Benning and Pfeiffer? Yeah, I suppose. However, what about John Barrymore, Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Alfred Hitchcock, and Howard Hawks? All giants of the industry, yet none of them was ever awarded a competitive Oscar.
Burton was acknowledged to be one of the greatest actors of his generation, but he didn't garner much respect from his peers. He led an incredibly dissolute life, a hopeless alcoholic (reportedly consumed 3 bottles of liquor and smoked 100 cigarettes a day -- he must have stunk like hell), unfaithful husband, and incorrigible womanizer. He once bragged that he bedded every one of his leading ladies except one. Julie Andrews admitted she was the one hold-out. She diplomatically explained how she continually rebuffed his unwanted overtures and related how, although always brilliant on stage, he nevertheless, was frequently "in his cups" when performing.
He more or less threw away his career in between giving some very fine performances. Since he obviously had little regard for himself, why should the industry hand him its greatest honor? |
