Best Actress 1934

She may have digusted Leslie Howard, but for everyone else she was the bright spot in Of Human Bondage

Here I am with another edition of Best actresses, this time I will take a look at the 1934 race

There were three nominees this year and one write-in candidate cracking the top 3 after the nominees were announced. Also another write-in candidate took in a considerable amount of votes.

The write-in candidates were Myrna Loy, with her comic and dazzling performance in The Thin Man, and Bette Davis who gave a performance we could compare with european actresses in Of Human Bondage. Loy was wonderful in her iconic role and gave it life with her witty dialogue and charming & mature voice, while Davis was magnificent as a lost woman starring opposite Leslie Howard. Davis was the one cracking the top 3.

Now to the nominees!

The worst of the bunch was Grace Moore as the opera singer in One Night of Love. The Movie and her were favorites to win the big awards in 1934 and got lots of noms, but ended up neither winning best actress or picture, which is lucky cause both she and the movie is quite stiff and oldfashioned with not much life in it... though she had a good voice.

Then there's Norma Shearer in her prestige role in The Barretts of Wimpole Street. She gives the roles a great depth of warmth and strongness as the bedridden rich woman. This is like Moores performance very oldfashioned, but still the difference is that Shearer gives all her charm into her role while Moore just seems dull.

The best is still Colbert as the heiress on a trip with Clark Gable. Like Loy she gives one of the best comedic performances of all time and show that Colbert is best when she's funny. Also this year she had Cleopatra & Imitation of Life, neither of them tops her performance in It Happened One Night.

Everyone loves her, and she knows that!

The biggest omission was though Marlene Dietrich in The Scarlett Empress.

Best Actress 1932/33

Hello! I'm back with one more edition of Best Actresses, this time I will dig into 1932/33.
Don't get fooled by the looks!

This lineup consists of May Robson, Diana Wynyard and Katharine Hepburn. The average moviegoer may only know about Katharine Hepburn, the other two were a character actress and a british actress.

Diana Wynyard who gives "life" to her role as the wife and mother in a noble family in the movie Cavalcade. This is the sort of role Norma Shearer would get offered if it was a MGM Picture and would probably rock it, sadly Wynyard is just an object for the public at the times imagination of a noble wife. She just stands there looking pretty and is incorporated with the costumes and art direction. Well well it's not Wynyard fault that the performance screwed up, overall the film screwed up everything else in it, with it's stiff and oldfashioned way.


Then there's the two other ladies Hepburn and Robson.

Hepburn was deserving of a nomination, but NOT for Morning Glory which is a mediocre performance by one of the all-time best. Instead she should have got a nomination and win for her warm and dazzling performance in the american classic Little Women. But back to her nominated and victorious role she plays... surprise an actress. In some way her ra-ta-ta voice and manners didn't work her in which she SHOULD have played it more subtle like she did in Summertime many years later.

So my winner is May Robson. She gives her "Eliza Doolittle-with-a-twist" character real depth and warmth during the whole movie and she shines as much in the role as rich and poor.


But I've got an Ideal lineup:
Kay Francis - Trouble in Paradise
Greta Garbo - Queen Christina
Katharine Hepburn - Little Women
Barbara Stanwyck - The Bitter Tea of General Yen


Fifth Spot goes for the current to Helen Hayes in A Farewell to Arms, but could easily be switched as I see more movies from 1933

Best Actress 1950

Today I'm restarting Best Actress Editions, which means that all the years I've done I will update and write about all the other years. So I start with one of the most acclaimed year 1950!



Sorry Anne, I'm on Team Bette.


But way was it acclaimed I always come to ask myself. I myself can't understand it. Sure it gave us two of the greatest performances and comebacks of all time, Gloria Swanson in Sunset Blvd. and Bette Davis in All About Eve. But the rest is just ordinary performances by respected actresses. Baxter is the worst of the bunch with her shoing-in a role that could have been made magnificently by anyone else, also it dosn't help that she's outstaged by Bette Davis, Celeste Holm and Thelma Ritter.



By no means is the other two Parker and Holliday are bad, on the other hand they are very good... but they doesn't truly make anything really memorable neither of them. Both of them would later turn in better and richer performances.

Then there's the two Divas. Gloria and Bette






Even in this picture you can see how good she is in this picture.

Gloria is playing the recluse movie actress from the old days who desperately wants a comeback, she finds it in a playwright who later becomes her sort of gigolo. In the whole movie Gloria portrays her character with insanity and over-the-top feeling which makes her transition to the character a delightful event to watch, even if delightful isn't the turns of event in the movie.

Bette on the other hand plays a succesfull theatre actress, but with age on her neck she's slowly withdrawing against her will from the top. Bette is has good as she's ever been in this role as Margot Channing and really makes a whole event circus around her magical quotes like
"Fasten your seatbealts, it's going to be a bumpy night."


Both of them got great help from the supporting cast who lift them up in the sky, also they both got some of the most memorable quotes in movie history. So it's a tough decision to choose between Gloria and Bette. I would want a tie, but since I don't think Bette would ever accept a tie I must choose Gloria because of her complete scene-chewering.



Bette Davis is looking sour, is because of she losing both times to a newcomer on-screen and off-screen? Or is it because of she couldn't even won over me who is ranking her as the best actress ever? But she's defenitely deserving of her Cannes Film Festival Prize.


Some snubs was Katharine Hepburn, Shelley Winters, Elizabeth Taylor and Ingrid Bergman.

So Who's your favorite of all these?

Best Actress 1964

My Nominees:
Anne Bancroft - The Pumpkin Eater
When I first watched this movie I was mesmerized how great Bancroft was in this. Before this movie I only knew her as the mother in The Graduate. But now i'm a complete fan. The breakdown is just scaring because it seems so real!

Catherine Deneuve - The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
This is the breakthrough of Deneuve, and a good one too. Her charisma just sparkles and she really seems like a star here.

Olivia de Havilland - Lady in a Cage
This was a terrific performance in a terryifing film. The whole movie is a psychological suspense movie, and De Havilland is at the top of her game in this.

Audrey Hepburn - My Fair Lady
A classic performance certifing Hepburns status as a cultural icon.

Kim Stanley - Séance on a Wet Afternoon
Haunting.... and great.

and the Winner Is!

Best Actress 1961

This my take on the Best Actress category 1961 (quite random I know!)

I'm going to do as Andrew did over Encore's World of Film & TV blog (which you could visit if you look at my favourite blogs :). He did semi-finalist and finalist list, which I thought was a very good idea :)

Semifinalist:

Audrey Hepburn - Breakfast at Tiffany's
I know this is probably one of the most well known performances of Hepburn, but it wasn't really the WOW factor I thought it would be. She looks beautiful and does her job well. She is marvellous in some scenes, but more less than often. Also we can say she was miscast. BUT this is though one of the most iconic performances of 1961 and the moment she sings "Moon River" is pure magic.

Audrey Hepburn - The Children's Hours
While "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was a miscasting, this was the complete opposite. Hepburn is used to do this kind of role as the sweet woman. While it was a beautiful performance, it turned out quite boring.

Shirley MacLaine - The Children's Hours
MacLaine makes surprisingly little with this juicy role, even if she's better than Hepburn we all know she could do LOT more. Also one thing regarding this movie is that the supporting players stole this show.

Finalists:
Sophia Loren - Two Women
One of these performances where the actress gives up everything and just makes the role come alive. Loren is marvelous!

Clauda McNeill - A Raisin' in the Sun
This is a wonderful and splendid performance by McNeill as the mother. She lights up the screen every minute on screen.

Natalie Wood - Splendor in the Grass
Many people calls this performance dull and uninspired, but I disagree. Wood was charming and heartbreaking here. This really showed how good an actress Wood was. I can't decide Loren and Wood who was the best of the nominees, but Wood gets the title right now.

The Nominees:
Anouke Aimée - Lola
She gives the most sensual performance this year, but also the most joyful. She's really on par with the original Lola.

Harriet Andersson - Through a Glass Darkly
The scene when she's sleepwalking is just breathtaking! Harriet truly gives the character a great performance.

Deborah Kerr - The Innocents
This is a career defining role for Kerr. She's never been better. Her performance is a haunting one, and you sure notice the similarity between her role and the great Nicole Kidman in "The Others", but Kerr was better.

Delphine Seyrig - Last Year at Marienbad
Her performance is maybe not as flashy as everyone else, but she works it out great and you notice her in a moment!

Lucyna Winnicka - Mother Joan of the Angels
WOW! This is what I call a performance. She gives the role a three-dimensonial performance, Wonderful I only say!

and the winner is...

Best Actress of 2009 (yet)

This is my ballot for Best Actress right now. Expect at least two of them will still be on the ballot at the end of the year.

Hiam Abbass - Lemon Tree


Charlotte Gainsbourg - Antichrist


Maria Heiskanen - Everlasting Moments


Michelle Pfeiffer - Chéri


Robin Wright Penn - The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Best Actress 1972

1972 was not a great year for films, even if two real classics was released (Cabaret, The Godfather) and one swedish masterpiece was released in NY (Cries and Whispers). Neither was it a rich year for actresses.

The Five oscar-nominees was the great Minnelli, the astonishing Ullmann, the natural Tyson, the theatrical Smith and the singing Ross. Only three of these five holds any Oscar worthy standard (that's the first three mentioned). It wasn't any big surprise when Minnelli won the Oscar. Why?

Ullmann - Lost Horizon opened
Ross and Tyson - Splitting the black votes
Smith - Had no chance from the beginning.

It was no competition for Minnelli to win this.

There wasn't any big omissions this year only some small. Where was Streisand for her superb comic turn in "What's Up Doc?", or where was Woodward (shamefull i haven't seen her movie :( )

Then there also was Juliet Mills in "Avanti!", Burnett in "Pete 'n' Tillie", Hawn in "Butterflies are Free", Tuesday Weld in "Play It as it Lays" and Trish van Devere "One Is A Lonely Number".

Then in the rest of the world there were three other movies released with great performances by actresses. "Cries and Whispers" and "The New Land" would open the next year in US and there was also "The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant".

Best of the Best Actresses

I've got this over at Encore's World of Film & Tv

This IS EASY

1. Vivien Leigh - Gone With the Wind
Who else? Vivien Leigh gives the most complete performance of all time. Full with intensinty and passion, but still vulnerable. She's the Best

2. Meryl Streep - Sophie's Choice
This is why Streep is called one of the best. Her pale face in this movie stills sticks in my head, I just can't get her away from it.

3. Vivien Leigh - A Streetcar Named Desire

The Rest is a little harder
4. Elizabeth Taylor - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Tied Fifth Place
5. Bette Davis - Jezebel
5. Faye Dunaway - Network

Best Actress 1937

Now I finally has the time for a new edition of My Best Actress Serie.

Now my rankings of the nominees 1937 (The majority of the performances is based on clips i've seen):

1. Greta Garbo - Camille
2. Janet Gaynor - A Star Is Born
3. Barbara Stanwyck - Stella Dallas

4. Luise Rainer - The Good Earth

5. Irene Dunne - The Awful Truth

This Line-Up is GREAT, even better than the legendary 1939 lineup. This is the best of the year, but ofcourse we shall not forget to mention Katharine Hepburn in "Stage Door", Nova Pilbema in "Young and Innocent" and Bette Davis in "Kid Galahad". And let's not forget Garbos second performance of the year in "Conquest".

Who's Your Favourite of these 5 mesmerzing ladies.

1938-1940 Best Actress

Best Actress 1938

Oscar Nominnes (My Ranking)

1. Norma Shearer - Marie Antoinette

2. Bette Davis - Jezebel

3. Wendy Hiller - Pygmalion

4. Margaret Sullavan - Three Comrades

5. Fay Bainter - White Banners

A good year of actresses with Norma Shearer being my favourite, REALLY close runner-up is Bette Daivs, both of them gives two of their finest performances ever. Wendy Hiller is also good. If I got to choose I would replace Sullavan and Bainter with Hepburn for either "Bringing Up baby" or "Holiday".

Then the other candidate could be Joan Crawford in "The Shining Hour", Jean Arthur "You Can't Take It With You", Olivia de Havilland "The Adventures of Robin Hood".

Who's your favourite?

Who's the Best Actress of 1938?

Tomorrow's a new edition of Best Actress 1938

And I can promise that this two are my favourites but I just can't decide who's the best

Best Actress 1939

Now I take a look at 1939 Best Actress

Oscar Nominees (My Ranking):
1. Vivien Leigh - Gone with The Wind

2. Bette Davis - Dark Victory

3. Greta Garbo - Ninotchka

4. Greer Garson - Goodbye Mr Chips

5. Irene Dunne - Love Affair

This is the best year for Actress ever. All 5 are deserving nominees and would all be deserving winners too, but Vivien Leigh gives something extra in the role as Scarlett O'Hara.

If i got to choose I would include some other great actresses this year. Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz", though not her best performance it's her most memorable (Notice she won a Juvenille Award the same year). We also have some other memorable performances by Bette Davis in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" and to lesser degree "Juarez" and "The Old Maid". Then we have all the women from "The Women", with Norma Sherar as the highlight of the cast. There's also Merle Oberon in the best picture nominated "Wuthering Heights" and a breakthrough role for Ingrid Bergman in "Intermezzo: A Love Story". There's Also Barbara Stanwyck for either "Golden Boy" and "Union Pacific"

Who's your favourite of the nominees and what is your ballot sounding like?

Best Actress 1940

The First Edition of Best Actress 1940:

The Oscar Nominees in my Ranking:
1. Katharine Hepburn - The Philadelphia Story
2. Joan Fontaine - Rebecca
3. Bette Davis - The Letter
4. Ginger Rogers - Kitty Foyle
5. Martha Scott - Our Town

If I Got to Choose the nominees i would replace Rogers and Scott with either Vivien Leigh for her heartbreaking performance in "Waterloo Bridge" or the charmy Greer Garson in "Pride and Prejudice" or Rosalind Russell in "His Girl Friday".

This was a GREAT year with except the mentioned above there also was Margaret Sullavan in "The Shop Around the Corner". There was also another Bette Davis performance in the Best Picture Nominated "All This, and Heaven Too".

Who's your favourite from the Oscar nominees and what are your nominee list?

Next Time I look upon 1939