This year is one of the hardest for me to do, as I don't have a clear winner in many categories. Most of my wins this year could go several ways, but perhaps that will change once I see more films. I've only done ten images again this week, though I'm hoping to get more done in the coming weeks. Note: You can click on the images to enlarge them.
I still need to see films like Miracle in Milan, The Idiot, Outcast of the Islands, Miss Julie, Death of a Salesman, The River, The Thing from Another World, Juliette ou la Clef des Songes, The Desert Fox, The Well, David and Bathsheba, The Lady of Musashino, Miss Oyu, The Blue Veil, Fourteen Hours, Royal Wedding, The Steel Helmet, Bellissima, The Mating Season, Susana, The Tall Target, Waters of Time, Bright Victory, and When Worlds Collide.
BEST FILM EDITING:
Ace in the Hole
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Decision Before Dawn
A Place in the Sun
Strangers on a Train*
BEST ORIGINAL SONG:
"Alice in Wonderland", Alice in Wonderland
"In a World of My Own", Alice in Wonderland
"The Unbirthday Song", Alice in Wonderland*
BEST ART DIRECTION:
An American in Paris*
A Place in the Sun
Quo Vadis
Show Boat
The Tales of Hoffmann
BEST COSTUME DESIGN:
An American in Paris
A Place in the Sun
Quo Vadis
Show Boat
The Tales of Hoffmann*
BEST MAKEUP:
An American in Paris
Quo Vadis*
The Tales of Hoffmann
BEST SOUND (MIXING AND EDITING):
Ace in the Hole
The African Queen
An American in Paris
The Day the Earth Stood Still*
Strangers on a Train
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS:
The Day the Earth Stood Still*
Decision Before Dawn
Quo Vadis
Updated: 3/10/16
For me, Streetcar rakes through these awards. I'm shocked that you don't have Bogart in the mix, but pleasantly so since it's probably his worst performance. I'm sad that Brando isn't your winner (seriously dude...what?) but I absolutely LOVE your lineup!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I don't *always* nominate Bogart, Binoche, etc. ;)
DeleteThanks! I love Brando's performance (it's in my top 100), but he's my #4. He was my #3, until I saw Redgrave and was floored!
Redgrave is incredible! He's my runner-up this year.
DeleteYay! He's phenomenal! It really was almost a coin toss between him and Douglas. I'm going to post an updated list of my top 100 performances after I finish my ballots, and 4 of my Best Actor nominees from this year will be on there!
DeleteAce in the Hole is probably my favorite Kirk Douglas performance, happy to see you give him the win! Streetcar is an acting clinic :)
ReplyDeleteOh, mine as well! There are SO many great performances in Streetcar. That's actually why I give Kazan Best Director - for directing those performances and bringing the play to the screen so well.
DeleteGreat work! '51 was such a fine year. A Place in the Sun and Streetcar are two of my favorite movies ever made. You know, I've owned the Criterion Browning Version for like 4 years and still haven't watched it. Now I have to!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love both of those. My top 5 was so hard to rank, as the margin is so small in many categories this year.
DeleteI almost decided to wait on The Browning Version. So glad I didn't. Redgrave is a VERY close runner-up to Douglas, and his performance is one of my all-time favorites now. Hope you get to check it out soon!
Looks like we're close in our winners this year, we only differ on one, and share many nominees. I liked The Browning Version but it didn't bowl me over and my familiarity with older foreign language films remains sketchy so I haven't seen Early Summer or Summer Interlude. As for the academy's big winner that year "An American in Paris" I'm afraid I just don't get what all the shouting was about. I love musicals but when it wasn't dull it was endlesssssssss.
ReplyDeletePicture:
Ace in the Hole-Winner
A Place in the Sun
Strangers on a Train
A Streetcar Named Desire
Westward the Women
Place in the Sun tells a tragic story but at times feels like it's idling in place until the next set piece. Streetcar is an acting powerhouse but the framework is rickety. Westward is a western like few others with a tough uncomprising outlook but its unnecessary love angle weakens it slightly. Strangers is near perfect but has a few superfluous edges however Ace in the Hole hasn't a single wasted scene in its hard world view and while the picture it paints isn't pretty it is real.
Director:
Alfred Hitchcock-Strangers on a Train
Elia Kazan-A Streetcar Named Desire-Winner
George Stevens-A Place in the Sun
William Wellman-Westward the Women
Billy Wilder-Ace in the Hole
I was inclined to go with Wilder's lean direction of Ace but Kazan elicited four award worthy performances from his cast with material that could have easily gone awry and over the top, his strong hand is evident in that it never does.
Actor:
Marlon Brando-A Streetcar Named Desire
Montgomery Clift-A Place in the Sun
Kirk Douglas-Ace in the Hole-Winner
John Garfield-He Ran All the Way
James Mason-The Desert Fox
Garfield is brilliant as usual in his last role while Mason plays the cold autocrat that he does so well and Clift and Brando brood and bellow but never to excess. I'm going with Douglas though since his character is the most complex and he shades it so well.
Actress:
Vivien Leigh-A Streetcar Named Desire-Winner
Ida Lupino-On Dangerous Ground
Eleanor Parker-Detective Story
Thelma Ritter-The Model and the Marriage Broker
Elizabeth Taylor-A Place in the Sun
All the other women give wonderful performances but as with GWTW Vivien Leigh proves herself an artist of rare sensitivity and skill. No one could have been better that year.
Supporting Actor:
Karl Malden-A Streetcar Named Desire
Hugh Marlowe-Rawhide
Vincent Price-His Kind of Woman
Peter Ustinov-Quo Vadis
Robert Walker-Strangers on a Train-Winner
Marlowe, usually a competent actor but no more, was the real surprise for me with his performance in Rawhide playing a completely venal man unsparingly. Both Ustinov and Price give terrific performances laced with humor and Malden makes Mitch very real but it's Walker in his final completed performance who offers the most memorable and intricate piece of work.
Supporting Actress:
Hope Emerson-Westward the Woman
Ava Gardner-Showboat
Miriam Hopkins-The Mating Season
Kim Hunter-A Streetcar Named Desire
Thelma Ritter-The Mating Season-Winner
I thought Hunter while very good was the weakest link in the Streetcar chain. Emerson's tough, no nonsense pioneer woman is a treat and Miriam Hopkins a dithery delight in Mating Season. It came down to a choice between Ava Gardner's deeply affecting portrait of the ill fated quadroon Julie in Show Boat or Thelma Ritter's dazzling work in The Mating Season. While this is one of Ava's best I went with Thelma, in what could be considered a lead although Gene Tierney is nominally in that position. Not only does the part give her a chance to use most of her talents but along with her strong work in Model and the Marriage Broker she's just too good to be denied the prize.
Great to see that we share so many wins this year. Your reason for giving Kazan the win is the same as mine. At some point, I must watch The Mating Season, On Dangerous Ground, The Desert Fox, and He Ran All the Way.
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