Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1976: Marty Feldman in Silent Movie

Marty Feldman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Marty Eggs in Silent Movie.

Silent Movie is an enjoyable enough Mel Brooks gag fest filtered down even more than usual through that the film is indeed completely silent, well almost completely.

The film itself tells the simple story of a filmmaker Mel Funn (Brooks) and his two cohorts Dom (Dom DeLuise) and Marty Eggs. I suppose it is fitting that they share the same first names as the characters are not developed past the performer personalities of the actors, though I would say this is entirely purposeful. It basically is a chance for the three of them to test out their skills as a silent performer. Feldman perhaps is a bit tailored made for all show no speaking thanks to his well rather unorthodox appearance. I suppose Feldman does not seem like he needs to do anything more to stand out, but to his credit Feldman ensures that he does just a bit more as he is most expressive as a good silent comic performer should be. That grin of his alone of his is worth a few laughs all in itself, as he certainly is a fit for the concept of the film. If he's on screen Feldman does brighten in some way or another, even just the way he's sitting in a car between Dom and Mel comes off as rather funny for some reason.

The majority of the film is made up of various physical hi-jinks involving the boys either trying to get a Hollywood star to appear in the film, or simply avoid the dark corporate forces who want to see their film fail at any cost. Feldman is quit skilled at this and fits right into any given scene with his wild energy of sorts that he makes feel particularly natural, and not overdone in the least. Whether it is dealing with competing dogs who look the same, or tearing up the dance floor with Anne Bancroft Feldman throws himself into a scene rather head first. Now Feldman gets a bit more character, just a bit more, in that throughout the film he attempts to come on to women in the creepiest ways possible, even once announcing himself as a pervert as his line, in a title card though. Feldman is rather hilarious in every one of these quick side shows as he his lusty creep face is consistently entertaining. Now I suppose there's not much more than what he also brings just in the scenes where he's not necessarily the focus. Again Feldman's expressiveness brings a lot to the proceedings as his reactions say more than enough. Now even for a comedy of this sort this is a rather limited role, but Feldman is the best performer in the film. As he really knows how to work without sound. I won't say he's Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, or Charlie Chaplin in this regard, but I will say this is a fun performance.