Key Takeaways:
– The prestigious Palm Dog Award at the Cannes Film Festival honors the best cinematic canine performances.
– Famous writer and director Robert Towne once got his dog nominated for an Oscar.
– This unique Oscar nomination occurred due to Towne's disagreement with the final version of the movie Greystoke.
– Towne credited his dog, a Hungarian sheepdog named P.H. Vazak, as the screenwriter, resulting in an Oscar nomination.
– Robert Towne passed away recently, leaving behind a legacy that includes an Oscar win for Chinatown, multiple nominations, and a canine nominee.
If you've heard about the Palm Dog Award for best dog performance in a film, awarded every year at the Cannes Film Festival, you might be tickled to hear about an Oscar nomination that barks, not speaks! This peculiar incident happened thanks to Robert Towne, a renowned figure in the film industry.
The Bob and Vazak Story
Robert Towne, a prominent figure in the '70s, was given the job of writing and directing Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. This would have been Towne's directorial debut, but to prove his competence, he took up another project first, a movie called Personal Best. Unfortunately, the film faced many problems, including a strike by the Screen Actors Guild and a massive $110 million lawsuit. To save Personal Best, Towne had to sacrifice his opportunity to direct Greystoke.
The turning point arrived when Towne saw the final cut of Greystoke, now directed by Hugh Hudson of Chariots of Fire fame. Unhappy with the film, Towne decided to remove his name from the credits. Instead, he acknowledged P.H. Vazak, his Hungarian sheepdog, as the film's screenwriter. This cheeky move led to Vazak – or rather, Towne – scoring an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Thus, in a comedy of errors, a dog was nominated for an Oscar in a first-of-its-kind incident!
Towne's Last Oscar Pursuit
The Greystoke controversy marked the end of Robert Towne's Oscar journey. His previous nominations were for The Last Detail, Shampoo, and he won an Oscar for his screenwriting work on Chinatown. He revealed just a few weeks before his death that he had finished writing all episodes for a prequel series to Chinatown.
As we celebrate the exceptional career of Robert Towne, let's spare a moment for the late P.H. Vazak who added a humorous and unique chapter to Academy Awards history. Vazak is remembered for being the only “good boy” to have ever secured an Oscar nomination.
Conclusion
In remembering Robert Towne and his beloved dog Vazak, we celebrate their unique places in film history. From a contentious production to a dog's Oscar nomination, it serves as a funny reminder that art and creativity can manifest in the most unexpected ways. As the world mourns the loss of a cinematic genius, we also honor P.H. Vazak, the Hungarian sheepdog who made his induction into film history by barking his way to an Oscar nomination.
Robert Towne certainly left a lasting legacy, both through his work and his spirit, embodied in the unique story of his dog's Oscar journey. So, the next time you see man's best friend on the silver screen, remember the adventurous tale of Vazak and his Oscar brush. Their tale is a testament to the wonders, and quirks, of cinematic history.
