  OSCAR'S CLASSICS Commenced,  March 30 Having had a break from the Oscars and other film related events by taking a two- weel break in Africa,  I am back in the UK and decided to keep this diary of DVDs viewed right through the year My Oscar's classics series would consist of Oscar nominated/ winning movies I have acquired and recently viewed on DVD Selection is completely random HIGH NOON ( 1952)
 Recent viewing of DVD March 30 -  31 Directed by Fred Zinnemann Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture Won 4 :  Best Actor -  Gary Cooper Best Film Editing Best Original Song and Best Score-  Comedy/ Dramatic DVD Special features:
 The DVD special features were very disappointing -  one expected a lot more indepth examination of the issues raised by the film -  there was even a factual detail were i. e Gary Cooper won his second Oscar for this film ( not the first one as summarised by reviewer,  Leonard Matlin TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD(
1962)  DVD viewed April 1 -  4 Directed by Robert Mulligan Nominated for 8 Academy Awards including best director and picture Won 3,  Best Actor,  Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Art/ Set Direction (
Black and White)  Brief Notes on DVD/ Special features The Special features were informative and very detailed -  It is easily one of the best to accompany any film issued on a dvd.  GOSFORD PARK ( 2001)
 DVD viewed April 6 -  8 Directed by Robert Altman Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture Others were for Best Director,  Best Supporting Actress ( two nominations)  Art and Set Decoration and Best Costume Design Won 1 -  Best Original Screenplay -
 Julian Fellowes DVD Special features CITIZEN KANE ( 1941)  April 19 -  May 6 Directed by Orson Welles Nominated for 9 Academy Awards including Best Picture,  Director and Original Screenplay Other were for Best Actor,  Art and Set Decoration,
 Cinematography ( black and white)  Film Editing,  Best Dramatic Score and Best Sound Recording Won only Best Original Screenplay but over the years has attained classic status as the Best American Film of all time DVD extras -  The Battle Over Citizen kane ( 1995 Acadamy Award best documentary nominee -
 A complete historical account of the making and attempted killing of the film -  Orson Welles vs Press baron,  William R Hearst Contains complete interviews and newsreels by the major players involved in the project 60 years ago Two film commentaries -  by Director,  Peter Bogdanovich and Critic,  Roger Ebert both illuminating the ground breaking film making style of first time director,
 Orson Welles.  For instance -  the use of scratched newsreel indicating age/ realistic look.  The innovative use of experimental cinematography, long shots,
lights, handheld camera work,  special use of light for the clear focus of fore and back ground shots during the entire film Citizen Kane was one of the first film's to use innovative special effects which was very ground breaking and very far advanced for it's time Most of the actors were from Welle's New York Mercury theater and were first time film actors THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE ( 1962)  DVD viewed May 7 -  10 Directed by John Frankenheimer Nominated for 2 Academy Awards -
 Best Supporting Actress and Best Film Editing Won -  None Brief Notes on DVD/ Special Features Decided to watch this one more time before the 2004 release of the remake starring Meryl Streep and Denzel Washington as directed by Jonathan Demme ( Oscar winner for best director from the multi Oscar winning film,  The Silence of the Lambs - 1991)
 Original, chilling and full of suspense.  It resonates very much with the prevailing political climate brought about by the current " war on terror"  Extras features a short documentary/ interview made in 1988 by the Director -
 John Frankenheimer,  George Axelroyd and Frank Sinatra ( all now deceased)  in which Frank revealed how he sustained the permanent break to his finger during the fight scene with Chunjin ( Henry Silva)  Also features -
 Director's Commentary Nothing special other than the usual anecdotes on how wonderful the cast was on different shooting days CASABLANCA ( 1942)  -  DVD viewed May 11 -  13 Directed by Michael Curtiz Nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture Its other nominations were Best Actor,  Best Supporting Actor,
 Best Cinematography Best Original Score( Dramatic or Comedy)  Best Film Editing,  Best Writing and Best Director Won 3,  Best Writing(  now referred to as Adapted)
 Screenplay,  Best Director and Best Picture Number 2 on the AFI Best American film list DVD Special features include a detailed docummentary on the writing, casting and making of the film -  presented by the screen icon,  Lauren Bacall 
