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Year: 1985 (58th) Academy Awards
Category: Honorary Award
Winner: To Alex North, in recognition of his brilliant artistry in the creation of memorable music for a host of distinguished motion pictures.
Presenter: Quincy Jones
Date & Venue: March 24, 1986; Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
ALEX NORTH:
For this one time I will accept the applause as sound effects and not complain. But in any case, I never dreamed of receiving such a wonderful honor during my lifetime, and I think this is the nicest and most pleasant way of getting the Oscar. I'm deeply moved, appreciative, and grateful to the Academy and especially those members of the music branch who have been supportive all these years.
Since I have always believed that cinema is the great communicator, I am that much more thankful for the unique experience and satisfaction of having been able to work in this medium. It also offered the added inspiration of collaborating with some of the greatest authors and playwrights and directors of this century, some here tonight but time doesn't allow me to recognize them. In composing music for film I attempt to achieve the following goals: To meet the demands and needs of the story conflict and the interrelationship of the characters involved, and also, hopefully, contributing my own personal comment.
I would like to make a humble plea to all of us involved in the movies, and that is to encourage and convey hope, humor, compassion, and adventure, and love, as opposed to despair, synthetic theatrics, and blatant, bloody violence. And sex, sex, sex, by all means, indeed, but with a bit of mystery, a touch of charm and elegance, and lots of imagination. Thank you.
© Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
[Note: All winners are present except where noted; NOT all winners may have spoken.]
To Alex North, in recognition of his brilliant artistry in the creation of memorable music for a host of distinguished motion pictures. Academy Awards Acceptance Speech
