At 89, the great gay filmmaker James Ivory became the oldest gay Oscar winner, taking home his first Academy Award for his adaptation of the novel of the same name, Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman. He earned his first nomination in 1987 for A Room with a View.
Ivory accepted the award wearing the face of the movie’s star Timothee Chalamet imprinted on the shirt under his tuxedo jacket, giving the 22-year-old actor a sartorial shout out for his remarkable performance as a 17-year-old falling in love with a man for the first time. He also thanked his former romantic partner and film collaborator of 44-years, Ishmail Marchant, who died in 2005.
Related: Is Call Me By Your Name James Ivory’s screenplay masterpiece?
“My rule number one for a screenwriter who adapts a novel is, first, thank the author, Andre Aciman, who wrote the story about first love and who is here tonight,” Ivory told the audience. “A story familiar to most of us, whether straight or gay or somewhere in between, we’ve all gone through first love, I hope, and come out the other side mostly intact.”
Backstge, he talked about what it felt like to win the prestigious honor: “90 years for anything you would do is extraordinary. To be here having won the Oscar at that age feels like a hiccup in nature, something like that. But it feels good.”
my oscars mood is james ivory’s shirt pic.twitter.com/hBTxvFJnod
— ellie (@eleanorbate) March 4, 2018
Timothee cheered on Ivory’s acceptance speech.
Timothée watching James Ivory’s acceptance speech pic.twitter.com/SmDmPoRZrM
— Timothée Chalamet Updates (@TimotheeUpdates) March 5, 2018
Watch Ivory’s acceptance speech:
Mrs Gert Hammond
The best win of the night, closely followed by Roger Deakins & Guillermo del Toro.
Bob LaBlah
I found his speech a bit too long winded and political.
whatsaywhat
political? wtf are you talking about
Bob LaBlah
My lord, how did you kids graduate from high school with no knowledge of the best sense there is to have been taught, common sense. Comments toward the NRA, the nbr of asians, hispanics, women and blacks featured are a clue that a message was being sent to this sorry ass leadership in Washington that is currently ruining the damn country is why I said it was political. When was the last time you saw that many asian women on stage to escort the winners off stage after they gave their acceptance speeches? When was the last time you saw a hispanic women lead a song at the award show? Not to go off topic but I must say Lupita looked GOOD in that dress she was wearing.
I also agree with every message that was being sent to Trump and company that this is the United States, the most successfully diversified country on the face of this planet, and that foolish wall business needs to stop. Even the Country Music Association is telling the ultra-right where to go with their dumping of Mike Huckabee (which they never should have asked to clean their toilets let alone be a board member. He lasted ONE day before he was axed). Yes, country music too sees the direction the country is heading and are saying they too don’t like it.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/mike-huckabee-blames-left-losing-cma-job-article-1.3856525
Mick406
What a dolt you are! Does everything have to be weighed out and balanced? You have to have representatives of every creed, color, and race and count them proportionately? Everyone serving in any role should be there based only on their merits, not the color of their skin.
We may be diversified and a melting pot of cultures (I am the grandson of an Italian immigrant) but this country will go to hell in a hand basket if there is no SELECTIVE allowance of future immigrants. Trump is correct in his approach. We don’t need terrorists here, or people who come only for the security and the welfare and not desire to assimilate and become Americans. They become encapsulated in their own ghettos and ‘no go zones’ (think Muslims in Michigan) and do absolutely nothing for the enhancing of our country. We are a nation of laws and that is what this president and other leaders are trying to uphold. Also, liberals didn’t win this election. That shows you the commonplace man wants order in our society. Not chaos and a watered down populace that has absolutely no desire to be a part of us.
Bob LaBlah
So now your Eyetalian? It seems just yesterday you were claiming to be of German/Irish decent. Listen, coming on here with your name calling and nonsensical insinuations about being liberal only help point the finger at your multiple identities.
From you comment: “Also, liberals didn’t win this election.”
You didnt read the memo about Trump being a RINO during the election and now your suggesting that isn’t true by diverting the conversation away from fact. Answer me this; why did it take an in person interview with Trump from an MRA member to get him to back off of his stance on assault weapons last week? I thought only liberals did such things when they were being bullied. Or am I wrong?
From your comment: “They become encapsulated in their own ghettos and ‘no go zones’ (think Muslims in Michigan) and do absolutely nothing for the enhancing of our country. ”
The asians and the Indians who migrate to America tend to form their own communities by moving into complexes and communities and transforming it form lily whit….er, um, they tend to transform communities into their own. So are they too considered creating ghetto’s or does that apply to just…well, I’m sure you get my drift. I have no desire to bring up Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY at this time but I await your response as to whether affluent ghettos matter to you. A ghetto is a ghetto no matter how YOU try to marginalize them. Now run tell that.
Bob LaBlah
Oh, I forgot to add this question for you to respond to. Are you aware of how many of “them” over in Williamsburg are on public assistance and receive rent subsidies and their Yashiva’s receive government money even though they are religious institutions? I mean “they” have gotten so bold where now MANY of them are in public housing, as in the PROJECTS. You see, they multiply because their religion says they MUST (but not YOU, of course, which makes me now ask just what good are you to THEIR community except aggravating those that aren’t exactly fond of it). It seems not all “ghettos” lovers are the same, or ARE they? I await your answer. And please do your homework before answering.
whatsaywhat
Ivory’s speech didn’t include ANYTHING about the NRA, asians, hispanics, women or “blacks”… so again… still not sure wtf you are talking about.
His only remotely “political” comment about first love whether gay, straight or in between… was included because that’s the very subject matter of the film he wrote and was JUST given an award for!
Bob LaBlah
@ol’whatsaywhat………….jackass, I never said his speech did contain anything about the NRA and such. His long winded, politically laced speech was aimed at gay support which was fine. Now sit down, shut up and turn off your iPad and watch that Fox news garbage that is clearly teaching you to read what you what things to say even though they don’t. I swear you Foxer’s are sickening. Your kind are worse than ultra-liberals whom you so vehemently claim to despise.
Sam6969
It felt like those rare moments you witness a rare and powerfully inspiring event. This talented, wise and respected gay man finally receive, for the first time at 89, this Oscar and mark (LGBT) History…It was like watching the sacred deer passing through.
davidjohng
Yes, so true. I find it even more emotionally impactful watching it on the replays the 2nd day.
whatsaywhat
One of the greatest directors/filmmakers. Happy to see him receive some well-deserved recognition from Hollywood for this beautiful screenplay adaptation of Aciman’s novel.
JaredMacBride
A lifetime achievement award for something that was far from his best work.
crowebobby
Thanks! I didn’t even notice it; I don’t watch the acceptance speeches.
Kangol
Great win, great speech. I was also glad Jordan Peele received an Oscar for the Best Original Screenplay, and Guillermo Del Toro an Oscar for Best Director.
Blackceo
I watched Call Me By Your Name for the first time this past weekend and I’m still an emotional wreck. It actually hit kind of close to home with some similar themes that occurred when I was 17. It was a beautiful story and now I want to get the book. The cinematography was amazing and I seriously have been on Airbnb looking at going to Crema, Italy where it was filmed. The last 15-20 minutes of that film just absolutely had me in absolute tears. I’m glad I didn’t see it in the theater. I would’ve been a mess.
I’m happy it won Adapted Screenplay Oscar but this was a tough category year for Best Picture. Was a long shot for best picture but a well deserving nominee. I’m disappointed to hear that its getting a sequel though. I don’t think its necessary.
Polaro
A loooong time in coming and much deserved. He should have won many times before, but Marchant/Ivory were ahead of the acceptance curve. Some very excellent movies, if you youngsters have a dreary, wet Sunday that requires diversion.
jazz23
What is important when you need the golf clash hack here and it can be useful when we want the gems.