Alternate Best Actor 1970: Richard Harris in The Molly Maguires

Richard Harris did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Detective James McPharlan/James McKenna in The Molly Maguires. 

The Molly Maguires is a good though not great film (and the subject matter/scenario implies that possibility) about a detective infiltrating a criminal gang of discontented Irish miners in Pennsylvania.

 

I'll be honest going into this film the first time I honestly expected a reversal of the roles. This being with Sean Connery as the infiltrating policeman and Richard Harris as the Irish radical. That's not the case though an interesting reversal of expectations against the actors' more typical presences. Harris though gets an alternative towards the potentially more wild role as the quiet detective carefully infiltrating the organization by first coming to town like any old immigrant. This is where we perhaps get a little more expected Harris with the first thing he does is getting into a fight. Harris is always game to that kind of intensity though that isn't the truth of the character, and even this instance is portrayed by him as very much minor within the nature of his James. Where we get more of the man actually is where we follow him immediately after that where he meets with his police contact. This is where we see Harris's overarching approach in this role which is a very quiet and internalized performance from him. This as we initially see him speaking towards his handler, that which he puts no great joy in remarking on the duty. Initially rather Harris just carries himself with a sort of professional distance within the situation. Speaking towards it without pleasure, but without an exact conflict. Harris rather initially depicts the professional within James as he goes about his task. 

We follow then James as he goes about his infiltration of the group by essentially making himself seem like the most normal of men in the situations. Harris is good in playing the part of James playing the part, not as this major facade but rather the man James would be if he weren't a detective. The tell really being almost entirely within Harris's eyes that carry with them an incisiveness in certain moments as he attempts to decipher where he can find his path into the Molly Maguires led by Connery's "Black Jack" Kehoe. Otherwise we see James living his life as a miner and there Harris excels within his work as the quiet leading man. This in just presenting a charm, though tempered for Harris, in his moments with a local religious woman Mary (Samantha Eggar). This in creating an earnest kind of chemistry between them. This where we perhaps see the real James in these effectively tender moments in which the two share their seemingly modest dreams outside of the dismal living. In the community Harris doesn't project James being a leader, but rather seemingly just a good man looking for a path. This after one test after another by Cohoe's men, these tests that James beats again through a modest consistency. Harris again portraying well just the calm demeanor of the man who is doing his job well by mostly not making a great deal of noise and just gradually making his way into the organization of the Molly Maguires. 

Within this though we see as the further James infiltrates the further there is a sense of empathy for the plight of the men. Harris is terrific in presenting this certain shame that grows in his performance and a certain underlying passion when he states a certain understanding of the men's discontent. Harris offering a certain almost academic manner of the man still firmly doing his job as detective but with a sense of concern for the nature of what forces every man, even himself, to go to such extremes for his own livelihood. When he does infiltrate the organization then Harris portrays James as both working against them but also trying to save them. This in delivering a real passion in the moment of speaking so calmly an urging to not take risky maneuvers and to avoid bringing the law against them. This while showing not a hint of satisfaction when he maintains his position as spy within the ranks of the organization. Eventually this resolves with the men being arrested and sentenced to be executed. I will say this is where the flaws of the film are felt, the biggest one being that Connery's Black Jack I think should've been on more even footing as a lead with a more substantial connection between him and James. The biggest reason for this is the best scene of the film is the final one where we really emphasize this relationship which sadly wasn't given enough time to it. Harris though makes the most of the scene. This as he delivers a powerful sense of empathy in his eyes, but there is also still this certain urge for understanding. This as he speaks with an broken camaraderie. This as he speaks with warmth on their old times together, but a sadness around this. This as Harris conveys the idea of James not exactly knowing what to do with the man he did call friend. He grants the sense of that friendship but also articulates the right modest passion when he tries to understand why Jack didn't stop despite James trying to save him. When Jack finally pushes him though Harris reveals a greater depression in James for what came about his task. This as Harris naturally segues this to a bit of hostility, sensibly as Jack literally attacks him. The hostility though that he paints with a painful shade of grey as man aware both are victims of the same system. Frankly this scene should've gone on for longer, however the strength of the moment suggests what is missing within the rest of the film. This in truly exploring the relationship between both men and really their ideologies on how to escape their plight, one with the system the other against it. Still Harris provides a strong anchor for the film here and really delivers as much as he can within the confines of the piece. It's a very good performance, I just wish the film was a bit more dynamic of a piece overall for him to work with.