While he is mostly forgotten by moviegoers today, Griffith was for decades held in awe by many members of the film industry. He was presented a special Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the mid-1930s. In 1946 he made an impromptu visit to the film location of David O. Selznick's epic western "Duel in the Sun", where some of his veteran actorsLillian Gish, Lionel Barrymore and Harry Careywere cast members. Gish and Barrymore found their old mentor's presence distracting and became self-conscious; in response, Griffith hid behind the scenery when the two were filming their scenes.