Lillian Gish receiving an Honorary Oscar®

Melvyn Douglas presenting an Honorary Oscar® to Lillian Gish for superlative artistry and for distinguished contribution to the progress of motion pictures, at the 43rd Academy Awards® in 1971.

[@jackwebb714]

She was so kind.I wrote her a letter when I was 13 and she not only answered she called me back.A classy person,so wonderful.

[@richardmcleod5967]

What a marvelous remembrance...........

[@alixvhessen]

she really called you? Goodness - please tell us about it!

[@mmjhcb]

You can tell class. Apparently, not today, however. Look what the "intellectuals" at Bowling Green State have done to her and her sister! Nothing but LITTLE people, all of them!

[@IanThaddiam]

Wow. What a memory. An industry giant

[@87clami]

You are so lucky! Please! Please! Tell us about it

[@D0llbabyAngel]

The audience doesn't know how lucky they are to have the iconic Lillian Gish in front of them

[@edwardnashen5960]

One of the very very first stars of film, an ethereal beautiful young girl who helped invent the wheel with no words, just magic. Bless her!💛

[@elsakristina2689]

Amazing to see someone who experienced the Edwardian era in motion and colour.

[@littlebrookreader949]

She has dignity … something we rarely see now in entertainment people. It’s wonderful, like a breath of fresh air. ❤️

[@TheMaxou92]

Beautiful how she mentioned her beloved departed sister

[@axelhager4773]

Just fancy that: Mrs. Gish was such a lovely person that, almost 100 years old, she sat down, cut out a private photo, stuck it on a piece of paper and signed it and sent it to me. That was in late 1992, shortly before her death. This is deeply touching and of absolute idealistic value! R.I.P. dear Mrs. Gish. You have immortalized yourself in my heart! ❤🌼🌹🌻🥀🌺

[@akanecortich8197]

Her and Mary Pickford - Prime Icons of the movies.

[@laniejean6618]

And such close friends during their early careers! I say that if Mary had lived longer, and if the film had been made a bit earlier, it would have been so special to see Lillian and Mary in The Whales of August. Bette Davis, was, however, iconic as always.

[@Nick-ty9us]

@@laniejean6618 they were good friends when they were younger

[@2legit64]

One of the most beautiful women to ever grace the screen from beginning to end. Every movie that she appeared in was made so much better because of her presence.

[@mike856ms]

Why do woman of the older Hollywood era look breath taking in their older years. She is stunning.

[@tsxtina2919]

Because they had faces then. DUH!

[@mike856ms]

@@tsxtina2919 you know what I was referring to. However you felt your snarky response was necessary. If you can't be nice then shut up DUH.

[@aaronmccutcheon]

No plastic surgery. Also, she was more attractive when she was younger than anyone today.

[@tsxtina2919]

@@mike856ms you uncultured swine. That's a damn quote from Sunset Blvd. WTF you mean a snarky comment? Not my fault you don't get old Hollywood references.

[@tsxtina2919]

@@aaronmccutcheon that's not true. A LOT of old classic Hollywood stars both male and female had plastic surgery and Miss Swanson is no exception. Nobody ages like that just naturally. Come on you should know better. Just like everything when it comes to classic Hollywood the stories they came up about them was to make them seem more than human. So basically these people were purposely mythazided and pretending they all look flawless with absolutely no help is was and is part of the myth. But it's just a flat out lie.

[@jasonday9286]

I think that's the most beautiful congratulatory speech given in Oscar presentation history. Wonderful words and well deserved.

[@IanThaddiam]

Beautiful and graceful and poetic, yes.

[@Farrah300]

I love that she had such love and reverence for her sister.

[@JanissGoddess]

Her speech was perfect. As was she.

[@sugarlove]

A real Queen! I aways loved her!!!! Bless you Miss Gish!

[@DestroyMen92]

I only wish I could look as half as good as her at that age. She was a beautiful, talented lady.

[@aaronmccutcheon]

Do you look like she did when she was your age? If you look "half as good" as she did (which is likely,) then you are probably on track to gain your wish!

[@urparticular_pumpkin]

Good luck for us dude

[@misterhot9163]

It’s worth noting that it was Lillian Gish and Helen Hayes who convinced their close friend Mary Pickford not to destroy Pickford’s films after her death. We credit Gish with preserving this early pioneer of film and enabling future generations to enjoy Mary Pickford’s masterpieces.

[@raptorfromthe6ix833]

I believe there were Close friends before they BOTH became famous in a anecdote when the gish sisters were watching movie they were shocked to see Mary in the film

[@ConnieHeartsValentino]

Why would Pickford ever think about destroying her films?

[@Delaecress]

@@ConnieHeartsValentino she suffered from depression and alcoholism in her later years.

[@ConnieHeartsValentino]

@@Delaecress So very sad. I can't imagine why. She was an early pioneer during the Silent Film Era, as a woman quite a feat. Perhaps it was the divorce from Fairbanks that brought on her depression?

[@Delaecress]

@@ConnieHeartsValentino from her mother’s death which had a profound effect on her and was the start of her alcoholism, to her never being the same after the divorce according to her niece Gwynne, and then to her siblings Jack (died before the divorce and after there mother’s death) and Lottie (died months after the divorce) died from alcohol-related causes; alcoholism ran in there family as there estranged father was an alcoholic.

[@Bluejeans0701]

Time has changed the apperance of Lillian Gish, only to leave her real beauty and class unchanged throughout her life. She was born to be an actress.

[@leemclaury6251]

“The Whales of August “. What a movie with her and Bette Davis . Both at the end of the lives and careers . They were the best .

[@gnirolnamlerf593]

Miss Lillian was 93 when she made Whales. All four of the principals, Lillian Gish, Bette Davis, Ann Sothern and Vincent Price were outstanding.

[@TrotsDad]

I still get goosebumps when I think about the scene where Rachel is inside singing, "Leaning on Jesus...leaning on Jesus", and Harry Powell is outside in the dark singing "Leaning...leaning...safe and secure"...etc. That movie is so wonderfully atmospheric...moody...lots of German expressionist film influences.

[@lindaosika7648]

Her part was small but you felt she was in the entire film.

[@TrudyPatootie]

*I'm watching "The Night of the Hunter on YT now. She stole* *the movie with her light. RIP you beautiful soul!* 💖💫

[@picturefan2009]

Can I just say how extraordinary good Ms. Gish looks for her age here? Can't believe she was actually 78 years old when she accepted her Honorary Oscar!

[@stephenannese8228]

....and ...she lived another 20+/years..!

[@mariocisneros911]

77 years old here , and would live to 99. This ceremony was in March 1971

[@kathleenharris3403]

She was in The Wales of August 1987 at age 94 in a leading role, she was vital, attractive, fun and so interesting and compelling to watch, just adore her. What an actress!

[@QueenVelveeta]

What glamour! Her dress was gorgeous.

[@trezonasteve]

I saw this at the age of 12 on TV. I can say my love affair with the movies began at this very moment. A wonderful life and a charming, talented woman.

[@WSenator1]

I've always loved the movies. When I found out that Ms. Gish was starring in a film "The Whales of August" (1987 - her last), I made sure I went to see it. She was in her 90s when she made it, and she didn't disappoint. What a lucky man I was that evening! RIP Ms. Gish.

[@jackchen7003]

Almost aged 80! Wow, her entrance is so elegant....

[@JerseySurvivor]

Lillian deserved the award for Whales of August (or at least a nomination). This was Douglas only Oscar appearance. What a classy, classy Gentleman! The song playing is The Eyes of Love- a Quincy Jones song (he was the Conductor that night). And a well deserved standing ovation. To think on this Oscar night Lillian Gish, Orson Welles and Ingmar Bergman were all honored with special awards. Today we relegate the past greats to a non televised dinner to make way for....

[@cinemaholic730]

How can anyone dislike this? She is my favorite classic movie actress.

[@mustakimrozak8299]

Mary Pickford Lillian Gish Charlie Chaplin Douglas Fairbanks Joan Crawford Mae Marsh Dorothy Gish Mary Miles Minter Buddy Rogers Richard Barthellmes Bessie Love Mabel Normand Fatty Arbuckle Harold Lloyd So Many Talented Star That Will Not Forgotten

[@LadyAmerican]

I'm speechless. What a beautiful speech and may I say DAMN Lillian Gish looks good

[@daveshultz7765]

What beauty and eloquence!

[@kathleenharris3403]

I love Melvyn Douglas and Lillian of course!💕

[@TTatitalks]

She deserved so much she worked for many years amazing she lives till age 99

[@mustakimrozak8299]

She nearly 100 Years Old .

[@brandonpope1548]

Really? She was in a abhorrent racist film are you’re literally black💀

[@miketheyunggod2534]

She made it to 100 years. Passing away in 1993.

[@BenRussell]

Lillian deserved to win Supporting Actress for The Night of the Hunter as well. She's one of the greatest actresses of all time. I love her more than words can express!

[@WINGTV9]

What a wonderful person she was. Everyone who hasn't seen "Night of the Hunter," which she is in, just has to see it. I worked with someone who met her, and he told me she was just a delight.

[@TakersMissy]

Class, beauty, talent, and dogged determination - perhaps my favorite actress of all time: she was remarkable! God Bless you, dear Miss Lillian Gish - and thank YOU for the memories. :-)

[@harlow743]

Dear Lillian....The Silent Era lasted just over 20 years....and yet produced a host of unique and highly talented actors .........Lillian Gish.....Mary Pickford......Rudolph Valentino.......Douglas Fairbanks......Harold Lloyd.......Gloria Swanson......Roscoe Arbuckle.....Lon Chaney.....Theda Bara......Charles Chaplin.... William S Hart......Harry Langdon.......John Gilbert......Clara Bow......Buster Keaton Mabel Norman.......Tom Mix......Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy......

[@temeculajoe]

Be Be Daniels

[@donaldibaledreamlover6272]

Norma Talmadge

[@MiiZzJ0kEr]

bobo brazil Joan Crawford

[@christinash2235]

The Silent Era lasted closer to forty years.

[@gatewayski1]

Really liked her "The Night of The Hunter" and that was a Talkie. She was at her best in "The Wind" (1928).

[@st.louisdxer9616]

My favorite is either Intolerance (1916) or Broken Blossoms (1919!

[@MrImiller07]

If memory serves, didn't Lillian Gish play a pivotal role in Charles Laughton's film Night Of The Hunter opposite Robert Mitchum ? I believe that she also made The Whales Of August, co-starring with Bette Davis, in one of the latter actresses' last films. A superlative talent.

[@errolpletcher9186]

Yes, and Bette Davis was a real C U Next Tuesday to Lillian Gish during the making of August.

[@TrotsDad]

Yes, she played Rachel Cooper in that movie, which is one of my favorites -- and probably Mitchum's greatest/most memorable performances. It's also hard to believe that Ms. Gish received only one Oscar nomination throughout her long career: as Best Supporting Actress of 1946 for "Duel in the Sun".

[@Antifearn]

I find it so crazy that this happened the same year my mother was born!

[@ChildSarcophagus]

This is the first time I've heard her voice. She's really a great artist. Rest in Piece🕊️

[@Darwaxion]

A magnificent, beautiful, great actress...

[@JLNeis]

This is a STAR! There is no one to compare her to except her friend, another great STAR Mary Pickford, these two ladies were the heart and soul of Hollywood, and I am sure they are both doing the same thing in heaven now.

[@rayito2005]

Lillian , Diva del Cine Mudo de los 1910's y 1920's.

[@angelacarleton9575]

I agree with you "Cats Pajamas - that "Night of the Hunter" was one of the best talking film she did. She was so incredibly strong in that role and hard to believe she was older. She was feisty and wonderful in her performance. I hated Robert Mitchum playing the bad guy but that is just one role of so many wonderful ones he did.

[@chevydude658]

I agree 100%! Mitchum was a wonderful actor and I too hated to see him play the bad guy.

[@mmjhcb]

She stole that picture. Brilliant performance.

[@user-nw7ow1ei1q]

Melvin Douglas did a WONDERFUL introduction.

[@erinkwalsh]

movies wouldn't be what they are today which is sometimes disappointing, without people like Lillian! If you want to see a great silent film, watch anything with Charlie Chaplin, and, The General, based on a true story , with Buster Keaton!

[@TheTerryE]

She is one of the greatest ladies of the cinema/theater ever. Wonderful speech. I would have thought she'd get a much bigger reception, however!

[@murrayaronson3753]

I would have thought so too.

[@geneva50]

Look at that audience! My how times have changed.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

A great actress not only in movies but on the stage, on radio, and on television.

[@Sunsetseaman]

Last night I dreamed of living the silent film Era. There was no sound or colors, just black and white. All I remember standing in some park and some breeze

[@JLNeis]

I have to agree about Miss Lillians acceptance speech being the best one ever given, not the longest but says what it has to say without making people bored, although I dont think anyone in Miss Lillians presence could ever be bored, we miss you Miss Lillian you will always be remembered.

[@suellen6704]

Rainha! Essa é a atriz número 1 da história! ❤

[@gustasouza3877]

Gostou da atuação dela em birth of a nation ?

[@alexmeyer5260]

The Smashing Pumpkins named their debut album after her.

[@DrkKnight2]

The debut album of The Smashing Pumpkins, released on May 28, 1991, is entitled Gish in reference to her. Singer Billy Corgan explained in an interview, "My grandmother used to tell me that one of the biggest things that ever happened was when Lillian Gish rode through town on a train, my grandmother lived in the middle of nowhere, so that was a big deal..."

[@way2muchNFO]

Chris P x

[@kzarmstrong4481]

She was so beautiful!! Enjoying her interviews here on KZbin. She was one of the pioneers. Well deserved Oscar!

[@johnsax1445]

Loved, loved, loved her in “Night of the Hunter”. The maternal figure for the ages!

[@michaelverbakel7632]

Lillian Gish was also a much loved stage actress. She did many New York Broadway and off Broadway plays plus acted in many regional theaters around the U.S. In 1953 she originated the role of Carrie Watts in Horton Foote's original play of The Trip to Bountiful on Broadway and on early American television a year later in 1954 to much critical praise. In 1985 Geraldine Page won a much deserved Academy Award for playing the same role that Lillian Gish did 30 years earlier in the movie version of the play

[@MICHAELSMITH-vf5kr]

I remember seeing The Whales of August in high school back in the 80s and learning that Ms Gish (appearing in this film in the late 80s) had been doing movies since the teens! What an incredible accomplishment! This Oscar acceptance speech by her was flawless! She is an absolute star!

[@Nick-ty9us]

DW Griffith was definitely smiling down from heaven when this happened in 1971

[@garymazzeo3490]

Bless you Lillian

[@garrengroom3831]

What a beautiful acceptance speech. Old Hollywood knew how to do it. It's sad these cherished moments are no longer part of the main telecast. The Academy moved the "Honorary Awards" to a separate event a long time ago.

[@nocount1]

..."all the charming ghosts I feel around me..."

[@terry4137]

No wonder she lived till 99 she ne we married nor had children! Bless her!

[@davorpavlovic948]

she deserved this in twenties... she was great...

[@kovenilluminati]

Best women actors ever: Lillian Gish, Bette Davis, Mary Pickford, Katharine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn

[@user-zk8lk6sm9m]

Melvin Douglas is also a legend.

[@akrenwinkle]

Legends get their names spelled right.

[@brexitannia9703]

A beautiful soul I loved her in the Wales of August with Betty Davis ❤

[@ronleight9341]

She enjoyed 75 Years as a bona fide Movie Star! That has to be a short list!!

[@christinash2235]

They gave her so much more respect than Mary Pickford. It's sad, because though Lillian had a longer career, Mary did so much for a woman of her time. For anybody, male or female.

[@MarthaMansbridge]

That’s not really true - Pickford chose to become a recluse - Gish was still active and a delight to interview. It’s hard to honour someone who more or less withdrew from the industry decades before. It’s a shame - I’d have loved to hear her stories and views but there it is.

[@lovetolearn881]

I can't believe how beautiful she still was in her older years. Almost no plastic surgery back then either so this is probably her real face!

[@happyeverydaysun202]

love her so much!!!!! full of good emotions and worm heart

[@johnsweeney5946]

LOOKED REALLY GREAT

[@fuji320100010]

英語でコメントできない事、申し訳なく思います。リリアンギッシュ嬢の映画はサイレント作品も含めて数多く観ました。日本で観れるものだけでしたが。彼女は永遠の憧れの女性です。 あの眼差し、表情の美しさ。永遠の大女優、リリアン。 夢追い人のグリフィスと永遠に御幸せに。

[@TrotsDad]

And let's not forget Shelley Winters. That scene with her dead underwater, her hair floating upwards like the sea grass. And the the touching final scene with Rachel talking about children, how they "endure" and they "abide". And that wonderful character actress, Evelyn Varden, too! In this and "The Bad Seed"!

[@CoopyKat]

Awww SOOOO cute.......she was obviously a wonderful lady!!

[@MisterSplendy]

Lillian Gish was elegant and brilliant, and she deserves this. Let's also give a hand to Mel Douglas, classy and eloquent.

[@texassoapfan]

I have been looking forward to this tribute being added to the Oscars You Tube site. Thank you to the Academy for adding it! It is indeed a shame that these tributes have been relegated to the non-televised ceremony. BLNS01 is on to something in having the honorary winners present the top awards. It worked well at the recent Emmys.

[@SaxonC]

A true star in every sense! A living legend!

[@dbyers3897]

I recently watched Gish & Bette Davis in The Whales of August for at least the third time. The whole cast was marvelous but her & Bette were iconic.

[@bobrand3895]

Class of old Hollywood

[@guytakamatsu7326]

I vaguely remember seeing on TV Lilian Gish receiving this award.

[@Doobydoobydoowah]

Lillian and Dorothy Gish are my cousins! 😊

[@TrotsDad]

You're also correct about "Whales of August" in which she starred along with Bette Davis and Ann Sothern (another favorite of mine); the latter also received her only Oscar nomination for Supporting Actress for her performance in that film.

[@bryanismyname7583]

A good film. I think Vincent Price should also have been nominated, but Sothern was the only cast member recognized. Similar thing happened when Mark Wahlberg wound up being the only person from "The Departed" to be nominated.

[@starbuono3333]

Eternal rest grant unto her oh Lord , and let perpetual light shine upon her may she rest in peace . Amen

[@44032]

The way they do the special Oscars now, we'd have seen but not heard a 5 second clip of her accepting the award in a separate, non-televised dinner.

[@cindyknudson2715]

There are too many political speeches and "jokes" to fit into their broadcast. There isn't time for greats of the past and such.

[@Sawrattan]

As a Brit I love how she spoke, a lot less nasal than American actors today.

[@Sawrattan]

@Vera Didenko oh that's interesting. I don't know much about US states and accents, just what I hear on TV... and my/younger generation all sound very nasal... the old generation (like old episodes of Columbo or Murder She Wrote) sounded a lot more pleasant and less nasal to British ears!

[@Sawrattan]

@Just think it's idiotic indeed. Even the way British kids today say "like" in every sentence, I think that came from American teenage speech... older Americans sounded much classier

[@kejiri3593]

She is a huge inspiration

[@TrotsDad]

Well, let's face it: these were small films (and people would be amazed by Andy Griffith's performance in "Face") and Hollywood and the Academy were enamored with big-budget, blockbusters, full of Cinemascope, Technicolor, and VistaVision: I mean, really..."The Greatest Show on Earth"?, "Around the World in 80 Days"? 1955's "Marty" was an anomaly. A "small" movie that won, and if I remember correctly, the shortest movie ever to win Best Picture.

[@MrImiller07]

There are several critically acclaimed films from the mid fifties that failed to receive recognition from the Academy Awards, including Hunter, Kazan's A Face In The Crowd and Kubrick's Paths Of Glory.

[@Shirley-lm8gh]

So beautiful ❤

[@lillinablue]

Moreover, in 1984 Lillian Gish received the American Film Institute 's coveted Lifetime Service Award for her great contributions to the industry.

[@sakurasoh]

I have been waiting for this to be uploaded forever! !!

[@MrImiller07]

I agree that Mitchum's performance is one of his best, along with Minnelli's Home From The Hill and the original Cape Fear. Night Of The Hunter was marvelous [ a James Agee script ] that was not commercially successful, but has grown in stature through film festivals. Gish was perfect casting.

[@chrisholcombe137]

Great hearing her voice

[@AliSakurai]

She must have thought that Hollywood forgot her.

[@singha2927]

She is beautiful woman ever seen

[@dustinhall669]

She got to be 100 years old. What a life.

[@SARGlobaltool]

She was my great aunt:)

[@farrelfranchinihutt4331]

Miss you a lot of miss gish

[@mariemarchesani1595]

I knew Miss Gish late in her life. She was always young and she was for real and lived for today. Wonderful, wonderful lady!

[@geemanbmw]

What class! Could you imagine hearing that replayed upon an actress of today.... oh hell no!!

[@gretagarbeige]

Everybody should see her in The Wind by Victor Sjöström !

[@AnyM4jorDude]

She speaks old Hollywood language. What an icon!

[@judahsmall3023]

She looked young for her 70s. However, I wish I was there owing to the fact that it would be impossible for her to be alive when I was born.

[@lillinablue]

🎥Thank you Lillian 🌹🙏❤️🎭

[@jimmyl324]

Fantastic in Night of the Hunter

[@thejamesm1960]

Bravo!