The Oscars!

On February 22, the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood played host to the 

87th annual Academy Awards. 

The following films in Merrick Library's DVD collection were among the winners:

"Big Hero 6" - Best Animated Feature Film

"Birdman" - Best Picture, Best Director (Alejandro Inarritu), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography (Emanuel Lubezki)

"Boyhood" - Best Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette)

"The Grand Budapest Hotel" - Best Production Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Costume Design (Milena Canonero)

"Ida" - Best Foreign Language Film

"Whiplash" - Best Supporting Actor (J.K. Simmons), Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing (Tom Cross)

Highlighting the evening was recognition of the 50th anniversary of the release of the movie version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's now classic musical "The Sound of Music." Actress Scarlett Johannson introduced a montage of musical highlights from the production which won five Academy Awards including Best Picture half a century ago. Lady Gaga, clad in a white ballgown in contrast to a black tattoo on one arm, then sang a medley of songs from "The Sound of Music." Leading the applause affterwards for the New Jersey-born performer and making a surprise appearance was the movie's leading lady, Dame Julie Andrews. 

The regal superstar then sequed into presenting the Oscar for Best Original Music Score. 

The winner: Alexandre Desplat for "The Grand Budapest Hotel."

Merrick Library is proud to include "The Sound of Music" in its DVD collection and also has the following productions featuring the many talents of 

Dame Julie Andrews:

Broadway: The American Musical

Despicable Me (voice work)

Enchanted

Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter (voice work) 

Shrek The Third (voice work)

The Tooth Fairy