NONFICTION - March 20, 1994

65 YEARS OF THE OSCAR: The Official History of the Academy Awards by Robert Osborne (Abbeville Press: $59.95; 352 pp.). No sooner does a film reference book establish itself as essential than, more often than not, it either becomes outdated or goes out of print. So it is a special pleasure to welcome the up-to-the-minute third edition of this handsome volume by Hollywood Reporter columnist Osborne. Not only does it list every nominee and winner from 1927 through last year (all included as well in a massive 27-page, 7,000 item index), it is unique among inclusive Oscar reference books by virtue of the number and quality of its hundreds of illustrations, including reproductions of the poster for each year’s Best Picture winner. Turning these pages is easier than fighting the traffic to Monday night’s awards ceremony, and even more rewarding.