Thursday 27 August 2020

Alternate Best Actor 1950: Vincent Price in The Baron of Arizona

Vincent Price did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying James Reavis in The Baron of Arizona.

The Baron of Arizona follows a con man, attempting through forgery, to own Arizona.

This film comes from Samuel Fuller, who I wouldn't call one of the greatest filmmakers of the period, but was one of the most interesting. This as Fuller tended to tackle characters and subjects outside of the mainstream. This often covering them in a detail or style that too was rarely the approach. Although this doesn't always mean his films were great, they are intriguing to revisit at least on that basis. One of the common features of Fuller's work was he typically didn't cast stars in his leading roles, this leading to leading turns by relative unknowns or by character actors. That is the case here in Vincent Price, who has a bit of a fascinating career where he traded in prestige and through exploitation during his career. While the latter is where he more commonly found leading roles in general, this could be argued as a matching of the pair. This being a prestigious leading role for Price, though fittingly as a less than prestigious character. This as the conman James Reavis who is given an usually close perspective by Fuller, though reduced a bit slightly by a lame framing device with a boring narrator discussing the strange case. What we do get though is Vincent Price in a role that is both in his most famous types, but also not quite that type. This as he plays a dastardly sort, but a different sort in that regard. This as he's not a randomly evil man, but rather a man with a very specific plant to try to swindle a whole nation really. This as we open upon his Reavis fashioning a family lineage, including a girl he intends to marry, who he is creating a false baroness out of for his scheme. Price in a way reducing his typical cinematic deviousness, as just a more cautioned operator, portraying a man who is almost tactically implementing his plan one step at a time.

We see him as he goes about him even sneaking into a monastery in order to try to adjust age old records. Price portraying the good servant as he carefully manipulates an old tomb, though honestly I'm waiting far more for when Price gets founded out and must make an initial mistake. This as we get then what is far more within Price's more delicious style of acting. This when he comes across some random villagers and Price is in his game, showing Reavis in him. This in initially a nice early moment where his expression marks an exasperation in Reavis's unusual way of livelihood. This until he switches towards the overt conman, and we get some nice Price wryness. This in portraying the sort of manipulation in the man as he gets the group of people what he needs to do through just what he says. Price saying it so well with his right sort of mix of temptation with charisma. Honestly I wish the film was more willing to allow his character to be overtly evil as that is when Price is at his best. This as we are mixed in with scenes of him finally marrying the younger woman he setup as the baroness to take over Arizona to con so many people. Although Price isn't bad in these scenes, these oddly have little purpose, even as the film wants some romantic notion of the relationship. A romantic notion we are sadly not granted really within the writing of the film. Price is fine in being more sincere in these moments, but honestly that's not what I'm here for with Price. Thankfully we do get more dastardly Price as the film goes on and eventually leads to a personal trial for Reavis. This is easily Price's best scene, and he's terrific in bringing such a palatable ego in his smug manner as Reavis attempts to boast about the invisible nature of forgery. Price bringing the right lack of shame to every word of a man who loves to state his fraud as a sign of pride. Sadly still the film sticks to humanizing Reavis which I don't actually think serves the story, even if still atypical for the time. Price's best scene of this nature does come as he is about to be hanged, mainly because Price doesn't really change the nature of the part within his performance. This even in his delivery of the words of Reavis through a ragged breath, it is still with a bit of snide disregard and that ego again of a proper con man. It seems Price wishes to really play an affable fiend, sadly the film doesn't quite go along making this a bit of a missed opportunity. Price is good with what he has, but too much of his work is potential of what could have been a greater character study of a true imp.

61 comments:

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on the rest of the cast.

Also, is there any possibility you could do the next backlog (Mason, Sim, Mifune, Anderson, Newman and Sutherland) after you've finished this current cycle as well as being the half-way point of this venture.

RatedRStar said...

1. Richard Widmark
2. Jean Marais
3. Alec Guinness
4. John Garfield
5. Vincent Price

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Everyone else is boring...

Probably not.

Razor said...

1. Widmark
2. Guinness
3. Garfield
4. Marais
5. Price

Matt Mustin said...

Regarding Phone Booth thoughts in the last post: Joel Schumacher...he really frustrates me, because he's got some good movies in there, but his direction was pretty much always "off" in some way, particularly in terms of finding the correct tone. I maintain that The Number 23 could use the exact same script and be played as a deliberate comedy, but for some reason he decided to take it ultra seriously.

Michael McCarthy said...

So I managed to see The New Mutants today and...lol

RatedRStar said...

Michael: Its not a surprise to be honest, a film that keeps getting pushed back and pushed back to a point where it was almost a meme kinda tells you everything, clearly the studios had no faith in it.

Michael Patison said...

1. Richard Widmark
2. Jean Marais
3. Alec Guinness
4. John Garfield
5. Vincent Price

Michael McCarthy said...

I honestly want you guys to see it just so to experience how bad Anya Taylor-Joy’s accent is. We all owe Elizabeth Olsen an apology.

Matt Mustin said...

Michael: In fairness, I've shifted the blame to Joss Whedon on that one.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

1. Widmark
2. Marais
3. Guinness
4. Garfield
5. Price

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

I agree with your take on Vincent Price here. I found him very good, but a little held back at times.

Robert MacFarlane said...

1. Widmark
2. Marais
3. Guinness
4. Garfield
5. Price

He still should be an absolute essential review for Masque of the Red Death. Also, is he getting reviewed for The Song of Bernadette?

John Smith said...

1. Richard Widmark
2. Alec Guinness
3. Jean Marais
4. John Garfield
5. Vincent Price

Anonymous said...

1. Widmark
2. Marais
3. Guinness
4. Garfield
5. Price

Tim said...

Michael Bay was originally supposed to direct Phone Booth
How do you think that would have turned out?
Cannot say that without cringing ...

Calvin Law said...

I'll just take a crack at predictions here, having seen Widmark, Guinness and Garfield:

1. Widmark
2. Marais
3. Guinness
4. Garfield
5. Price

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Although each film has a different approach (timeline, setting, perspective), do you think any Angels with Dirty Faces comparisons could be made with City of God?

Luke Higham said...

Louis: You haven't taken off Pleasence and Randolph off the requests page.

Louis Morgan said...

Watched Bill and Ted 3, not a masterpiece (nor are the originals), though enjoyed it (just like the originals).

Robert:

Probably not.

Tim:

Well there probably would've been far more 360 shots around the booth, way more editing than there already was (to the point of nausea) and probably some bad humor thrown in through the bystanders. So much worse I'd imagine.

Bryan:

Most definitely.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Ratings and thoughts on the cast.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Winter & Reeves - 4(Well firstly they instantly recapture the old charm and spirit of their performances, even in their more aged appearance to say the least. This offering the same goofy charm in their work once again and just being a lot fun. The extra .5, really is both of them are quite hilarious as we meet the different renditions of the boys and a whole lot of fun is to be had in their effectively changed iterations. Won't say more as not to spoil.)

Lundy-Paine & Weaving - 3(I liked what they did in general as sort of clones basically of their fathers, however I don't think they quite had the external chemistry between each other that Reeves and Winter have. This as I feel one should've felt they could've sustained their own adventure entirely, and I don't quite feel that's the case.)

Sadler - 3.5(Although I could've gone for more of Sadler, I quite enjoyed the reprise once again, and he definitely makes the most out of his one major scene.)

Schaal - 3(Obviously one doesn't just replace Carlin, but she at least does well enough in bringing the appropriate exposition as needed.)

Carrigan - 3(Kind of the surprise within the film, and I won't detail too much, but quite enjoyed his comic chops once again, once again in a very unexpected role.)

Stoch & Landon - 2.5/3(Well enjoyed seeing them again. The latter making the most out of his one major scene as well, particularly loved his last line towards Bill that I felt was pure gold.)

Emi Grant said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Bill and Ted 3's "Rufus Lives"? Please tell my favorite band is currently your win for original song.

Louis Morgan said...

Emi:

Well it would be my win currently...though there hasn't exactly been a lot of competition at the moment. A properly hard rocking anthem mostly befitting the boys...despite their soft rock at the end of Bogus Journey. More befitting for the scene, though only briefly used, of raging against Hell itself I suppose. This in turn fairly repetitive in the right way of the heavy metal riffs, with just a equally intense chants between them. A proper theme song for escaping Hell at the very least...but honestly a good song.

Shaggy Rogers said...

Hey guys!
Tell us your ranks of 1950 nominees in each category:

Song
1. "Mona Lisa"
2. "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo"
3. "Be My Love"
4. "Mule Train"
5. "Wilhelmina"

Score (Musical)
1. Annie Get Your Gun
2. Cinderella
3. The West Point Story
4. I'll Get By
5. Three Little Words

Score (Drama/Comedy)
1. Sunset Boulevard
2. All About Eve
3. No Sad Songs for Me
4. Samson and Delilah
5. The Flame and the Arrow

Sound
1. Our Very Own
2. Cinderella
3. Louisa
4. Trio
5. All About Eve

Editing
1. The Third Man
2. Sunset Boulevard
3. All About Eve
4. Annie Get Your Gun
5. King Solomon's Mines

Special Effects
1. Samson and Delilah
2. Destination Moon

Costume (B&wW)
1. All About Eve
2. The Magnificent Yankee
3. Born Yesterday

Costume (COLOR)
1. Samson and Delilah
2. The Black Rose
3. That Forsyte Woman

Art Direction (B&W)
1. Sunset Boulevard
2. The Red Danube
3. All About Eve

Art Direction (COLOR)
1. Samson and Delilah
2. Destination Moon
3. Annie Get Your Gun

Cinematography (B&W)
1. The Third Man
2. Sunset Boulevard
3. The Asphalt Jungle
4. The Furies
5. All About Eve

Cinematography (COLOR)
1. Samson and Delilah
2. King Solomon's Mines
3. Annie Get Your Gun
4. The Flame and the Arrow
5. Broken Arrow

Motion Picture Story
1. Bitter Rice
2. The Gunfighter
3. Panic in the Streets
4. Mystery Street
5. When Willie Comes Marching Home

Story and Screenplay
1. Sunset Boulevard
2. Caged
3. Adam's Rib
4. No Way Out
5. The Men

Screenplay
1. All About Eve
2. The Asphalt Jungle
3. Born Yesterday
4. Father of the Bride
5. Broken Arrow

Supporting Actress
1. Celeste Holm
2. Hope Emerson
3. Josephine Hull
4. Nancy Olson
5. Thelma Ritter

Supporting Actor
1. Sam Jaffe
2. George Sanders
3. Erich von Stroheim
4. Edmund Gwenn
5. Jeff Chandler

Lead Actress
1. Gloria Swanson
2. Bette Davis
3. Eleanor Parker
4. Anne Baxter
5. Judy Holliday

Lead Actor
1. William Holden
2. James Stewart
3. José Ferrer
4. Spencer Tracy
5. Louis Calhern

Director
1. Billy Wilder
2. Carol Reed
3. John Huston
4. Joseph L. Mankiewicz
5. George Cukor

Picture
1. Sunset Boulevard
2. All About Eve
3. Born Yesterday
4. Father of the Bride
5. King Solomon's Mines

And what are your ranks?

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

I was going to give my Top 10 in each acting category for this year last post, but decided to until this group is finished.

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Your thoughts on the titular track from Singin' in the Rain?

Emi Grant said...

Louis: Well, I'm very glad you liked a Mastodon song, Louis. Thank you.

Bryan L. said...

Tahmeed: You can find his thoughts on that song in Claude Rains’s review for The Unsuspected (1947).

RatedRStar said...

Pretty solid band imo Mastodon.

Bryan L. said...

*Reads Bill & Ted 3 thoughts*

Louis: Soooooo......*air guitar riff*?

Emi Grant said...

RatedRStar: I love them.

Louis Morgan said...

Bryan:

*Air guitar riff* back.

Anonymous said...

Haven't seen them, but I find it funny that both Stark sisters were in both final movies of the X-Men franchise (main series and overall), and both movies turned out awful.

Tim said...

Shaggy Rogers: i never really understood why All About Eve won Best Sound

Shaggy Rogers said...

Tim: I cann't understand the victory too

Louis Morgan said...

RIP Chadwick Boseman...hard to believe.

Emi Grant said...

I genuinely, genuinely thought those were fake headlines. Gone too soon.

R.I.P. Chadwick Boseman

Michael McCarthy said...

Jesus fuckin Christ. How is this happening.

Rest in Power Chadwick Boseman

Mitchell Murray said...

Geeze...I had no idea he was battling colon cancer, at such a young age no less.

Rest in peace, Chadwick Boseman. You will surely be remembered.

Calvin Law said...

Bazinterma: Come on man, not the fucking time and place for that second comment.

Wish this was fake. Rest in Power, Chadwick. You will always be a legend to so many.

ruthiehenshallfan99 said...

Rest in Peace, Chadwick Boseman

Matt Mustin said...

R.I.P. Chadwick Boseman. A devastating, truly shocking loss. He was so good, and he had so much ahead of him.

Robert MacFarlane said...

RIP Chadwick Boseman. I am not taking this news well.

Shaggy Rogers said...

Wow! What an abrupt shock!

RIP Chadwick Boseman

BRAZINTERMA said...

Calvin: Sorry, I accidentally said bullshit

RIP Chadwick Boseman

Aidan Pittman said...

R.I.P. Chadwick Boseman
I can't believe this... gone way too soon...

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

This is absolutely unbelievable.
Rest in peace, Chadwick Boseman. He was a terrific actor, and as someone who's done so much for equal representation, this is a hard pill to swallow. He will be missed.

Luke Higham said...

RIP Chadwiick Boseman, I'm absolutely stunned.

John Smith said...

Rip Chadwick Boseman. Wakanda forever

Bryan L. said...

Rest in Peace, Chadwick Boseman

I honestly can't believe it.

Bryan L. said...

1. Widmark
2. Guinness
3. Garfield
4. Marais
5. Price

Tim said...

What ? i just can't believe that this has happened



Rest in Piece Chadwick Boseman

RatedRStar said...

RIP Chadwick Boseman

Heartbreaking

Scott Gingold said...

RIP Chadwick Boseman

Louis, would you consider doing a review right now for supporting actor for Boseman in Da 5 Bloods?

Maciej said...

RIP Chadwick Boseman

Anonymous said...

I wanted it to be fake news and just don't want to believe it.

RIP Chadwick Boseman. You're already a legend

Robert MacFarlane said...

Scott: He could get nominated.

Calvin Law said...

Let’s wait till Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. He has a really good role in that from what I’ve heard.

Calvin Law said...

And yeah...still hurting over that news.

Louis Morgan said...

Scott:

Right now? No. Later? Maybe.