JefCostello Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Obviously, the Oscars have always had a popularity/political aura around them, and stars have frequently been handed out makeup Oscars, or given the Oscar for an undeserving role, while being snubbed for better performances in the past or future. So what are some Oscars that were handed out for a star's best performance? Here are some I came up with. I wanted to limit the list to classic stars, and ones that I felt confident were that star's best performance. Naturally, it's very subjective, but that's what makes it fun. Marlon Brando - On the Waterfront Elizabeth Taylor - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf George C. Scott - Patton Vivien Leigh - Gone with the Wind Grace Kelly - The Country Girl Gary Cooper - High Noon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Also Joan Crawford for MILDRED PIERCE, and Ray Milland for THE LOST WEEKEND Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCostello Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 I thought of Milland, but hadn't seen enough of his work to feel comfortable naming it as his best performance. Totally orgot about Crawford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuryeaForHollywood Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Luise Rainer for "The Good Earth" Robert Donat for "Goodbye Mr. Chips" Barry Fitzgerald for "Going My Way" Meryl Streep for "Sophie's Choice" Charlton Heston for "Ben-Hur" James Cagney for "Yankee Doodle Dandy" Jane Darwell for "The Grapes of Wrath" Barbra Streisand for "Funny Girl" Anne Bancroft for "The Miracle Worker" Patty Duke "The Miracle Worker" Rita Moreno "West Side Story" George Chakiris "West Side Story" Rex Harrison "My Fair Lady" Jo Van Fleet "East of Eden" If I can think of any others, I'll post 'em later. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuryeaForHollywood Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Oh geez, I can't believe I forgot him. Walter Brennan for "The Westerner" One of the top five Oscar-winning performances EVER. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCostello Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 I thought of Cagney, but I think White Heat is his best performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuryeaForHollywood Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 More plausible choices. Yul Brynner for "The King and I" Maximilian Schell for "Judgment at Neurbemburg" Lee Marvin for "Cat Ballou" (Yes, I wrote it, and I mean it!) Paul Scofield for "A Man for All Seasons" Rod Steiger for "In the Heat of the Night" (he's leagues better here than in the overrated "The Pawnbroker" Robert DeNiro for "Raging Bull" Ben Kingsley for "Ghandi" Daniel Day Lewis for "My Left Foot" F. Murray Aberaham for "Amadeus" Anthony Hopkins for "Silence of the Lambs" (wow, there are more of these than I thought there would be) Janet Gaynor for "Sunrise" Norma Shearer for "The Divorcee" (very close to her best performance, if not the best) Marie Dressler for "Min and Bill" Helen Hayes for "The Sin of Madelon Claudet" Claudette Colbert for "It Happened One Night" (this film may also contains Gable's best performance) Jane Wyman for "Johnny Belinda" Olivia DeHavilland for "The Heiress" Hattie McDaniel for "Gone with the Wind" Shirley Booth for "Come Back, Little Sheba" Susan Hayward for "I Want to Live!" Sophia Loren for "Two Women" Diane Keaton for "Annie Hall" Beatrice Straight for "Network" Sissy Spacek for "Coal Miner's Daughter" Geraldine Page for "The Trip to Bountiful" Cher for "Moonstruck" Jessica Tandy for 'Drving Miss Daisy" ('cause, admit it, she didn't do so many films) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimpole Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Wallace Beery, The Champ Victor McLagen, The Informer Robert Donat, Goodbye Mr. Chips James Cagney, Yankee Doodle Dandy Broderick Crawford, All the King's Men Jose Ferrer, Cyrano de Bergeac Ernest Borgnine, Marty Gregory Peck, To Kill a Mockingbird Paul Scofield, A Man for all Seasons Robert De Niro, Raging Bull Ben Kinglsey, Gandhi F. Murray Abraham, Amadeus Jeremy Irons, Reversal of Fortune Nicolas Cage, Leaving Las Vegas Adrian Brody, The Pianist Sean Penn, Mystic River Jamie Foxx, Ray Daniel Day-Lewis, There will be Blood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValentineXavier Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I'll admit I just don't get you guys who think *Yankee Doodle Dandy* was Cagney's best performance. I'd say he gave truly great performances in at very least half a dozen films. IMO, *YDD* is a piece of harmless schlock, and wasn't a film that could have a great performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuryeaForHollywood Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Hi, ValX-- That most certainly is your opinion, and you're entitled to it. YDD remains my all-time favorite movie. The direction throughout by the Great Michael Curtiz is astounding. There are few finer examples of mis-en-scene and montage used to depict passage of time anywhere in American cinema. The photography by James Wong Howe is absolutely flawless; indeed there is not a single shot in the movie, in my judgment, in which the camera is not pefectly placed. I also love the way the film recreates the look and feel of old-time Vaudeville; no film I know of has done it any better. And I admit I love the music of George M. Cohan. As for Cagney, its a tour-de-force performance, which has everything. Comedy, romance, pathos, and, of course the singing and dancing, both of which continue to astound with their playfulness, inventiveness and extraordinary technical prowess. Yankee Doodle Dandy is a great movie. Although I believe the Academy correctly judged Mrs. Miniver as the Best Picture of 1942 (because it is a deeper film, and reaches a higher plain of transcendance in its final scene), there is no way that Curtiz should have lost the directing oscar to William Wyler. Sorry to disagree, but I do so cordially, Dan Edited by: DuryeaForHollywood on Feb 25, 2012 7:20 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValentineXavier Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 I respect your opinion. Curtiz and Howe truly are greats. But for me, a film like *White Heat* is just way more powerful. Edited by: ValentineXavier on Feb 25, 2012 7:49 PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 YANKEE DOODLE DANDY was hardly Cagney's best work. He liked it because it gave him one of his few opportunities to dance. How about WHITE HEAT, LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME, THE ROARING TWENTIES, etc., etc.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovieProfessor Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 > {quote:title=finance you wrote: > }{quote}YANKEE DOODLE DANDY was hardly Cagney's best work. He liked it because it gave him one of his few opportunities to dance. How about WHITE HEAT, LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME, THE ROARING TWENTIES, etc., etc.? I agree with you on the other choices. Jimmy Cagney's win for "Yankee Doodle Dandy" was something of a sentimental affair, reflecting upon the popularity and legacy of George M. Cohan to show business. My choice for Jimmy Cagney winning would have been his performance in "City For Conquest." The entire cast of the film was first rate! I've always taken a fancy to that famous scene, when Jimmy says to Ann Sheridan, asking her to marry him: "All you got to do is Say The Word Peg . . . Just say the word . . ." This motion picture was close to his heart, stemming from his childhood in New York City. It was the type of film he could totally understand its content and characters; probably based on real ones he knew growing up. He also co-produced the movie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 That would have been one of my "etc.s" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Skimpole, I go with your whole list save for one: Jamie Fox SHOULD have gotten it for "Collateral". A much finer performance. Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefCostello Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 That's actually one of my favorite films. Haven't seen enough of Fox's work, but Tom Cruise gave easily my favorite performance of his. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zous Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Audrey Hepburn for Roman Holiday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownGoesFrazier Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I don't think Audrey was any better in ROMAN HOLIDAY than in several other of her films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM108 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Holden|William Holden*A few close calls.... *[Victor McLaglen|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_McLaglen|Victor McLaglen]* *[The Informer|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Informer_%281935_film%29|The Informer (1935 film)]* *[Fredric March|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredric_March|Fredric March]* *[The Best Years of Our Lives|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_Years_of_Our_Lives|The Best Years of Our Lives]* *[broderick Crawford|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broderick_Crawford|Broderick Crawford]* *[All the King's Men|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_King%27s_Men_%281949_film%29|All the King's Men (1949 film)]* *[William Holden|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Holden|William Holden]* *[stalag 17|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_17|Stalag 17]* *[Marlon Brando|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlon_Brando|Marlon Brando]* *[On the Waterfront|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Waterfront|On the Waterfront]* *[Ernest Borgnine|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Borgnine|Ernest Borgnine]* *[Marty|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_%28film%29|Marty (film)]* *[burt Lancaster|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Lancaster|Burt Lancaster]* *[Elmer Gantry|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmer_Gantry_%28film%29|Elmer Gantry (film)]* *[Maximilian Schell|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_Schell|Maximilian Schell]* *[Judgment at Nuremberg|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgment_at_Nuremberg|Judgment at Nuremberg]* *[Rex Harrison|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Harrison|Rex Harrison]* *[My Fair Lady|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Fair_Lady_%28film%29|My Fair Lady (film)]* *[Robert De Niro|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_De_Niro|Robert De Niro]* *[Raging Bull|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raging_Bull|Raging Bull]* *[Michael Douglas|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Douglas|Michael Douglas]* *[Wall Street|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_%281987_film%29|Wall Street (1987 film)]* *[Forest Whitaker|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_Whitaker|Forest Whitaker]* *[The Last King of Scotland|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_King_of_Scotland_%28film%29|The Last King of Scotland (film)]* *[Daniel Day-Lewis|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Day-Lewis|Daniel Day-Lewis]* *[There Will Be Blood|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_Will_Be_Blood|There Will Be Blood]* *[Janet Gaynor|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Gaynor|Janet Gaynor]* *[sunrise|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunrise_%28film%29|Sunrise (film)]* *[Vivien Leigh|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivien_Leigh|Vivien Leigh]* *[Gone with the Wind|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_with_the_Wind_%28film%29|Gone with the Wind (film)]* *[Ginger Rogers|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_Rogers|Ginger Rogers]* *[Kitty Foyle|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Foyle_%28film%29|Kitty Foyle (film)]* *[Joan Crawford|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Crawford|Joan Crawford]* *[Mildred Pierce|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mildred_Pierce_%28film%29|Mildred Pierce (film)]* *[Judy Holliday|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Holliday|Judy Holliday]* *[born Yesterday|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_Yesterday_%281950_film%29|Born Yesterday (1950 film)]* *[Joanne Woodward|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Woodward|Joanne Woodward]* *[The Three Faces of Eve|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Faces_of_Eve|The Three Faces of Eve]* *[susan Hayward|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Hayward|Susan Hayward]* *[i Want to Live!|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Want_to_Live%21|I Want to Live!]* *[sophia Loren|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophia_Loren|Sophia Loren]* *[Two Women|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Women|Two Women]* *[Julie Christie|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Christie|Julie Christie]* *[Darling|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darling_%281965_film%29|Darling (1965 film)]* *[Elizabeth Taylor|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Taylor|Elizabeth Taylor]* ** *[Liza Minnelli|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liza_Minnelli|Liza Minnelli]* *[Cabaret|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabaret_%28film%29|Cabaret (film)]* *[Louise Fletcher|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Fletcher|Louise Fletcher]* ** *[Faye Dunaway|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faye_Dunaway|Faye Dunaway]* *[Network|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_%28film%29|Network (film)]* *[Diane Keaton|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Keaton|Diane Keaton]* *[Annie Hall|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Hall|Annie Hall]* *[sally Field|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Field|Sally Field]* *[Norma Rae|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_Rae|Norma Rae]* *[sissy Spacek|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sissy_Spacek|Sissy Spacek]* ** *[Emma Thompson|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Thompson|Emma Thompson]* *[Howards End|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howards_End_%28film%29|Howards End (film)]* *[Julia Roberts|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Roberts|Julia Roberts]* *[Erin Brockovich|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_Brockovich_%28film%29|Erin Brockovich (film)]* *[Hilary Swank|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilary_Swank|Hilary Swank]* *[Million Dollar Baby|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Dollar_Baby|Million Dollar Baby]* *[Meryl Streep|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meryl_Streep|Meryl Streep]* *[The Iron Lady|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Iron_Lady_%28film%29|The Iron Lady (film)]* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM108 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 TCM isn't too copy-and-paste friendly sometimes. I'll try again for the ones they cut out the titles: *[broderick Crawford|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broderick_Crawford|Broderick Crawford]* - All The King's Men *[Elizabeth Taylor|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Taylor|Elizabeth Taylor]* - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? *[Louise Fletcher|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Fletcher|Louise Fletcher]* - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest *[sissy Spacek|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sissy_Spacek|Sissy Spacek]* - Coal Miner's Daughter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LonesomePolecat Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 > {quote:title=DuryeaForHollywood wrote:}{quote}Hi, ValX-- > > > > > > > > As for Cagney, its a tour-de-force performance, which has everything. Comedy, romance, pathos, and, of course the singing and dancing, both of which continue to astound with their playfulness, inventiveness and extraordinary technical prowess. I agree-- I think Cagney's Yankee Doodle was a great performance because of the range he was able to show. And the stuff he did in Yankee Doodle is much harder to do than all that evil stuff in White Heat (which was great, don't get me wrong). Mostly it's great when actor breaks his persona successfully. The academy certainly thinks so, as history has shown. Another actor (sorry if previously mentioned) who won for their best performance was Robert Donat for MR CHIPS-- never seen him better, but then I've only seen him in a few films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 *Maggie Smith*, relatively new on the scene, won for her best performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. It was kind of a surprise -- there were many more famous ladies nominated that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrroberts Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Burt Lancaster for *Elmer Gantry* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimpole Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Janet Gaynor, Seventh Heaven/Sunrise Vivien Leigh, Gone with the Wind/A Streetcare Named Desire Joan Crawford, Mildred Pierce Olivia De Havailand, The Heiress Anne Bancroft, The Miracle Worker Elizabeth Taylor, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Barbra Streisand, Funny Girl Maggie Smith, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Liza Minnelli, Cabaret Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn't live Here Anymore Louise Fletcher, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest Diane Keaton, Annie Hall Sally Field, Norma Rae Marlee Matlin, Children of a Lesser God Jodie Foster, The Silence of the Lambs Emma Thompson, Howard's End Susan Sarandon, Dead Man Walking Gwyneth Paltrow, Shakespeare in Love Hillary Swank, Boys Don't Cry Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich, Charlize Theron, Monster Natalie Portman, Black Swan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimpole Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 mrroberts, how is Lancaster's performance in Elmer Gantry better than his work in The Sweet Smell of Success, The Leopard, or Atlantic City? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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