Alternate Best Actor 1974: Results

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5. Charles Bronson in Death Wish- Although the role probably could have been far more complex, Bronson still is consistently effective in his portrayal of one man's revenge even if it is in a relatively simple fashion.

Best Scene: Paul's final "duel" with the criminals. 

4. Peter Falk in A Woman Under the Influence- Falk is good in his role always giving effective reactions throughout the film, that appropriately supports Gene Rowlands's great performance.

Best Scene: Nick fails as a father. 

3. Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein- Wilder is always very funny in his role, but really makes it work is his conviction in his portrayal of the insanity of his character.

Best Scene: Frankenstein tries to make his monster live.

2. Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three- Matthau is terrific here easily bringing a great deal of humor to his role without ever compromising any of his more dramatic moments.

Best Scene: The final shot of the film. 

1. Gene Hackman in The Conversation- Hackman stands easily as my choice in his incredible performance in this film. He is simply outstanding in his complex portrayal of this man's paranoia and guilt. There is not a single moment wasted in Hackman's unique and always fascinating characterization.

Best Scene: Harry snoops in on the hotel room next to his. 

Overall Rank:

1. Gene Hackman in The Conversation
2. Warren Oates in Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
3. Art Carney in Harry and Tonto
4. Jack Nicholson in Chinatown
5. Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II
6. Martin Sheen in Badlands
7. John Hurt in Little Malcolm
8. Alan Bates in Butley
9. Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three
10. Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein
11. Jeff Bridges in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 
12. Robert Mitchum in The Yakuza
13. James Caan in The Gambler
14. Clint Eastwood in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
15. Peter Falk in A Woman Under The Influence
16. Dustin Hoffman in Lenny 
17. Burt Reynolds in The Longest Yard
18. Charles Bronson in Death Wish
19. Bruno S. in The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
20. Keith Carradine in Thieves Like Us
21. Elliott Gould in California Split
22. Giancarlo Giannini in Swept Away
23. James Earl Jones in Claudine 
24. Walter Matthau in The Front Page
25. Elliott Gould in Busting 
26. Anthony Perkins in Lovin' Molly
27. Warren Beatty in The Parallax View
28. Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein 
29. Jack Lemmon in The Front Page
30. George Segal in California Split 
31. Beau Bridges in Lovin' Molly
32. Dirk Bogarde in The Night Porter 
33. Paul Newman in The Towering Inferno
34. Steve McQueen in The Towering Inferno 
35. William Atherton in The Sugarland Express
36. Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles
37. Sam Waterston in The Great Gatsby
38. Pierre Blaise in Lacombe, Lucien
39. Robert Blake in Busting
40. Albert Finney in Murder on The Orient Express
41. Bill Cosby in Uptown Saturday Night
42. Michael Sacks in The Sugarland Express 
43. William Finley in Phantom of the Paradise 
44. Charlton Heston in Earthquake
45. Richard Dreyfus in The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
46. Sidney Poitier in Uptown Saturday Night
47. El Hedi ben Salem in Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
48. Robert Redford in The Great Gatsby 
49. James Caan in Freebie and the Bean
50. Roger Moore in The Man With the Golden Gun
51. Dan O'Bannon in Dark Star
52. Alan Arkin in Freebie and the Bean

Next Year: 1992