Academy Museum Celebrates Color Motion Pictures in Exhibit and Technicolor Screening Series
“Color in Motion” opens Oct. 6 and runs through July 13, 2025.
Photos by Josh White, JWPictures/©Academy Museum Foundation
The Academy Museum’s new exhibit “Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema” delves into the essential role of color in cinema, featuring film clips, technological equipment and objects.
Items on display will include the legendary ruby slippers designed by Gilbert Adrian from The Wizard of Oz (1939), the green dress designed by Edith Head and worn by Kim Novak in Vertigo (1958), a blue ensemble worn by Jamie Foxx as Django in Django Unchained (2012), and a Wonka chocolate bar from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). Interactive installations invite visitors to engage with color in innovative ways. A comprehensive catalogue will accompany the exhibition, offering deeper insights into the legacy of color in film.
In conjunction with “Color in Motion,” the Academy Museum is also presenting “The Wonders of Technicolor,” a screening series that celebrates the impact of Technicolor on Hollywood productions and audiences.
The Museum’s release notes: “From shaping narratives to evoking emotions, color transcends logic, resonating deeply with audiences. Introduced in the 1930s, Technicolor became the dominant color technology in Hollywood, defining the look of studio films with its crisp images and vibrant hues. This series highlights Technicolor's profound influence on filmmaking, showcasing its contributions to production design, costume, and cinematography, as seen in classics like Vertigo
(1958) and Cabaret (1972).”
Films to screen include:
• Vertigo (shot by Robert Burks, ASC) | Oct. 6 at 7:30pm
• An American in Paris (shot by John Alton & Al Gilks, ASC) | Oct. 11 at 7:30pm
• Fantasia (animated) | Oct. 24 at 7:30pm
• The Red Shoes (shot by Jack Cardiff, BSC) | Oct. 25 at 7:30pm
• Cabaret (shot by Geoffrey Unsworth, BSC) | Nov. 1 at 7:30pm
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (shot by Harry J. Wild, ASC) | Nov. 2 at 2pm
• Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (shot by Arthur Ibbetson, BSC) | Nov. 4 at 7:30pm
• The Wizard of Oz (shot by Harold Rosson, ASC) | Nov. 9 at 2pm
• The Black Pirate (shot by Henry T. Sharp, ASC) | Nov. 21 at 7:30pm
• The Women (shot by Joseph Ruttenberg, ASC & Oliver T. Marsh, ASC) | Nov. 23 at 2pm
More details on these screenings can be found here. Tickets can be found here.
The Academy Museum exhibition galleries and store are open six days a week from 10am to 6pm and are closed on Tuesdays.
