Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1940: Results

5. George Sanders in Foreign Correspondent - Sanders gives a very entertaining performance that finds just the right tone to both lighten the mood while still bringing the needed gravity for the thriller.

Best Scene: ffolliott saves Van Meer.

4. Frank Morgan in The Shop Around the Corner - Morgan gives a funny but also surprisingly nuanced depiction of a man whose vulnerabilities slowly get the better of him.

Best Scene: Matuschek apologizes to Alfred.

3. Herbert Marshall in Foreign Correspondent - Marshall gives a very effective performance that realizes the twist involving his character, but also never allows this to simplify his character. 

Best Scene: Fisher goes to see the captured Van Meer. 

2. George Sanders in Rebecca - Sanders gives a great performance by being just so enjoyably despicable as his selfish and vapid character.

Best Scene: Favell tries to blackmail Maxim. 

1. John Carradine in The Grapes of Wrath - I must not that this again is a year where I could go with any of my top four in any order. At the moment though my winner is John Carradine for his especially compelling and moving depiction of a former preacher attempting to find the truth again.

Best Scene: Tom meets Casy again. 

Overall Rank:

1. John Carradine in The Grapes of Wrath
2. Walter Brennan in The Westerner
3. George Sanders in Rebecca
4. Herbert Marshall in Foreign Correspondent
5. Frank Morgan in The Shop Around the Corner
6. George Sanders in Foreign Correspondent
7. John Qualen in The Grapes of Wrath
8. Joseph Schildkraut in The Shop Around the Corner 
9. Walter Catlett in Pinocchio
10. Cliff Edwards in Pinocchio 
11. Donald Crisp in Brother Orchid 
12. Edmund Gwenn in Foreign Correspondent
13. Frank Morgan in The Mortal Storm
14. Russell Simpson in The Grapes of Wrath
15. Ralph Bellamy in His Girl Friday
16. Edmund Gwenn in Pride and Prejudice
17. Robert Benchley in Foreign Correspondent 
18. Akim Tamiroff in The Great McGinty
19. Emlyn Williams in The Stars Look Down
20. Basil Rathbone in the Mark of Zorro 
21. Edward Rigby in The Stars Look Down
22. William Demarest in The Great McGinty
23. Christian Rub in Pinocchio 
24. Hay Petrie in Contraband
25. Eugene Pallette in The Mark of Zorro
26. Shemp Howard in The Bank Dick 
27. Ralph Bellamy in Brother Orchid
28. John Qualen in His Girl Friday
29. Thomas Mitchell in Our Town
30. Albert Bassermann in Foreign Correspondent
31. Randolph Scott in My Favorite Wife
32. John Carradine in The Return of Frank James
33. Claude Rains in The Sea Hawk 
34. Humphrey Bogart in Brother Orchid
35. Felix Bressart in The Shop Around The Corner
36. James Stephenson in The Letter
37. Henry Daniell in The Great Dictator 
38. Frankie Darro in Pinocchio
39. Leo G. Carroll in Rebecca
40. Herbert Marshall in The Letter
41. Charley Grapewin in The Grapes of Wrath 
42. Melville Cooper in Pride and Prejudice
43. Charles Judels in Pinocchio
44. Henry Daniell in The Sea Hawk
45. Jack Oakie in The Great Dictator 
46. Roland Young in The Philadelphia Story
47. Paul Hurst in The Westerner
48. C. Aubrey Smith in Rebecca
49. John Halliday in The Philadelphia Story 
50. J. Edward Bromberg in The Mark of Zorro
51.  Nigel Bruce in Rebecca
52. Bela Lugosi in Black Friday
53. Jackie Cooper in The Return of Frank James
54. Guy Kibbee in Our Town
55. Reginald Gardiner in The Great Dictator
56. Gene Lockhart in Abe Lincoln in Illinois
57. Reginald Denny in Rebecca
58. William Tracy in The Shop Around the Corner
59. Harry Davenport in Foreign Correspondent
60. William Tracy in Strike Up The Band
61. John Howard in The Philadelphia Story
62. Harry Carey in They Knew What They Wanted 
63. Edward Ashley-Cooper in Pride and Prejudice
64. Fred Stone in The Westerner
65. William Gargan in They Knew What They Wanted
66. Robert Young in The Mortal Storm
67. Robert Stack in The Mortal Storm
68. William T. Orr in The Mortal Storm

Next Year: 1995 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1940: Herbert Marshall in Foreign Correspondent

Herbert Marshall did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Stephen Fisher in Foreign Correspondent.

Herbert Marshall plays Stephen Fisher the head of an organization that seeks to find a peaceful solution to world conflicts while war is clearly brewing just before the start of World War II. We first meet Fisher just before our hero Johnny Jones (Joel McCrea) is to embark on his journey as a foreign correspondent in Europe. Marshall presents Stephen Fisher as a very affable man with an unassuming charm. He seems fit to be the man in head of his organization as Marshall simply exudes a respectability, and most definite dignity. He is soon met once again when Jones makes it Europe and attends an important conference for Fisher's organization where Jones meets Fisher's firebrand daughter Carol (Lorraine Day). Marshall is excellent in his scenes with Day as he conveys such a gentle warmth in every interaction with her. There is never a question of Fisher's love towards his daughter as Marshall creates a genuine and loving relationship. Once again Marshall reinforces the idea that Fisher just seems to be a honestly great man that no one could possibly question his motives.

Of course in typical Hitchcock style we soon find out, even before Johnny does, that Fisher is actually the main villain of the film, the man behind the plot to kidnap a Dutch diplomat Van Meer (Albert Bassermann) who apparently knows some very important information that would help the unnamed Nazis. Although this twist is actually told pretty early on it is certainly an effective one since Marshall makes Fisher seem like such a good man. There was perhaps the potential that once the twist takes place that this whole idea behind Fisher could evaporate, and he could have become a more straight forward villain. What's remarkable about Marshall's work is that he never allows it to be that simple, in fact he never begins to start playing Fisher as a villain. Marshall instead portrays Fisher as a man who still is going about a certain duty, rather than some fiend simply trying to bring evil to the world. When he speaks of the plan Marshall reveals some urgency in his voice that of a man who seem actually passionate about what this scheme will do for his cause, opposed to what the plan consists of. Marshall adds a great deal of nuance to the character in momentary reactions as he never loses that kindness about him, it's not an act for him, particularly in regards to his interactions with his daughter where he never loses that true fatherly affection.

As the plot progresses and it takes more extreme measure to both get the information from Van Meer as well as keeping others from finding the man, Marshall is outstanding in again never making Fisher as a straight villain. His reactions are surprisingly moving, when Fisher sees what his men have started doing, as he portrays a definite regret and shame in the man due to the methods he must take. In this though Marshall realizes Fisher's actions though still with understanding and his performance suggests a man who is doing something difficult though something he believes must be the right thing to do. In the final scenes of the film when Fisher explains his actions to his daughter, Marshall again is superb because he does not make this as some sort of evil monologue. Marshall instead delivers it as an attempt to make his daughter grasp what has motivated him, which Marshall never allows a suggestion of selfishness or wickedness to even be taken into account. Marshall creates the sense of how this pains Fisher's in the explanation as though he is forcing himself to realize that his means do not justify his ends, and he has never been doing the right thing. This leads to the his last scene where Fisher finally gets the chance to do some actual good. Marshall is heartbreaking in a completely silent moment as he shows Fisher finally making the choice to do what is truly right. This is a great performance by Herbert Marshall that only improves upon re-watch as wholly earns not only the twist but also successfully makes the villain's demise a poignant loss rather than a satisfying defeat.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1940

And the Nominees Were Not:

Frank Morgan in The Shop Around the Corner

John Carradine in The Grapes of Wrath

George Sanders in Rebecca

George Sanders in Foreign Correspondent

Herbert Marshall in Foreign Correspondent

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1941: Results

5. Joseph Cotten in Citizen Kane - Aside from his scenes as an old man Cotten gives a considerably more assured performance than most of co-stars, and effectively creates a sympathetic character arc to follow along Kane's own. 

Best Scene: After Kane loses the election.

4. Herbert Marshall in The Little Foxes - Marshall gives a very moving portrayal of the physical and mental decay of a decent man among fiends.

Best Scene: Horace rejects Regina's request.

3. Edward Arnold in The Devil and Daniel Webster - Arnold realizes the assumed greatness of his character through his strong presence and genuine passion.

Best Scene: Daniel Webster addresses the jury.

2. Laird Cregar in I Wake Up Screaming - Cregar gives a brilliantly grim portrayal of his shadowy detective, but also manages to be rather heartbreaking when explaining the underlying motivations of the character.

Best Scene: Ed Cornell reveals his connection to the deceased.

1. Peter Lorre in The Maltese Falcon - Peter Lorre is superb managing to be both quite humorous and very sinister in his enigmatic portrayal of Joel Cairo. This an amazing year for supporting actor, especially for the 40's, and I really hate to leave Arnold out of the top five.

Best Scene: Cairo's arrival.

Overall Rank:

1. Walter Huston in The Devil and Daniel Webster
2. Van Heflin in Johnny Eager
3. Peter Lorre in The Maltese Falcon
4. Laird Cregar in I Wake Up Screaming
5. Sydney Greenstreet in The Maltese Falcon
6. Edward Arnold in The Devil and Daniel Webster
7. Herbert Marshall in The Little Foxes
8. Joseph Cotten in Citizen Kane
9. Claude Rains in The Wolf Man
10. Claude Rains in Here Comes Mr. Jordan
11. Donald Crisp in How Green Was My Valley
12. Barry Fitzgerald in The Sea Wolf
13. William Demarest in The Lady Eve
14. Elisha Cook, Jr. in The Maltese Falcon
15. Leslie Howard in 49th Parallel
16. John Qualen in The Devil and Daniel Webster
17. Anton Walbrook in 49th Parallel
18. Walter Brennan in Meet John Doe
19. Dana Andrews in Ball of Fire
20. Gene Lockhart in The Sea Wolf
21. Niall MacGinnis in 49th Parallel 
22. Richard Haydn in Ball of Fire
23. Henry Travers in Ball of Fire
24. S.Z. Sakall in Ball of Fire
25. Leonard Kinskey in Ball of Fire
26. Tully Marshall in Ball of Fire
27. Aubrey Mather in Ball of Fire
28. Oskar Homolka in Ball of Fire
29. Edmund Gwenn in The Devil and Miss Jones
30. H.B. Warner in The Devil and Daniel Webster
31. Raymond Massey in 49th Parallel
32. Charles Coburn in The Lady Eve
33. S.Z. Sakall in The Devil and Miss Jones
34. Alan Hale in The Strawberry Blonde
35. Elisha Cook, Jr. in I Wake Up Screaming
36. Finlay Currie in 49th Parallel
37. William Demarest in Sullivan's Travels
38. Edward Everett Horton in Here Comes Mr. Jordan
39. Robert Cummings in The Devil and Miss Jones
40. Edward Arnold in Meet John Doe
41. Jack Carson in Love Crazy
42. Donald MacBride in High Sierra
43. Eugene Pallette in The Lady Eve
44. Ward Bond in The Maltese Falcon
45. Jack Carson in The Strawberry Blonde
46. Porter Hall in Sullivan's Travels
47. Jerome Cowan in The Maltese Falcon
48. Edward Arnold in Johnny Eager
49. James Gleason in Meet John Doe
50. Henry Travers in High Sierra
51. Walter Brennan in Sergeant York
52. Laurence Olivier in 49th Parallel
53. Rhys Williams in How Green Was My Valley
54. Richard Carlson in The Little Foxes
55. Dan Duryea in Ball of Fire
56. Barry Fitzgerald in How Green Was My Valley
57. Henry Hull in High Sierra
58. Frances Sullivan in "Pimpernel Smith"
59. Nigel Bruce in Suspicion
60. Dan Duryea in The Little Foxes
61. Bela Lugosi in The Wolf Man
62. Ray Collins in Citizen Kane
63. Vladimir Sokoloff in Love Crazy
64. Barton MacLane in The Maltese Falcon
65. James Barton in The Shepherd of the Hills 
66. Gene Lockhart in The Devil and Daniel Webster
67. Ralph Bellamy in The Wolf Man 
68. Paul Stewart in Citizen Kane
69. Cornel Wilde in High Sierra
70. Charles Dingle in The Little Foxes
71. Arthur Kennedy in High Sierra 
72. Ward Bond in The Shepherd of the Hills
73. Leo G. Carroll in Suspicion 
74. Walter Pidgeon in How Green Was My Valley
75. William Alland in Citizen Kane
76. Ward Bond in Sergeant York
77. Carl Benton Reed in The Little Foxes
78. Alan Mowbray in That Hamilton Woman
79. Sam Levene in Shadow of the Thin Man
80. Walter Abel in Hold Back the Dawn
81. George Tobias in Sergeant York 
82. Allyn Joslyn in I Wake Up Screaming
83. Cy Kendall in Johnny Eager 
84. George Coulouris in Citizen Kane
85. Alan Mowbray in I Wake Up Screaming
86. Everett Sloane in Citizen Kane
87. James Gleason in Here Comes Mr. Jordan
88. Arthur Shields in How Green Was My Valley
89. Paul Stewart in Johnny Eager

Next Year: 1990 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1941: Herbert Marshall in The Little Foxes

Herbert Marshall did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Horace Giddens in The Little Foxes.

The Little Foxes is an effective drama about the corrupt inner workings of a greedy family.

Herbert Marshall plays Horace Giddens the man unlucky enough to be married to the cold Regina (Bette Davis), which unfortunately makes him family with the despicable Hubbards. The one thing all the Hubbards hold in common, including Horace's wife, is they seem to prefer money above all else. Horace does not make his first appearance until some time until the film, although he spoken about mainly in the context that he has a terrible heart condition that will likely lead to his death. Herbert Marshall portrays Horace as a man of quiet dignity as he very gently interacts with everyone including his daughter Alexandra (Teresa Wright) or anyone else who has the slightest hint of human decency. Marshall very quickly makes Horace the most likable character the most likable character in the film by only giving off a very honest demeanor while clearly establishing that Horace in no way shares the avaricious nature of his family by law. Marshall exudes an understated compassion as he makes the love of his daughter a simple fact, as it's clearly what he cares about most in life.

Marshall is quite effective as he portrays Horace as no fool in regards to his interactions with his wife and the rest of the greedy Hubbards. Marshall presents it well as essentially that Horace has simply had enough of their behavior. As he interacts with them, and discovers each new plot in which to make themselves even richer than they already are Marshall does not express surprise. He rather bluntly shows the disdain in a boredom of sorts. Marshall makes it quite clear that it is all simply business as usual for them, and that Horace is unable to do much more than almost roll his eyes at the antics of his relatives. Marshall though does distinguish this from Horace's physical state which also leaves him in a certain state. Marshall portrays well clearly the other sort of exhaustion from his heart condition, as he very carefully takes a calm approach in his manner as he shows Horace is clearly trying to avoid any undue stress.

Although Horace is able to avoid his in-laws he cannot completely ignore his wife which is where the problems lie for the character. Marshall is terrific in the scenes with Davis as he continually keeps Horace trying to keep his distance from her, to ignore her pointless bickering. Marshall is rather moving because he does not show this to be a coldness in Horace, but simply Horace's understanding of the coldness in Regina. There are moments where Marshall brings a great deal of poignancy as Horace seems to try to reach out in some way to his wife, to show his past love for her, but he only ever receives a cold response. Horace continuously suffers the ill-will of his wife, and Marshall is especially good in realizing the slow decay of Horace's physical state. In every fight Marshall conveys the increase in the pressure and stress while so sadly showing that Horace obviously wants no part of the pointless drama his wife has created. This is a very good performance by Herbert Marshall as he makes Horace an appropriately tragic figure, bringing such an understated likability to the part while fully realizing the evil inflicted upon him by his shallow wife.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1941

And the Nominees Were Not:

Joseph Cotten in Citizen Kane

Laird Cregar in I Wake Up Screaming

Edward Arnold in The Devil and Daniel Webster

Peter Lorre in The Maltese Falcon

Herbert Marshall in The Little Foxes