Why Did George C. Scott, Best Actor In 'Patton,' Reject His Oscar?

By | October 16, 2020

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George C. Scott in Patton (Photo by Herbert Dorfman/Corbis via Getty Images)

At the 43rd Academy Awards in 1971, Patton star George C. Scott received what many thespians feel is the crowning achievement of acting, the award for best actor in a motion picture. Or he would have received it if he weren't asleep at his farmhouse in New York. Scott didn't just dislike the Academy Awards, he felt that they were a "meat parade" that pitted actors against one another, and he didn't see the point of receiving an award for acting.

Scott had previously been nominated for Academy Awards, and had made his disinterest known. Even though the Academy knew he might protest, they nominated him for Patton -- his performance was so overpowering, there was no leaving him out. It was the most acclaimed screen performance of the year, so to fail to recognize it would have been petty. Everyone know Scott would win, and Scott made it clear he'd refuse the honor -- which he did. But why?

George C. Scott was nominated for earlier performances

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source: columbia pictures

George C. Scott is no stranger to award show love. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor twice prior to his turn as Patton, once for his role in Anatomy of a Murder, and again for his work as Bert Gordon in The Hustler. Scott first voiced his contempt for the Academy Awards following his nomination for The Hustler, saying that he disagreed on any competition that set actors against one another. That was in 1961, and from then on out he continued to churn out excellent work without recognition from the Academy.

Even though he didn't want it, Scott should have at least received a nomination for his role in Dr. Strangelove (1964). Scott famously hated his comedic performance in the film (Kubrick allegedly filmed an over-the-top rehearsal and used that rather than Scott's preferred take), but his mania as General Buck Turgidson is one of the most arresting performances in the film. Even so, he wouldn't be recognized for his work again until 1970.