What can one say about the year, 1956, when it comes to the big winner..one of the worst winners won most of the awards. Many do agree that this was one of the worst to win and, without further adieu, here is the list of 3, the one that won, the one that should have won and the one that was nominated.
1. AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
This was a Mike Todd Production starring David Niven, as Phileus Fogg who wagers a bet tht he can circumnavigate the world in 80 days. Along with his trusty valet, Catinflas, and, later, Shirley MacLaine as a rescued princess, who encounter all sorts of roadblocks along with many film cameos from Frank Sinatra to Marlene Dietrich, as they try to get back to the club before the 80 days gone bye bye. I love David Niven but this is one slog of a picture. In fact, every time I sit to watch this movie, I flake right out. I consider this the 2nd worst best picture ( the first is The Greatest Show On Earth) winner in Academy history. Zzzzzz
2. THE SEARCHERS
This is a great film, directed by John Ford, which stars John Wayne, who deserved the Oscar for this role, as Ethan, a man who visits his brother and his family. Soon after, while Wayne is gone, his brother’s home is raided by the Comanches headed by Scar. Wayne finds his brother and nephew dead as well as his brother’s wife, the woman he loved. The 2 girls have been taken so Wayne, along with the adopted son of his brother, start a 5 year search for the girls. The older girl is found, dead, but the little girl is alive so they trek onwards hoping g to find her. The adopted brother wants to rescue her but you don’t know if Ethan wants to rescue her or kill her since his hatred of Indians is well known. This has a great story, well rounded characters, beautiful cinematography and excellent acting. This should have won the best picture, best actor( I mentioned that before), director and cinematography. Such a shame this film was so overlooked.
3. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Yes, this epic string Charlton Heston as Moses who is woofed at by Anne Baxter who, in turn, is woofed at by Yul Brynner. Moses is making great strides creating a city making sure the downtrodden get every Sunday off and eat much better by going after the grain in The Priests’ possession. Moses finds out he is Hebrew and sent adrift into the desert. He doesn’t die but is found by a tribe which includes the chief’s 7 daughters. He takes Yvonne DeCarlo as his wife before venturing back to his home. He ends up in Battles with Yul and, after the Angel of Death visits, his people are let go. These bastards are not appreciating their freedom because they get into an uproar headed by Edward G. Robinson, ready to throw Moses to the wolves before being shown how the sea is separated allowing them to escape Yul’s clutches. Does that work? Nope! While Moses is receiving the 10 Commandments, the nut jobs are having a grand orgy worshipping a golden calf. This is a famous flick that we see each year around Easter and wouldn’t be the same without this movie.
Just so you know, the other films nominated that year were, “Friendly Persuasion”, “Giant”, and “The King and I”.
Do you agree with this or would you choose another film? Let me know.
Either of those last two should have won.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen any of these. But, I have seen Friendly Persuasion and The King and I. Funny. I don't think I have a desire to see any of these three, either. The Searchers sounds brutal.
ReplyDeleteThe Searchers was.
DeleteYou picked some classics. I could never warm up to The Searchers because of the hatred. Have a fun, pain-free weekend.
ReplyDeleteI get that about The Searchers. John Wayne's character really was a racist jerk. But, his transformation in the end really was something. You should give it a look.
DeleteI get it. I saw it when it came out, but I just can't get by the fact that for a moment, because his niece had but raised by people he hated, he wasn't sure he could accept her. It just did not work for me.
DeletePS And back in the day, I was a huge John Wayne fan:)
DeleteHaha...no John Wayne advocate am I. He did almost kill her because he thought she had been ruined.
DeleteI remember seeing The Searchers and was surprised years later when I read the true story upon which it was based. Never saw 80 days. And not religious so Ten Commandments not particularly appealing. When I saw the year my first thought was Giant.
ReplyDeleteThe Ten Commandments played every Easter when I was growing up. My father pronounced that it made the requirements for Easter Mass. Now that I watch it as an adult, I realize:
Delete1. My father may been full of crap.
2. It really is more of a Passover thing than an Easter thing.
3. Aaron's prayers to God really get tiresome.
4. If I was Moses, I so would have banged Nefertiti (Anne Baxter) over Zephora (Lily Munster).
The Searchers was the only time the movie was better than the book, IMO. The book was fine, mind you. But, the movie had John Wayne and Natalie Wood.
ReplyDeleteHi Birgit!
ReplyDeleteOY, This year! For me “Around the World in 80 Days” is the absolute bottom of the barrel as far as winners go. It’s an empty spectacle with famous face after famous face passing through to no purpose. I’m as much of a stargazer as the next classic movie fan but there must be something to connect to beside their presence. “The Greatest Show on Earth” had zero business winning (or being nominated) but it did have a story to tell amid the pageantry. I’m sure had it not wrongly won its reputation wouldn’t be nearly as bad as it is.
As far as who should have won out of the nominees I’m torn between “Giant” and “The Ten Commandments.” Both are sprawling epics with impressive set pieces (10 Commandments has them in spades) with eye popping casts doing good work though acting wise “Giant” has better performances. Not that Chuckles, Miss Anne Baxter and Yul aren’t fun in their florid over the top way but only Yvonne de Carlo delivers a really quality piece of work.
However, there are two films that were excluded that top either-the crazy “Written on the Wind” and the film that should have been the winner in a walk “The Searchers.” It is incredible that it didn’t even make the top five. Just MADNESS!!
I loved The King and I:) Hope you've had a pain-free day.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised the 10 Commandments didn't win, but I've seen all three and agree, the first one shouldn't have. Love David NIven, though! Giant is also a favourite movie.
ReplyDelete