Movie posters reflect the way things were when those movies were released.

The look of apprehension and alarm in the face of William Holden as he warily advances gun in hand sets the mood for Bridge over the River Kwai.

The color rendering of a dancing Julie Andrews conveyed the joy and innocence of The Sound of Music.

The exuberant pose of Albert Finney surrounded by revealingly clothed wenches on the poster for Tom Jones says … just what you think it says.

The photographs, the drawings, the proclamations of what those films would bring to the big screen were memorable.

Each of those films earned numerous Academy Awards and nominations, and during this Academy Award season, the classic posters that proclaimed their promise will be among those exhibited in the Mary Riepma Ross Center for the Media Arts lobby, all from the Ross’ extensive movie poster collection.

Featured are fourteen one sheets (full sized posters) publicizing such widely ranging films at Ben Hur (winner of eleven Oscars, twelve nominations), Gandhi (winner of eight Oscars, eleven nominations), the shot in Lincoln Terms of Endearment (winner of five Oscars, six nominations), and winners of the Best Foreign Language Oscar All about my Mother (Spain), Nowhere in Africa (Germany), The Barbarian Invasions (Canada), and Kolya (Czechoslovakia). Included, as well, are six half sheets (half sized posters) representing Oscar winners as diverse as Ryan’s Daughter, Lawrence of Arabia, and Camelot.

All the posters on exhibit are part of the Ross’ collection, some donated by Jerry Jensen, others previously included in the Ross’ outstanding and diverse programming. A complete list of the posters replete with Oscars is found below.

Of course, Oscar winners and nominees are not lacking from the Ross’ screen including the currently showing Slumdog Millionaire as well as upcoming nominees Waltz with Bashir, The Class, Gomorrah, and a compilation program of all the Oscar nominated Short Animation and Live Action films. Schedules and synopses can be found on the Ross’ website at www.theross.org.

ONE SHEETS (FULL SIZE POSTERS):

Bridge Over the River Kwai (1958 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor

Around The World in 80 Days (1957 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Cinematography (Color), Best Film Editing, Best Music, scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Director

Oliver! (1969 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Art Direction, Best Director, Best Music (Score of a Musical Picture), Best Picture, Best Sound
NOMINATED: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay

Tom Jones (1964 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Director, Best Music, Score (Substantially Original), Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress (twice), Best Actress (twice), Best Art Direction

Kramer Vs. Kramer (1980 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Direcetor, Best Adapted Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing

Todo Sobre mi Madre (All about My Mother) (1999 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Foreign Language Film

Gandhi (1983 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Actor, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Picture, Original Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Makeup, Best Original Score, Best Sound

The Godfather Part II (1975 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Supporting Actor, Best Art Direction, Best Director, Best Music (Original Dramatic Score), Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor (three times), Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume Design

The Sound of Music (1966 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music (scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment), Best Picture, Best Sound
NOMINATED: Best actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design

Chariots of Fire (1982 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Costume Design, Best Music, Original Score, Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Film Editing

Nowhere in Africa (2003 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Foreign Language Film

Les Invasions Barbares (The Barbarian Invasions) (2004 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Foreign Language Film
NOMINATED: Best Original Screenplay

Ben-Hur (1960 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography (color), Best Costume Design (Color), Best Director, Best Special Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Music (Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture), Best Picture, Best Sound
NOMINATED: Best Adapted Screenplay

Terms of Endearment (1984 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound

Kolya (1997 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Foreign Language Film

HALF SHEETS:

Ryan’s Daughter (1971 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography
NOMINATED: Best Actress, Best Sound

Lawrence of Arabia (1963 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography (color), Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Picture, Best Sound
NOMINATED: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay

Nicholas and Alexandra (1972 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design
NOMINATED: Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Original Dramatic Score, Best Picture

A Man for All Seasons (1967 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Actor, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress

Camelot (1968 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Musical Score, Adaptation
NOMINATED: Best Cinematography, Best Sound

A Lion in Winter (1969 Oscars)

WINNER: Best Actress, Best Music (Original Score), Best Adapted Screenplay
NOMINATED: Best Actor, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Picture