Best Supporting Actor 1967: Results

5. Cecil Kellaway in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner-  Kellaway is charming in the role, but it never requires more of him than just a little charm.

4. John Cassavetes in The Dirty Dozen- Cassavetes is appropriately rebellious in his early scenes, but later in the film it becomes quite hard to ever distinguish him from the rest of the dozen.

3. Michael J. Pollard in Bonnie and Clyde- Pollard gives the least memorable performance of the main cast, but this is a strong cast. He plays his past as a rather modest and impressionable boy just as he should, as well as does shine in a  few key moments.

2. George Kennedy in Cool Hand Luke- Although Kennedy does some unneeded overacting from time to time in his performance he still gives a good performance. He is entertaining and especially effective in showing Dragline's complete admiration for the titular Luke, which is an essential part of his film.

1. Gene Hackman in Bonnie and Clyde- Good prediction Dinasztie . Gene Hackman easily gets my vote as he gives such a great performance despite some clear challenges in the part. Although not a single scene focuses solely on his character Hackman fully realizes not only his character but also how he factors in with the rest of the gang. There is not a wasted moment in Hackman's entire performance and when any opportunity presents itself in the film Hackman makes the most of it creating some very effective moments throughout his performance. 

Best Supporting Actor 1967: Michael J. Pollard in Bonnie and Clyde

Michael J. Pollard received his only Oscar nomination so far for portraying C.W. Moss in Bonnie and Clyde.

Michael J. Pollard plays C.W. Moss a gas station attendant who Bonnie and Clyde come across and due to his skills as a mechanic invite him to join their gang. C.W. is rather impressionable as well as not exactly a deep thinker. He basically does what he is told as an eager fan would, and becomes quite sad when he fails to meet their expectations. He is not the brains or the life of the gang, but really just basically an extra gun when it comes to where he stands in the group.

Pollard is very good in just being this impressionable boy of sorts. There is always a certain naivety as well as an unremarkable quality to his performance that absolutely is right for C.W. There is not a single scene where he takes command of the scene, nor should there be since all C.W. really does do is follow orders that are given to him. Pollard most certianly does make C.W. just as he should be a not too notable fellow.

I will say that because of this I really did not notice Pollard during a great of the film. He really is just there in a non too special way. Pollard really does not do anything to make you pay attention to him in scenes with the gang, something that co-nominee Gene Hackman was able to do marvelously. It is not that Pollard is bad he just really does not stand out most of the time.

Pollard though does have some very brief moments that focus on C.W. They are most certainly not substantial in the least, and in fact they really are just silent reaction shots that happen to only show Pollard. In these short moments though Pollard is good such as when being chewed out by Clyde for messing up a robbery as well as when he realizes the situation he is for a brief moment after a very violent shoot out. Pollard in these moments shows just how little C.W. realizes what he is doing.

Besides these small moments there is not much to C.W. besides just being part of the gang other than his spinelessness which certianly becomes important when at the end of the film he becomes pushed around even more by his father, and reacts in just the one he should. Pollard really is just as he should be in the role although he is most certianly the least memorable of the main cast it is most certainly a performance that is as it should be.

Best Supporting Actor 1967

And the Nominees Were:

Gene Hackman in Bonnie and Clyde

Michael J. Pollard in Bonnie and Clyde

George Kennedy in Cool Hand Luke

Cecil Kellaway in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

John Cassavetes in The Dirty Dozen