The Economist Bilingual: Hollywood Legend, Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Original title:
Hollywood legends
The defiant one
Sidney Poitier was a trailblazing hero of cinema
Hollywood legends
Blatantly called out
Sidney Portier was a trailblazer in the film industry
It was hard for any viewer to look away from Sidney Poitier
Or down on him
It was difficult for viewers to take their eyes off Sidney Portier
Or belittle him
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HE SHOWED THE world that black actors could be Hollywood heroes.
He showed the world that black actors can also play Hollywood heroes.
In films such as “To Sir, With Love”, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “In the Heat of the Night”, all released in 1967, Sir Sidney Poitier was not a loyal sidekick or a servant.
In several films screened in 1967, such as "I Love My Teacher", "Guess Who's Coming for Dinner", "Hot Summer Nights", Sir Sidney Portier played not a loyal assistant or servant.
He was a blisteringly handsome, nuanced and charismatic leading man.
He is a very handsome, nuanced and charismatic male protagonist.
His talent, elegance and class made him a superstar, and, in 1964, they made him the first ever black actor to win an Academy Award for a leading role, in “Lilies of the Field”.
His talent, elegance and demeanor made him a superstar, and in 1964, with Wild Lilies, he became the first black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor.
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Many in the film industry and beyond revered him as a trailblazer who refused to play any part that might reflect badly on black people.
Many in and out of the film industry revered him as a trailblazer because he refused to play any role that might damage the image of a black man.
A few critics called him bland and ingratiating.
Some critics call him tedious and condescending.
In the New York Times in 1967 Clifford Mason defined his benign on-screen persona as “a good guy in a totally white world… helping the white man solve the white man’s problem”.
In 1967, Clifford Mason defined his kind screen image as "a good person who helps white people solve white problems in a world of complete white people." ”
But no one could mistake the determination and skill it took for Sir Sidney, who died last week at the age of 94, to become Hollywood’s exemplar of African-American dignity.
But no one would misunderstand Sir Sidney's determination and acting skills. His determination was to be a model of African American dignity in Hollywood. (Sidney died last week at the age of 94.) ）
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Born in 1927, he was the seventh child of farmers who grew tomatoes in the Bahamas.
Born in 1927, he is the seventh child of a tomato grower in the Bahamas.
At 15 his parents sent him to live in Miami; the following year he moved to New York, where he worked on his diction by listening to radio announcers, and improved his literacy by poring over newspapers with a kind Jewish waiter at the restaurant where he washed dishes.
At the age of 15, his parents sent him to live in Miami; the following year he moved to New York, where he improved his voicing pronunciation by listening to the standard voice of a radio announcer; and at a dish-washing restaurant, he studied newspapers with a kind Jewish waiter to improve his literacy skills.
He joined the American Negro Theatre, and by the time he was cast in his first film, “No Way Out” (1950), he was as authoritative as any actor of any background, with a fiery glare, an imposing physical presence, exquisite poise and a penetrating voice.
He joined the African Theater of America and starred in his first film, No Way Out (1950), where he was as authoritative as any actor from any background, with fiery eyes, dignified appearance, elegant posture and sharp voice.
It was hard for any viewer to look away from him, or down on him.
No viewer can take their eyes off him or despise him.
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Most of his films tackled racism.
Most of his films deal with racism.
In the 1950s they included “Cry, the Beloved Country”, the filming of which let him see South African apartheid first-hand (he later played Nelson Mandela in a made-for-television biopic); “Blackboard Jungle”, a seminal rock ’n’ roll high-school drama; and “Porgy and Bess”, Otto Preminger’s film of George Gershwin’s musical.
In the 1950s, Africa's Fury allowed him to witness apartheid in South Africa (he later played Nelson Mandela in a telepic); Blackboard Jungle, an influential high school rock drama; And Poke and Beth, a George Gershwin musical directed by Otto Preminger.
In “The Defiant Ones”, his chain-gang fugitive was manacled to a southern bigot played by Tony Curtis. Both were nominated for Oscars.
In Break Free, the desperate fugitive he plays is handcuffed together by the Southern paranoid maniac played by Tony Curtis. Both actors were nominated for an Academy Award.
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Still, the criticisms hurt. Tired of being a figurehead, Sir Sidney switched to lighter comic roles in the 1970s and directed several raucous comedies; “Stir Crazy” (1980) was his biggest hit.
Still, the criticism hurts. Tired of being a titular character, Sir Sidney turned to light-hearted comedy roles in the 1970s and directed several hilarious comedies; Slippery Tones was his most successful work.
Knighted in 1974, he took a decade-long break from acting in his 50s, returning to the screen all too rarely afterwards.
He was knighted in 1974, and beginning in his 50s, he disappeared for a decade and has rarely returned to the big screen ever since.
But he had already achieved as much as anyone in Hollywood history.
But he has achieved what no one in Hollywood has ever achieved.
It wasn’t until 2002 that a second black star, Denzel Washington, received an Oscar for his performance in a leading role.
It wasn't until 2002 that the second black film star, Denzel Washington, won an Oscar for his performance as a male lead in the film.
On the same evening, Mr Washington presented Sir Sidney with an honorary award for his extraordinary life’s work.
On the same evening, Mr. Washington presented Sir Sidney with an honorary medal representing lifetime achievement in recognition of his extraordinary life.
(Congratulations on reading, this English vocabulary is about 551)
Originally from: The Economist Books and Arts section of January 15, 2022.
Intensive reading notes from: The Path to Free English
Translation of this article: Fei Min
This article edited proofreader: Irene
For personal English learning communication only.
【Supplementary Information】 (from Wikipedia)
【Key sentences】(3)
He was a blisteringly handsome, nuanced and charismatic leading man.
Many in the film industry and beyond revered him as a trailblazer who refused to play any part that might reflect badly on black people.
But he had already achieved as much as anyone in Hollywood history.
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