Best Supporting Actor 1959: Results

5. Ed Wynn in The Diary of Anne Frank- Ed Wynn, although not the most memorable of the cast, still gives a performance showing another honest portrait of a man living in a terrible situation, and he does add a little humor nicely enough when he can.

4. Robert Vaughn in The Young Philadelphians- Although Vaughn mostly gives functional work for the most of the film he makes up for it in two pivotal scenes where he nails the pain and trauma that his character is going through.

3. Arthur O'Connell in Anatomy of a Murder- O'Connell has a nice supporting turn offering a charming and warm presence in the film, and as well succeeds with the slightly more dramatic material also needed of him.

2. Hugh Griffith in Ben-Hur- Griffith is the comic relief purely and simply and he suceeds completely at being so. In his few scenes he successfully lightens the mood, and offers some much needed laughs for his film.

1. George C. Scott in Anatomy of a Murder- George C. Scott easily takes the win though in what one could almost argue is the simplest character of the nominees yet Scott makes it so he has the greatest impact out of all the nominees. His performance as Dancer is an intense piece of acting that absolute holds your attention on screen. Every second he has Scott makes the most of, and is the perfect rival for James Stewart in that film.

Deserving Performances:
Joseph Schildkraut in The Diary of Anne Frank
Stephen Boyd in Ben-Hur
Laurence Olivier in The Devil's Disciple
James Mason in North by Northwest

Best Supporting Actor 1959: Robert Vaughn in The Young Philadelphians

Robert Vaughn received his only Oscar nomination so far for portraying Chester A. 'Chet' Gwynn in The Young Philadelphians.

The Young Philadelphians tells of Tony Judson (Paul Newman) who social climbs his way up the Philadelphia social latter, and does some poor things along the way to get ahead.

Robert Vaughn portrays Newman's roommate at first who has some big connections through the family although he is an alcoholic himself. Vaughn in these early moments is barely in the film, but he does have the right manner for his high society character, but with just the right degree of sloppiness to suggest his problems with alcohol. His only really notable scene though is when he describes that he became alcoholic after his family basically forced him out of a marriage with a poorer woman. It is a very short scene but Vaughn is convincing enough to show that what happened to him indeed to wound him deeply.

Vaughn though goes missing for great lengths of the film. He though appears again for a single scene of Chet's has lost his arm in the Korean war. Vaughn again is given very little time, but he able bring pain of his character realistically to life. Then it is another long delay until we see him in two pivotal scenes where Chet alcoholism has gotten the better him, his family has disowned him basically, and on top of all of that he is charged with murder. Vaughn in these two scenes therefore must show a completely disheveled and changed Chet believably, and without forgetting his earlier characterization of Chet.

Luckily Vaughn makes these two scenes his Oscar scenes. These sort of scenes are an incredible challenge actually as they are the sort scenes where an actor will resort to the worst sort of overacting, but Vaughn actually completely succeeds in both of the scenes. Vaughn realistically shows a completely at his ropes end Chet, and gives a very moving performance. Vaughn honestly conveys Chet's complete fall in his single scenes with a frantic intensity that absolutely brings out terrible troubles his character has been through. It is a powerful pair of scenes the best in the film because of Vaughn. I wish his character had been given a conclusion scene, or a few scenes to allow Vaughn to show more of Chet's downfall. Nevertheless Vaughn still makes the most of what he has, and manages to give a strong performance.

Best Supporting Actor 1959

And the Nominees Were:

Arthur O'Connell in Anatomy of a Murder

George C. Scott in Anatomy of a Murder

Hugh Griffith in Ben-Hur

Ed Wynn in The Diary of Anne Frank

Robert Vaughn in The Young Philadelphians