Thursday 10 July 2014

Alternate Best Actor 1942

And the Nominees Were Not:

Alan Ladd in This Gun For Hire

Joel McCrea in The Palm Beach Story

Noel Coward in In Which We Serve

Tim Holt in The Magnificent Ambersons

Pierre Fresnay in The Murderer Lives At Number 21

21 comments:

Robert MacFarlane said...

I have no clue.

1. Holt
2. Ladd
3. Fresnay
4. Coward
5. McCrea

Anonymous said...

Hard to predict, I'll give a try:
1. Holt
2. Ladd
3. McCrea
4. Coward
5. Fresnay

Maciej said...

1.Holt
2.Ladd
3.Fresnay
4.McCrea
5.Coward

Anonymous said...

What are your ratings and thoughts on Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, The Nun's Story, Breakfast at Tiffany's and My Fair Lady? And do you like her in general?

Michael Patison said...

1. Tim Holt
2. Pierre Fresnay
3. Alan Ladd
4. Joel McCrea
5. Noël Coward

Luke Higham said...

1. Fresnay
2. Holt
3. Coward
4. Ladd
5. McCrea

jopÊ said...

hey, Louis Morgan. this is my first comment in this fantastic blog. your reviews are great and very professional. i have my own movie award show every year lol, and sometimes in the acting categories your reviews help a lot. i have a question: have you ever thought about doing reviews on leading and supporting actress?

RatedRStar said...

1. Holt
2. Ladd
3. McCrea
4. Fresnay
5. Coward

JackiBoyz said...

1. Holt
2. Ladd
3. Fresnay
4. McCrea
5. Coward

GM said...

1. Holt
2. Coward
3. Fresnay
4. Ladd
5. McCrea

Scott Gingold said...

1. Holt
2. Fresnay
3. McCrea
4. Ladd
5. Coward

Mark said...

1. Holt
2. Ladd
3. Coward
4. Fresnay
5. McCrea

moviefilm said...

1) Tim Holt
2) Pierre Fresnay
3) Alan Ladd
4) Noel Coward (I love him as a writer, but haven't had the chance to witness his acting yet)
5) Joel McCrea

Matt Mustin said...

Louis, what's your ratings and thoughts on the cast of The Ides of March?

mcofra7 said...

1. Holt
2. Fresnay
3. Coward
4. Ladd
5. McCrea

Michael McCarthy said...

1. Alan Ladd
2. Noel Coward
3. Tim Holt
4. Pierre Fresnay
5. Joel McCrea

Anonymous said...

Louis, you previously said that you think that Jane Fonda's performance in The Morning After was a disjointed mess, but rating would you actually give her?

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous: Hepburn - Roman Holiday - 4(The only challenge is for her to be charming here, but she certainly meets that challenge completely. It's not a great one to be sure, but I really can't imagine anyone being better in the role)

The Nun's Story - 4.5(A re-watch could help her as its been awhile. I recall her doing very well in creating the emotional turmoil of her character in a rather reserved fashion that was perfect for her character)

Breakfast at Tiffany - 3.5(She's good in being charming, as usual, as well as being a flake, but I feel there perhaps could have been some greater depths found in the part which the film as well as her portrayal fail to really explore in all that much detail)

My Fair Lady - 2.5(Eh her balance of the two roles really do not pay off all that well as she is a tad too screechy, without being funny enough as the crude Eliza then a tad bland a feel as the refined Eliza. I don't truly dislike her still because I still find her charming nevertheless)

On a whole I do think she had definite limitations, but more often than not her effortless charm made up for some of the cracks.

jopÊ:

Thanks for the compliments. I don't have any plans to review actresses, at the moment.

Matt:

Gosling - 3.5(Not a great performance as I do feel the character is a tad underwritten. Overall though Gosling is effective in conveying the intensity of his character's ambition, and leads film well enough)

Giamatti and Hoffman - 3.5(Both are again a little underwritten as they never develop either well enough. Both do well with the little they have. They are good in portraying the haggardness from the tensions of political strategist, as well the differences with Hoffman showing a genuine earnestness well Giamatti brings in the right underhandedness)

Clooney - 3(Way underwritten and I'd say he technically underused himself as I think Clooney's style, which I'm not usually a fan of, is rather perfect for the role of a false politician)

Wood - 2.5(Okay I guess but never really conveyed enough desperation in her character. Then again she was once again rather underwritten like every other character around)

Tomei - 2.5(The film wasted her as it would have been interesting to see a good version of this type of character. She's fine in creating the tricky reporter with the short moments she has, in fact could have made a fine Lois Lane back in the 90's, but she just is not given enough to do)

Anonymous:

2.5

Anonymous said...

Can I have your ratings and thoughts on:
-Shirley MacLaine and Audrey Hepbun in "The Children's Hour"
-Rita Moreno in "West Side Story"
-Shirley Jones in "Elmer Gantry"
-Vanessa Redgrave in "Julia"
-Dorothy McGuire in "Gentleman's Agreement" and "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn"

Michael McCarthy said...

Has anyone else seen Dawn of the Planet of the Apes yet? I thought it was kind of incredible.

Louis Morgan said...

MacLaine - 3(MacLaine goes for the overly melodramatic approach a little too often with her performance, but she still is effective nonetheless)

Hepbun - 3(Purposefully cuts back the charm in the far less showy of the two lead roles. I think she's entirely fine, but never really makes her character all that interesting)


Moreno - 4(I don't love her as much as most do, but I do agree with them that she gives the best performance in the film. She always brings a lot of energy to all of her musical scenes, as well as brings the right emotional punch to her dramatic ones)


Jones - 4.5(A devilish performance by her that acts as a great balancing act between Lancaster and Simmons. She has a great deal of fun in the role and it pays off in making a strong impact in what could have just been a plot point)

Redgrave - 3(She's fine with the scenes she has and I would say quite good in her big scene. I never felt, the way most claim, that her presence was always in the film when she was off screen. When she was off screen I just forgot her)


McGuire - Gentleman's Agreement - 2(She has no chemistry with Peck, but I guess they fit since they are both equally bland. She really does not know where to start with her character making it so her jumps around in the film seem particularly odd, and very forced)

Mcguire - A Tree Grows In Brooklyn - 3.5 (The film belongs to Garner and Dunn, but McGuire is good in portraying her character's slightly cold manner in a genuine manner fitting for a person who suffers harsh realities)