Berlin honour for Douglas senior

Kirk Douglas is praised for embodiment of the American spirit

Kirk Douglas is to be presented with a Golden Bear for lifetime achievement at the Berlin Film Festival next year.

He will receive the award in February, after a special festival showing of his 1957 film Paths of Glory, directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Kirk Douglas unmistakably embodies the quintessence of the pioneering spirit

Moritz de Hadeln

Douglas has worked on more than 80 films, collaborating with some of the greatest directors of the last century, such as Howard Hawks, Otto Preminger, Elia Kazan and Brian de Palma.

His son, Michael, has also become one of Hollywood's most respected figures in his own right.

Douglas senior has been nominated three times for Academy Awards, and was awarded an Oscar in 1996 in recognition of his outstanding cinematic career.

His great film roles include performances in Spartacus, Gunfight at the OK Corral and Ulysses.

"Kirk Douglas unmistakably embodies the quintessence of the pioneering spirit and typical American individualism,'' said festival director Moritz de Hadeln.

Social issues

"His characters are marked by a tremendous drive for independence. They are tough and uneven and at times difficult."

If my family never made that trip from Russia, I think I would have been dead by now

Kirk Douglas

Douglas told the Hollywood Reporter that he was proud to be identified with American spirit, given that he is the son of Russian immigrants.

"I like to be called an American because to me, being American means having a chance no matter what language you speak, no matter what colour your skin; you have a chance.

"That's what makes America so strong.

"Here in America, I had a chance to go to college and go into a field that I wanted. If I were not an American, if my family never made that trip from Russia, I think I would have been dead by now."

Kirk Douglas in arguably his most famous role as Spartacus

Mr de Hadeln praised Douglas for his stance during the production of perhaps his most celebrated film, Spartacus.

The actor insisted on hiring screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who had been blacklisted for refusing to give evidence in the McCarthy hearings in the 1950s, and then made sure the writer was given a credit in the titles.

Many of the blacklisted writers at the time were not credited for films they had worked on.

"By honouring Kirk Douglas, a personality is singled out who, beyond his screen work, has been extremely committed to social issues and America's democratic ideals," added Mr de Hadeln.

Previous recipients of the award include Gregory Peck, Alain Delon and Jack Lemmon.