Thursday 25 July 2013

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1943: Dana Andrews in The Ox-Bow Incident and Results

Dana Andrews did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Donald Martin in The Ox-Bow Incident.

Dana Andrews often played characters who were stern and very restrained in their emotions such as in films like Laura and Boomerang. This performance is in a way is as much against type as Joseph Cotten was in Shadow of a Doubt due to the emotional nature of the role. Dana Andrews plays the man who is the leader of a group of three men who are stumbled upon by the posse hoping to avenge the death of a local rancher. The men are accused of the murder, and they are helped by the fact that they have some of the man's cattle without a proper receipt for the purchase. These leaves Martin to try and convince the very angry men to believe that he and the other men had nothing whatsoever to do with the murder and are innocent.

Andrews has none of his usual demeanor in this performance instead giving a very emotionally charged performance as Martin. His first scene is incredible reflecting the complete confusion of the man as he founds himself surrounded and instantly accused of a very severe crime. Andrews is absolutely terrific bringing about the strain of the situation into his performance. Andrews is excellent in showing how hard it is for Martin to try to keep his thoughts together as he tries to juggle all of the question being asked at him as well as trying to keep things under control among his own men, and from the extremely hostile crowd who are ready to string him up without even the slightest explanation.

It is especially powerful to see the usually so confidant Andrews give such an emotionally violate performance. Andrews is especially raw an intense in nature, and in a time where so many performances could be dull it is amazing to see such an uncompromising depiction of feeling as Andrews gives. His pleas for understanding, sympathy, and for the sake of his family are heartbreaking. There is never a moment of false sentiment in his portrayal. His performance is only ever genuine. There is nothing showy about this but rather he plays the part in such a purely genuine fashion that he is utterly gut wrenching to hear his pleas that are only the pleas of an innocent man fighting for his life.

 Andrews's performance pretty much takes over the picture  with his presence as even when he is not saying anything his silent reactions to the posse's deliberations are just as powerful as when he is talking. When the posse vote on whether to kill them or to let them live Andrews's performance is that brings the power of the scene so strongly to life. His face is so haunting as he shows Martin trying so hard to keep it together as the men choose. He is so moving as he gives the glimpse of hope in his eyes when some choose to let them live, but his reaction to most of the choosing death is one of the saddest moments ever put in a fictional film as we see Martin see that he has no chance to live. 

The Ox-Bow Incident is about showing the horrors and wrongfulness that is the act of lynching along with the mob mentality that goes along with it. Andrews gives the portrait of the victim of this injustice with his delicate and poignant performance. Dana Andrew's performance stands for me as one of the most affecting performances ever through his wholly genuine depiction of a man pleading for mercy against a wall of seemingly deaf ears. Although I still did not cry watching this performance his work right along with Richard Jordan's performance in Gettysburg stands as two of the few performances that I can't help but choke up when watching and come very very close to losing my composure.
Other Performances:
Anthony Quinn in The Ox-Bow Incident- Although Dana Andrews does leave the strongest impression on the film a very young Anthony Quinn makes his mark in the film as one of the other men in the accused group of three men. Quinn plays Juan Martínez who seems like he is the least savory of the three men. Quinn is very good in creating his character form the get out from his expression when he first sees that they have been surrounded by the posse. It isn't of fear or surprise but rather like he was thinking that he would be caught for something eventually. His character has some secrets, and Quinn is very good in being an unpredictable element in the film as a bit is revealed about Juan throughout his brief screen time. Each of the men react to their potential lynching differently, and the three actors each portray their parts differently. Quinn is very effective in being the cynical one who doesn't accept his fate, and won't let his captors see any fears in his eyes. His role is a short one which doesn't get the majority focus as most is given to Andrews, but Quinn makes a strong impact with all that he has.
Erich von Stroheim in Five Graves to Cairo- Erich Von Stroheim plays Field Marshall Rommel, but that really is not important. He plays the main Nazi villain of the film, which was a common villain during the 40's, and often they would be one note or rather bland. Stroheim buck this trend though in giving a fairly intelligent performance as Rommel. He plays Rommel as the arch villain with a strong presence, and just the right amount of flamboyance. Rather just trying to be evil like most Nazi villains of the time Stroheim goes about making Rommel a worthy adversary, and an entertaining character. He tears into all his scenes with a certain refined style where he expresses the ability of Rommel, and just is a fun character to watch while still successfully being the villain he is suppose to be. A fairly limited role on the whole, but one that Stroheim plays with the appropriate gusto to make Rommel one of the best parts of this film.
Overall Rank:
  1. Dana Andrews in The Ox-Bow Incident
  2. Charles Coburn in The More the Merrier
  3. William Demarest in The Miracle of Morgan's Creek
  4. Anthony Quinn in The Ox-Bow Incident
  5. Erich von Stroheim in Five Graves to Cairo
  6. Harry Davenport in The Ox-Bow Incident
  7. Palau in  La Main Du Diable
  8. Lee J. Cobb in The Song of Bernadette
  9. George Sanders in This Land is Mine
  10. Francis Ford in The Ox-Bow Incident
  11. Vincent Price in The Song of Bernadette 
  12. Rex Ingram in Cabin in the Sky
  13. Walter Brennan in Hangmen Also Die
  14. Walter Brennan in The North Star
  15. Walter Huston in Edge of Darkness
  16. Walter Huston in The North Star 
  17. John Carradine in Hitler's Madman
  18. Takashi Shimura in Sanshiro Sugata
  19. Henry Travers in Shadow of a Doubt
  20. Charles Coburn in The Constant Nymph
  21. Laird Cregar in Heaven Can Wait  
  22. Hume Cronyn in Shadow of a Doubt
  23. Harry Morgan in The Ox-Bow Incident  
  24. Peter Lorre in The Constant Nymph
  25. Charles Coburn in Heaven Can Wait 
  26. Rex Ingram in Sahara 
  27. Frank Morgan in The Human Comedy 
  28. Anton Walbrook in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp 
  29. Orson Welles in Journey Into Fear
  30. Akim Tamiroff in Five Graves to Cairo 
  31. Pierre Larquey in Le Corbeau
  32. Leigh Whipper in The Ox-Bow Incident 
  33. Eugene Palette in Heaven Can Wait
  34. George Coulouris in Watch on the Rhine
  35. Walter Slezak in This Land is Mine  
  36. Gene Lockhard in Hangmen Also Die
  37. Richard Nugent in Sahara 
  38. Frank Conroy in The Ox-Bow Incident
  39. Dan Duryea in Sahara 
  40. Denjiro Okochi in Sanshiro Sugata
  41. Van Johnson in The Human Comedy
  42. George Coulouris in This Land is Mine
  43. Wallace Ford in Shadow of a Doubt 
  44. Henry Daniell in Jane Eyre
  45. Ray Collins in The Human Comedy
  46. Peter van Eyck in Fives Grave to Cairo
  47. William Eythe in The Ox-Bow Incident
  48. Paul Hurst in The Ox-Bow Incident
  49. Kent Smith in This Land is Mine
  50. Louis Mercier in Sahara
  51. Matt Briggs in The Ox-Bow Incident
  52. J. Carrol Naish in Sahara
  53. Charles Bickford in The Song of Bernadette
  54. Henry Brandon in Edge of Darkness
  55. Chris-Pin Martin in The Ox-Bow Incident
  56. Albert Bassermann in Madame Curie
  57. Marc Lawrence in The Ox-Bow Incident
  58. Henry Travers in Madame Curies
  59. Dick Rich in The Ox-Bow Incident
  60. Yukiki Todoroki in Sanshiro Sugata 
  61. Akim Tamiroff in For Whom the Bell Tolls
  62. Macdonald Carey in Shadow of a Doubt 
  63. William Eythe in The Song of Bernadette
  64. Kurt Kreuger in Sahara
  65. James Craig in The Human Comedy
  66. John Wengraf in Sahara
  67. Donald Buka in Watch on the Rhine
  68. Richard Gaines in The More the Merrier
  69. Nelson Eddy in Phantom of the Opera
  70. Edgar Barrier in Phantom of the Opera
  71. Eric Roberts in Watch on the Rhine
Next Year: 2002 Lead

22 comments:

Lezlie said...

I'm looking forward to the nominees for this year, cause I seriously have no idea who could they be. Adam Sandler? XD

RatedRStar said...

Tony Leung Chiu Wai Or Andy Lau - Infernal Affairs (One Of My Winning Requests)

Robin Williams - One Hour Photo
Ralph Fiennes - Spider
Edward Norton - 25th Hour
Sam Rockwell - Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind

Anonymous said...

Robin William- One Hour Photo
Ralph Fiennes- Spider
Campbell Scott- Roger Doger
Leonardo DiCaprio- Catch Me if You Can
Edward Norton- 25th Hour

Anonymous said...

Damn what a packed year I forgot about Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk-Love

Lezlie said...

I'm so stupid I forgot about Catch Me if You Can XD Please review Leo, I love that film! OMG I don't know how could I forgot about it, I should die in shame. I also lived in the disbelief of Infernal Affairs being released in 2003.

Maciej said...

Adam Sandler - Punch-Drunk Love (this is probably the only existing proof that Sandler CAN act, so I guess it should be reviewed, :D )
Greg Kinnear - Auto Focus
Ralph Fiennes - Spider
Edward Norton - 25th Hour
Tom Hanks - Road to Perdition

Psifonian said...

1. Ray Liotta, Narc (yes, I have him in Lead)
2. Tom Hanks, Road to Perdition
3. Cillian Murphy, 28 Days Later
4. Ralph Fiennes, Spider
5. Robin Williams, One Hour Photo

Anonymous said...

My personal ballot consists of:

Ashkenazi/Late Marriage
Brody/The Pianist
Grant/About a Boy
Nicholson/About Schmidt
Scott/Roger Dodger

I'd love to see you review Ashkenazi (my personal winner), Scott (my runner-up) and Grant as well as Edward Norton for 25th Hour and Eminem for 8 Mile!

Robert MacFarlane said...

Sam Rockwell in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Al Pacino in Insomnia
Campbell Scott in Roger Dodger
Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me if You Can

moviefilm said...

Please, I would really love to see your review of Richard Gere's great performance in Chicago. Though I don't expect you'll love it... :)

RatedRStar said...

remember theres only 4 places left (with my request taking one of them) so I wouldn't expect all of your loving requests to be made since 2002 is a stacked year

Robert MacFarlane said...

I actually consider Gere Supporting in Chicago. That, and the only redeeming quality the film has.

Anonymous said...

Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can
Edward Norton in 25th Hour
Robin Williams in One Hour Photo
Sam Rockwell in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Tom Hanks in Road to Perdition
Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love

Anonymous said...

RatedRStar: Okay, you made a request. We are aware of that, thank you.

Michael McCarthy said...

Ralph Fiennes in Spider
Sam Rockwell in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Eminem in 8 Mile
Robin Williams in One Hour Photo
Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love

Those are my top 5, but I also like Ray Liotta in Narc, Al Pacino in Insomnia, Richard Gere in Chicago, and derek Luke in Antwone Fisher

Robert MacFarlane said...

Hey Louis, have you seen Insomnia before I requested Williams for Supporting? In terms of Chris Nolan filmography, it may be more obscure than Following. Personally, I adore the film and consider it one of THE underrated gems of the 2000's alongside The Proposition, Brick, and We Own the Night.

Louis Morgan said...

koook160: Yes I've seen Insomnia.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Oh dear. That doesn't seem enthusiastic.

Louis Morgan said...

Should I have said, YES I'VE SEEN IT!!!!!!!!?

Robert MacFarlane said...

Haha, sorry.

Michael Patison said...

What's your Picture winner for the year, Louis?

Louis Morgan said...

For 1943?

Shadow of a Doubt. The Ox-Bow Incident is a strong runner up though.