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And the Academy Award Goes To...

Paul Gambaccini traces the history of the Oscars and tells the story behind award-winning films

Radio 4,27 episodes

Episodes

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Series 4
On The Waterfront
On The Waterfront; an Oscar Best Picture starring Marlon Brando - with Paul Gambaccini.
02 Feb 2013,30 mins
Series 4
In The Heat Of The Night
Paul Gambaccini talks to veteran director Norman Jewison about "In The Heat of the Night"
09 Feb 2013,30 mins
Series 4
Amadeus
Paul Gambaccini explores the making of Best Picture Oscar winner, Amadeus.
16 Feb 2013,30 mins
Series 4
American Beauty
Paul Gambaccini explores the making of Best Picture Oscar winner, American Beauty.
23 Feb 2013,30 mins
Series 2
The Godfather and The Godfather Part II
Paul Gambaccini explores how The Godfather and its sequel won Best Picture Oscars.
31 Jan 2009,30 mins
Series 2
Shakespeare in Love
How the comedy won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress.
30 mins
Series 2
Crash
The controversial 2006 Oscar winner, a film that explores the tensions within LA society.
14 Feb 2009,30 mins
Series 2
West Side Story
The behind-the-scenes arguments, dubbings and overruns of the film that won 10 Oscars.
21 Feb 2009,30 mins
Series 1
Lawrence of Arabia
Paul Gambaccini discovers how David Lean's epic won the Best Picture Award in 1963.
02 Feb 2008,30 mins
Series 1
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Paul Gambaccini examines the first post-war winner to sweep five major Academy Awards.
09 Feb 2008,30 mins
Series 1
The Silence of the Lambs
Paul Gambaccini talks about the winner of 1992's Best Picture Award. With Jodie Foster.
16 Feb 2008,30 mins
Series 1
The English Patient
Paul Gambaccini examines why the book considered unfilmable, won Best Picture of 1996.
23 Feb 2008,30 mins
Series 8
Argo
From real-life events that had been classified for 17 years to Oscar success in 2013: Argo
03 Mar 2018,30 mins
Series 8
Titanic
How Titanic, the disaster movie to end all disaster movies, nearly ended up a disaster.
24 Feb 2018,30 mins
Series 8
Casablanca
75 years since murder, refugees, music and love reached peak perfection in Hollywood.
17 Feb 2018,30 mins
Series 7
Schindler's List
The biggest director in Hollywood takes on the most difficult challenge of his life.
04 Mar 2017,30 mins
Series 7
12 Years a Slave
It takes an English director to tackle one the most horrific chapters in US history.
25 Feb 2017,30 mins
Series 7
All About Eve
The first film to get 14 Oscar nominations - Paul Gambaccini on the bitchiest movie ever.
18 Feb 2017,30 mins
Series 6
The Last Emperor
Paul Gambaccini explores the epic film that won all 9 Oscars it was nominated for in 1988.
13 Feb 2016,30 mins
Series 6
The French Connection
Paul Gambaccini assesses the first R-rated movie to win the Best Picture Oscar.
20 Feb 2016,30 mins
Series 6
Slumdog Millionaire
The little film that got lucky - how Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' won 8 Oscars.
27 Feb 2016,30 mins
Series 3
Gigi
Paul Gambaccini discovers how Gallic charm won Gigi the Best Picture Oscar in 1959
27 Feb 2010,30 mins
Series 3
The Deer Hunter
Paul Gambaccini tells how the film The Deer Hunter won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1978
20 Feb 2010,30 mins
Series 3
Unforgiven
Paul Gambaccini on Clint Eastwood's Oscar winning 1992 film, Unforgiven
06 Mar 2010,30 mins
Series 5
Mrs Miniver
Nazis and Hollywood, Dunkirk and roses - Paul Gambaccini on 1942 classic film Mrs Miniver.
07 Feb 2015,30 mins
Series 5
Midnight Cowboy
Dustin Hoffman's 1969 post-Graduate role as a sleazy pimp stands the test of time.
14 Feb 2015,30 mins
Series 5
Chariots of Fire
Race, class and religion to the rhythm of Vangelis. Best Picture of 1981 revisited.
21 Feb 2015,30 mins