Pudding Crowns Scorsese

A composed Martin Scorsese took the stage at the Hasty Pudding Theater last night elegantly attired in a tuxedo.

But before long, the acclaimed director was enveloped in a golden headdress and a brassiere.

Following its annual tradition, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals presented Scorsese with his brass pudding pot during last night’s Man of the Year ceremony.

Traditionally, the award is given to actors, but Scorsese was honored for his work as a director, producer and screenwriter.

However, despite Scorsese’s accomplishments—including the Academy Award-nominated film Goodfellas and the recently-released Gangs of New York—his hosts at the Pudding, Charles S. T. Howe ’04 and Robin O. Potts ’03 did not give up the pot easily.

Scorsese suffered with a smile as the hosts poked fun at the ubiquitous violence in his films and the overly self-important nature of directors.

Putting on his thick black glasses, Scorsese struggled vigorously to mount a tall chair with a seat that came to his chest.

The Golden Globe winner was then forced to sit through a grammar lesson taught by a man dressed in drag who towered above him. Scorsese was reprimanded with a slap on the wrist when he was unable to identify the grammatical error in the statement, “You Talkin’ to Me”—the famous line delivered by Robert De Niro in Scorsese’s film, Taxi Driver.

His acting and dancing skills were also put to the test, when the hosts cast him in the starring role in a mock film, Gangs of New Haven. Attacked by two Pudding members dressed as New Haven punks, one with an intimidating pink mohawk, Scorsese emerged victorious from the brawl after a dance-off to Michael Jackson’s “Bad.” Scorsese directed the music video for the 1987 hit.

And Scorsese—whose films often feature acts of senseless violence—kept his cool as two men decked out in drag adorned Scorsese with a sparkling bra and a wig of long, golden locks.

But the Pudding made Scorsese’s labors worth his while, and the acclaimed film-maker walked away from the event with both the pot and the bra.

After disappointing losses in the Academy Awards in past years, Scorsese said he was truly appreciative to receive the pudding pot.

“I had inside information that I was going to get the pot, so I went along,” he said.

Scorsese, who had not been to Boston since 1973, quipped sarcastically that he was “so glad to see that the tradition of extraordinarily sophisticated comedy still exists.”

After the event, the City of Cambridge presented Scorsese with “ a key to the city of Cambridge” and declared February 13 “Martin Scorsese Day.”

Scorsese also was treated to the premiere of the Theatrical’s 155th production “It’s a Wonderful Afterlife.”

—Staff writer Faryl W. Ury can be reached at ury@fas.harvard.edu.