This is, actually, a big year when it comes to Best Actor because I could choose quite a few who were not nominated. There were a lot of great films from, “My Darling Clementine”, “Notorious”, “Caesar and Cleopatra” to “Brief Encounter” and “La Belle Et La Bette”. I am going to let you know who won, whom, I think should have won and another, not nominated but deserved to be, again, in my humble opinion.
1. FREDERIC MARCH IN THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
Frederic March gives one of his best performances in this excellent film about 3 men who come back from the war and must now deal with their normal lives and their loved ones that surround them. March plays a Banker who loves his wife and kids but feels distant and not sure how to get back into life. I love this film which really is one of the first films to discuss the issues that servicemen dealt with, mainly battle fatigue or what we call PTSD now. We have the happily married March, married to the Lovely Myrna Loy, who feels distant and is trying hard not to isolate her and his family. His war time buddy, Dana Andrews, is the most affected by the battles he was in and comes home to his sleazy wife. Finally we have the very sweet, Harold Russell, a real life war veteran who lost both arms and must now rely on people helping him put on his “arms” as well as helping him dress etc.. Russell won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and a special Oscar for the heroic nature that he represented. It is superlative and March is great but I think it should have gone to another who was nominated.
2. JAMES STEWART IN ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE
Yes, I might be biased, but I feel James Stewart should have won the best actor award even though Frederic March did give a great performance but Jimmy was better. He had to age from someone much younger than he was to the middle aged man by the end of the film. He had to show his disgruntled feelings about the town and his life but still make him likeable. He can’t show fear but still must be vulnerable plus be funny and romantic. We get used to this film because it is shown every year, that we forget how great an acting performance Stewart brings to this role. Stewart has one of his best romantic moments in this film when he is on the phone with his friend while Mary listens with Stewart. Anyone else would have made this scene funny for the wrong reasons, but not Stewart or Donna Reed for that matter. When Stewart prays, it was done in one shot and he was not supposed to cry but Stewart was overcome with emotion, I think, partly due to the fact that he was dealing with PTSD. This was his first film after coming back from the war( where he was quite heroic might I add) and he had a hard time dealing with his war experiences. This scene and the scene when he destroys his work area at home, best shows Stewart’s real vulnerable side. It is best seen in black and white so you get the full effect of this movie including the noirish look when no one knows who he is in the alternate reality. The shadows on his face, when he leaves his mom’s house, has almost a hint of horror all played with shadows and Stewart’s acting. He deserved the win.
3. JOHN GARFIELD IN THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE
John Garfield was not even nominated for his great role in this noir film that also stars Lana Turner as the scheming gal, married to a nice old man who hooks up with a drifter, played by Garfield. Garfield is not even that bad but falls for the charms of sexy Lana and they just can’t keep their paws off one another. They decide to kill off her husband so they can be together but nothing ever goes smoothly. Guilt comes into play and Garfield is a killer but you can’t help but feel bad for him. He was used to playing roles where he was a bad guy or an angry guy but this role seemed to bring out more nuances to his performance and he should have been nominated over Gregory Peck who was nominated for “The Yearling”. I love Gregory Peck, more than Garfield, but Garfield deserved the accolades for his role in this film. I need to see this gem again.
So do you agree or roll your eyes or simply choose someone else. What are your thoughts?
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteThese are great actor selections, great films represented, and great scenes dear friend!
As both a Teresa Wright and a Cathy O'Donnell "completist," I have seen Best Years several times. The poignant scenes of patience and tender loving care bestowed by Cathy O's character upon Harold Russell's handicapped war hero, her fiancée, are unmatched in filmdom.
I trusted Jimmy Stewart to deliver the goods in every one of his film appearances and he never disappointed. I love to watch him practicing his craft. Wonderful Life is an excellent example of his range. As was the case with Harold Russell, Jimmy's actual experiences as a serviceman in war informed his acting performances in the years after he returned. I also liked the career work of other players seen, mentioned or related to the post, including Virginia Mayo, Donna Reed, John Garfield, Lana Turner and Greg Peck.
I hope tensions are easing in your neighborhood and that you and your pets are well and in good spirits. I am returning with a new post this weekend, Sunday the 15th to be exact, and I invite you to join the fun at Shady's Place. Until then, enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend BB!
Hi Birgit!
ReplyDeleteHope you are all recovered!!
I agree 1946 was one of the premier years in Hollywood films. However, I cannot say the nominating committee came up with the best choices in this category.
I LOVE The Best Years of Our Lives and think Fredric March gives an outstanding performance in the film…. but he never should have won. His is not even the best performance in the film!! That would be the never nominated Dana Andrews followed by the equally great Myrna Loy, another tremendous performer who also never received a nod.
Of the actual nominees I agree with you that the winner should have been no one else but Jimmy Stewart. He is deeply affecting in that Christmas perennial and was quite deserving even if he wouldn’t be my choice in an open field.
Love that you suggest John Garfield! He is my favorite actor, though he was a big star in his day I don’t think he was given his due even then and is seriously underappreciated now. He is excellent in Postman (and Lana was worthy of a nomination for the film as well) but if he had scored a nomination this year, I would have handed it to him for “Humoresque” costarring with Joan Crawford, giving her best ever performance. His performance in that film is wonderfully intricate.
All that said none of the above three would be my winner. I would go for Cary Grant in Notorious. He’s great in an extraordinarily complex role.
My line-up would be almost completely different to what the Academy produced. It would be as follows:
Dana Andrews-The Best Years of Our Lives
Henry Fonda-My Darling Clementine
John Garfield-Humoresque
Cary Grant-Notorious-Winner
James Stewart-It’s a Wonderful Life
If he were eligible this year, I would substitute Aldo Fabrizi in Open City for Henry Fonda but despite being released in the States in 1946 the film received a Screenplay nomination in 1947, so the waters are muddy.