Friday 4 March 2016

Alternate Best Actor 1939: Henry Fonda in Young Mr. Lincoln

Henry Fonda did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Abraham Lincoln in Young Mr. Lincoln.

Young Mr. Lincoln is a good film that covers the very early life of Abraham Lincoln, focusing upon his defense of two suspected murderers.

Daniel Day-Lewis's Oscar winning turn as Abraham Lincoln was often noted for his use of a higher pitched, said to be more accurate, voice in his portrayal of Abe Lincoln. That was not the first higher pitch voiced Lincoln to be found, as that's what one will hear in Henry Fonda's performance as Lincoln. Now to be fair it really is basically Fonda's normal voice, which happens to be a great fit, though I don't think the similarities to Day-Lewis's work stop there by any means though. Fonda is made in the film to look more like Lincoln, perhaps slightly overdone in terms of the nose. However Fonda does not just leave the makeup to do the work as he attempts to imitate the man. It's pretty fascinating since unlike imitating someone from modern times Fonda only had paintings and photographs to go off of. Fonda though captures the unique manner of Lincoln found in those sources from his very proper posture, to even the way he sits upon a railing. It never feels like artifice and Fonda manages to make it feel like a natural aspect of the character.

Now this being a biography film of the period means it's not going to be all that hard hitting so to speak. We are given a fairly simple portrait of Abe Lincoln as well an honest guy of course, and his actual biographical portion is pretty short. We only given a glimpse into his relationship with Mary Todd, and his tragic one with Ann Rutledge is shown to be especially short here. To Fonda's credit though he is thoroughly charming in the moments we are given for those possible romances, and manages to make Ann's loss rather moving despite just how swiftly it is handled. The scenes depicting Lincoln out of the public eye are indeed very few though Fonda still succeeds in making a believable depiction of an honest man. Fonda never feels as though he is forcing these qualities and just exudes them as he should. He earns Lincoln's stature, and no not just his height, and makes for a convincing honest Abe. The highlight of his performance though comes in the highlight of the film where he must go about defending two men accused of murder.

In the murder trial, as well as when Lincoln stops a lynch mob the night before, is where the comparisons to Day-Lewis's later work can be freely made. That is again his higher pitched voice is not all there is in terms of his similarities. Fonda goes about carrying himself not as that imposing sort of leader type that say was the way Walter Huston portrayed him in Abraham Lincoln. Fonda gives a nicely relaxed performance, that probably makes his mannerisms also come off as more authentic, as he portrays Lincoln not as man who forces his views or intelligence upon others. Instead Fonda so well conveys the easygoing nature of the man who convinces others to follow his lead almost through a friendly talk, not unlike Day-Lewis's later approach. The attempted lynching scene is absolutely brilliantly played by Fonda as he brings upon a certain self deprecating humor into Lincoln's argument that makes him persuasive in such an unassuming yet wholly effective fashion. Fonda is able to carry a fierce determination in his eyes, but always channels that determination in an understated fashion. The same goes for the trial itself as Fonda rarely even raises his voice so eloquently realizing a true statesman who convinces through a certain goodwill rather than outrage. Fonda suggests a man who allows the person he's trying to persuade choose for himself, he just simply helps the man find the right path. Fonda has that needed magnetism here as one can see the great president he will become even though we never get close to that part of the story here. I would not have minded if the film continued to allow Fonda to depict more of Lincoln's life because his approach here is noteworthy, and I can't help but wonder if he might have influenced Day-Lewis take on the man. It's very strong work from Fonda even within the limitations of the role and the film's story line.

36 comments:

Luke Higham said...

1. Laughton
2. Veidt
3. Cagney
4. Fonda
5. Rathbone

Michael McCarthy said...

Huh. I've honestly never been a big fan of this performance.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Who would be your cast and director for:
The Thin Red Line (1940's version)
Saving Private Ryan (1950's version)
Collateral (1960's version)
Heat (1970's version)
Unforgiven (1980's version)

Alex Marqués said...

Everyone: your lead actress winners of 80's and 90's

Anonymous said...

Alex:
1980: Spacek
1981: Peters
1982: Streep/Lange
1983: Streep
1984: Tomlin
1985: Page
1986: Weaver
1987: Close
1988: Close
1989: Pfeiffer
1990: Bates
1991: Foster
1992: Weaver
1993: Hunter
1994: Bates
1995: Sarandon
1996: McDormand
1997: Grier
1998: Blanchett
1999: Swank

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

The Thin Red Line (1940's version directed by William Wellman)

Witt: Montgomery Clift
Welsh: Burt Lancaster
Staros: Lee J. Cobb
Bell: Tim Holt
Tall: Warner Baxter
Doll: Theodore Bikel
Gaff: Sterling Hayden
Fife: Charlton Heston
Storm: Anthony Quinn
Keck: Hume Cronyn

Saving Private Ryan (1950's version directed by Fred Zinnemann)

Miller: Kirk Douglas
Reiben: James Garner
Horvath: Walter Matthau
Ryan: Clint Eastwood
Jackson: Steve McQueen
Mellish: Martin Landau
Carpazo: Anthony Franciosa
Wade: Alan Arkin
Upham: Vic Morrow

Collateral (1960's directed by J. Lee Thompson)

Vincent: Gregory Peck
Max: Peter Falk
Annie: Anne Bancroft
Ray: George C. Scott
Felix: Timothy Carey
Daniel: Paul Harris

Heat (1970's version directed by Sam Peckinpah)

McCauley: Lee Marvin
Hanna: James Coburn
Shiherlis: Harvey Keitel
Nate: William Holden
Waingro: F. Murray Abraham

Unforgiven (1980's directed by Walter Hill)

William "Will" Munny: Charles Bronson
"Little" Bill Daggett: Jack Palance
Ned Logan: Sidney Poitier
English Bob: Donald Pleasence
the Schofield Kid: John Turturro
W. W. Beauchamp: Elliot Gould
Strawberry Alice: Sondra Locke

Calvin Law said...

^great choices all round.

Louis: who do you prefer as an actor, De Niro or Pacino? I know De Niro has probably hit higher heights for you, but Pacino seems to be the more consistent.

Anonymous said...

Calvin: I seriously hope The Irishman is great and that De Niro and Pacino give great performances.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Have you watched the UK version of Top Gear.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What is your rating and thoughts on The Boys From Brazil?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your Female Lead/Supporting Top 5s with ratings and other 4+ performances for 1932, 33 and 34.

RatedRStar said...

Luke: Top Gear is so dead now lol, having so many presenters is just such a bad idea lol.

Luke Higham said...

RatedRStar: I'll watch the first episode, yet I've much higher expectations for the Clarkson, May and Hammond show.

Alex Marqués said...

Rewatching Locke, good lord was Hardy overdue by the Academy...this man is a freaking force of nature.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

They really are on about an even keel for me.

Luke:

Yes I do, or that is to say I did.

1932:

Actress:

Katherine Hepburn - A Bill of Divorcement - 4
Joan Crawford - Rain - 4
Miriam Hopkins - Trouble in Paradise - 3.5
Kay Francis - Jewel Robbery - 3.5
Fay Wray - A Most Dangerous Game - 3

Supporting Actress:

Joan Crawford - Grand Hotel - 4
Greta Garbo - Grand Hotel
Kay Francis - Trouble in Paradise - 3.5
Billie Burke - A Bill of Divorcement - 3
Gloria Stuart - The Old Dark House - 3

1933:

Actress:

Barbara Stanwyck - Baby Face
Fay Wray - King Kong
May Robson - Lady for a Day - 3

Supporting Actress:

Merle Oberon - The Private Life of Henry VIII
Marie Dressler - Dinner At Eight
Jean Harlow - Dinner at Eight
Bebe Daniels - Counsellor At Law - 4
Bebe Daniels - 42nd Street - 4

1934:

Actress:

Claudette Colbert - It Happened One Night
Myrna Loy - The Thin Man
Bette Davis - Of Human Bondage
Carole Lombard - Twentieth Century - 3.5

Supporting Actress:

Florence Roberts - The March of the Wooden Soldiers - 3.5
Myrna Loy - Manhattan Melodrama
Merle Oberon - The Scarlet Pimpernel - 3

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Top Gear UK.

Your Female Lead/Supporting Top 5s with ratings and other 4+ performances for 1935, 37 and 38.

And your ratings on Wray, Loy, Oberon and Davis.

Anonymous said...

Luke: For Manhattan Melodrama, Loy is a 3.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Is Loy's work in The Thin Man a 4 or a 4.5.

Anonymous said...

Luke: A 4,5 for sure.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Wray is a 3 and Davis and Oberon are 4's.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Thanks. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: Rank the voices from these ten actors to favorite to least favorite.
Olivier
Colman
Guinness
Stewart
Mitchum
Lancaster
Carradine
Gable
Bogart
Peck

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your thoughts and ratings on:

Running On Empty
Rain Man
Sorcerer

Luke Higham said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I hate having to rank them, but my favourite's Olivier and my least favourite's Peck, I guess, though I like all of them at the very least.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I honestly think Rylance is getting too much hate for his Oscar win.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I hate saying this, but after that, I'm really starting to care less about the Oscars in general. There were 3 amazing performances from that category and thankfully, one of them took the statuette and yes, Stallone had the comeback narrative and would've been incredibly satisfying for everyone (Including myself), but Mark Rylance is one of the best actors of a generation that includes Day-Lewis and Oldman.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I agree with you. :)

Anonymous said...

Luke: I didn't mind if any of three had won, but I'm glad Rylance won. The greatest actor of the stage wins an Oscar.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: :) And hopefully some day, Hardy will be an Academy Award Winner.

Anonymous said...

Luke: And Fassbender as well.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Him as well. :)

My biggest disappointment from the Oscars this year, quite frankly, was Tom and Michael not having a photo together. So for the love of ******, can we please have a film with them already.

Anonymous said...

Luke: It'll be amazing to see Hardy, Branagh and Rylance together in Nolan's Dunkirk.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: I've read reports, that their roles, don't have a lot of substance to them.

Anonymous said...

Luke: Well, that's a shame.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

It's a funny and entertaining show, the three hosts had great chemistry, which is what made the show work.

1935:

Actress:

Madeleine Carroll - The 39 Steps - 4.5
Ginger Rogers - Top Hat - 4

Supporting Actress:

Elsa Lanchester - The Bride of Frankenstein
Edna May Oliver - David Copperfield - 3.5
Edna May Oliver - A Tale of Two Cities - 3.5
Olivia de Havilland - A Midsummer's Night Dream - 3.5
Una O'Connor - The Informer - 3.5

1937:

Actress:

Irene Dunne - The Awful Truth
Beulah Bondi - Make Way For Tomorrow
Luise Rainer - The Good Earth
Greta Garbo - Conquest - 3.5
Janet Gaynor - A Star is Born - 3.5

Supporting Actress:

Claire Trevor - Dead End - 4.5
Dame May Whitty - Night Must Fall
Lucille La Verne - Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
Flore Robson - Fire Over England - 4
Dita Parlo - La Grand Illusion

1938:

Actress:

Wendy Hiller - Pygmalion
Norma Shearer - Marie Antoinette - 4.5
Margaret Lockwood - The Lady Vanishes - 4.5
Katherine Hepburn - Bringing Up Baby - 4.5
Katherine Hepbrn - Holiday - 4.5

Supporting Actress:

Dame May Whitty - The Lady Vanishes
Anita Louise - Marie Antoinette - 4
Simone Simon - The Human Beast - 4
Olivia De Havilland - The Adventures of Robin Hood
Jean Arthur - You Can't Take it With You - 3.5