Julie Andrews Receives AFI Life Achievement Award for Evening Quite ‘Super califragilisticexpialidocious’

“Welcome to the 48th, 49th and 50th AFI Life Achievement Awards,” said Bob Gazale, president and CEO of the American Film Institute, as the long-awaited tribute to Julie Andrew, postponed due to the pandemic, began Thursday night. year 2022 The awards ceremony will take place in the spring of 2020. It finally happened last night at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood with all the style and warmth that has been so familiar to these evenings since AFI founder George Stevens Jr. came up with the idea in 1973. when director John Ford was first honored (Stevens, now 90). ), was there and was recognized at the scene last night).

Since then, there has never been a “gap” between ceremonies, but now there are 2019 winners Denzel Washington and Andrews, but it was well worth the wait and AFI’s board of directors congratulated Kathleen Kennedy and Bob Dali. Gazzale, the executive producer of the series, which will be broadcast on TNT on June 16 at 22:00, for not allowing the Covid reduction activity, At least If I have to come a little later than usual.

Every member of the Dolby audience (which turned into a fancy dinner feast) was required to pass a PCR test at least 48 hours before entering the building. Also, it was ancient times and it can be said that the industry crowd was raving about the true legend of show business out there. The only unfortunate part is that Andrews ხმა The sound of music Christopher Plummer wasn’t there. The Oscar-winning actress was actually prepared to pay tribute if the pandemic was to be done before other ideas emerged. He died in February of last year at the age of 91.

Not surprisingly, this 1965 cult musical was a big part of that process. The show actually started with the famous opening clip where Maria von Trapp (Andrews, of course) sings the title song perfectly. When Andrews was introduced (he was sitting in the middle of the room with his parents and elderly “wife” Carol Burnett) after a round of applause, a break for dinner was made, the show continued with other acquaintances. solid The song “Do Re Mi”, We brought in the five surviving actors who played Von Trapp’s sons. They greeted Andrews from the stage before she moved and sang enchantingly among the audience as she hugged her table. Nicolas Hemmond, Debbie Turner, Angela Cartwright, Kim Carat, and Duan Chase may all be adults now, but it was as if they had all returned to Austria and time was running out.

In fact, Chase, who plays Kurt, the younger of two boys, was actually in high school with me (I remember the day he said he was leaving music class to go to Innsbruck to shoot a “movie”), so we had our Fun Reunion. Later, at an after party at Sunset Tower, he recalled how director Robert Wise avoided walking around the set, saying he did it often to explore this haunting place.

The tribute to Andrews’ long career, now 86 and still going strong, was a really great way to take things a step further. She spoke about herself in a video interview that accompanied her presentation of old footage from her childhood on stage with clever clips of her many classic-like victories. my beautiful woman Y CamelotOf course, it’s movies and television that Burnett fondly remembers. They have worked together in very specific areas of expertise every 10 years. Julie and Carroll at Carnegie Hall; A funny piece of food stacked on top of one another makes people laugh as much as when they actually do it. Much attention was paid to her Oscar-winning performance as well. Mary Poppins, What she announced was actually delayed after Walt Disney said she was pregnant. The studio was waiting for him, and the rest is history.

AFI had hoped that 96-year-old co-star Dick Van Dyke would take the stage in person last night, but instead got great grades in a pre-recorded greeting from his Malibu home. In other saved posts, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Lynn-Manuel Miranda, Ariana Deboz and others have offered their thoughts on the star.

But there was a much newer constellation in Dolby, Steve Carell. this He had a longer history with Andrew than with Grus playing the part with his mother. my favorite bad guy franchise. “I was actually Kevin von Trapp, his illegitimate and estranged son from the movie,” before stating that he was originally cast as Bert. poppins Y Completely modern shafts before Andrews got rid of it. More seriously, he summed it up as practically perfect in every way. “He is the owner of grace and eloquence. He’s kinder, funnier, and more charming than you think. “Better than you think,” he said.

Of course, it consisted of many movie clips, including much of the show. Emily’s Americanization, Victor Victoria, hitchhiking Torn curtain, Hawaii, SOB Princess Diaries, Dear Lily, Shrek the Third And many other collaborations with her husband, Blake Edwards, including the 1979 comedy 10, This created the star of Bo Derek, who returned the favor when he greeted them both on stage last night. Blake and Julie made seven movies together. And as impressive as it is, nothing compared to their 41-year marriage…” Derek said. “And for me and all of us, what they had on and off the screen was perfect 10.”

A huge fan, Gwen Stefani was really pleased with her comments about her idol, as she said she didn’t think she would finally meet him (Stephanie’s song “Wind It Up” includes an episode of “Lonely Goatherd” the sound of the music). The shining moment of the night was the impressive performance of the classics. the sound of music Cynthia Erivo song “Edelweiss”. Andrews said it was her favorite song, even though she didn’t sing in the movie (Plummer did). After that, do not dry your eyes at home.

About an hour later, Burnett reappeared to present Andrews with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the applause never subsided long before he took the stage. In his talk, Andrews focused on those who work behind the scenes with a sense of duty, listing in detail the camera operators, focusers, screenwriters and more. “Night reminds me very clearly of how many people were involved in the making of the movie. “What a great collaborative effort it takes to bring the movie to the screen,” he said. “My husband Blake didn’t like people calling him the movie business or the industry. He argued that cinema was an art form and should always be called that. And I know that’s exactly how AFI feels.

In one of the most private moments of the evening, in an interview with Andrews, he showed that he could still say “supercalifragilisticoespialiidoco.” For the record: “Dociousaliexpisticfragicalalirupus!”

Before the lunch break, Franklin J. Schaffner’s 30th Graduation Medal Award was presented. CODA Writer-director Xian Heather, who won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay earlier this year. Last night, she recalled her excellent performance in Dolby, the same room in which she won the Oscar, and remembered that there were only seven women in her class at AFI, but what she learned has marked her career ever since.

I met him at the next party to relive the very long Oscar season. He didn’t really think he was going to win, he was sure Troy Kotsur would take a supporting role (he did). He told me that after the first awards, Steven Spielberg, who was sitting right across from me, turned around and said, “It’s one, two out,” meaning that for him two other movie nominations and best. film. Only then did he think that it was better to fabricate something that was actually said, whether it was true or not. And it’s gone. His speech last night reinforced the fact that he was the real deal. AFI should be proud.

And also for AFI, this long-awaited evening was really not only “practical” but also pretty fun. Perfect in every way.

As another participant, Héctor Elizondo, said: “In Yogi Bera’s words, ‘Thank you for making this case necessary.’