Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES II, III & IV • April 8, 2009 (continued from Entertainment page) was created in May 1927. That month, Charles Lindbergh made the first nonstop New York-to-Paris solo flight aboard the Spirit of Saint Louis. Calvin Coolidge was President, Mae West was starring on Broadway in “Sex,” and the average price for a movie ticket was 25 cents. Although movies were immensely popular, no professional organization existed and there were threats of government censorship of film. Not wanting outside control, Hollywood bigwigs, including Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Cecil B. DeMille, Louis B. Mayer, and the Warner Brothers, established the Academy. The organization was originally called the International Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, but the word “International” was dropped during incorporation. Osborne arranges the book chronologically, noting achievements of the Academy decade by decade and enumerating the Awards year by year, from the first Best Picture Oscar winner, “Wings” (1927) to 2007 winner, “No Country for Old Men.” What makes this book unique is its complete listing not only of winners but all nominees. This is fascinating, when you see the pictures that did not win. The year 1952 was an interesting example of questionable winners. The prize that year went to the circus movie “Greatest Show on Earth.” Among the prestigious losers were “High Noon,” “The Quiet Man,” and “Moulin Rouge.” Then there was 1998, when the light comedy “Shakespeare in Love” bested Steven Spielberg’s epic “Saving Private Ryan.” The actor and actress categories offer some similar puzzlements. How could both Bette Davis (“All About Eve”) ‘Timecrimes’ and Gloria Swanson (“Sunset Boulevard”) have lost to newcomer Billie Holiday (“Born Yesterday”)? Did Humphrey Bogart deserve his Oscar for “The African Queen” more than Brando (“A Streetcar Named Desire”) or Montgomery Clift (“A Place in the Sun”)? There were three years of Oscar sweeps, with awards going to the same film for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Director: “It Happened One Night” (1934), “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975), and “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991). It’s all about the voting. Currently, there are just over 6,000 members in the Academy. Originally, there were 230. These are industry people who cast their ballots based on several criteria, only one of which is actual merit. Remember, these folks are subject to the same influences, biases, sympathies, and publicity campaigns as the rest of us, and they exert their voting power accordingly. One of the best parts of “80 Years of Oscar” is the wonderful collection of quotations from former Oscar winners and nominees. Their common thread is the great honor these men and women felt at having been singled out by their peers. Referring to her win as Best Actress for “It Happened One Night,” Claudette Colbert reminisced, “I was convinced that we could not win because a comedy had never won -- so convinced, that I was actually boarding the Santa Fe Super Chief for New York when I was whisked back to the Biltmore Hotel to accept the Oscar while they held the train. It was quite a scenario.” A definitive look at a grand Hollywood tradition, “80 Years of Oscar” is a handsome volume that offers not only information and entertainment but also nostalgia for those who remember the Oscar broadcasts. It is a worthy companion to all those movies that have entertained so many through the years. in 1995, their future looks bright. Dave is a highly regarded Major League baseball prospect. Clarice plans to make big money in Southern California real estate. But after several years of marriage, their affection for each other is tested by unanticipated occurrences. A car accident temporarily sidelines Clarice, and the couple must confront physical temptations, financial pressures, and emotional challenges that threaten to undermine their love for each other. The film tends to be melodramatic, but the performances are good and inspire the viewer to care about these two people. Extras include deleted scenes and a making-of featurette. ARIES - Mar 21/Apr ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 2020 Your idea fund a a new venture ends Your idea to to fund new venture ends upup fulfilling goal you’ve had for a a fulfilling a a goal you’ve had for while, Aries. However, caution in while, Aries. However, caution is is in order, because some your actions order, because some of of your actions could viewed as unethical. could bebe viewed as unethical. TAURUS - Apr 21/May TAURUS - Apr 21/May 2121 It’s hard resist friends, Taurus, espeIt’s hard to to resist friends, Taurus, especially when they approach you with cially when they approach you with anan idea that sounds like it can’t fail. Get idea that sounds like it can’t fail. Get a professional opinion, though before a professional opinion, though before you sign on. you sign on. GEMINI - May 22/Jun GEMINI - May 22/Jun 2121 Erratic behavior a a family member Erratic behavior byby family member makes your life difficult this week, makes your life difficult this week, Gemini. With work projects the Gemini. With work projects onon the back burner, you’re feeling pulled a back burner, you’re feeling pulled in in a million directions. million directions. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 2222 BeBe prepared to deal with the hitches prepared to deal with the hitches associated with a work commute, Canassociated with a work commute, Cancer. This week proves be very busy cer. This week proves to to be very busy for travel. Leave enough time you for travel. Leave enough time so so you don’t end frazzled. don’t end upup frazzled. LEO - Jul 23/Aug LEO - Jul 23/Aug 2323 Murphy’s Law will messing up your Murphy’s Law will bebe messing up your plans, Leo. prepared to plans, Leo. BeBe prepared to deal with glitches that affect your deal with glitches that affect your finances, like a credit card that won’t finances, like a credit card that won’t work checks that bounce. work or or checks that bounce. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 2222 When you least expect conflicts When you least expect it, it, conflicts might arise between your significant might arise between your significant other and your family. No matter what other and your family. No matter what is is said, try to show compassion for said, try to show compassion for both sides, Virgo. both sides, Virgo. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 2323 In In rush to to bring business to close, a a rush bring business to a a close, miscommunications could arise, Libra. miscommunications could arise, Libra. Expect work out a few problems Expect to to work out a few problems when the new week arrives. You’ll when the new week arrives. You’ll bebe the hero. the hero. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 2222 Unexpected expenses are par for the Unexpected expenses are par for the course this week, Scorpio. Since you course this week, Scorpio. Since you have the money cover them, don’t have the money to to cover them, don’t worry too much about being frivolous. worry too much about being frivolous. You’re not a spendthrift. You’re not a spendthrift. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 2121 You might notice something about You might notice something about one both of your parents that seems one or or both of your parents that seems odd this week, Sagittarius. Unless they odd this week, Sagittarius. Unless they open to you, it’s better to let sleepopen upup to you, it’s better to let sleeping dogs lie. ing dogs lie. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 2020 You treat personal information with You treat personal information with extreme confidentiality normally, Capextreme confidentiality normally, Capricorn, but this week, you may disclose ricorn, but this week, you may disclose something that you didn’t mean something that you didn’t mean to.to. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 1818 Professional organizations group Professional organizations or or group activities could raise some unexpected activities could raise some unexpected financial concerns, Aquarius. Don’t financial concerns, Aquarius. Don’t letlet it overly worry you... you’ll manage. it overly worry you... you’ll manage. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 2020 You may have lofty travel plans, PiYou may have lofty travel plans, Pisces, but money in your wallet to sces, but nono money in your wallet to back them up. Get creative that you back them up. Get creative so so that you can still get away. can still get away. DVDs (continued from Restaurant page) test, a making-of featurette, the extended road show version of the film and stage excerpts featuring Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza, who starred in the original Broadway version. “Not Easily Broken” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) focuses on Los Angeles couple Dave and Clarice Johnson (Morris Chestnut, Taraji P. Henson). Newlyweds Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle