Strange Memory Lapses at Hollywood Awards Ceremonies
By Dr. Ted Baehr, Founder and Publisher
Recent Hollywood award ceremonies have focused on women in films and entertainment and on Hispanics, which are the Latin-speaking people groups.
The focus on women in the Entertainment Industry is very interesting when they don’t give an award to one of the most inventive films of all time, which has lots of theological and philosophical problems, BARBIE, and its director, Greta Gerwig, but instead award a man about a male-focused movie where the protagonist, Oppenheimer, is taking advantage of a lot of women.
Besides this strange dislocation, there’s also a lot of speeches this year talking about the fact that women have just broken through the movie industry. Actually, one of the first filmmakers, who directed more than 1,000 movies from 1896 to 1920, was a woman, Alice Guy-Blaché, whose movies covered many different genres and were extremely popular. They also ignore the Swedish filmmaker Anna Hoffman Uddgren, who was producing movies during the 1910s, and many others who were very famous, like Luise Fleck, Helen Gardner, Mabel Normand, and Anita Loos.
Also, there were a lot of speeches saying they were the first breakthrough Hispanic actress, thus ignoring Venezuelan and American Beatriz Michelena, who made her mark in Hollywood during the 1910s. Beatriz’s sisters also became famous Hollywood actors. In addition, the first Latin and Hispanic actress in Hollywood was Myrtle Gonzalez, who starred in 78 silent movies from 1913 to 1918, when, sadly, she died from the 1918 flu epidemic. Then, there was the Mexican Mona Rico in the 1920s, who starred with John Barrymore, Raquel Torres and her sister, and many more who were friends of my father and mother when they were starring in Hollywood. Soon, this group of actors, were followed by famous people like Delores del Rio, Lupe Velez, Anita Page, Rita Hayworth (whose father was Spanish), and the list could go on and on.
Therefore, these self-congratulatory speeches and strange lapses of memory undermine the importance and efficacy of these big Hollywood awards. Also, talking about power women in Hollywood, there were very few people who dominated as much as Joan Crawford, both in Hollywood and at the PepsiCo company, and Rosalind Russell, who was a fantastic businesswoman and funded many of her movies and plays. Then, of course, there’s Lucille Ball.
So, at one of these award shows, I sat next to a movie reviewer from Chile. I discussed my very successful late wife from Argentina, and we both puzzled over the severe memory issues apparent in the award presenters and the honorees.
Of course, Hollywood is the land of make believe, but those of you in the audience should be aware that not all that glitters is gold and that sometimes the severe mental gymnastics that applauds women but gives awards to men is merely flatus voci, or flapping lips.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
