The Academy Awards have become something more than a mere symbol of annual, cinematic triumph. To an actor or actress, the award can mean the validation of a career. To a film, it is entrance to the pantheon of immortality. The Oscars no longer simply acknowledge history -- they make it. This series tracks the evolution of the award and the effect it has had on the motion picture industry. In this episode, "The Postwar Years," viewers investigate the years immediately following the war and the sometimes controversial pictures made during that time. Clips are included from Gentleman's Agreement, Hamlet, and Key Largo.

~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide