Oscar oversight

Shawshank tops a poll of the movies the Academy overlooked.

13:08 23 September 2004

Gritty prison thriller The Shawshank Redemption has topped a poll of the best films never to win an Oscar.

In a glaring oversight the Academy failed to bestow a gong on the inspiring tale starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

Shawshank received the overwhelming support of Radio Times readers, beating feel good classic It's A Wonderful Life and Spielberg family favourite ET into second and third place respectively.

Bank holiday stalwarts Raiders Of The Lost Ark and The Great Escape also missed out on Oscars, but both feature in the poll.

The Shawshank Redemption did at least get nominated, missing out to Forrest Gump in the 1996 best picture category.

The Great Escape didn't even make the shortlist back in 1963. Five years later, 2001: A Space Odyssey also missed out on the final five. Best picture went to Oliver! that year.

Radio Times top ten...

1) The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
2) It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
3) ET (1982)
4) 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
5) The Great Escape (1963)
6) The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
7) Some Like It Hot (1959)
8) The Color Purple (1985)
9) Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
10) Psycho (1960)