Oscars To Celebrate 75th Anniversary of 'The Wizard of Oz'

Credit: MGM

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is heading back to the Land of Oz!

Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have announced that the 86th Oscar telecast will feature a celebration of the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. The iconic film was among the ten Best Picture nominees of 1939, the year considered by many to be the greatest year in the history of the Oscars (and in Hollywood, in general).

"We are delighted to celebrate the birthday of one of the most beloved movies of all time at this year’s Oscars,” said Zadan and Meron.

The Wizard of Oz won two Oscars out of its six nominations, for Original Score and Song ("Over the Rainbow"). Just to put things in perspective, as far as how such an iconic film could win so few awards, Best Picture also featured Gone With the Wind (the eventual winner), Goodbye, Mr. Chips, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Ninotchka, Of Mice and Men, Stagecoach, and Wuthering Heights, among others. The list of nominees in other categories also featured classics such as Young Mr. Lincoln, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Babes In Arms. It was an absolutely insane year for film. Seriously.

The Oscars will air live on Sunday, March 2 on ABC.

Via: Oscars