By Bob Thomas
Associated Press Writer
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The stars came out for Barbra Streisand's Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute, and what a lovefest it was.
Thursday night was the 29th presentation of the AFI's highest honor, which has gone to such greats as John Ford, Fred Astaire, James Cagney, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck and Billy Wilder.
The Streisand tribute attracted the largest number of stars of any of the previous events, with speakers including other AFI honorees: Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Taylor, Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman and Jack Nicholson. Others ranged from Lauren Bacall and Shirley MacLaine to Phyllis Diller and Bill Clinton, who appeared on film.
Hoffman recalled meeting Streisand in the early 1960s, when they worked as janitors at a Manhattan drama school to pay for their tuition.
"I cleaned the men's room, and she cleaned the women's room,'' the actor recalled. Both appeared on a New York television station show hosted by Mike Wallace, where she sat on a high stool, placed a wad of gum under the seat and sang.
Hoffman said it was the first time he'd heard her sing. "Her talent was so big that I vowed never to speak to her again,'' he joked.
The International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel was decked out in art deco, a style Streisand is well-known for loving. Each table featured a lighted Tiffany-glass lamp shade, and a big, round replica of Tiffany shade hung over the stage, where a huge photo of Streisand peering through a movie camera lens hung.
Scattered laughter erupted during Clinton's tribute when the former president said, "I'm sorry I can't be with you tonight, but I've been busy back here.'' He received solid applause at the end of his speech.
Seated on a dais between husband James Brolin and son Jason Gould, Streisand received the plaudits gratefully. In her acceptance speech, she declared her pride in being the first woman director to be honored by the AFI.
"I'd like to do nothing for a while,'' she remarked. "I'd like to take some time to sort things out. There's still more to do, so much more to learn.''
[back to top] |
The Great Index to Fun