Academy Awards Acceptance Speeches | Margaret Herrick Library | Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences

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Year: 2000 (73rd) Academy Awards

Category: Honorary Award

Winner: To Jack Cardiff, master of light and color.

Presenter: Dustin Hoffman

Date & Venue: March 25, 2001; Shrine Auditorium & Expo Center

JACK CARDIFF:
Thank you. Where's the Oscar? [Dustin Hoffman: It's here.] Well for God's sake! [Hoffman brings over the Oscar] Can't take him anywhere.

This has to be a dream. I often dream I'm working on a movie, but this one tonight is a biggie. I mean, God, all these film extras [referring to the audience]. In black tie -- that's extra. God, we'll be over-budget. It's a nightmare! And this wonderful Oscar -- it's not real, it's special effects. It's amazing, isn't it? Oh, all right, I'm not dreaming. But it's mighty close. An honor like this for a whole lifetime's span, there's an awesome air about it. And embracing all the years I've worked, seventy -- more than seventy in fact. Thinking of all those millions of difficult set-ups and millions of takes and retakes. But tonight it's all so worthwhile. I give my heartfelt thanks to the Academy for this great, ultimate honor. And thank you all so much for being on the set. Thank you.

© Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
[Note: All winners are present except where noted; NOT all winners may have spoken.]