Pickford Oscar Lawsuit: "Mary Pickford was not really that important..."

In happy news I've finally received "Pickford: The Woman Who made Hollywood" for Xmas. I haven't read it in years. But Jesus...did Whitfield have a personal vendetta against Lottie? Every time Lottie is mentioned: 'less talented', 'barely talented', 'less pretty' 'less attractive'. Great book but I want to know WHY the hater vibes towards Lottie?

Anyways that Pickford Oscar thing has been going on forever now. The original intent was to sell them at the Pickfair Auction which just took place. However the Academy is having a hissyfit and insists that the Oscars are bound by a 'Sell back to us for $10 rule' or at least give them the chance first. It is of extreme note that the whole point of selling Mary's 2 Oscars (and one of BFed: Buddy Rogers) was it was stipulated in Beverly Rogers (Buddy's second wife) will...and the proceeds were supposed to go to a charity to give underprivileged kids a chance at music. In short: the Academy=Douchebags.

The proceedings have dragged out for over a year or so now. Beverly's nieces are the ones fighting the battle and have had to quit jobs just to do so. They also fear any proceeds might have to now pay LEGAL BILLS instead of all going to charity.

The whole hearing is based on this: the Academy has had that rule for 50 some years, but when Mary won for Coquette in 1929 she never signed such a document. When she received her honorary Oscar in 1976 they made her sign a document enforcing that rule on the new and the old statuettes. However Mary was extremely well...decrepit by this point (I have spared you and her legacy by NOT posting those pics) and its extremely likely her secretary signed it, not her. Thus however you want to look at it as long as the Academy is putting up a fight a court ruling is indeed needed.

What more than anything gets me is this part:

"...While on the witness stand, Boyer did not dispute testimony earlier Tuesday by Scott Miller, AMPAS' assistant general counsel, who said she proposed during a May 2007 meeting that he approach some members of the Academy to see if they would donate money to the charity mentioned in her aunt's will in exchange for the return of the “Coquette” Oscar to AMPAS. “I knew there would be some members willing to donate,” Boyer said. “I told him we were not receiving a dime of this and it would all go to charity.”

However, Boyer disputed Miller's testimony in which he denied telling her that Pickford was not a vital figure in film history and therefore the statuette was not worth the price she was asking. “He said Mary Pickford was not really that important,” Boyer said..."

Apparently the Academy offered a 10th of the estimated $500,000 in exchange for the award. I hate to use it twice in a journalistic setting but: douchebags.

So the trial is ongoing. You can read about it here. And here. And here. Hopefully a verdict will be handed down soon, and hopefully not in those disrespectful AMPAS favors.