Selected by the Film Editors Branch.

Paddy Chayefsky’s witty screenplay about the excesses of contemporary television seemed larger-than-life at the time of its release, but seen today, it is an uncanny prediction of the modern media landscape. William Holden is the old-school news producer struggling to cope, Faye Dunaway is the exec determined to make waves, and Peter Finch is the anchorman determined to go out in a blaze of glory. The film won Oscars for Chayefsky’s script and the performances of Dunaway, Finch, and Beatrice Straight. Additional nominees included film editor Alan Heim (All That Jazz), whose expert editing highlights the remarkable performances while helping the dialogue-driven story feel effortlessly cinematic.