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.. This series tracks the evolution of the award and the effect it has had on the motion picture industry. In this episode, "Hollywood Comes of Age," viewers take a look at the contemporary world of film. No longer dominated by large studios or a single artistic vision, recent years have brought such diverse classics as Annie Hall and Jaws. A new sort of star dominates the scene as well, typified by actors like Warren Beatty and Jane Fonda.

~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide