Marc English and Bob “Daddy-O” Wade designed the awards for the Texas Film Hall of Fame, hosted by Turk Pipkin and held at Austin Studios at the old airport on Friday, March 9.
“I’m sorry I didn’t prepare anything to say tonight,” honoree Sissy Spacek joked. “I didn’t think I was going to win.” The actress was introduced by her cousin Rip Torn, who avoided the microphone during his speech, preferring to gesture wildly as he walked back and forth across the stage. His unexpected (and perhaps unintentional) pantomime drew some of the night’s most enthusiastic applause.
Liz Smith’s first story as a writer for UT’s humorous publication Texas Ranger was about Austin actor Zachary Scott, who eventually helped Smith land her first job in New York. Smith received a warm and (of course) funny introduction from former Gov. Ann Richards.
“Despite the auteur theory, movies are not made alone,” said recipient Robert Benton, writer (Bonnie and Clyde) and director (Kramer vs. Kramer). Benton was introduced by Dr. T and the Women screenwriter Anne Rapp, who worked as script supervisor on Benton’s Places in the Heart.
Recipient Mike Simpson’s clients Tim Burton (via videotape) and Quentin Tarantino described him as the kind of agent who doesn’t act like an agent.
“I believe with all my heart that storytelling is a high calling,” said recipient Bill Wittliff, screenwriter of Lonesome Dove and last summer’s The Perfect Storm. “Indeed, I think it is a noble calling.”
This article appears in March 16 • 2001.