Sunday 6 March 2016

Alternate Best Actor 1939: Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black

Conrad Veidt did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Captain Hardt in The Spy in Black.

The Spy in Black is rather effective spy thriller, though one twist makes the whole plot make no sense, about German spies attempting to destroy the British fleet.

Conrad Veidt plays the German submarine Captain who attempts to carry out the central plot with the help of another German agent posing as a school teacher Frau Tiel played by Valerie Hobson. Veidt and Hobson would team up again the very next year, along with director Michael Powell, this time as two people trying to stop German agents in Contraband. With Contraband and The Spy is Black it is quite interesting to examine Veidt as the leading man to begin with. He's more than a bit atypical given his rather evident German accent. Veidt plays the lead here who technically should be the villain since he's playing the German agent during wartime in a British film. Veidt's a fascinating performer to watch as he actually fits what should be the standard structure of the villain. He's got the mandatory German accent, he's physically imposing to be sure, and Veidt never intentionally subverts his character's position in the way you might expecct. He's obviously believable as the enemy agent, and one should never question his possibility for danger yet even though he is in fact working for an evil regime Veidt prevents Hardt from really being evil.

A great deal of this comes from Veidt calling upon perhaps his greatest asset as a performer his oh so expressive eyes. In the early scenes just as he's being given his marching orders to go about the task Veidt so effectively realizes a hesitation in the man, which he never needs to verbalize this in his performance. Veidt is rather brilliant in that he really somehow is very charming yet never compromises the status of his character. it seems almost intangible in way as Veidt makes Hardt innately likable, though I do think again in those eyes, which made his performance in The Man Who Laughs so special, there is such a genuine humanity. Veidt though importantly is able to remove the result of the act from the motivation of Hardt. Veidt in his performance never makes Hardt seem sadistic in the plan, but rather keeps the drive of the man particularly straight forward. This works in creating the sense that Hardt's not working in any personal malice, but rather simply is doing his duty as a German Captain. The funny thing is Veidt so well reveals these motivations in Hardt that he not only stops him from seeming just as the villain of the film, but also does something that seems more impossible which is to make the German spy rather endearing.

He is helped along by the film to a point as Hardt purposefully dresses as German officer to not be seen as a spy and even questions the less merciful methods of his associates. Veidt makes the most of these moments as he delivers a considerable passion in Hardt as well as a definite disgust as he questions the murder of a civilian. What's pivotal in Veidt's depiction of Hardt comes in with his relationship with apparent fellow spy Tiel. Veidt and Hobson strike up a terrific dynamic with one another, and she helps to make Veidt seem all the more delightful by being so cold herself. The two have rather astonishing chemistry with one another as they manage to develop a romance of sorts between the two despite the certain hostility set between the characters in addition to the fact that little time is devoted to this element. Veidt and Hobson though are able to convey this in just a few pivotal glances and moments that results in something rather special. Now the film's spoiler twist ending comes as it is revealed that everyone besides Captain Hardt is in fact a British agent, and why they don't merely arrest Hardt from the get go is not particularly well established. The film should completely fall apart at this point given how sizable of a plot hole it is, but I still found the film ended up working thanks in large due to Veidt. He stays compelling to watch and so honestly finds the nature of Hardt that he makes it difficult to sympathize with him as he attempts to make his escape. The film even seems to position firmly as the villain at this point yet Veidt never compromises giving a very moving depiction of a Hardt's desperation as his plan falls apart. It's incredibly strong work from Veidt as he really does carry the film past being a spy thriller, where it probably would have failed if that's all it was, through his portrait of a decent man forced to fulfill a terrible duty.

85 comments:

Michael Patison said...

Calvin: On the topic of other biopics I'd love to see made:
William Pitt the Younger
Theodore Roosevelt

Louis Morgan said...

For Roosevelt I think focusing on his ill-fated South American Expedition could be interesting. Directed by Werner Herzog of course.

Perhaps:

Jack O'Connell as Kermit Roosevelt
Viggo Mortensen as Theodore Roosevelt

Michael Patison said...

Calvin, Louis: Quickly back on the Gladstone biopic, I have to add Ben Kingsley as Dadabhai Naoroji since what his status as Britain's first Asian MP and an INC co-founder makes him quite important.

Louis: Since it's such a I'd also like to see one of James K. Polk because I've always admired how he pledged to only run once and to get 2 or 3 things done. Then he got them done and didn't run again (most importantly, for me, the admission of the great state of Texas). The enormous toll the presidency took on him physically would also be interesting to look at. Starring Jim Carrey in a comeback dramatic role.

Anonymous said...

Louis: How would you recast The Room as a serious drama in a different decade?

Michael Patison said...

Calvin, Louis: Also a biopic about John A. Macdonald and the Canadian Confederation.
Director: Kevin Sullivan
Macdonald: Donald Sutherland

Louis Morgan said...

Michael:

Considering all the fascinating players I'd actually say it could make for a fantastic miniseries. For a film I think it would have to narrow its focus closely to the central rivalry between the two, which I also think would be great.

Anonymous:

The Room (70's directed by Robert Altman for some reason)

Johnny: John Cazale
Mark: Al Pacino
Lisa: Meryl Streep
Denny: Jeff Bridges
Chris-R: Dennis Hopper
Mike: Elliot Gould
Michelle: Dyan Cannon
Peter: Rene Auberjonois
Steven: Donald Sutherland

Anonymous said...

Louis: What about 40's and 50's The Room?

Michael Patison said...

Louis: You're probably right about that

Also, ratings and thoughts on Bobby Cannavale and Patricia Clarkson in The Station Agent.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Very well....

(40's directed by Orson Welles)

Johnny: Orson Welles
Mark: Joseph Cotten
Lisa: Rita Hayworth
Lisa's Mother: Agnes Moorehead
Denny: Tim Holt
Chris-R: Richard Widmark
Mike: Norman Lloyd
Michelle: Lilli Palmer
Peter: Everett Sloane
Steven: Ray Collins

(50's directed by Elia Kazan)

Johnny: Montgomery Clift
Mark: Burt Lancaster
Lisa: Elizabeth Taylor
Lisa's Mother: Jo Van Fleet
Denny: Sal Mineo
Chris-R: Timothy Carey
Mike: Darren McGavin
Michelle: Kim Hunter
Peter: Karl Malden
Steven: Jack Warden

Michael:

I believe I've covered them before. I'll check and if not I'll get back to you.

Calvin Law said...

Michael: Donald Sutherland in a lead role? Yes please.

Calvin Law said...

Veidt is really good here even though this is far from my favourite P and P?

Louis: would you consider watching more Powell and Pressburger for the bonus rounds? Also rankings on all their films you've seen.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Most certainly.

A Matter of Life and Death
The Red Shoes
Black Narcissus
Contraband
49th Parallel
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (though I should give it a re-watch)
The Spy in Black
Age of Consent

I like them all except Age of Consent which is more meh than anything else.

Calvin Law said...

Also rating for Hobson? She was a good performer generally in this sort of thing.

Glad you seem to have taken to Veidt as an actor because I actually think he was quite ahead of his time, he reminds me very much of Max Von Sydow actually in terms of his style, one can only bemoan that we never really got to see his full potential in Hollywood fulfilled.

Calvin Law said...

Definitely check out I Know Where I'm Going!, The Small Black Room and Thief of Baghdad.

Michael Patison said...

Anybody seen Headhunters? I watched it yesterday night and am seriously considering Aksel Hennie as my next request if I ever get another year right.

Matt Mustin said...

Michael: I've seen it. It's a great thriller and Askel Hennie is fantastic.

Michael Patison said...
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Michael Patison said...

Louis: I certainly like O'Connell as Kermit, but I'm not so sure about Mortensen. He's certainly not a bad choice, though. What about Rondon? Wagner Moura is the obvious choice because he's Brazilian, but I'd probably go with Gael Garcia Bernal simply because he's the better actor (and he looks more like Rondon did).

Michael Patison said...

Calvin, Louis: I also think a biopic of Strom Thurmond in the 1980s and 90s would be interesting just because of the changed/changing face of American politics and his never-renounced segregationist past. Directed by Tom McCarthy. Not sure about the casting. If he can get the accent right, Ian McKellen would be my choice.

Calvin Law said...

Michael: Strom Thurmond would be fascinating and it would be interesting to see if McKellen could do an American character. Really I'm just gunning for him to do anything vaguely awards-worthy nowadays. People talk about DiCaprio being 'overdue' for an Oscar, what about McKellen and Gary fricking Oldman.

Who would you cast as the presidents throughout his tenure?

Calvin Law said...

Louis: What actors working today are you worried about the trajectory their careers are taking, for me it's probably Gary Oldman as I feel like he's getting much worse material in general than he deserves, as well the obvious examples of James Woods, Jeff Goldblum, Mickey Rourke and William Hurt etc.

RatedRStar said...

Michael Patison: I am curious about Headhunters, how did Mr Lannister do?

Michael Patison said...

Calvin: Hmm. Not 100% sure. If you were to cast from Truman thru Bush 2:
Truman: Ed Harris
Eisenhower: Gary Oldman?
Kennedy: ???
Johnson: James Woods (Cranston would obviously be another choice)
Nixon: ???
Ford: William Hurt
Reagan: ???
Bush 1: ???
Clinton: ???
Bush 2: ???

houndtang said...

this blog has become a rather remarkable resource on cinematic acting performances. how msny reviews have you written now? are you going to do actresses at some point? although the nature of Hollywood means that would mean that would be less fruitful

Alex Marqués said...

Louis: what are your top 5 for best picture, best actress and best supporting actress of 2004? Thank you

Luke Higham said...

Houndtang: If Louis reviewed Female performances, he would've done it, when he started the blog in 2010.

Alex:
1. Uma Thurman - Kill Bill Vol. 2 - 5
2. Kate Winslet - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 5
3. Alexandra Maria Lara - Downfall - 4
4. Holly Hunter - The Incedibles - 3/3.5
5. Cecilia Cheung - One Nite in Mongkok - No idea, but It's probably a 3
I think Staunton will be his #1, whenever he sees Vera Drake.

1. Cate Blanchett - The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou - 4.5
2. Hannah Pilkes - The Woodsman - 4.5
3. Virginia Madsen - Sideways - 4.5
4. Naomi Watts - I Heart Huckabees - 4
5. Daryl Hannah - Kill Bill Vol. 2 - 4
The other two Downfall ladies received 4s as well.

Luke Higham said...

Houndtang: He's reviewed at least 1500 performances.

Luke Higham said...

Can't wait for Laughton's review. :)

Calvin Law said...

Luke: Same, will be interesting to see what Louis thinks of his approach.

Calvin Law said...

1939 lead is incredibly difficult for me to figure out who I'd give a win, my favourite performance is probably James Stewart in Mr Smith Goes to Washington, but Robert Donat and Charles Laughton had bigger challenges which makes me vary between them for the win.

Anonymous said...

Laughton better be next. He was amazing. I can't decide which portrayal I like better: his or Chaney's.

Luke Higham said...
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Luke Higham said...

Louis: What are your top ten most disappointing films of the decade so far.

Godzilla
Iron Man 2, 3 and Avengers: Age Of Ultron
Spectre
The Hobbit Films (I liked them well enough, but could've been so much more)
The Dark Knight Rises (Again, I like it just fine, but Bane's demise and Marion's worst performance still leave a bad taste in the mouth)
Prometheus
Man Of Steel
Only God Forgives
The Counselor
Anchorman 2
Boyhood

Robert MacFarlane said...

2012 in general for me. Argo, Protheus, The Dark Knight Rises, and Lawless were all let downs on varying levels for me.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: a retroactive cast for a 1970s and a 1990s Stalag 17? I'll do 1980s and 2000s. (this is all for fun, the 50's version was perfect)

1980s (I skipped 1960's because you could kind of get away with most of the cast members doing their role again) directed by Rob Reiner
Sefton: James Woods
Dunbar: Christopher Reeve
Colonel von Scherbach: Werner Herzog
Animal: John Candy
Shapiro: Griffin Dunne
Price: Kiefer Sutherland
Schulz: Charles Durning
Duke: Keith David
Hoffy: Brian Dennehy
Cookie: Dennis Christopher

2010s directed by Shane Black
Sefton: Ben Foster/Colin Farrell
Dunbar: Liev Schreiber
Colonel von Scherbach: August Diehl
Animal: Jason Segel
Shapiro: Steve Zahn
Price: Armie Hammer
Schulz: Sebastian Koch
Duke: Jesse Plemons
Hoffy: Michael Stuhlbarg
Cookie: Tye Sheridan

Calvin Law said...

Luke: For me,

Prometheus
War Horse (yes, I thought it was going to be good since I really liked the book)
The World's End
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies
Elysium (still kind of liked it but ol' Neil really set the bar too high with District 9)
Child 44
Kill Your Darlings
Unbroken
Crimson Peak
Alice in Wonderland

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I'll add War Horse and Elysium to my list.

Alex Marqués said...

I really don't like what they did with The Hobbit.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I agree on The Hobbit.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

4 for Hobson.

Oldman unfortunately which has been going on for awhile. Tinker Tailor and The Dark Knight really are more of outliers. Robert Downey Jr. would be another one as he seems to be stuck as Tony Stark types, and just Tony Stark, he can do more.

1970's directed by Milos Forman

Sefton: Jack Nicholson
Dunbar: Sam Waterston
Colonel von Scherbach: Maximilian Schell
Animal: Danny Aiello
Shapiro: Joe Pesci
Price: John Heard
Schulz: George Vukovich
Duke: James Brolin
Hoffy: Paul Le Mat
Cookie: Brad Dourif

1990's directed by Richard Donner

Sefton: Mel Gibson
Dunbar: Timothy Hutton
Colonel von Scherbach: Jurgen Prochnow
Animal: Peter Stormare
Shapiro: Michael Chiklis
Price: Kyle Chandler
Schulz: M. Emmet Walsh
Duke: Brad Garrett
Hoffy: Dougray Scott
Cookie: Ralph Macchio

Michael Patison:

Bernal would be a good choice. Moura I think could work as well, who more than made up for Elysium with Narcos. I actually would have quite a bit of faith in Mortensen though, he's got the man's man presence needed for the role, but also as he proved in A Dangerous Method he's more of a chameleon than people give him credit for.

Luke:

Cheung was just filler since she a 2.5. And again the only reason I excluded Actress was due to several other people at time were doing actresses while excluding actors.

1. Chappie
2. A Dangerous Method
3. Spectre
4. Godzilla
5. The Hobbit Films (Again I don't completely hate them either but it's a shame we did not get Del Toro's two film version instead.)
6. The Dark Knight Rises
7. Iron Man 3
8. The Counselor
9. The World's End (Not bad but a definite step down from Hot Fuzz and Shaun)
10. Killing Them Softly (Definite Step down from Jesse James)

Luke Higham said...

Louis: I knew that, though I do get slightly miffed when newer readers ask that question all the time and it's up to me to tell them, that you're not doing them.

Luke Higham said...

I know Houndtang's been on/off, but still.

Alex Marqués said...

Louis: your top 5 films of 2004?

Anonymous said...

Louis: How would you rank Gary Cooper's top 10 performances?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Ball Of Fire's #1.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I already knew that. :) Just asking for the top 10.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Are you writing your thoughts on the Disney/Pixar films tomorrow.

Louis Morgan said...

Alex:

1. The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou
2. Collateral
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
4. Shaun of the Dead
5. Kill Bill Vol. 2

Luke:

1. Ball of Fire
2. High Noon
3. Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
4. Beau Geste
5. Meet John Doe
6. Friendly Persuasion
7. The General Died At Dawn
8. For Whom the Bell Tolls
9. A Farewell to Arms
10. The Pride of the Yankees

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Anonymous asked for Cooper's Top Ten Performances.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Unpopular opinion: Iron Man 3 is one of my favorite Marvel movies.

Anonymous said...

Robert: I also like Iron Man 3 as well.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What do you think The Bad and the Beautiful needed to be a better film aside from the removal of the flashback structures?

Alex Marqués said...

Louis: I find interesting how you like Collateral so much in spite of disliking Foxx in it. What actor would have been a perfect choice for Max in your opinion?

Anonymous said...

Alex: An actor who could actually act.

Alex Marqués said...

Lol, I don't think he was THAT bad

Louis Morgan said...

Robert:

My problems with Iron Man 3 really stem from that's really in an odd middle ground between being a Marvel movie and a Shane Black movie. Also The Mandarin twist I think doesn't for more than a quick joke, which is funny, but ends up being annoying for multiple reasons. The first being it looked like Ben Kingsley was finally going to be truly great marvel villain, something they still lack, the idea of the twist did not make a lot of sense given that we already knew Killian was a bad guy, and the worst of it was that we were left with Guy Pearce as the villain, who should be banned from playing straight villains.

Anonymous:

I believe if it instead followed Douglas throughout it could have built towards something special rather than just have the repetitive shortened character arc of, he does something good, then he does something bad. Also it would removed Dick Powell's story which felt like we suddenly got dropped into a different film.

Alex:

I actually think Adam Sandler who was one of the original choice would have worked. The same goes for Robert De Niro, which I think would have created an interesting dynamic with a taxi driver who's long been past his prime. My personal choice for role would have been Steve Buscemi though.

Anonymous said...

Louis: I think that I would have chosen Winters instead of Grahame for the Southern belle role. Who would have you chosen?

Robert MacFarlane said...

The Mandarin twist is kind of why I like it so much. Probably the only clever political commentary I've seen in the MCU. Believe it or not, I'm okay with Pearce. He had my favorite line in the movie.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: In Retrospect, what way did Godzilla disappoint you, because Cranson's death in the first act still bothers me.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

I agree with your choice.

Luke:

Cranston's death was certainly part of it given who we were left with. My major problem stemmed really through the trailers which built it up much more like the original Gojira, but instead it just ended up being a monster slug fest, and not a great one at that.

Luke Higham said...

*Cranston's Death

Luke Higham said...

Louis: What about The Dark Knight Rises. I'm quite surprised Prometheus didn't make your list.

Anonymous said...

Louis: I admit I liked Pearce in Iron Man 3, but who would you have chosen?

Calvin Law said...

Pearce was bad in Iron Man 3 but at least he wasn't grating in that badness unlike ugh Lawless ugh.

Anyway Buscemi as the taxi driver would've been perfect. And if he'd found some way to Oscar momentum too, all the better.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

I think many of the problems stemmed from the writing particularly the opening Edward Nygma Batman Forever shtick, though I'll admit it was not as bad as Jamie Foxx's attempt in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Luke:

Did I ever say I hated Prometheus? In fact I had no expectations for the film so there was no reason for me to be disappointed by it.

The Dark Knight Rises is one I still like for Bane, Bale, Caine, Oldman, Tom Conti, and Hathaway. It's not nearly as good as The Dark Knight though, and again it is extremely bloated. They did not need such a world ending story and they gave themselves an insurmountable task by trying to top The Dark Knight. It could have been a smaller scale story, it did not need Talia, it did not need Blake. Bane and Gordon both already fulfilled those roles nicely.

Alex Marqués said...

Well, with Oscar momentum or without it Foxx found himself nominated instead of Cruise xD

Anonymous said...

Louis: If There Will Be Blood was made in the 1950's and 1970's, who would have been your choice for Daniel Plainview?

Calvin Law said...

I'll admit that though I find The Dark Knight Rises deeply flawed, it has some of my favourite superhero moments in a film ever. Namely Bane's speech, and the prison scenes which I actually think contain some of the best acting Christian Bale's ever done.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Honestly I'm more and more negative on Rises each passing year.

GM said...

Louis: I have two requests:

Gérard Depardieu & Wojciech Pszoniak in Danton (1983 lead)

Anonymous said...

Did you win 2 requests because I thought you only get one?

GM said...

I won six, and it's my fourth and fifth request.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

50's - Burt Lancaster
70's - Robert Shaw

Anonymous said...

What were your other 3 requests?

Luke Higham said...

GM: I very much like those requests and thought Pszoniak, was really good as Robespierre. :)

RatedRStar said...

1983 is a pretty weak year so I am glad that it was chosen lol, not to mention it wasnt an obvious nominee, glad to see those.

You know its a weak year when Michael Keaton in Mr Mom looks like a contender lol.

GM said...

@anon Laughton 38, Oscarsson 66 and Sydow 96

Anonymous said...

GM: Ah ok, excited for your final request.

RatedRStar said...

Remember, never go for the obvious performances that will likely get reviewed even if dont request them =D, fortunately in the winning requests lineup so far, there arent really any obvious choices that stick out as being easily getting reviewed regardless, well except Robert Ryan in The Set Up who I think was 100 percent getting reviewed but he was still excellent in the film as a great counterpoint to Kirk Douglas from the same year.

Anonymous said...

RatedRStar: Well, I'm sorry. I tend to go for the more obvious ones.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Who would be the rest of the cast and director for 50's and 60's There Will Be Blood?

Anonymous said...

*70's There Will Be Blood, not 60's.

Luke Higham said...

The most obvious request I have is Oliver Reed in The Devils, and there's no chance in hell of me changing it, especially when only one of my requests received a five from Louis and that was Clive Owen in Children Of Men.

Anonymous said...

I hope Laughton's review comes tonight.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

50's directed by Martin Ritt:

HW: Bradon De Wilde
Henry: Brad Dexter
Paul & Eli: Dennis Hopper

70's directed by John Huston:

HW: C. Thomas Howell
Henry: Tom Skerritt
Paul & Eli: Brad Dourif