Sunday, September 5, 2010

Best Actress post part 2

1950: Here's a year that's considered one of the greatest ever, sometimes even the greatest, and it's certainly the most iconic. Both Fritz and Sage have done this year and both had both different and similiar thoughts. Sage's ranking: 1. Swanson 2. Parker 3. Davis 4. Baxter 5. Holliday. Fritz's ranking: 1. Holliday 2. Swanson 3. Davis 4. Parker 5. Baxter. Judy's win/performance is very controversial given she beat out BOTH Davis and Swanson! Those two are both loved beyond loved by oscar lovers and many say that they're among the greatest performances of all time. As for Baxter, I personally love her, but some think she's the only mishap in All About Eve. And poor Eleanor Parker gets hardly any discussion at all, but at least she made second on Sage's ranking!


Oscar winner: Judy Holliday

Overall winner: Gloria Swanson (It's difficult to decide between her and Davis, but I gave Gloria the edge here. Tell me if you disagree!)



1951: Sage has done this year as well and her ranking is; 1. Vivien 2. Winters 3. Kate 4. Parker 5. Jane. Vivien is, of course, the overall winner here, though both Kate and Shelley get a lot of love, while Parker is talked about only occasionally, and Jane not at all.

Oscar winner: Vivien Leigh

Overall winner: Vivien Leigh

1952: A year that's never much discussed, except for Shirley Booth, who most love, and Julie Haris, who surprisingly always crops up on best lists.

Oscar winner: Shirley Booth

Overall winner: Shirley Booth

1953: NOW, here's a year that really isn't talked about. Pretty much forgotten. Some love Audrey, some hate her, I personally am in the middle: Not bad, just not oscar-worthy. Deborah Kerr is discussed ocassionally, but not too much.

Oscar winner: Audrey Hepburn

Overall winner: Audrey Hepburn

1954: One of the biggest Best Actress upsets ever was when Grace Kelly in The Country Girl beat Judy Garland in A Star Is Born. It was strictly a two-horse race between them that year: On one side was Kelly, an actress who was the new thing in Hollywood, was starring in three succesful films that same year, and was in a film that got all the big nominations at from the Academy . On the other side was Judy, once MGM'S greatest star , who was dumped by them, made a comeback by returning through concerts, and was now making a film comeback with the performance of a lifetime. The sentiment factor was very powerful in her case, and most considered her a sure thing. But she didn't win....... Why? Well, here's what happened: All the pundits underestimated Grace, not realizing that her new popularity/her film's success was an important factor. But the biggest reason why is the fact that Warner Brothers undermined A Star Is Born, not campaigning for it at all, and most importantly, cutting many of it's scenes, which diluted the impact of her performance, and confused the voters (Which should they vote for, the full performance or the cut one?). Grace's win was such a tragedy, not only because Garland gave her best performance, but because it added yet ANOTHER hardship in her life which was already so traumatic . Nowadays, Judy is the clear winner.

Oscar winner: Grace Kelly

Overall winner: Judy Garland


1955: Another barely talked about year. Only Magnani is discussed, and everyone is amazed by her, so.....

Oscar winner: Anna Magnani

Overall winner: Anna Magnani

1956: A year that is considered very weak. Kate seems to have done much better, nobody talks about Kelly, Ingrid is hated by most, and Kerr isn't really talked about (Though she did win Fritz's vote. His ranking: 1. Kerr 2. Baker 3. Bergman 4. Kelly 5. Hepburn). The overall winner here is Carol Baker for Baby Doll,who I'm looking forward to seeing.

Oscar winner: Ingrid Bergman

Overall winner: Carol Baker

1957: And here we have another year that's not talked about. I'm getting sick of saying that. I'll just say...

Oscar winner: Joanne Woodward

Overall winner: Joanne Woodward

1958: Maclaine and Kerr aren't discussed, some love Russel, but the two who are most discussed are Elizabeth Taylor for C.O.A.H.T.R and Susan Hayward for I Want To Live. I haven't seen Taylor, but I was blown away by Hayward, and I'm not the only one. But some really dislike her, calling her ''obvious'' and 'over the top''.

Oscar winner: Susan Hayward

Overall winner: Susan Hayward

1959: Both Dinasztie and Fritz have done these years and they're rankings would be: Dinasztie: 1. A. Hepburn 2. K. Hepburn 3. Signoret 4. Day 5. Taylor. Fritz: 1. K. Hepburn 2. A. Hepburn 3. Signoret 4. Taylor 5. Day. Now, I'd say Simone is still the winner, though both Hepburns and Liz have they're supporters.

Oscar winner: Simone Signoret

Overall winner: Simone Signoret

1960: Elizabeth Taylor won this year, and she's one of the most hated winners ever. To me, she is pretty bad, failing completely in the first half and for most of the middle. This is not her fault, but the films, since the script is so terrible. But she does rise above at least for about a quarter of it, through out the end of the middle, to towards the ending. But she did not deserve the Oscar. I guess the overall winner is Shirley Maclaine since the other's aren't discussed.

Oscar winner: Elizabeth Taylor

Overall winner: Shirley Maclaine

1961: Sophia Loren won here, and she definietly was worthy: A great and very impressive performance. But she beat two widely loved performances: Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany's and Natalie Wood in A Splendor In The Grass. Both are greatly admired, but in the end, i'd say Audrey is the overall winner.

Oscar winner: Sophia Loren

Overall winner: Audrey Hepburn


1962: Like 1950, this year is regarded as one of the greatest lineups ever: Lee Remick and Geraldine page are highly regarded, but most people seem to rally around either Anne Bancroft, Bette Davis, or Katharine Hepburn. These three are all worshipped, but Anne Bancroft usually comes out the winner.

Oscar winner: Anne Bancroft

Overall winner: Anne Bancroft

1963: Like 53, this has to be one of the most forgotten years ever. Dinasztie did this year and his ranking was: 1. Neal 2. Caron 3. Roberts 4. Wood 5. Maclaine. Patricia Neal is, indeed, one of the best winners and most agree, though the Leading/Supporting argument still continues. None of the other nominees are discussed at all.

Oscar winner: Patricia Neal

Overall winner: Patricia Neal


Agree/disagree?

9 comments:

Louis Morgan said...

I agree with your assessments here, although I will bet if 61 is critically assessed by anyone around here Hepburn probably will not win.

Little Golden Guy agrees except with
1956- Ingrid Bergman
1958- Elizabeth Taylor
1959- Audrey Hepburn(Although Signoret is incredibly close.)

joe burns said...

Yes, most likely


I'm surprised that Ingrid won in 56, I guess it was because it was a weak year. I guess i underestimated Audrey in 59 though,

Fritz said...

Personally, I think that Bette Davis is actually the most beloved of the 1950 nominees. When you to movie forums, she usually wins the polls easily.
For 1955, I would say that Susan Hayward also has her share for fans...
And for 1962, I would actually say that Bette Davis has the most fans (but I have to say that I base this on imdb.com and the Bette-Davis-Fans over there are crazy fanatics)

dinasztie said...

I also think that Bette has the biggest fanbase (for 1962) with bloggers and critics, but the popular vote is with Anne Bancroft IMO. Not to mention many people support Kate Hepburn for that year. It's really difficult to decide.

Personally I wasn't that blown away by Hayward. But it was a long time ago, but back at the time I preferred Taylor. I don't know who would be my pick now. It would be a great year to do, though I have already chosen the next three years.

joe burns said...

FRitz: It could really go either way, but I just decided on Gloria. I never knew that Hayward had supporters in 55, and I was thinking about going with Bette in 62, but quite a few people agree with Anne's win, so...


Dinasztie: We agree on 62. You should rewatch I Want To LIve! I think she's amazing!

Brandon said...

'50 and '62 are two of the best for sure.

But Kate is a heavy favorite for ;62.

dinasztie said...

This is off-topic, but do you have any predictions already for this years acting races? I have some:
Actor: Colin Firth
Actress: Carey Mulligan/Natalie Portman
Supp Actor: Ed Harris
Supp Actress: Helena Bonham Carter

They really praise Carey Mulligan's and Colin Firth's performances and the fact that they lost this year may help them (Hopefully. I would love to see them win and Helena too. Brits would rule LOL). I'm most looking forward to The King's Speech as I love dramas about British monarchs.

joe burns said...

No, I don't. I haven't been keeping up with that. But I'm glad that Carey and Firth are getting buzz: Both should have one last year. It would also be cool to see Helena win too.

Dempsey Sanders said...

actually I would like to know what you would predict this years to be. I also am a massive fan of Davis, although Hepburn always deserved every nomination

Dempsey
http://411movienews.blogspot.com/