75 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards (Hardcover)

~ Robert Osborne (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Unique...by virtue of the number and quality of its hundreds of illustrations." - Los Angeles Times Book Review "...Features a year-by-year rundown of nominations and winners, plus dozens of Oscars memories." - People "...A well-organized and well-indexed reference source on award nominations, winners, and ceremonies. Osborne's extensive coverage of the ceremonies themselves is probably his most unique contribution...a very readable and visually attractive presentation of a popular subject, as well as a solid reference source." - Choice

Product Description

75 Years of the Oscar, newly updated, revised, and expanded, is the official history of the Academy Awards written by film critic Robert Osborne in association with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It begins with a general history of the Academy followed by the author's lively, decade-by-decade overviews of the accomplishments, trends, and events that occurred during each ten-year period within the Academy and the film industry. The book also provides a year-by-year portrayal of the actual ceremonies, plus a complete listing of the nominees and winners in every category, making it the most comprehensive book on the subject. In addition to Osborne's text, there are personal remembrances of more than 100 Oscar winners, including Mickey Rooney, Mary Astor, Sir Laurence Olivier, Fred Zinnemann, Clint Eastwood, and Emma Thompson.

The 725 candid pictures from the evening's events, stills from the movies, and original posters for every best picture round out each section. Combining Osborne's extensive knowledge and the Academy's exceptional archives, including many rarely seen photographs, this book, ideal for scholars and film buffs alike, is unrivaled in illustration, accuracy, and scope.

Other Details: 725 illustrations, 60 in full color.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press; Fourth Edition edition (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789207877
• ISBN-13: 978-0789207876
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.3 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #519,935 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential Oscar Reading, January 24, 2004

By	Robbie Kendall (Chicago, Illinois, and Coburg, Germany) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is THE book to read if one is interested in the history of the Academy Awards. It features all of the essential information about who was nominated and who won, as well as a brief history of the individual year along with a detailed look at some of the winners. However, this is no 5 star book. It looks at the Oscars through very rose-colored glasses; it is very clear that this is a sanctioned look at the awards and not, ultimately, an entirely honest overview. It is clear that Mr. Osborne knows his stuff. One feels frustrated at the same time that his punches are always pulled as he must tow the Academy's line to get this published as the "Official" guide. A pity really, but the only way to get a complete overview of its history to date. Here's hoping that some day he'll be given free reign!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just What I was Looking For, October 16, 2005

By	Randy Keehn (Williston, ND United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Over the years, I have picked up a few books about the Academy Awards. I did so primarily to get a list of winners but I have also been interested in knowing the nominees. In the early days of the award it wasn't unusual to have eight or nine nominees for a particular award. However, the inference was still that there was something special about this particular movie in regards to this particular awards. I like that "75 Years of the Oscar" lists not only each award winner but each award nominee as well. I espcially appreciate the listing of all nominees for the Best Foreign Language award. I hadn't come across that before in any of the books I'd found.

"75 Years of the Oscar" makes for a large tome and I did have to send back the first edition of the book that I received due to weak binding for a book this size. The book provides an overview of each individual year as well as each decade of the award. Over the years the Academy Awards have over-rated some turkeys and ignored some movies now considered classics. The Academy has had a tendency, over the years, to focus on five to eight movies a year for 95% of all nominees. It certainly seems that it is a popularity contest more than an artistic examination. However, it's still a fairly reliable source for finding good movies of the past and that's what I use it for.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Educational & Interesting Read, September 15, 2005

By	Paul Webb "life time learner" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is chock full of facts about everything to do with the Academy and it's evolving from nothing to what it is today. It tells how and who started it, and how the different categories for Oscars were added as the years went by. The first 2 chapters or so overwhelm you with dry details which make it tedious reading; at least that is how I felt about it.
The rest of the book's chapters go year by year telling you all the nominations and winners of Oscars in all the different categories, and show you dozens of good pictures of the stars. You can also read the acceptance speeches given in the book by the stars that won Academy Awards.
There also is a section that lists the names of all the stars that have won 2 or more Academy Awards. This is what I really liked. This is what I bought the book for.
It is a huge book to read, so just take your time and read a little bit at a time.
I'm glad I bought it because I am a movie fan and have learned from it; and can always refer back to it when I want to find something out.