ABC NEWS AND PEOPLE MAGAZINE PRESENT:
“BEST IN FILM: THE GREATEST MOVIES OF OUR TIME”
Movie Fans Submit More Than a Half Million Votes
In an Unprecedented Online Ballot
Tom Bergeron and Cynthia McFadden Host
Two-Hour “Best in Film” Special, March 22 on ABC
What’s the greatest film of all time? The Best Action Film and Comedy ever made? What’s the most memorable line ever delivered in a movie? It was America’s turn to decide, as an unprecedented collaboration between ABC News and PEOPLE Magazine gave movie fans the opportunity to vote online at abcnews.com and people.com for their favorite films of all time. The results will be revealed during a two-hour broadcast hosted by Tom Bergeron and Cynthia McFadden. “Best in Film: The Greatest Movies of Our Time” airs TUESDAY, MARCH 22 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
The program will include fresh interviews with some of the stars and directors of the winning films, including superstars Harrison Ford, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Newton-John — whose iconic 70’s film, “Grease,” made it on to the Best Musical list — as well as out-takes, screen tests and behind-the-scenes footage.
PEOPLE magazine will feature a story that corresponds with the special in its March 28, 2011 issue, which hits newsstand on March 18, 2011.
Film Categories: Best Film, Best Sci-Fi Film, Best Musical, Best Action Film, Greatest Film Character, Best Horror Film, Best Chick Flick, Greatest Screen Kiss, Best Comedy, Best Animated Film, Best Suspense/Thriller, Most Romantic Screen Couple, Greatest Line, Best Western Film, Best Political/Historic Film
Online Voting: Online voters selected the winners from a list of nominees created by an elite panel of film industry experts. The all-star group included actors Kevin Spacey, Susan Sarandon, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, and Cameron Diaz; directors Ivan Reitman, Mel Brooks, Garry Marshall, Michael Moore and Nora Ephron; producers Jerry Weintraub and Harvey Weinstein; writer Neil Simon, and critics/writers Peter Travers, Janet Maslin, James Lipton, Ben Mankiewicz and PEOPLE’s own Alynda Wheat and Larry Hackett. Online voting was open from late November 2010 to early January 2011. The televised special will count down the top five films in ten of the above-listed categories. The results in the remaining five categories will be revealed on March 22 at www.abcnews.com/bestinfilm and at www.people.com
While on the “Best in Film” site, movie fans also have the opportunity to view film clips, slide shows and interviews, as well as up-to-date movie news.
Online Giveaway: Two lucky voters selected at random were awarded round trip airfare to Los Angeles on Academy Awards weekend, VIP seats at a celebrity table at the black tie “21st Annual Night of 100 Stars Oscar Gala at the Beverly Hills Hotel” gala and a backstage pass to “Good Morning America’s” annual post-Academy Awards broadcast. Winners will also take home a year-long subscription to PEOPLE magazine.
John R. Green is the executive producer of “Best in Film.”