Tuesday 25 September 2012

Alternate Best Actor 1957: Results

5. Andy Griffith in A Face in the Crowd- Despite an effective beginning to his performance Griffith never quite matches the ambition of his character, even though he does try.

Best Scene: Lonesome Roads is discovered. 
4. Henry Fonda 12 Angry Men- Fonda gives a good performance consistently portraying the steadfast conviction of his part.

Best Scene: His opening disagreement. 
3. Tony Curtis in Sweet Smell of Success- Tony Curtis gives a strong performance that portrays well the abilities of his amoral press agent, and only shows a glint of conscience in the most powerful moments.

Best Scene: Sidney orchestrates Hunsecker's plan. 
2. Toshiro Mifune in Throne of Blood- Toshiro Mifune gives an effectively brutal turn as his version of Macbeth. He holds no bars physically or mentally in his towering performance.

Best Scene: Death by Archers. 
1. Kirk Douglas in Paths of Glory- Douglas gives the second best performance that I have seen this year, and gives one of the very best performances as an almost entirely moral character. Douglas never gives a hint of sanctimony, or falseness, but instead powerfully and honestly portrays the deep concern of his character believably throughout the film.

Best Scene: Colonel Dax turns down his promotion. 
Overall Rank:
  1. Alec Guinness in The Bridge on The River Kwai
  2. Kirk Douglas in Paths of Glory
  3. Toshiro Mifune in Throne of Blood
  4. Robert Mitchum in Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison
  5. Tony Curtis in Sweet Smell of Success
  6. Charles Laughton in Witness for the Prosecution
  7. William Holden in The Bridge on the River Kwai
  8. Marcello Mastroanni in White Nights
  9. Anthony Perkins in Fear Strikes Out
  10. Victor Sjöström in Wild Strawberries
  11. James Stewart in The Spirit of St. Louis
  12. Henry Fonda in The Tin Star
  13. James Cagney in Man of a Thousand Faces
  14. Henry Fonda in 12 Angry Men
  15. Anthony Quinn in Wild Is the Wind
  16. Rod Steiger in Across the Bridge
  17. Grande Otelo in Rio Zona Norte
  18. Van Heflin in 3:10 to Yuma
  19. Anthony Perkins in The Tin Star 
  20. Tatsuya Nakadai in Black River
  21. Sidney Poitier in Edge of the City 
  22. Charlie Chaplin in A King in New York
  23. John Cassavettes in Edge of the City 
  24. Curd Jürgens in The Enemy Below
  25. Michael Redgrave in Time Without Pity
  26. Cary Grant in An Affair to Remember
  27. Laurence Olivier in The Prince and the Showgirl
  28. Robert Mitchum in The Enemy Below
  29. Max von Sydow in The Seventh Seal
  30. Andy Griffith in A Face in the Crowd
  31. Glenn Ford in 3:10 to Yuma
  32. Gregory Peck in Designing Woman
  33. Fumio Watanabe in Black River
  34. Montgomery Clift in Raintree County
  35. Kirk Douglas in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
  36. Burt Lancaster in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
  37. Richard Widmark in Time Limit 
  38. Grant Williams in The Incredible Shrinking Man
  39. Don Murray in The Bachelor Party
  40. Dana Andrews in Night of the Demon
  41. Fred Astaire in Funny Face
  42. Gene Kelly in Les Girls
  43. Gary Cooper in Love in the Afternoon 
  44. Ben Gazzara in The Strange One
  45. Marlon Brando in Sayonara
  46. Rock Hudson in A Farewell to Arms 
  47. Hal Stalmaster in Johnny Tremaine
  48. Lee Philips in Peyton Place 
  49. Jeff Morrow in The Giant Claw
  50. Don Murray in A Hatful of Rain
  51. Anthony Franciosa in A Hatful of Rain
Next Year: 2008 Supporting

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I never doubted that Guinness would get the overall vote, but I'm kind of surprised you ranked Fonda so low.

Suggestions for 2008 Supporting
Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight
Gary Oldman in The Dark Knight
Ralph Fiennes in In Bruges
Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading
Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder

Michael Patison said...

Great write-ups. What do you think you would have given Van Heflin? I'm somewhat disappointed in the 4.5 for Fonda as he's a 5 in my book, but to each his own. As for 2008, I have essentially the same recommendations as Anonymous, with one change:

Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight
Ralph Fiennes in In Bruges
Eddie Marsan in Happy-Go Lucky
Gary Oldman in The Dark Knight
Brad Pitt in Burn After Reading

Regardless of who you pick, Heath Ledger will win, I don't see how he doesn't. After that, I expect Fiennes second as long as you review him.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I forgot about Eddie Marsan.

RatedRStar said...

Ralph Fiennes - In Bruges
Tom Cruise - Tropic Thunder
Aaron Eckhart - The Dark Knight
Eddie Marsan - Happy Go Lucky
A Surprise entrant perhaps =D.

Lezlie said...

Aloha!

Good reviews. though I would have given Fonda 5.
As for 2008, same as the others had already mentioned.

Edward L. said...

Louis, another great set of reviews.

For alternate best supporting actor 2008, here are some suggestions:

Aaron Eckhart in The Dark Knight
James Franco in Milk
Giancarlo Giannini in Quantum of Solace
Chris Messina in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Gary Oldman in The Dark Knight

mrripley said...

I will certainl leave the dark knight actors alone and go with some left field choices

dennis hopper - elegy
jason butler harner - changeling
ralph fiennes - the duchess
haaz sleiman - the visitor
emile hirsch - milk

Maciej said...

Now this is a very surprising outcome!

My suggestions:

Christian McKay - Me and Orson Welles
Ralph Fiennes - In Bruges
Brad Pitt - Burn After Reading
James Franco - Pineapple Express
Gary Oldman - The Dark Knight

RatedRStar said...

Actually I think my surprise 5th pick would be Christian McKay, as he stole the show in his film.

Louis Morgan said...

McKay is 2009 as that was the first non festival release for the film.

RatedRStar said...

in which case for a laugh I would say Franco for Pineapple Express lol

dshultz said...

Yes! Alec Guinness still wins! All is right with the world.

mrripley said...

Pitt is a little mannered,i could see the acting but still fun.

Anonymous said...

No love for Grant Williams as Scott Carey? If you can reward Jeff Goldblum for being 'The Fly, can you throw a bone to Grant Williams for being 'The Incredible Shrinking Man'?