The Oscar Statuette1

∷吳悠 選 張濤 注

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: 獎(jiǎng)品，紀(jì)念品；mantel: 壁爐架，壁爐臺(tái)。

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，在美國電影藝術(shù)與科學(xué)學(xué)院組建后不久，這個(gè)羽翼未豐的機(jī)構(gòu)便在位于洛杉磯市中心的比特摩爾飯店的水晶宴會(huì)廳舉行了一場晚宴，席間他們設(shè)定了該機(jī)構(gòu)的奮斗目標(biāo)。formation: 組建，創(chuàng)立；fledgling: 無經(jīng)驗(yàn)的，初出茅廬的；set out: 設(shè)定，闡明。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: 創(chuàng)立，制定；majestic: 莊重的，威嚴(yán)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: 米高梅電影公司，好萊塢五大電影公司之一；a reel of: 一卷；crusader: 十字軍戰(zhàn)士。The Academy tapped7. tap: 開發(fā)，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“美國電影藝術(shù)與科學(xué)學(xué)院獎(jiǎng)”的頒獎(jiǎng)典禮總會(huì)吸引全世界的目光：頒獎(jiǎng)現(xiàn)場星光熠熠，各獎(jiǎng)項(xiàng)的角逐更是扣人心弦。一尊尊代表著電影界崇高榮譽(yù)的小金像是付出與收獲的象征。而這位“小金人”也有一個(gè)無人不知的名字——“奧斯卡”。跟它代表的一個(gè)個(gè)電影傳奇一樣，奧斯卡也有著傳奇的身世。

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日第一屆奧斯卡獎(jiǎng)的晚宴在好萊塢羅斯福飯店的蓓蕾廳舉行，也就是在這里已經(jīng)頒發(fā)了2,809個(gè)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，拋光；retain: 付定金聘用。

Oscar stands 13? inches tall and weighs in at a robust10. robust: 強(qiáng)健的，強(qiáng)壯的。8? pounds.The film reel features five spokes11. spoke: 輻條，輪輻。, 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，綽號(hào)。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，類似。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: 專欄作家；Katharine Hepburn: 凱瑟琳·赫本，美國著名女影星，代表作《金色池塘》、《費(fèi)城故事》等。

The Stuff that Dreams are Made of

The statuettes presented at the initial ceremonies were gold-plated15. gold-plated: 鍍金的。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: 不列顛合金；pewter-like alloy: 青灰色合金；nickel silver: 鎳銀合金；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: 兌換，將 （贈(zèng)券等）兌換物品。

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，過剩的；vault: 拱頂，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.