"George Lucas and Steven Spielberg presenting an Honorary Oscar to Akira Kurosawa for accomplishments that have inspired, delighted, enriched and entertained audiences and influenced filmmakers throughout the world, at the 62nd Academy Awards. Introduced by Jack Valenti."
It was more than 27 years ago today, on the 26th of March 1990, that Akira Kurosawa was given the honorary Academy Award “for cinematic accomplishments that have inspired, delighted, enriched and entertained worldwide audiences and influenced filmmakers throughout the world”.
In his brief acceptance speech, Kurosawa famously wondered if the award was deserved and looked forward to continuing with his career: “I’m a little worried because I don’t feel that I understand cinema yet. I really don’t feel that I have yet grasped the essence of cinema. Cinema is a marvellous thing, but to grasp its true essence is very, very difficult. But what I promise you is that from now on I will work as hard as I can at making movies, and maybe by following this path I will achieve an understanding of the true essence of cinema and earn this award.”
You can watch a seven-minute clip above, including a happy birthday song to the director who had only three days earlier turned 80 years old.