tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post7306958198138804169..comments2023-12-26T05:26:08.512-05:00Comments on The Cinematic Spectacle: 1945 CinSpec AwardsJoshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-31946849357285414992014-08-11T22:29:48.897-04:002014-08-11T22:29:48.897-04:00Glad to see another Brief Encounter fan. I wanted ...Glad to see another Brief Encounter fan. I wanted to give Crawford the win as well, but I just couldn't ignore Johnson's performance. I need to see more films from this year, though I'm happy with most of my lineups right now. Hope you like Children of Paradise. It's my runner-up for Best Picture, actually.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-65453602059782494842014-08-09T20:51:00.045-04:002014-08-09T20:51:00.045-04:00I've seen a great deal of the films of 1945 an...I've seen a great deal of the films of 1945 and while there are many on your list to still watch that are excellent it looks like you've seen a lot of the cream of the year's cinematic output. You've seen a few that I've missed. My foreign film viewing is sketchy at best. I have to be struck by the theme or positive word of mouth to invest the time, although I've wanted to see Open City for years and haven't gotten around to it. I'll have to add Children of Paradise to my list too.<br /><br />Picture:<br />Brief Encounter-Winner<br />The Lost Weekend<br />Mildred Pierce<br />Scarlet Street<br />A Tree Grows in Brooklyn<br />Mildred Pierce and Scarlet Street are classic examples of noir at its best. A Tree Grows a wonderfully observed study of the struggles of a young girl's life. Lost Weekend a bleak experience made compelling by Wilder but somehow Lean manages to take a a simple, seemingly commonplace story and thanks to his skill and that of his leads turn it into a uniquely haunting experience. That's something that none of the others, though excellent, achieve.<br /><br />Director:<br />Michael Curtiz-Mildred Pierce<br />Fritz Lang-Scarlet Street<br />David Lean-Brief Encounter-Winner<br />Edgar Ulmer-Detour<br />Billy Wilder-The Lost Weekend<br />I included Ulmer because with apparently 46 cents for a budget and on the spot improvisation he managed to make a classic, he would never have been considered at the time but his work is deserving. Deserving of a nomination he may be and the others direction is outstanding but Lean's is near perfection.<br /><br />Actor:<br />Dana Andrews-A Walk in the Sun<br />Ray Milland-The Lost Weekend<br />Edward G. Robinson-Scarlet Street-Winner<br />George Sanders-The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry<br />Zachary Scott-The Southerner<br />This was between Milland and Robinson but since Ray had a part with built in fireworks and E. G.'s demanded a quieter torment I felt his was the stronger portrayal. It kills me that year after year Edward G. turned in exemplary work and never received a single nomination.<br /><br />Actress:<br />Joan Bennett-Scarlet Street-Winner<br />Joan Crawford-Mildred Pierce<br />Celia Johnson-Brief Encounter<br />Dorothy McGuire-The Enchanted Cottage<br />Gene Tierney-Leave Her to Heaven<br />I hate to take away Joan's Oscar because it is a masterful performance and Celia Johnson's work is beautifully delicate but I think Joan Bennett's silkily amoral Kitty March is amazing and the peak of her collaboration with Lang. She was an excellent actress who doesn't get her due and yet another quality artist who never received a nomination despite several worthy performances.<br /><br />Supporting Actor-<br />Charles Bickford-Fallen Angel<br />Jack Carson-Mildred Pierce<br />James Dunn-A Tree Grows in Brooklyn-Winner<br />Dan Duryea-Scarlet Street<br />Robert Mitchum-The Story of G.I. Joe<br />Like you Jack Carson would have been my winner, with Charles Bickford coming in second, if Dunn wasn't in the race. But his is the only performance that actually won that I don't think could be beat.<br /><br />Supporting Actress:<br />Eve Arden-Mildred Pierce<br />Ann Blyth-Mildred Pierce-Winner<br />Linda Darnell-Fallen Angel<br />Geraldine Fitzgerald-The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry<br />Margaret Rutherford-Blithe Spirit<br />Five great perfomances and I was inclined to go with Fitzgerald's deeply nuts Lettie but Blyth's performance of that soulless pit viper Veda is inimitable. joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-81172138280551568122013-11-23T12:50:32.536-05:002013-11-23T12:50:32.536-05:00Yeah, I'm WAY behind on this year. I didn'...Yeah, I'm WAY behind on this year. I didn't even have a full top 10 list for this year last week.<br /><br />Yay! Carson is wonderful in MP. He was my winner before I watched A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-54774786342685627932013-11-23T12:47:47.536-05:002013-11-23T12:47:47.536-05:00I agree that it's underrated, and he's ter...I agree that it's underrated, and he's terrific in the film.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596682195753811295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-47922307992845045962013-11-23T11:22:21.498-05:002013-11-23T11:22:21.498-05:00There is so much I need to see from this year, but...There is so much I need to see from this year, but I love the Carson nomination, since he was my favorite part of Mildred Pierce!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5030627662498151745.post-72461799643314072302013-11-22T13:25:46.192-05:002013-11-22T13:25:46.192-05:00I haven't seen much from '45 myself. I wil...I haven't seen much from '45 myself. I will say that Robinson was awesome in Scarlet Street which is an underrated picture in my opinion.Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05634519605152190304noreply@blogger.com