Monday 14 September 2015

Alternate Best Actor 1940

And the Nominees Were Not:

Edward G. Robinson in Brother Orchid

Cary Grant in His Girl Friday

James Stewart in The Shop Around the Corner

Laurence Olivier in Pride and Prejudice

Michael Redgrave in The Stars Look Down

87 comments:

Luke Higham said...

1. Stewart
2. Grant
3. Robinson
4. Olivier
5. Redgrave

Calvin Law said...

1. Stewart
2. Grant
3. Redgrave
4. Robinson
5. Olivier

Calvin Law said...

Robert: just saw your question about Far From the Madding Crowd, I have a soft spot for that particular brand of film and it's my #3 for the year so far. I can certainly see why some might think it average/lackluster

GM said...

1. Grant
2. Stewart
3. Redgrave
4. Robinson
5. Olivier

Luke Higham said...

I'll make an alteration to my prediction.
3. Redgrave
4. Robinson
5. Olivier

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

I have seen The Shop Around the Corner, Pride and Prejudice, and His Girl Friday and loved all three of them and the performances from the leads (including the leading ladies).

Anyways:

1. Stewart
2. Grant
3. Robinson
4. Olivier
5. Redgrave

Calvin Law said...

I didn't like Garson (I thought Keira Knightley and Jennifer Ehle far surpassed her interpretation of Liz Bennett), Russell was very good, but Sullivan was by far my favourite, such a sweet and funny performance.

Anonymous said...

1. Stewart
2. Grant
3. Redgrave
4. Robinson
5. Olivier

RatedRStar said...

One of the many many reasons I love this blog is that there is the odd hidden gem around, I am hoping Robinson or Redgrave could be this hidden gem =)

Louis and anyone else I recommend you watch The Thief of Baghdad just for sheer fun lol cause its kinda fun =D.

1. James Stewart
2. Cary Grant
3. Edward G. Robinson
4. Laurence Olivier
5. Michael Redgrave

Calvin Law said...

I LOVE The Thief of Baghdad, dull secondary lead of John Justin aside, Sabu is a really an endearing hero, and Rex Ingram and Conrad Veidt are great supporting players (I hope the latter may be reviewed).

RatedRStar: Redgrave is a gem, brilliant performance and outside his usual type, probably his second-best performance besides The Browning Version which you should also check out, another hidden gem, my #5 leading performance of all-time.

Anonymous said...

Ratings and thoughts on:
Robert Duvall in Jack Reacher, Bullitt and Thank You For Smoking

RatedRStar said...

Calvin Law: Any other hidden gems you want to mention =)

Maciej said...

1.Grant
2.Stewart
3.Olivier
4.Robinson
5.Redgrave

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Calvin: Guess it's just personal taste, because I love Garson in this. I also have not seen the other versions. This is not my favorite Garson performance, but it's up there. Though I do wonder what Vivien Leigh could have done with the role. Perhaps the film would have been better. Russell and Sullavan were excellent as well.

Calvin Law said...

Ruthiehenshallfan99: I like Garson in general, particularly in Mrs Minniver, and Goodbye Mr Chips. It's just her role in P + P that I dislike.

RatedRStar: Hmm I've thought of one you might like. 'The Clairvoyant' (1934), with Claude Rains in the lead role as music-hall showman. Not a perfect film but it has Rains in the lead role and he's pretty terrific, a solid 4.5 for me.

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Stewart
2. Grant
3. Robinson
4. Redgrave
5. Olivier

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Everyone: Have you all heard of Disney's plans to remake Mary Poppins? What are your thoughts on that? Personally, I really don't want that. I love the 1964 film a lot and think it is incredible (Dick Van Dyke's accent aside).

RatedRStar said...

Calvin: =D it is good

Mary Poppins to be remade by Rob Marshall who did Pirates 5, FUCK THAT.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: Do you mean, Pirates 4. :)

Calvin Law said...

I love Mary Poppins. Even Van Dyke's accent (and people always seem to forget he also played Dawes Senior to aplomb, with a very good British accent too).

If anything a re-make is wholly unnecessary seeing as how Saving Mr Banks pretty much covered any sort of nostalgic retread territory for that particular film (also grrrrrr Emma Thompson's Oscar snub, still can't get over it).

RatedRStar: It's good enough. Also another gem I've just watched, Walter (1982) with Ian McKellen.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I would like to say, that I absolutely loved your post on Tom Hardy. :)

Calvin Law said...

Luke: Cheers mate :)

Luke Higham said...

Disney's The Jungle Book - Live-Action Remake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owgrkAQ-Log

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Luke: Might see The Jungle Book remake, but I also still have to see the Cinderella remake, mostly to compare it to the 1950 version. As for Alice in Wonderland and Maleficent, I am probably going to skip them. Still, the remake looks decent.

Luke Higham said...

Ruthiehenshallfan99: The only one you should see is Cinderella, I thought it was very good with a scene-stealing turn from Blanchett. There's nothing to write home about, with the other two.

Calvin Law said...

I have to admit...I think it looks dreadful.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I completely agree with you. The CGI looked quite unconvincing and didn't exactly like the art style either.

Michael Patison said...

1. James Stewart
2. Cary Grant
3. Michael Redgrave
4. Edward G. Robinson
5. Laurence Olivier

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Female Lead/Supporting Top 5s with ratings and other 4+ performances for 1942 and 1943.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Luke: Most likely will skip the Jungle Book. As for Cinderella, I really look forward to seeing it. Mostly because it has always been a childhood favorite in the late (very late) 90s. I believe I was three when I first saw it. I hope it does justice to everything, especially Ilene Woods.

RatedRStar said...

Luke: Yes sorry I meant 4 =)

Calvin: Ohh interesting =D


The Jungle Book is, bah I dont care for this remake at all, just looks meh, I mean the Disney had fun and excitement and a nice jolly set of characters, what does this have, 2004 CGI lol.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I'm gonna see Legend on Friday.

Anonymous said...

Luke: That's good to hear.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: :)

JackiBoyz said...

1. Stewart
2. Grant
3. Redgrave
4. Robinson
5. Olivier

Robert MacFarlane said...

Word is in that Mara is definitely going Supporting for Carol, which by all accounts would be the worst case of category fraud since Jamie Foxx in Collateral.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Reacher - 3(Short though fine example of Duvall doing his craggly old mentor routine. Not anything too notable but still good)

Thank You For Smoking - 3(Also craggly old pseudo mentor which he again does well, but there isn't much of him)

Bullitt - (He's good though it's a nothing role)

Luke:

1942:

Lead:

Joan Fontaine - This Above All
Ingrid Bergman - Casablanca
Claudette Colbert - The Palm Beach Story
Bette Davis - Now Voyager
Priscilla Lane - Saboteur - 4

Also:

Suzy Delair - The Murderer Lives At Number 21 - 4

Supporting:

Agnes Moorehead - The Magnificent Ambersons
Celia Johnson - In Which We Serve
Teresa Wright - Mrs. Miniver
Gladys Cooper - Now, Voyager
Mary Astor - The Palm Beach Story

1943:

Lead:

Teresa Wright - Shadow of a Doubt
Jennifer Jones - The Song of Bernadette
Deborah Kerr - The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Jean Arthur - The More the Merrier
Gene Tierney - Heaven Can Wait

Supporting:

Katina Paxinou - For Whom the Bell Tolls
Jane Darwell - The Ox-Bow Incident - 4.5
Gladys Cooper - The Song of a Bernadette
Patricia Collinge - Shadow of a Doubt - 3.5
Fay Bainter - The Human Comedy - 3.5

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Louis: I love your choices. Very glad to see Gladys Cooper and Jennifer Jones in here. Still, I have only seen The Song of Bernadette, Now, Voyager, Mrs. Miniver, Shadow of a Doubt, and Casablanca. Pretty basic, really (Maybe not The Song of Bernadette). All of them rate pretty high among my favorite movies.

Mine for 1942 are the following (I'm still unsure about ratings so they won't be included):

Lead (Alphabetical order for the first 3. I still have not decided on a winner)

Ingrid Bergman: Casablanca
Bette Davis: Now, Voyager
Greer Garson: Mrs. Miniver
Carole Lombard: To Be or Not to Be
Greer Garson: Random Harvest

Bette Davis for In This Our Life is an honorable mention

Supporting:

Gladys Cooper: Now, Voyager
Teresa Wright: Mrs. Miniver
Olivia de Havilland: In This Our Life (arguably a lead)
May Whitty: Mrs. Miniver
Susan Peters: Random Harvest


1943 Lead:

Jennifer Jones: The Song of Bernadette
Teresa Wright: Shadow of a Doubt
Joan Fontaine: The Constant Nymph
Claudette Colbert: So Proudly We Hail!
Greer Garson: Madame Curie

Supporting:

Gladys Cooper: The Song of Bernadette
Anne Revere: The Song of Bernadette
Patricia Collinge: Shadow of a Doubt
Alexis Smith: The Constant Nymph
Ethel Waters: Cabin in the Sky (Not sure if she is supporting or not)

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Switch Alexis Smith with Ann Sheridan for Edge of Darkness. Just realized I have seen that.

Maureen O'Hara in This Land is Mine is an honorable mention as well, but I don't know if she is a lead or not.

Calvin Law said...

1942:

Lead:

Bette Davis - Now Voyager, 4.5
Joan Fontaine - This Above All, 4.5
Ingrid Bergman - Casablanca, 4.5
Priscilla Lane - Saboteur, 4
Greer Garson - Mrs Miniver, 4

Supporting:

Celia Johnson - In Which We Serve, 4.5/5
Teresa Wright - Mrs. Miniver, 4
Agnes Moorehead - The Magnificent Ambersons, 4
Gladys Cooper - Now, Voyager, 4
Veronica Lake - This Gun for Hire, 3.5

1943:

Lead:

Teresa Wright - Shadow of a Doubt, 5
Jennifer Jones - The Song of Bernadette, 4.5


Supporting:


Deborah Kerr - The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, 5
Jane Darwell - The Ox-Bow Incident - 4.5
Gladys Cooper - The Song of a Bernadette, 4

Anonymous said...

Louis: You know, I'm kind of surprised you gave Harlow a 4 for her performance in The Public Enemy. Most people hate her performance. What rating would you give to Edward Woods, Clarke and Blondell?

moviefilm said...

1) Cary Grant
2) Laurence Olivier
3) James Stewart
4) Edward G. Robinson
5) Michael Redgrave

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings for Colbert, Davis, Kerr, Arthur, Tierney and Cooper.

Your Female Lead/Supporting Top 5s with ratings and other 4+ performances for 1944 and 1945.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: *Gladys Cooper in The Song Of Bernadette

Anonymous said...

Luke: Colbert and Davis are both 4,5's.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Thanks, though last time I checked, Colbert was a 4 for The Palm Beach Story and am getting the impression that Davis is down to a 4 for Now, Voyager.

Luke Higham said...

Has anyone had trouble posting comments in the past half hour.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Everyone: Do you guys consider Gene Tierney a supporting player in Laura, or a lead?

Anonymous said...

ruthiehenshallfan99: I think I would consider her supporting since the film focuses more on Andrews.
Luke: Nope, no problems with posting.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I posted that comment, about two hours ago, but I was seriously having problems for about half an hour.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Just a question. What are your top 10 pet-peeves when it comes to talking about actors and movies? Odd question, I guess, but go ahead.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I'm more of a Mr. Positive around here, though I guess, a problem I would have, is that there are people (Away from the Blog) who can't separate the actor from the person (Phoenix/Gibson Etc) and feel that a lot of critics take many great performances for granted. (Fassbender in 12 Years A Slave, Sean Bean In The Fellowship Of The Ring Etc).

When it comes to the blog, 2 pet-peeves I have is when some try to influence Louis' decisions or ratings or complain about a performance not winning an overall year, even though he/she received a 5 star rating. (Be grateful, people) :)

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I respect and appreciate everyone's opinions, apart from Hammond, LaSalle, Roeper, Travers and especially, Armond White.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Of course I know that you respect everyone's opinions, apart from those two (Hammond and LaSalle, the guys I talked you about).
Anyway, I think that one of my pet peeves is that fans of a certain actor think that the actors and critics' opinions are the definitive ones of that said actor. It's like they're the best judges of acting. And that having more Oscar nominations makes you a better actor than any one. I guess it's kind of annoying hearing how Brando invented great acting.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I think we can all agree that Louis' one of the best judges of acting.

I can't stand incessant whining from an actor's fanbase (e.g. DiCaprio's)

I'll be perfectly honest with you, even though I don't like/love actors such as Sean Penn or George Clooney, I really wish that I could like them, because I do think they're capable of greatness. They just don't show it or go way over the top.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I think that DiCaprio's haters are just as worse.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Anyway, I'm gonna predict Louis' Top 5s for all 4 acting categories this year.

Male Lead
1. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant
2. Idris Elba in Beasts Of No Nation
3. Michael Fassbender in Macbeth
4. Johnny Depp in Black Mass
5. Tom Hardy in Legend

Female Lead
1. Rooney Mara in Carol
2. Cate Blanchett in Carol
3. Alicia Vikander in The Danish Girl
4. Alicia Vikander in Testament Of Youth
5. Carey Mulligan in Suffragette/Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn

Male Supporting
1. Tom Hardy in The Revenant
2. Christoph Waltz in Spectre
3. Mark Rylance in Bridge Of Spies
4. Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight
5. Kurt Russell in The Hateful Eight

Female Supporting
1. Marion Cotillard in Macbeth
2. Jessica Chastain in Crimson Peak
3. Alicia Vikander in Ex Machina
4. Jennifer Jason Leigh in The Hateful Eight
5. Rose Byrne in Spy

Michael McCarthy said...

1. Cary Grant
2. James Stewart
3. Laurence Olivier
4. Edward G. Robinson
5. Michael Redgrave

Anonymous said...

Luke: Well, that's a good prediction. I agree with you with that whole people can't separate actor from person. However, at IMDB's message boards (I go there for the lols, by the way), that metalman091 guy who worships Judy Garland to death, loves Rex Harrison as an actor even if Harrison was a prick, yet hates Alec Guinness' performances for being cold and unemotional, claiming that Guinness was cold and unemotional in real life. What beautiful logic there, huh?

Michael McCarthy said...

For supporting I'd guess Oscar Isaac in Ex Machina before Jackson or Waltz. And I'm still holding out for Hoult.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Okay, he's an exception then. :)

Luke Higham said...

Michael McCarthy: My prediction will likely change overtime, as I do think it's gonna be one of, if not the best supporting year ever.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Apart from Rose Byrne and Alicia Vikander, who received a 5 already for Ex Machina, the others are possible 5s in my opinion..

Anonymous said...

Luke: This guy contradicts himself a lot. I mean, he likes Peck's unemotional acting style, claiming that he was like that in real life, but then in another board, he says he wasn't dull. Once again, metalman091 logic. If natural acting is supposed to be realistic acting, then the actor should be able to express anger, sadness and happiness. An actor who is unemotional can't be called natural.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: It only works whenever it's called for.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Moviefilm called Naturalistic/Realistic acting boring.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Yeah, I know that. :) Arnold in the first two Terminator movies is a good example.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Would you agree with him on that?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: No offence to him now, but no. :) His reviews never appeal to me.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Natural acting and theatrical acting can be both great or downright embarrassing.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I respect his views anyway. :)

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Marco Perella in Boyhood. Eugh!

Anonymous said...

Luke: I know that a person can like a performance more than the other (I told you that I really liked March in TYBOOL), but do you think there are performances that are objectively bad that can't be defended? Mr. Franciosa's performances that aren't Career come to mind.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Sean Penn in I Am Sam, god help anyone who likes that performance.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Cooper in Sergeant York and Wayne in The Conqueror come to mind as well.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Goodnight.

Luke Higham said...

:)

Anonymous said...

Goodnight, Luke. :)

moviefilm said...

What I mean when I say that, is that it's much more enjoyable for me to watch actors, who let loose a little bit. Their overacting must be built upon true emotions though, but I want them to overdo them a bit. I know that method acting and naturalistic acting have become very popular. We are taught method acting at school and I realize it's appealing to the most of the audience. But when an actor gets his emotion right and then his overdoes it, it brings me to the feeling of ecstasy, you know. It brings me to the catharsis that art is supposed to. So that's why I'm so much against naturalistic acting. I adore Marion Cotillard's turn in Two Days One Night, but if I wanted to see a person with real depression (as Cotillard really poured herself into the role), I would watch a documentary.
Daniel Day-Lewis is the closest method actor to achieve the midway. For example his performance in Gangs of New York is an example of method acting, but it's wonderfully overacted. (On the other hand he used method acting in a boring way in Lincoln.)
So I understand that many people like realistic acting. It's becoming more popular every day (unfortunately). But it's a spoonful of overacting that gives me chilles while I watch the performance.

Luke Higham said...

Moviefilm: Fair Enough.

Anonymous: Goodnight Again. :)

Calvin Law said...

Anonymous: I don't think Peck's style should ever be called 'unemotional', he can be a bit bland in some roles but take say TKAM where his very underplayed, subtle reactions to various other characters is what makes it an amazing performance.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: what are your top 5 Deborah Kerr performances.

Anonymous said...

Calvin: Well, that's what the guy from IMDB said of Peck's style, not me. I just said that the IMDB guy said that he called Peck's style unemotional, that's all.

Calvin Law said...

Anonymous: My bad, sorry :)

Calvin Law said...

Anonymous: your top 10 favourite actors and top 10 favourite actresses? For me,

1. James Stewart
2. Trevor Howard
3. John Hurt
4. Gary Oldman
5. James Cagney
6. Tom Courtenay
7. Robert Duvall
8. Daniel Day-Lewis
9. Al Pacino
10. Tom Hardy
Hon. Mentions: Alec Guinness, Toshiro Mifune, Sidney Poitier, Ralph Richardson, Ian Richardson

1. Deborah Kerr
2. Marion Cotillard
3. Barbara Stanwyck
4. Celia Johnson
5. Olivia de Havilland
6. Shelley Winters
7. Anne Bancroft
8. Julianne Moore
9. Carey Mulligan
10. Kathy Bates

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Calvin: I love your Top 10s! I want to share mine as well (though it is mostly nostalgic). I am including voice acting, so my list (the women in particular), will be very unusual.

1. Laurence Olivier
2. Humphrey Bogart
3. Marlon Brando
4. James Stewart
5. Clark Gable
6. Henry Fonda
7. Kirk Douglas
8. Cary Grant
9. Paul Newman
10. Peter O'Toole

1. Vivien Leigh
2. Ilene Woods
3. Olivia de Havilland
4. Elizabeth Taylor
5. Bette Davis
6. Judy Garland
7. Ava Gardner
8. Katharine Hepburn
9. Lillian Gish
10. Ingrid Bergman

Honorable mentions: Joan Crawford, Doris Day, Rita Hayworth, Julie Andrews, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Jennifer Jones, Lana Turner, Deborah Kerr, and Gene Tierney.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Colbert - 4.5

Davis - 4.5(Although their ranking would be switched)

Kerr - 4.5

Arthur - 4

Tierney - 3.5

Cooper - 4.5

1944:

Lead:

Barbara Stanwyck - Double Indemnity
Ingrid Bergman - Gaslight
Gene Tierney - Laura
Claudette Colbert - Since You Went Away
Majorie Reynolds - Ministry of Fear - 3.5

Supporting:

Tallulah Bankhead - Lifeboat
Mary Anderson - Lifeboat - 4
Josephine Hull - Arsenic and Old Lace - 4
Geraldine Fitzgerald - Wilson - 4
Jean Adair - Arsenic and Old Lace - 3.5

1945:

Lead:

Celia Johnson - Brief Encounter
Gene Tierney - Leave Her to Heaven
Peggy Ann Garner - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Joan Crawford - Mildred Pierce
Vivien Leigh - Caesar and Cleopatra

Supporting:

Anna Magnani - Rome, Open City
Jane Wyman - The Lost Weekend - 4.5
Dorothy McGuire - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - 4
Ann Blyth - Mildred Pierce
Lucile Gleason - The Clock - 3.5

Calvin:

1. The Innocents
2. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
3. Black Narcissus
4. The Sundowners
5. From Here To Eternity