COVERAGE OF THE 84th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS

Most Memorable Oscar Speeches

By Mike Krumboltz | Coverage of The 84th Annual Academy Awards® – Fri, 24 Feb, 2012 2:54 PM EST

Consider the Oscar speech. Do a great job and you'll be remembered for years. Do an awful job and you'll be remembered forever. We tracked down five of the most memorable Oscar speeches from years past. Some speeches are charming. Others are self-congratulatory. One features an impromptu make-out session. Another involves a daring climb across seats. Pull up a seat and watch 'em all, and be sure to watch the 84th Academy Awards show on February 26 on ABC.

[ Related: More memorable Academy Award moments at Oscar.com ]

When Adrien Brody won the Oscar in 2003 for his role in "The Pianist," he surprised presenter Halle Berry with a ripe kiss on the lips. Nobody remembers what he said, but everybody remembers that moment of pure joy.

And speaking of Halle Berry -- the stunning star made her own emotional speech in 2002 after winning the best-actress award for "Monster's Ball."

No discussion of Oscar speeches would be complete without a mention of Sally Field. When Field won for "Places in the Heart" in 1985, she announced to the academy, "You like me! You really like me!" Nearly two decades later, the phrase is still widely mocked.

Mike Krumboltz is a senior editor at Yahoo!, where he writes about a variety of topics, including politics and pop culture.

 
  • Dee
    Dee  •  2 months ago
    Sally Field isn't widely mocked, she's parodied. The consensus was (and generally is) that it was a great moment!
    • Joyce
      Joyce 2 months ago
      Nothing phony about her response- it was just as beautiful as she is.
    • betteme
      betteme 2 months ago
      I don't get why people make fun of what she said. That was a very sincere speech unlike others who thank mom and dad and everyone else.
    • Gem
      Gem 2 months ago
      Remember to consider the source. Yahoo! is the only place I've seen a reference to her being mocked.
  • Todd
    Todd  •  Tampa, United States  •  2 months ago
    YAHOO NEWS UPDATE:
    I was late getting home and forced to eat leftovers. Details as the tragedy unfolds.
    • Painx10
      Painx10 2 months ago
      I will pray for you. Hang in there,with support you will live through this. LMAO!
    • tomatoe_sauce
      tomatoe_sauce 2 months ago
      Leftovers are what keep people alive.
    • Kerry
      Kerry 2 months ago
      Brilliant!! You get a thumbs up for that one. I do often wonder why I bother to read this poorly-written crap....The "Yahoo!" new, that is.
  • JJ
    JJ  •  2 months ago
    That was a great moment for sure...I always loved Sally Field ! She's one of Hollywoods "BEST!" Also, I feel, back then, that's when The Oscars were "Classie," and people new how to act properly!!
    • peachescartoon
      peachescartoon 2 months ago
      I will never forget her (Sally Fields) in Norma Rae as she stood on that table with that sign going up against the corporation and all the machines stopped. Wow ! And Gidget and the Flying Nun....were fun when I was growing up.
    • Carlsbad Tripper
      Carlsbad Tripper 2 months ago
      I went to the same High School as Sally. Yup, Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California. She graduated in June 1964. She was a varsity cheerleader, and took drama classes. One or two years behind her was Cindy Williams of Laverne & Shirley fame. God, that was so long ago.....
    • tommattson
      tommattson 2 months ago
      you should learn how to spell.
  • FRANK
    FRANK  •  Boca Raton, United States  •  2 months ago
    Damon and Affleck: "Whoever we forgot, we love you!" LOL
  • sc 1
    sc 1  •  2 months ago
    I like Michael Cain's speech for supporting actor. Funny, gracious and very well written and delivered - short sweet and to the point.
  • Richard
    Richard  •  2 months ago
    Halle Berry's acceptance speech (or rather nervous breakdown) has got to be one of the most embarrassing in Oscar history. On the assumption she was making a positive race statement she made a negative one, as if Oscars are awarded, or her Oscar was awarded, on the basis of race! Look at the dignity of Sidney Poitier at the end of the clip; he knew the Oscars were about acting, not about race; he won his Oscar because he was the Best Actor, in the eyes of the Academy, that year.
    • monicat
      monicat 2 months ago
      Halle Berry is only half black. Every man wants to kiss her like what's his name did in front of billions of people. I hope he enjoyed it, I'm not sure she did.
    • Richard
      Richard 2 months ago
      That's even less reason for her to get hysterical. You know, I heard of this moment but never actually saw it (I view things intermittently). I didn't think it was that bad! I think I saw a few seconds or so on a newscast after the awards that year but obviously a few seconds don't say it all! Hattie McDaniel had far far more reason to have a nervous breakdown yet she accepted her Oscar with dignity. As for that kiss, I thought it was disrespectful. Some things you just don't do. You don't deep kiss like that. You can see Berry trying to wipe the saliva off her lips later in the clip. Obviously he put her in a difficult spot, even if she should pry herself loose (and that's the accurate phrase) she would be publicly shaming him, so she had no choice. In a situation like that even if one kisses on the lips one keeps it for a second or so and kisses lightly, just tapping the lips. It's a wonder she didn't have him arrested. It would have been an interesting try; see how the prosecutor handles the case! Of course she would be blacklisted in Hollywood, a self-enclosed community with its own laws and protocol. The producers are the police, or used to be in the studio system.
  • ASF
    ASF  •  Wilson, United States  •  2 months ago
    Jack Palance's speech is one of my favorites.
    • macsill
      macsill 2 months ago
      Push-up speech???
    • ASF
      ASF 2 months ago
      your point is..... that you have absolutely nothing better to do but to be a jackass???
  • Harvey
    Harvey  •  2 months ago
    Shortest speech on record: the late William Holden, after winning for "Stalag 17."

    "Thank you."
  • eaglescout
    eaglescout  •  Moncks Corner, United States  •  2 months ago
    why do blacks ALWAYS make EVERYTHING about color -Halle Berry you won because you did a fantastic acting job, not because your black, can't we ever just become human beings? not black,white, hispanic ECT.....
  • Todd
    Todd  •  Richardson, United States  •  2 months ago
    I love how "writers" like talking about Sally Fields' oscar speech saying that she proclaimed "You like me! You really like me!", when that is in point of fact, as evidenced in the video they posted, NOT what she said.
  • notbuyinit
    notbuyinit  •  2 months ago
    They don't have Jack Palance doing one-handed push-ups? Inexcusable.
  • Left is Wrong
    Left is Wrong  •  2 months ago
    And just who really cares?
  • Scott Patrick
    Scott Patrick  •  2 months ago
    How many awards can a person receive for acting in a movie? Ridiculous. I can see why people who suffer from narcissism and megalomania are attracted to acting.
  • Don W
    Don W  •  Spokane, United States  •  2 months ago
    Would have liked to watch the video, but I refuse to subject myself to a commercial each time I want to see something. Sooooo...good-bye videos.
  • S
    S  •  Jersey City, United States  •  2 months ago
    It was so gross when Adrien Brody shoved his tongue down Halle Berry's throat. The said the molesters and rapists mantra, "I couldn't help myself". Eww.
  • Debbie
    Debbie  •  2 months ago
    Poor Sally Fields has to sit through this stupid clip every single year. Can't they come up with something else to say about the Oscars? --or *heaven forbid* say LESS about them until the winners are actually announced?
  • GraceB
    GraceB  •  San Bernardino, United States  •  2 months ago
    Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's double Oscar acceptance.....weird
  • bruds
    bruds  •  2 months ago
    i saw monsters ball and it was not worthy of an oscar.
  • Francis
    Francis  •  Chatsworth, United States  •  2 months ago
    Seems people have forgotten about one of the most important ones ever, that of the great actress Louise Fletcher, who in her acceptance speech, was the first to use sign language; that changed the oscars forever, when she signed to her parents, who are both deaf.
  • Mark
    Mark  •  Orlando, United States  •  2 months ago
    I'm not even a Oscars or film fan, and I remember Sally Fields famous "You like me" speech.
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