Who Deserves Oscar Most?
I must react with some offense at Liz Smith’s column wherein she campaigned for Claudette Colbert to receive a special Oscar (“Why No Oscar for Colbert?,” Dec. 23). This is not because I have any problems with Colbert but because of the poor taste Smith showed in suggesting that, since Colbert is lucky enough to be in relatively good shape for a woman in her late 80s, she will make us all feel good, as opposed to giving the Oscar last year to a very ill Myrna Loy.
Is this now the standard by which she suggests the governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences must make their selection? As the person who spearheaded the letter-writing campaign to the academy from many of Loy’s co-stars, directors and writers, I can tell Smith that the outpouring of love and affection we put forth for Loy was to make her feel good, despite years of neglect by the academy, which never nominated this great star for an Academy Award.
Colbert is a lovely lady, but she has already won, and there are many great stars getting on in years who have not.
MICHAEL RUSSNOW
West Hollywood
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