The Oscar Statuette1

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The most recognized trophy in the world, the Oscar statuette has stood on the mantels of the greatest filmmakers in history since 1929.2. trophy: 奖品，纪念品；mantel: 壁炉架，壁炉台。

Shortly after the formation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1927, the fledgling organization held a dinner in the Crystal Ballroom of the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles to set out its goals.3. 1927年，在美国电影艺术与科学学院组建后不久，这个羽翼未丰的机构便在位于洛杉矶市中心的比特摩尔饭店的水晶宴会厅举行了一场晚宴，席间他们设定了该机构的奋斗目标。formation: 组建，创立；fledgling: 无经验的，初出茅庐的；set out: 设定，阐明。Among the topics discussed that night was how best to honor outstanding moviemaking achievements and thereby encourage excellence in all facets4. facet: 方面。of motion picture production.

Agreeing to institute an annual award, the group turned its attention to creating a suitably majestic trophy.5. institute: 创立，制定；majestic: 庄重的，威严的。MGM art director Cedric Gibbons designed a statuette of a knight standing on a reel of film gripping a crusader’s sword.6. MGM: 米高梅电影公司，好莱坞五大电影公司之一；a reel of: 一卷；crusader: 十字军战士。The Academy tapped7. tap: 开发，利用。Los Angeles sculptor George Stanley to realize the design in three dimensions—and the worldrenowned statuette was born.

一年一度的“美国电影艺术与科学学院奖”的颁奖典礼总会吸引全世界的目光：颁奖现场星光熠熠，各奖项的角逐更是扣人心弦。一尊尊代表着电影界崇高荣誉的小金像是付出与收获的象征。而这位“小金人”也有一个无人不知的名字——“奥斯卡”。跟它代表的一个个电影传奇一样，奥斯卡也有着传奇的身世。

A Knight Called Oscar

Since the initial awards banquet on May 16, 1929, in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel’s Blossom Room, 2,809 statuettes have been presented.8. 1929年5月16日第一届奥斯卡奖的晚宴在好莱坞罗斯福饭店的蓓蕾厅举行，也就是在这里已经颁发了2,809个小金人。Each January, additional new golden statuettes are cast, molded,polished and buffed by R.S. Owens & Company, the Chicago-based awards manufacturer retained by the Academy since 1982.9. buff: 擦亮，抛光；retain: 付定金聘用。

Oscar stands 13½ inches tall and weighs in at a robust10. robust: 强健的，强壮的。8½ pounds.The film reel features five spokes11. spoke: 辐条，轮辐。, signifying the five original branches of the Academy: actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers.Although the statuette remains true to its original design, the size of the base varied until 1945, when the current standard was adopted.

Of ficially named the Academy Award of Merit, the statuette is better known by its nickname, Oscar. While the origins of the moniker12. moniker: 名字，绰号。aren’t clear, a popular story has it that upon seeing the trophy for the first time, Academy librarian (and eventual executive director) Margaret Herrick remarked that it resembled13. resemble: 相像，类似。her Uncle Oscar. The Academy didn’t adopt the nickname of ficially until 1939, but it was widely known enough by 1934 that Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky used it in a piece referring to Katharine Hepburn’s first Best Actress win.14. columnist: 专栏作家；Katharine Hepburn: 凯瑟琳·赫本，美国著名女影星，代表作《金色池塘》、《费城故事》等。

The Stuff that Dreams are Made of

The statuettes presented at the initial ceremonies were gold-plated15. gold-plated: 镀金的。solid bronze. Within a few years the bronze was abandoned in favor of britannia metal, a pewter-like alloy which is then plated in copper, nickel silver, and finally, 24-karat gold.16. britannia metal: 不列颠合金；pewter-like alloy: 青灰色合金；nickel silver: 镍银合金；karat: 克拉。Due to a metal shortage during World War II, Oscars were made of painted plaster17. plaster: 石膏，灰泥。for three years. Following the war,the Academy invited recipients to redeem the plaster figures for gold-plated metal ones.18. recipient: 接受者，收受者；redeem: 兑换，将 （赠券等）兑换物品。

Achievements in up to 25 regular categories were honored on February 26, 2012, at the 84th Academy Awards presentation at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center.However, the Academy won’t know how many statuettes it will hand out until the envelopes are opened on Oscar Night. Although the number of categories are known in advance, the possibility of ties and of multiple recipients sharing the prize in some categories makes it impossible to predict the exact number of statuettes to be awarded. As in previous years, any surplus awards will be housed in the Academy’s vault until next year’s event.19. surplus: 剩余的，过剩的；vault: 拱顶，穹窿。

More than 80 years after that auspicious20. auspicious: 吉利的，有吉兆的。gathering in Hollywood, Oscar’s success as a symbol of filmmaking achievement would probably amaze those who attended the dinner, as it would its designer, Cedric Gibbons.