Thanks to a lovely and incredible Youtube user, I've been able to mark some performances off of my list that I need to see!
01. Ann Harding as Linda Seton in Holiday
Holiday is a pre-code (eh, pre-entertainment) film that is perhaps only remembered because it was remade with Katharine Hepburn. The role was orginated by forgotten actress Ann Harding as the wholesome, yet funny Linda. There's not too much to the role, she isn't even that noticeable unless you are solely watching for her. Mary Astor steamrolls over her, and the result is an underwhelming, extremely boring performance.
02. Gloria Swanson as Marion Donnell in The Trespasser
The story of a stenographer (ooooh, exciting!!) who becomes a kept woman sounds interesting and the movie truly is thanks to Gloria Swanson. I wasn't expecting much, but got a whole lot more then I bargained for. This role shows off the range Swanson had, even outside of the silent pictures. Her confrontation scenes are handled without any early 'theatrical' feeling and she kills her dramatic moments, including the ending. I was shocked at how much I liked her.
03. Nancy Carroll as Hallie Hobart in The Devil's Holiday
The petite, doll looking Nancy Carroll is hardly a convincing gold-digger Hallie in The Devil's Holiday, an interesting enough film, but hardly held together by anyone. She has the spirit the character needs, but is in no way a man-eater who gets mens hearts racing. It's simply not a convincing portrayal no matter how much pep Carroll brought to the screen.
Perhaps the most hard to find of these nominees, was also the most disappointing. Elisabeth Bergner is simply bad in a melodramatic role - filling the screen with awkwardness and awareness throughout. While Nancy Carroll had problems inhabiting the character, Bergner doesn't even know where to begin with hers. Combined with her film that is excruciating, the disappoint and general awfulness surrounding her overcomes her.
05. Ruth Chatterton as Sarah Storm in Sarah and Son
Oh boy...and I've saved the worst for last. Ruth Chatterton, armed with an overfilled bottle of melodrama, a horrible accent, and a bad script, she gives one bad performance. There's so much going on in her performance, it's hard to pinpoint when she's truly at her most bad. But, anyways, she plays a singer who goes looking for her son after her husband sells him - I'm already laughing. The film is rarely seen and is really completely lost...thank goodness.
I also watched Corrine Griffith in The Divine Lady, but since that's a silent movie and performance, I don't want to rank it among the rest. So, that means Betty Compson in The Barker, Ruth Chatteton in Madame X, and Merle Oberon in The Dark Angel are the only Best Actress nominees I have yet to see!!
7 Backtalk:
Yay congrats!!!!!! I think in the future, I might just watch certain Best Actress nominees/winners, I don't really like doing them in years.
What are your SAG predictions by the way? Also what are your thoughts on The Artist?
The Barker will be hard to get but Dark Angel is on youtube
IS IT!?!! Thank you so much Fritz!
Yeah, The Barker will be the only problem since it's totally unavailable at this point.
Glad to see you found more of them, wish someone would post a few of those rare best actor ones.
Oh and since I forgot to ask back during 1936 what did you think of Chatterton in Dodsworth?
She is a complete melodramatic, bad actress. Haven't seen a performance from her yet that has totally won me over.
Give a brief review of Corinne's performance anyway, I'm curious :)
It's just so extremely hard to judge a silent performance - they overact, but that's the point. You can't always feel what they are going for, and it is easy to misjudge from the other nominees who have the advantage of speaking what they feel.
Corrine is fine in her role, the movie is unmemorable and that affects her.
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