Mary Pickford Oscar fate to be determined by jury
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the film industry's most prestigious awards, has gone to court in a bid to stop the sale of the golden statuette which, according to a handwritten will, was to be auctioned off for charity.
The Academy, however, argues that under a long-held policy, it has the right to buy back any Oscar which is put up for sale for a fee of $10 and that Pickford herself signed away the right to sell the statuette.
Pickford, who helped establish United Artists Pictures and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was awarded the Oscar for her performance in 1929's Coquette. It was the first non-silent role for the star, dubbed "America's Sweetheart", and the first time the best actress Oscar was awarded for a role in a "talkie".
At the time Pickford was married to Douglas Fairbanks. But after their divorce the actress married Charles "Buddy" Rogers and was with him for 40 years until her death in 1979.
Rogers later remarried and, following his death in 1999, his wife, Beverly Rogers, inherited his estate, including Pickford's 1930 Oscar as well as an honorary Academy Award given to the actress in 1976 for her contribution to film.
After Mrs Rogers' death in 2007, a handwritten will stipulated that Pickford's best actress Oscar be sold with proceeds donated to the Buddy and Beverly Rogers Foundation and the Buddy Rogers Symphony for young musicians in Palm Springs. The honorary award would remain with the estate...
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The Academy, however, argues that under a long-held policy, it has the right to buy back any Oscar which is put up for sale for a fee of $10 and that Pickford herself signed away the right to sell the statuette.
Pickford, who helped establish United Artists Pictures and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was awarded the Oscar for her performance in 1929's Coquette. It was the first non-silent role for the star, dubbed "America's Sweetheart", and the first time the best actress Oscar was awarded for a role in a "talkie".
At the time Pickford was married to Douglas Fairbanks. But after their divorce the actress married Charles "Buddy" Rogers and was with him for 40 years until her death in 1979.
Rogers later remarried and, following his death in 1999, his wife, Beverly Rogers, inherited his estate, including Pickford's 1930 Oscar as well as an honorary Academy Award given to the actress in 1976 for her contribution to film.
After Mrs Rogers' death in 2007, a handwritten will stipulated that Pickford's best actress Oscar be sold with proceeds donated to the Buddy and Beverly Rogers Foundation and the Buddy Rogers Symphony for young musicians in Palm Springs. The honorary award would remain with the estate...