CHICAGO, April 26 (UPI) -- Movie critic Roger Ebert, battling back against cancer, received a standing ovation at his ninth annual film festival Wednesday in Urbana, Ill.
Unable to speak because of a tracheotomy, Ebert had his wife Chaz voice his thoughts about the night's festivities: "This is my happening, and it freaks me out."
Ever the movie aficionado, Ebert was quoting from the Russ Meyer 1970 cult classic "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls," which he wrote -- and which will close the Overlooked Film Festival Sunday, The Chicago Tribune said Thursday.
The 64-year-old film critic, who has undergone several surgeries and still faces more, also passed along word that while his weakened state means he won't be leading the onstage discussions during the movie showings, he will be there.
"I will fulfill a lifelong dream to have my own La-Z-Boy chair in a movie theater," his wife said on his behalf.
While emotional at times, she credited people's prayers and warm wishes for helping her husband make it back to his festival.
"This is where he wants to be," she said. "This is where he is. And this is where he's staying."
