70 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards [Hardcover]

Robert Osborne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

70 Years of the Oscar, newly revised and expanded, is the official history of the Academy Awards. It begins with a general history of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the birth of the Oscars, followed by in-depth coverage of each year's awards. Author Robert Osborne surveys the nominees, recounts speculation on possible winners, describes the events of the actual ceremonies, and provides a complete listing of the nominees and winners in every category, making this book on the most important awards in show business.

The nearly 700 candid pictures of the evening's events, stills from the movies; and original posters for every best picture round out each section. Combining Robert Osborne's knowledge and the Academy's exceptional archives, this book is unrivaled in illustration, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The only book officially sanctioned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, this hefty tome presents the history of the movies through the lens of the industry's central organizing body. On May 4, 1927, AMPAS came into formal existence, and since then it has served as the primary forum for addressing industry-wide issues and honoring the achievements of those involved in motion picture making.

Robert Osborne, a columnist and critic for the Hollywood Reporter, uses a crisp, engaging style to discuss film developments and movie trends during 70 years of Academy Awards. Each year of the Oscars is covered in detail, with an introduction that summarizes the year's movie highlights, nominees, and winners, followed by a complete listing of nominees and winners in all categories. Osborne also provides encapsulations of each decade, noting trends, scandals, and political battles AMPAS waged. Former award winners were asked to write about their favorite Oscar memories, and included is a rich and varied selection from the more than 120 personal responses submitted. Photographs (nearly 700 rare shots) bring the historical information alive, offering a fascinating glimpse into Oscar ceremonies of the past. The original movie posters for each Best Picture are also presented, as well as stills from nominated films (they will have you running out to the nearest video store to reexperience the movies in their entirety). Serious students of film and trivia buffs alike will spend hours poring over this wealth of information that adds a fascinating historical perspective to the glitz and glam of the Oscars. --Brangien Davis

Review

"Unique... by virtue of the number and quality of its hundreds of illustrations." --Los Angeles Times Book Review -- Los Angeles Times Book Review

A wealth of movie trivia for the diehard film buff. -- San Antonio Express-News, 3/10/99

Combining Robert Osborne's knowledge and the Academy's exceptional archives, 70 YEARS OF THE OSCARS is unrivaled in illustration, accuracy, and comprehensiveness. -- African Sun Times, 3/8-14/99

The photos are amazing, from a winsome Janet Gaynor with the first Best Actress Oscar (for a trio of 1927 movies) to the spectacle of hundreds of people fleeing the big boat in a still from Titanic. . . . The book is beautiful-it's like a dessert so well-presented that you feel guilty about eating it-but it isn't deep. -- Knight Ridder News Service, 3/23/99

[A] photo-filled reference that details all of the drama-and dresses-we've enjoyed since the awards began in 1927. -- New York, 2/22/99

[A]lmost 700 photos . . . gorgeously decorate this imposing tome. . . . Osborne dispenses fact-packed introductory film notes that are the most intelligent and informed in business; in comparison, his competitors are mere actors mouthing scripted minutiae. His sense of fun and attention to detail are in full sway here. -- Newark Star Ledger, 3/21/99

[D]ocument[s] trends, track[s] new developments and capture[s] the thrills of the film industry's most significant and popular event. . . . In addition to being visually attractive, this is an unparalleled reference volume for the film buff and scholar. -- Tampa Tribune, 3/14/99

[T]he . . . definitive book on Oscar information . . . beautiful. -- Houston Chronicle, 2/27/99

[T]his newly revised and expanded edition has as much appeal to the movie buff as to the scholar. The tone may be ultra-respectful-after all, this is the authorized account of Oscar-but the detailed year-by-year summations are rife with facts and juicy trivia. -- Nashville, TN BookPage, 3/99

[U]ndoubtely . . . the premier history of the Academy Awards. . . . All-encompassing. . . . [A] star-studded journey for the reader in both text and vivid black-and-white and color photographs. -- Abilene, TX Reporter-News, 3/21/99

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press; Rev&Updtd edition (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789204843
• ISBN-13: 978-0789204844
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #814,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert Osborne is a columnist and critic for The Hollywood Reporter, one of Hollywood's most important daily papers, and prime-time host and anchor of the Turner Classic Movies cable television network. He has written more than ten books on the film world, many of them focused on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He has hosted several of the Academy's in-person tributes, both at the organization's Beverly Hills headquarters and at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Good As It Gets, April 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 70 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards (Hardcover)

This fabulous book is informative, interesting and absolutely CRAMMED with excellent photos, many of which I am sure have never been published before (at least I had never seen them before reading this book). Robert Osborne's excellent book is as up to date as anything gets, the only awards not included having been given out less than a month ago. This book also includes a complete list of ALL nominees in every single category for each year, somehing I have found in no other book I have ever read on the subject.

An absolute MUST for all movie/trivia buffs!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The epitome of all OSCAR books, June 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: 70 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards (Hardcover)

If you are OSCAR crazy, splurge (it's expensive) save or steal and buy this book.....it includes all the gossip, snarky asides, and real data you'll crave and you'll refer to it again and again....true OSCAR nuts read it all the way through, like a novel.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A would-be movie buff's "must have", January 22, 2001

By 

caroline charles (broadham green, surrey United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 70 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards (Hardcover)

I bought and I bought again...gave it away and then couldn't be without it...there is a downside; you'll find yourself boring everyone at parties with the Best Film Oscar of their Birth Year Challenge...but if the anorak fits, wear it I say..it's an Oscar winning performance by Osborne.....