A few days ago I posted a video of Vincente Minnelli’s abandoned mansion in Beverly Hills. It’s a fascinating and acrid experience to witness the shards of a once worldly and elegant existence. So lets close the week with a more sophisticated and Minelli-esque moment and bring the man back the dignity that the house and its fate robbed him of. Here he is winning the Oscar in 1958 for ‘Gigi’. Minnelli graciously accepts the award, taking the opportunity to stick his finger in his eye for a good ten seconds (a nervous tic perhaps?) and then gives a nice, quick acceptance speech. No other nominated directors leap to their feet, jump on the stage and slap him. Ah, the once civilized affair known as the Academy Awards. I’ve decided that during next years Oscars, I’m going to watch full broadcasts of previous decades shows…just as I watch old Johnny Carson shows on YouTube every night at 11:30.