John Travolta Receives Cannes Honorary Palme d'Or, Calls It 'Beyond the Oscars'

Hollywood star John Travolta was unexpectedly awarded the Honorary Palme d'Or for lifetime achievement at the Cannes Film Festival today. His directorial debut, "Propeller One-Way Night Coach," also premiered globally at the same time. Travolta, known for "Saturday Night Fever," was emotional upon receiving the surprise award. The film is based on his first-ever airplane journey. Upon receiving the honor, Travolta stated, "I can't believe this, it's truly beyond the Oscars." Despite the absence of major American studios, the Cannes Film Festival has continued to honor Hollywood superstars this year. The festival has previously awarded the Honorary Palme d'Or to Barbra Streisand and Peter Jackson, and celebrated the 25th anniversary of "The Fast and the Furious" with a premiere featuring Vin Diesel and the cast. Travolta, who has never won an Oscar, experienced a career resurgence with his role as hitman Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction," which won the Palme d'Or in 1994. Many critics hailed it as one of his most brilliant performances, leaving an indelible mark on film history. "My favorite films have always been Palme d'Or winners," Travolta said. The Cannes Film Festival organizers kept the award a secret until Travolta, dressed in a black suit and white beret, took the stage to open the premiere. The 72-year-old actor expressed his surprise that his directorial debut was selected by the world's most prestigious film festival. Travolta's daughter, Ella Bleu, plays a flight attendant in the film. Travolta mentioned that Cannes Film Festival Director Thierry Fremaux told him last November, "This film will be the earliest accepted film in the festival's history, and I cried like a child." "I never expected my film to be accepted by the festival," he added. "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" is a 1-hour, self-funded autobiographical film about Travolta's journey from New York to Los Angeles at age 8 in 1962 with his actress mother. "This is the blueprint of my life," said the actor, who has always loved planes and serves as the narrator. "Everything presented in the film is my personal feeling towards all beings," he added, "Everyone in the film is sitting in the audience, my family." Travolta was fascinated by the performing arts from an early age. Born in New Jersey, his mother was of Irish descent, and his father was an Italian-American who owned a tire shop. He dropped out of high school at 16 to pursue acting and dancing. Two years later, Travolta landed his first major stage role in the Broadway musical "Grease." In 1978, he received an Oscar nomination for his role as disco king Tony Manero in the low-budget film "Saturday Night Fever," and the same year, he became a Hollywood superstar with the film adaptation of "Grease." Travolta stated that the rights to "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" have been acquired by Apple. When asked if he would direct again, he said he observed various directors during his acting career. "I truly believe I can handle all of this, and anything I choose to do, but I really feel that if I have to go through such an effort again, I must have great passion for the material."