Classic films on poster for the Oscars

Scenes from classic movies including Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, The Godfather, Gladiator and The Sound of Music feature on the official poster for the 84th Academy Awards which has just been released

The poster is "meant to evoke the emotional connections we all have with the movies", the Oscar organisers said.

In all, films spanning eight decades are showcased alongside the familiar Oscar statuette. Driving Miss Daisy, Giant and Forrest Gump complete the list of movies used in conjunction with the tagline "Celebrate the movies in all of us".

"Whether it's a first date or a holiday gathering with friends or family, movies are a big part of our memory," said Academy president Tom Sherak.

"The Academy Awards not only honour the excellence of these movies but also celebrate what they mean to us as a culture and to each of us individually."

All the films on the poster won the Oscar for best picture apart from Giant, for which George Stevens received the best director award.

The 2012 Academy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 26.