In 2008, honorary Oscar winner Robert Boyle, an art director responsible for many Hitchcock films including North by Northwest and The Birds, gave a fabulous over three minute acceptance speech thanking countless people. The guy was 98 years old at the time, so he deserved some time to say his peace. (I checked and he’s still kicking at 100.) Last year, “Hersholt Humanitarian Award” winner Jerry Lewis kept it really short in a revamped Academy Awards broadcast and just said thanks and that’s about it from what I remember. This year, the Academy decided to give out the honorary Oscars in a separate ceremony, and bestowed three honorary statutes at the Governors Awards over the weekend. That’s kind of a shame because 85 year-old former screen siren Lauren Bacall was one of the honorees and I would have loved to see her on stage at the Academy Awards.

Hollywood legend Lauren Bacall, whose 30-film career spans more than six decades, has finally hit Oscar gold.

Bacall, 85, was given an Academy Award for lifetime achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at a star-studded ceremony over the weekend. The event marked the first time the honor had been awarded outside of the Oscars telecast.

“I can’t believe it — a man at last,” Bacall told those in attendance, which included fellow Oscar recipients Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Angelica Huston, Tom Hanks and Kirk Douglas.

Bacall also took the opportunity to recognize her husband, the late Humphrey Bogart, for his inspiration. “He gave me a life and he changed my life,” she said.

[From Parade]

Other honorary Oscars were given to director producer Roger Corman and cinematographer Gordon Willis. It’s about time that Bacall was recognized and even though her Oscar wasn’t part of the big event we hope to still see her there. The Academy Awards will air on March 7, 2010.

Photo credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN.com