Music Box Announces Oscar-Winning Films Series

Oscar Season is in full swing; the big, end-of-year releases are hitting theaters and nominations voting began Monday. From now until the awards ceremony on February 24, the film world is abuzz with Oscar predictions. The Music Box Theatre takes this opportunity to take a look at some past award winners and see how this year's crop stacks up! Oscar-Winning Filmsmatinee series features a roster of movies that have racked up at least three Academy Awards apiece. Oscar-Winning Films show weekends, December 29, 2012-February 24, 2013, 11:30 a.m. at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $7.25 at the box office.

Oscar Winning Films Schedule

12/29-30 Sunrise (1927) - Most Unique and Artistic Production, Best Actress, Cinematography

1/5-6 On the Waterfront (1954) - Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress, Writing, etc.

1/13 A Place in the Sun (1951) - Best Director, Cinematography, Writing, Music, etc.

1/19-20 All About Eve (1950) - Best Picture, Director, Actor, Writing, etc.

1/26-27 It Happened One Night (1934) - Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, Writing

2/2-3 Network (1976) - Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actress, Writing

2/10 Casablanca (1942) - Best Picture, Director, Screenplay

2/16-17 Gigi (1958) - Best Picture, Director, Music, Writing, etc.

2/23-24 Midnight Cowboy (1969) - Best Picture, Director, Writing

December 29-30, 11:30 a.m.

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (F. W. Murnau, 1927, 89m)

One of the most beloved silent films, F.W. Murnau's (Nosferatu) Sunrise was his first film in the US. George O'Brien is a married farmer tempted away from his wife, Janet Gaynor, by a slatternly woman from the city, who tries to convince him to drown his wife. When The Farmer's wife escapes her murderous husband, he has a change of heart and must find his wife in the big city to which she's fled and bring her home. Featuring the most adorable drunk pig you'll ever see on film! Winner of the film's top honor at the first Academy Awards and ranked one of the "100 Greatest Movies of All Time" by the American Film Institute.

January 5-6, 11:30 a.m.

On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan, 1954, 108m)

Winner of eight Academy Awards, sweeping all the majors, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Marlon Brando's searing performance as an ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman struggling to stand up to his corrupt union bosses earned him great acclaim, and rightfully so. "I coulda been a contender!" Karl Malden is the crusading Catholic priest who serves as moral inspiration for Brando's dockworker.

January 13, 11:30 a.m.

A Place in the Sun (George Stevens, 1951, 122m)

George Eastman (Montgomery Clift) is the poor nephew of a rich industrialist who takes a job in his uncle's factory. While working there, George begins dating fellow factory worker Alice "Al" Tripp (Shelley Winters), but when George meets society girl Angela Vickers (Elizabeth Taylor) and experiences all of the unattainable wealth and status she represents, George must choose between two very different worlds, with dire consequences.

January 19-20, 11:30 a.m.

All About Eve (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1950, 138m)

The young and ambitious Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) has managed to befriend the great but temperamental stage actress Margo Channing (Bette Davis), but the cynical theater critic Addison DeWitt (George Sanders) can see right through Eve's sweet facade to her true, manipulative intentions. Joseph L. Mankiewicz walked away with an Oscar for Best Director and Screenplay, though in an odd twist mirroring the film, both lead actresses lost out to upstart Judy Holliday for Born Yesterday.

January 26-27, 11:30 a.m.

It Happened One Night (Frank Capra, 1934, 105m)

A classic of the screwball comedy genre and an excellent mockery of the confines of the newly enforced Production Code! Ellie (Claudette Colbert) is a spoiled heiress who decides to run away from her family. Aiding her in her journey is Peter Warne (Clark Gable), a reporter with a good eye for a juicy story. In exchange for an exclusive, Peter agrees to escort Ellie to her snobbish aviator beau. But a lot can happen on a cross-country bus trip! Interesting side-note: mannerisms in this film inspired the genesis of Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters.

February 2-3, 11:30 a.m.

Network (Sidney Lumet, 1976, 121m)

Sidney Lumet's masterpiece written by playwright Paddy Chayefsky is absolutely everything Aaron Sorkin's middling The Newsroom aspires to be. A struggling television network gives notice to longtime news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch) and, in retaliation, Beale sensationally announces on live television his intention to commit suicide on air. In doing so, Beale becomes a major TV icon and one of the most valuable assets to the network, being effectively rebranded "the mad prophet of the airwaves." With Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight.

February 10, 11:30 a.m.

Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1942, 102m)

Round up the usual suspects for the most beloved film romance of all time. Set in French-controlled Morocco during the early days of World War II, an American expatriate (Humphrey Bogart) meets a former lover (Ingrid Bergman), with unforeseen complications. Winner of Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay, and just in time for Valentine's Day!

February 16-17, 11:30 a.m.

Gigi (Vincente Minnelli, 1958, 115m)

Winner of all nine Academy Awards it was nominated for, this charming musical is set in fin-de-siècle Paris, a time of boredom and cynicism for the wealthy bourgeois. Against this backdrop is Maurice chevalier, a rich playboy weary of the conventions of Parisian society. He strikes up a platonic friendship with courtesan-in-training Gigi (Leslie Caron), but love adds a surprise twist to this delightful turn-of-the 20th century Cinderella story.

February 23-24, 11:30 a.m.

Midnight Cowboy (John Schlesinger, 1969, 113m)

Jon Voight moves to New York City with the naïve intention of becoming a gigolo and getting rich. Down on his luck, he meets sickly Ratso Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman chewing up all the scenery that shouting "I'm walkin' 'ere!" allows) and the two become steadfast anchors for each other as they attempt to survive on the streets of the Big Apple. The only X-rated film to win an Oscar!

About the Music Box Theatre: For nearly 30 years the Music Box Theatre has been the premier venue in Chicago for independent and foreign films, festivals and some of the greatest cinematic events in Chicago. It currently has the largest cinema space operated full time in the city. The Music Box Theatre is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corporation. SMBC, through its Music Box Films division, also distributes foreign and independent films in the theatrical, DVD and television markets throughout the United States. For additional information please visit www.musicboxtheatre.com .