Best Actor 1928: Richard Barthelmess in The Patent Leather Kid

Richard Barthelmess received one of his two Oscar nominations for portraying the titular character of The Patent Leather Kid.

The Patent Leather Kid is a slow and overlong, though not really terrible film, that follows a boxer turned soldier.

 

Often times silent performers often had a pretty distinct look, I would say that isn't really true for Richard Barthelmess. He honestly just looks like "some guy", which does make it as easy to stand out within silence as some performers. Although I think to be fair to Barthelmess he doesn't have a lot of the qualities that are immediately more problematic in attempted dramatic silent actors. This as he doesn't immediately start doing the bug eyes and wild expressions, in fact it must be said he acts quite well in his opening scene, where we see the kid entering a boxing ring, described as having a great ego. Well Barthelmess exudes that with this sly grin on his face towards the crowd and just the manner of a man on top the world. A flaw I suppose with the film actually is this is not a silent film that makes use of the "handicapped" version of the medium particularly well. This as it often times kept me wishing we could actually hear the characters, which isn't always the case with silent films. I suppose one has to give credit to Barthelmess's performance however that I wished that. This as in his romantic scene, one can see the manner of the seduction in the instance, a seduction still with a certain narcissistic glint. This even as there is some ego felt, but in a way perhaps even more needed to be conveyed however that sits on the film rather than what Barthelmess is doing. Of course as much as Barthelmess establishes the character, he perhaps struggles a bit in making us care about him in any particular way, although I wouldn't say this is his fault.

I'll admit the film isn't helping him there when early on the film he punches out his love interest to shut her up, in what I believe is intended as a comic scene. I suppose Barthelmess handles that moment as best as he can but it doesn't endear us to the kid, even in a self-destructive protagonist kind of way. I suppose thankfully he gets knocked out himself, and again the break of that ego is actually a well performed moment. This in conveying the moment of disbelief and distress effectively to be sure. Afterwards even in his presentation of the man just with a bitterness within his expression. The film then shifts to being about World War I somewhat randomly, where the kid initially avoids fighting, but I guess enough people guilt him into it, to eventually do it. So as a soldier it must be said that Barthelmess continues to acquit himself well enough. We are given consistent understanding of his emotion, whether it be frustration of his position or eventually the natural wartime concerns. He kind of takes a backseat to the depiction of the war more often than not, but when it does cut to him he does deliver well enough. This even in a moment of dealing with a dying comrade, Barthelmess artfully goes from empathy, to sadness, to anger within the moment. It is without a doubt some fine performing. Although the film struggled to hold my attention whenever I saw what Barthelmess was actually doing, he was delivering on the story of the kid. This in his transformation from selfish boxer to selfless hero. I wouldn't say this is well articulated in the film, but Barthelmess creates the appropriate arc with just his own performance, at least to the best of his abilities given the limitations of the film. Although I felt particularly clinical when watching this film, I can't fault Barthelmess. This is a good performance that conveys the emotions of the piece without resorting to the standard overacting of the period, even if I never cared about the piece. 

Best Actor 1928: Results

3. Charlie Chaplin in The Circus- Chaplin does his usual routine which consist this time of the typical silent overacting, but his physical movements are well done enough to a least be admired even if they did not make me laugh.

2. Richard Barthelmess in The Paten Leather Kid - Although his film isn't compelling but Barthelmess delivers a performance that meets the emotional needs of the part.

1. Emil Jannings in The Last Command- Emil Jannings gives a great performance which relies on subtlety and expert physical command to create an incredibly powerful performance.

Ranking of films
1. The Circus
2. The last Command

Best Actor 1928: Emil Jannings in The Last Command

Emil Jannings won the first best actor Oscar for portraying Gen. Dolgorucki / Grand Duke Sergius Alexander in The Last Command.

The Last Command is a more interesting film than I expected it to be, a film about a Czarist Russian General who goes an becomes a movie extra after the revolution.

 This film presents some astoundingly subtle acting from Emil Jannings in this role. With Jannings you will not see the over done motions and gestures usually seen in silent acting, but instead subtle gestures to greater effect. Jannings begins in the film just perfectly as the proud Russian General who loves Russia and must try to keep control during the turbulent time of the Revolution. His presence is just right always having the right pompous movements in his steps and a right clearly controlling nature in the way in which he moves.He never forces himself to look like the General he just is the General, always perfect and completely fulfilling the look of the part as a silent actor needs to. There is never a doubt in his performance which makes the General's own confidence all the more believable.

He is amazing in this part really because even when many around him overact with their faces and movements Jannings never really does. The closest he comes is when he laughs, but than again he is laughing. He has strong scenes throughout the film because he shows his emotions only with his face, because that is all he can really do in a silent film, and shows the emotions always incredibly well. Especially strong scene is when he attempts to romance a woman, where Jannings clearly shows an interesting romantic side of the General. Showing an actual warmness and passion into his performance with his subtle facial gestures.

His strongest scenes though is the one where he is attacked by revolutionaries and another in his final scene. The scene where he is attacked by revolutionaries is brilliantly handled by Jannings, showing the General attempt to keep power and order is effectively handled. But than after being attacked by the mob his face of surprise and anguish is spectacular. He shows not one obvious emotion but rather allowing us to see what the General is thinking. His change to great general to a lowly film extra is perfectly handled showing his depression and loss clearly. His last speech where he finally gains his old command (although fictionally in a film) and passion back is expertly done by Jannings giving a great performance, and showing that silent performance can be subtle and truly effective.

Best Actor 1928: Charlie Chaplin in The Circus

Charlie Chaplin sort of received his first Oscar nomination for portraying once again The Tramp in The Circus.

The Circus is not the funniest silent comedy ever for me, or even that funny at all. I really did not really smile or laugh very much while watching it, I more of found some of scenes sort of neat and intriguing but really for historical reasons.

Chaplin plays the same character here he played in most of his films, The Tramp. Now in terms of acting in the normal prescribed fashion it is mostly typical silent fare. There is the obvious gestures and faces but Chaplin does not over do them too much, but rather as much as a good silent actor would. He makes his sad faces sad, his scared faces scared, his happy faces happy, all the right way even if it is the obvious way. There is nothing wrong with what he does and he certainly does this well enough. They never seem completely over acted, yes they certainly are a little just to be noticed but not as much as they could be. There are no moments where his faces seem wrong, but they are never that good. There are a few reactions were he shows a little more subtlety like his final face in the film, but there are not enough in the overall performance.

The rest of his performance though resides in his physical comedic performance. Chaplin is clearly experienced here with always making the right moves and doing his trade mark waddle in the right way. He clearly is always perfectly in step and in line making the Tramp's movements completely natural despite being completely absurd. Now I did not find what he did all that funny, but it was nice enough to watch. Most of the comedy attempts come from the direction of what happens to The Tramp than from Chaplin's precise acting. The things I liked more in the film were the set pieces more than his physical movements in this particular film. 

Best Actor 1928

And the first nominees were:

Emil Jannings in The Last Command

Emil Jannings in The Way of All Flesh

Richard Barthelmess in The Noose

Richard Barthelmess in The Patent Leather Kid


And Sort of Charlie Chaplin in The Circus


The Way of all Flesh is lost, and both of Barthelmess's films seem to be obscure archive only. Chaplin was nominated apparently but they took him out of the competition and gave him an honorary award instead. I myself will include him since he was sort of nominated and also so there will be an actual competition. I will come back to this year if I ever happen to come across one of those archives or if a copy of The Way of All Flesh is miraculously found but I doubt either of these things will occur anytime soon, so I will do this year as is anyways.  

Therefore it is between Jannings in The Last Command or Chaplin in The Circus. Who do you Pick? Who do you predict?