Alternate Oscars

Alternate Oscars

A film critic presents his choices for who should have won the Oscars and did not, including Citizen Kane for Best Picture, listing the actual nominees and winners and explaining why the wrong person or picture is frequently honored. This is the book that all film buffs will wish that they had written. Peary, critic and author of numerous film books including the Cult Movies volumes (Vol. 1; LJ 10/1/81), is the kind of person one wants to sit and talk film with. Here, in year-by-year format, he gives the Oscar recipients and nominees for best motion picture, best actor, and best actress. He then follows with his choices and worthy runners-up. Each pick includes a review in Peary's lively and frequently amusing style. He points out standard Oscar mistakes: e.g., Citizen Kane (1941) and Dr. Strangelove (1963) should have each won best picture awards; Henry Fonda should have won best actor for Grapes of Wrath (1940). He notes that not only did Psycho (1960) and Singin ' in the Rain (1952) not win, they weren't even nominated. This consistently fun and interesting book is absolutely essential for film collections. - Sherle Abramson, Williamsburg Regional Lib., Va. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.