European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cover Story. I _ Orton it Shirm Anthony Hopkins gets tucked in by Jonathan Demme who directed the silence of the  focus could help a silence of the lambs Roll by Vernon Scott up Hollywood reporter the integrity of the Academy awards has been questioned Over its 64-year history going Back to the Days when it was a Small group of film Dom a makers and shakers. The membership has been accused of voting its emotions casting ballots for cronies paying off political debts settling personal animosities and bloc voting among other things. Accusations too have been made that some winners were voted oscars for their bodies of work rather than the specific performance for which they were nominated. When the Academy membership was smaller there was More possibility for less than objective balloting. Today the Academy boasts some 5,000 voting members almost ensuring a fair shake for All concerned. It was another matter 50 or 60 years ago. In the �?T30s and �?T40s the seven major studios were at the apogee of their Power. Studio Bosses held actors directors producers writers and other artists and craftsman in Thrall with ironclad contracts. Contract employees were expected a indeed pressured a to vote for studio nominees. In those Days Hollywood was a social Colony where everyone knew everyone else personally and voting for pals was common. Thus Paramount Warner bros., Mem Rio Universal 20th Century Fox and Columbia All of which contributed financially to the Young motion picture Academy exercised undue muscle and influence. Frequently a nominee under contract to a studio with the largest number of Loyal employees had the Best Chance of winning an Academy award. Today there is no such thing As studio loyalty except perhaps among the upper tiers of executives whose Bottom line balance sheets determine How Long they occupy their Plush suites. Ergo the integrity of the Academy awards is perhaps More secure than Ever before. Certainly the balloting itself in the hands of the accounting firm of Price waterhouse has never been questioned. Objectivity of Academy voters has been illustrated in awards going to pictures and performers that failed to dominate the Box office. Then again a super Box office hit Isnit necessarily penalized simply because of its commercial Success. In 1939, Cone with the wind was the biggest Box office hit in history and it won Best picture. In 1955, Marty a Small inexpensive throwaway film that did Little at the Box office won the Oscar. The sound of music a huge Box office Success won in 1965, but a Man for ail seasons a modest Success won in 1966. A great show of oscars integrity was demonstrated in 1974 when Art Carney won for Best actor in Harry and Tonto a film that was seen by relatively few outside the movie Industry. Members voted their convictions in 1970 and 1972 by giving oscars to George c. Scott for Patton and Marlon Brando for the godfather after both actors demeaned the awards saying they a refuse to accept them if they won. Perhaps the least fair element of the Academy awards is the timing of a pictures release. For that reason studios Bunch their Oscar hopefuls for distribution at the end of the year usually december. That Way the contender is fresh in the minds of voters. This year Beauty and the beast bugs Juk and the Prince of tides were year Enders. The fifth nominee is 77je silence of the lambs released last february and hardly vividly fixed in memory a year later. To its credit the Academy screens All nominated pictures and performances for those members who might have missed original releases or who choose to refresh their memories. So it sometimes happens that films released earlier in the year do manage to come up with oscars. The time of release however remains a vital Factor in Oscar balloting. Seldom has it been so much a determinant As this year. With All the Ballyhoo accompanying the no vember december releases the silence of the lambs May get Short shrift. But the directors Guild of America earlier this month did not forget. It voted its annual award to Jonathan Demme who directed the Stark suspenseful drama which was nominated for seven Academy awards. The new York and Boston film critics voted it Best movie of the year. In addition Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster won Best actor and actress prizes in the British Academy of film and television arts awards England a Oscar equivalent. And screenwriter Ted tally took Home the writers Guild of America award. Almost invariably Academy members who have Orion scrum Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster on lambs set. Taken a second look at the silence of the lambs put it ahead of the Competition for Best picture extolling demmers direction along with Foster and Hopkins for Best actress and actor. It would come As no Surprise then to see the silence of the lambs sweep the four most prestigious oscars a Best picture Best director Best actor and actress. Demme did not endear himself to the Academy after winning the directors award by using the pejorative Lala land in reference to Hollywood. But his jibe has nothing to do with his accomplishment. There is speculation that Hopkins wont win because the two most recent Best actor winners also were British a Daniel Day Lewis for my left foot in 1989 and Jeremy Irons in 1990 for reversal of Fortune. It has been suggested that since Foster won the award for Best actress in 1988 for her performance As the rape victim in the accused the Oscar should go to someone else this year. Chances Are neither performer will lose for those reasons. As the Academy has established its integrity so too has it shed a reputation for provincial Ity. Hopkins portrayal of Hannibal Lecter is one of the most chilling and fascinating Ever captured on film. His unforgettable performance is perfectly precise in its every nuance. Fosters Fri Rookie is a flawless portrait of a Young professional woman in today a society humiliated by male condescension and insensitivity to which she reacts without banal dialogue. Foster employs Only her eyes to reflect a deep sense of outrage and resentment unlike the cartoon characters in Thelma amp. Louise whose Only option appears to be murder. It is impossible to detect Foster or Hopkins acting. Their Mastery of the Craft the subtlety of their performances make the others Pale by comparison. Doubtless their towering characterizations must in great measure be credited to director Demme. In the event the science of the lambs wins the four major oscars it would be further evidence of the Academy a integrity. Sunday March 29, 1992