Best Supporting Actor 1953: Results

5. Brandon De Wilde in Shane- Brandon De Wilde is a dull presence in the film, and every single line and reactions only take away from the film. He is suppose to be the heart in the film but fails miserably to ever be authentic.

4. Frank Sinatra in From Here To Eternity- Sinatra isn't overly endearing as Maggio but he does find an earnest chemistry with Clift. 

3. Eddie Albert in Roman Holiday- Albert technically does nothing wrong in his role, and does not take away from the film, but he basically is always just in the background taking pictures that is all.

2. Robert Strauss in Stalag 17- He is funny enough as the two man Pow comedy team, and he does not let his jokes actually interfere with more serious sections of the film.

1.  Jack Palance in Shane- The role he plays it not much but Palance puts the right amount of menace in his role as the villainous gunman. He is never required to all that much but everything he does do is as well handled as possible.

Deserving Performances:
Otto Preminger in Stalag 17
Ernest Borgnine in From Here to Eternity
John Gielgud in Julius Caesar
Jay Robinson in The Robe

Best Supporting Actor 1953: Robert Strauss in Stalag 17

Robert Strauss received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Stanislas 'Animal' Kasava in Stalag 17.

Robert Strauss plays Animal one part of the comedy team within the POW barracks of one Stalag 17, his partner in comedy being Harry Shapiro (Harvey Lembeck). A comedy pair that has only grown on my in each subsequent viewing to which I thought maybe they were a little much the first time but I found I've found their bits to be increasingly endearing. Very much working as a contrast to the darker comedic material and some of the darker plot wise material throughout the film. 

 

Strauss has more than a few more scenes where he is pretty good. He is a lively presence in the film which I enjoy all by himself. Also with his wild Animal behavior I actually do not think he does not go too over the top which could be incredibly easy. His outrageous behavior is as well handled as someone could, some of what he does works better than others at times, but again I never feel he really messes up in the film. In fact he shows a bit more range too. Such as just when he is in the more serious scenes in the film, he actually makes it so his joking presence does not interfere with the more realistic scenes and really works as part of the mean. Also one other scene that works well is when he reads a letter from home to a shell shocked soldier. Strauss actually has a nice subtle scene here that adds well to his performance. The followup scene of the gift to the soldier I found especially moving in large part just because of how warm and empathetic Strauss is in that scene. It's a performance that has only grown on me over time and I've come to even enjoy the most absurdist bits all the more in large part thanks to the energy Strauss brings here.  

Best Supporting Actor 1953

And the Nominees Were:

Jack Palance in Shane

Brandon De Wilde in Shane

Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity

Eddie Albert in Roman Holiday

Robert Strauss in Stalag 17

Who do you pick? What do you predict my ranking will be?