Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1976: Results

5. Robert Duvall in Network - Duvall absolutely fulfills the role of the corporate hatchet men, and smartly differs himself from his other co-stars by showing that only money and power motivate the man.

Best Scene: Firing Max.

4. Carl Weathers in Rocky - Weathers gives a very entertaining yet nuanced depiction of a champion boxer.

Best Scene: Deciding on the Italian Stallion.

3. Chief Dan George in The Outlaw Josey Wales - Dan George gives a moving, funny, and very unique depiction of the "wise Indian".

Best Scene: His first monologue.

2. Hal Holbrook in All The President's Men - Holbrook gives a brilliant performance that creates such an enigmatic and fascinating character. 

Best Scene: Deep Throat's introduction.

1. Robert Shaw in Robin and Marian - Good Prediction RatedRStar. Robert Shaw gives a great performance. He brings his usual menace that you'd expect from him, but also offers a humorous and surprisingly moving depiction of a tired man forced to relive the past.

Best Scene: The duel. 

Overall Rank:

1. Laurence Olivier in Marathon Man
2. Robert Shaw in Robin and Marian
3. Hal Holbrook in All The President's Men
4. Chief Dan George in The Outlaw Josey Wales
5. Carl Weathers in Rocky
6. Burgess Meredith in Rocky
7. Robert Duvall in Network
8. Jason Robards in All The President's Men
9. Nicol Williamson in Robin and Marian
10. David Warner in The Omen
11. Roy Scheider in Marathon Man
12. James Stewart in The Shootist
13. Harry Dean Stanton in Missouri Breaks
14. Jeff Goldblum in Next Stop, Greenwich Village
15. Richard Harris in Robin and Marian
16. Zero Mostel in The Front
17. Donald Sutherland in The Eagle Has Landed
18. Martin Scorsese in Taxi Driver
19. Robert Duvall in The Eagle Has Landed
20. Harvey Keitel in Taxi Driver
21. Joe Spinell in Rocky 
22. Peter Falk in Murder By Death
23. John Vernon in The Outlaw Josey Wales 
24. Ned Beatty in Silver Streak
25. Peter Sellers in Murder By Death
26. Christopher Walken in Next Stop, Greenwich Village
27. William Devane in Marathon Man
28. Richard Boone in The Shootist
29. Richard Pryor in Silver Streak
30. Marty Feldman in Silent Movie
31. Jackie Earle Haley in The Bad News Bears
32. James Coco in Murder By Death
33. Donald Pleasence in The Eagle Has Landed
34. Patrick McGoohan in Silver Streak
35. Dom DeLuise in Silent Movie
36. Erland Josephson in Face to Face
37. Herbert Lom in The Pink Panther Strikes Again
38. Vic Morrow in The Bad News Bears
39. Alec Guinness in Murder By Death
40. Ron Howard in The Shootist
41. Melvyn Douglas in The Tenant
42. Jack Warden in All The President's Men
43. Burt Reynolds in Silent Movie
44. Ian Holm in Robin and Marian
45. Randy Quaid in Missouri Breaks 
46. Tony Burton in Rocky
47. Richard Narita in Murder By Death
48. Ronny Cox in Bound For Glory
49. Gunnar Bjornstrand in Face to Face
50. Patrick Troughton in The Omen
51. Stephen Collins in All The President's Men  
52. James Caan in Silent Movie
53. James Cromwell in Murder By Death
54. William Katt in Carrie
55. Treat Williams in The Eagle Has Landed
56. Dick Crockett in The Pink Panthers Strikes Again
57. Sid Caesar in Silent Movie
58. Martin Balsam in All The President's Men
59. Leo McKern in The Omen
60. Paul Newman in Silent Movie
61. Albert Brooks in Taxi Driver
62. Harvey Spencer Stephens in The Omen
63. Michael Murphy in The Front
64. Will Sampson in The Outlaw Josey Wales
65. Scatman Crothers in Silver Streak 
66. Truman Capote in Murder By Death
67. John Travolta in Carrie
68. Robert Walden in All The President's Men
69. Ned Beatty in Network
70. Fredric Forrest in Missouri Breaks 
71. Anthony Quayle in The Eagle Has Landed
72. Denholm Elliot in Robin and Marian
73. John Carradine in The Shootist 
74. Albert Popwell in The Enforcer
75. Peter Boyle in Taxi Driver
76. David Niven in Murder By Death
77. Wesley Addy in Network
78. Burt Young in Rocky
79. Harold Gould in Silent Movie
80. Antonio Fargas in Next Stop Greenwich Village
81. Clifton James in Silver Streak
82. Thayer David in Rocky
83. Charles Grodin in King Kong 
84. Larry Hagman in The Eagle Has Landed
85. Kenneth Haigh in Robin and Marian 
86. Ed Lauter in Family Plot
87. John Lithgow in Obsession  
88. Arthur Burghardt in Network
89. Sydney Lassick in Carrie
90. Hugh O'Brian in The Shootist
91. John McLiam in Missouri Breaks
92. Bill McKinney in The Shootist 
93. Bill McKinney in The Outlaw Josey Wales
94. Harry Morgan in The Shootist 
95. DeVeren Bookwalter in The Enforcer

Next Year: 1940 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1976: Chief Dan George in The Outlaw Josey Wales

Chief Dan George did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Lone Watie in The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Chief Dan George received his only Oscar nomination for portraying a comically inclined though straightforward Native American chief in Little Big Man. His role in The Outlaw Josey Wales is a bit even less traditional as seen in George's first appearance which comes after the titular Outlaw (Clint Eastwood) is well on the run, and has just lost his young sidekick and runs into Chief Dan George as Cherokee in rather unusual dress considering that he is topped with a stovepipe hat, and wearing a suit both which are purposefully imitating Abraham Lincoln's attire. At first George manages to be so enjoyably pathetic in his portrayal of Lone's attempt to corner Wales himself, particularly his surprise when he sees that Josey has quickly gotten the best of him. George ends up being quite moving though in just a matter of seconds as his face falls into a certain defeat. It's a particularly sad defeat though in that there is such a strong resignation that George suggests that it is not just a man being mad he was caught of guard, or even scared that he might be killed,rather it is the fact that is just is yet another time in which a white man has sneaked up on him.

After Josey indicates that basically he's not going to kill the old man Lone continues to tell his personal story as a Cherokee which has mostly involved one defeat after another over the years. George is incredible in Lone's little monologue as he never leaves it on a single note. George actually begins as though the whole thing is one big joke over the years as he describes being kicked from one place to another. When he refers to the death of his family from the trail of tears though there is a brief though palatable sorrow and hatred in his voice just for that moment. He continues on his life of misfortune and tells Josey of how it was that he found himself clothed in the way he was, which was basically for a show for the government. George brings just a quiet exasperation as he tells the odd story of the patronizing secretary of the interior, though he throws in just a bit of sarcastic show of pride when reciting the words of the man towards Lone, and his fellow natives who had come to Washington. Then there seems just a hint of actual perseverance and determination as he informs Josey that he chose to wage war on the Union due to the meeting, only to artfully end on one more comic note in his reaction as he sees Josey has fallen asleep from his story.

That's simply George's introductory scene, but it sets well what he'll bring to the film with his presence. That monologue could have been just a simple depressing story, but it's fantastic just how much character George gives just through that one monologue. He's great in his very next scene as he shows such an attempt at an honest pride when he's believed he's snuck up on Josey, unfortunately for him someone else sneaks up on him, and George's "aw shucks" reaction is just hilarious. Thankfully for the film Lone decides to go along with Josey on his adventure to escape to Mexico, and becomes his sidekick for the trip. George is great in every scene in which he appears as Wales's sidekick as well as almost his promoter of sorts. George is wonderful the way he enliven every scene just in his appearance as interacts so astutely with Eastwood's performance. In one way being the far more eager fellow than the technically rather somber Wales, and George is terrific the way he shows that old Lone Watie gets such a thrill out of Josey apply his trade so to speak. I particularly love one sequence in which he basically narrates Josey's preparation in front of a group of thugs, and George brings so much humor, astonishment and even some intensity as Lone calls out Josey's moves.

Although George is marvelous at being a secondary hero for the film, George does not leave it there and creates a very interesting character of Lone Waite past simply being a fun fellow adventurer, although he certainly is that. George's is quite fascinating in the way once he goes on the adventure with Wales he seems to find himself as as a proper Cherokee again. What's so splendid is the way George does not do the more typical Indian cliches of mysteriously knowing the way of the land in the way what animals mean or how to properly track someone. George takes the mystery out of it, but in a memorable way. George plays it as a given that a native American should be able to do all these things, but he says it in such a delightful down to earth fashion as though he's aware of any legends treating them simply as a fact that he needs to live up to. George is very endearing as he shows this as the way Lone is once again accepting who he should be, and tries to live up to his causes of old. The way George slowly renews the confidence of the old man is brilliantly done. The film does not specifically stop for him, after all he is not even the central character, and the film is one almost in constant movement, but George manages to naturally as well powerfully transition his character from basically a worn out old husk of a man, to once again a life filled warrior. This is a great performance by Chief Dan George as he makes so much out of the role that in lesser hand could have been maybe just too goofy, or simply too sad. George manages to balance both out flawlessly giving both a very funny and rather moving portrait of this Cherokee who endeavors to persevere.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1976

And the Nominees Were Not:

Hal Holbrook in All The President's Men

Carl Weathers in Rocky

Robert Duvall in Network

Robert Shaw in Robin and Marian

Chief Dan George in The Outlaw Josey Wales 

As Well As:

Ron Howard in The Shootist

Marty Feldman in Silent Movie

Best Supporting Actor 1970: Results

5. Richard S. Catellano in Lovers and Other Strangers- Castellano is good even though his role is needlessly gimmicky at first, and rarely focused upon as a whole.

4. John Marley in Love Story- Marley has few scenes but he makes the most of everyone. It is a moving and warm performance that fulfills its purpose.

3. Chief Dan George in Little Big Man- Chief Dan George gives an appropriately wise, humorous, and dignified performance as the Chief who is all three of those things. He does not do much more than that though.

2. John Mills in Ryan's Daughter- John Mills creates a unique character that also has an emotional pull without seeming unnatural as he easily could have been.

1. Gene Hackman in I Never Sang For My Father- Good Prediction Dinasztie, and RatedRStar. Gene Hackman gives an incredible performance from beginning to end. He completely realizes the terrible struggle, and relationship his character has with his father. It is truly memorable and wonderful work from a great actor.

Deserving Performances:
Karl Malden in Patton
Alec Guinness in Scrooge
Trevor Howard in Ryan's Daughter

Best Supporting Actor 1970: Chief Dan George in Little Big Man

Chief Dan George received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Chief Old Lodge Skins in Little Big Man.

Little Big Man portrays Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman) a white man raised by Natives who goes through many misadventures in the old west during the Indian Wars.

Native American Chief Dan George portrays Chief Old Lodge Skins another Native American Chief in Little Big Man who is humorous, dignified, and wise. An interesting thing about changing attitudes is it can cause one cliche to go away such as the brutal evil Native American chief, and they then can be simply be replaced by another which is the wise humorous chief. Well I cannot actually say how many not evil chiefs appeared before Dan George's portrayal, there were some before like Jeff Chandler in Broken Arrow, but later on the friendly wise funny chief is a very common character now.

The point is Chief Dan George portrays the part in a fashion I expected to be as the Chief character, and Dan George being a Chief himself it certainly fits. His early scenes he is simply just somewhat humorous charming to a degree, and of course dignified. He is rather quiet, but he conveys the wisdom of his character well, but never builds his character too much into something otherworldly having the occasional comical reaction that are not overplayed but effective in giving a lighter quality to the part.

Later in the film though another aspect required is to give dramatic speeches about the evils of the White man, which actually are the most heavy handed moments in the film that are the most obvious moments in the film really just in the way they are written. Now do not get me wrong in my statement by problem is in that the film was already get the point across visually quite well without having to hammer it in with speeches. To his credit though Chief Dan George is actually very strong in his delivery of his speeches bringing a passion to them that although does not rid them of their heavy handed nature are far more effective due to his performance.

Eventually in the film he seems to become philosophical soul searcher of sorts after he becomes blind. Dan George does not change that much with this part of his performance he more of simply becomes less lively in his performance, and a little more sad and wily instead. Chief Dan George doesn't make Old Lodge Skins dreary as he still shows a charming spirit in his performance, but he certainly shows a lesser degree of heart in Old Lodge Skins from what has happened to him.

I want to make this clear that I do believe this to be a good performance, but I can't see the great performance some seem to. In the end it is mostly just a standard  kindly chief performance and much of the time there isn't anything particularly special about his performance. It is always good though, but I just not see any moment where he really sets his Native American Chief from other similar characters. He is one of the best of the type, but he still feels more like a type than a completely unique character.

Best Supporting Actor 1970

And the Nominees Were:

Gene Hackman in I Never Sang For My Father

Chief Dan George in Little Big Man

John Mills in Ryan's Daughter

John Marley in Love Story

Richard S. Castellano in Lovers and Other Strangers