked up a 33 share, impressive because it's lead-in, "The Night Stalker," had a weak 16.

ABC's two previously debuting new shows include "Baretta," which star Robert Blake denies is a remake of "Toma" (it is): That got a sickly 20.5 overnight share in New York. ABC's Hal Linden's "Barney Miller" took an ill 24. In the Nielsen Nationals, it dropped to a 20. The hope for ABC's "Second Season" is "SWAT," upcoming, from Spelling/Goldberg.