TomJH Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 The following are my 1954 favourites. I had a miserable time coming up with supporting actress performances that I really liked. Looking at the picks in this category by the Motion Picture Academy, I get the impression that I am not alone. BEST ACTOR Marlon Brando, ON THE WATERFRONT James Mason, A STAR IS BORN Bing Crosby, THE COUNTRY GIRL Charles Laughton, HOBSON'S CHOICE James Stewart, REAR WINDOW Honourary Mentions: Toshiro Mifune in Seven Samurai, Jack Lemmon in It Should Happen to You, Anthony Quinn in La Strada, Frank Sinatra in Suddenly, Frank Sinatra in Young at Heart. BEST ACTRESS Judy Garland, A STAR IS BORN Giulietta Masina, LA STRADA Eva Marie Saint, ON THE WATERFRONT Audrey Hepburn, SABRINA Judy Holliday, IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU Honourary Mention: Grace Kelly in Rear Window. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Humphrey Bogart, THE CAINE MUTINY Rod Steiger, ON THE WATERFRONT John Williams, DIAL M FOR MURDER Lee J. Cobb, ON THE WATERFRONT Jack Carson, A STAR IS BORN Honourary Mention: Tom Tulley in The Caine Mutiny, Edmond O'Brien in The Barefoot Contessa, Raymond Burr in Rear Window, Anthony Dawson in Dial M For Murder. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Thelma Ritter, REAR WINDOW Mercedes McCambridge, JOHNNY GUITAR Brenda de Banzie, HOBSON'S CHOICE Special Award for a Wondrous Musical Moment Judy Garland singing "The Man That Got Away" in A Star Is Born The "I've Got More Teeth Than Anyone You Ever Saw Before" Award Burt Lancaster in Vera Cruz The "Sure He's A Monster But Look At What Good Taste He Has" Award The Creature from the Black Lagoon 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedracer5 Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 This brings up the issue of what this thread is about. Is it about our favourite performances of a year or is it those performances that we consider to be the best of the year, which is not necessarily the same thing. I have had a tendency to try to name my idea of "the best" of the year here. But we all know we can also love some performances for a variety of reasons that don't have a thing to do with being "Oscar worthy." I only mentioned this because, while I loved On the Waterfront, and in any other year, I'd give it all the awards... It had the misfortune of coming out the same year as my favorite movie of all time. Sorry Brando. Better luck next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceA Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 It's not a performance, but I have to mention that the rubber suit used in Creature from the Black Lagoon is, in my opinion, the greatest monster costume of all time. It may have been surpassed in some technical regards in the last 30 years, but up to the time of its release and for the next 25 years, it was unsurpassed in quality and believability. The use of the overlapping scales to hide seams and zippers, the pulsating gills in the neck, the glazed but "living" fish eyes, and the practical design of the hands and feet to help the underwater performer (Ricou Browing) maneuver flawlessly in the swimming scenes, all make this costume a marvel of monster movie ingenuity. Millicent Patrick, an animator at Disney, designed the creature's look, while Bud Westmore, Jack Kevan, and Chris Mueller constructed and applied the suit to the two actors who wore it, Browning in the water, and Ben Chapman on land. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 It's not a performance, but I have to mention that the rubber suit used in Creature from the Black Lagoon is, in my opinion, the greatest monster costume of all time. It may have been surpassed in some technical regards in the last 30 years, but up to the time of its release and for the next 25 years, it was unsurpassed in quality and believability. The use of the overlapping scales to hide seams and zippers, the pulsating gills in the neck, the glazed but "living" fish eyes, and the practical design of the hands and feet to help the underwater performer (Ricou Browing) maneuver flawlessly in the swimming scenes, all make this costume a marvel of monster movie ingenuity. Millicent Patrick, an animator at Disney, designed the creature's look, while Bud Westmore, Jack Kevan, and Chris Mueller constructed and applied the suit to the two actors who wore it, Browning in the water, and Ben Chapman on land. I liked Julia Adams's swimsuit, too. I thought the film's underwater swimming scenes, appearing much like those of an aquatic ballet, are particularly mesmerizing to view, even upon repeat viewings. Beautifully photographed. There are no other scenes in the film that I enjoy quite as much as those. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 I only mentioned this because, while I loved On the Waterfront, and in any other year, I'd give it all the awards... It had the misfortune of coming out the same year as my favorite movie of all time. Sorry Brando. Better luck next time. I've always been pleasantly surprised at how good Desi is in your favourite film, Speedy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogie56 Posted July 23, 2016 Author Share Posted July 23, 2016 I see TCM has Hobson's Choice (1954) on tonight at 8 p.m. as part of a Brenda de Banzie evening. I have her and John Mills in my choices for lead performances for that film. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceA Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 I've always been pleasantly surprised at how good Desi is in your favourite film, Speedy. Are we talkin' about... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skimpole Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 ActorTakashi Shimura, Seven SamuraiGeorge Sanders, Journey to ItalyMarlon Brando, On the WaterfrontJames Mason, A Star is BornJean Gabin, French Cancan, Touchez pas au GrisbiRunner-ups: Humphrey Bogart (The Barefoot Contessa), Ray Milland (Dial M for Murder), James Stewart (Rear Window), Sterling Hayden (Johnny Guitar), Humphrey Bogart (Sabrina), Dan O'Herlihy (Robinson Crusoe), Farley Granger (Senso), Charles Laughton (Hobson's Choice), Robert Mitchum (River of no Return)ActressIngrid Bergman, Journey to ItalyJudy Garland, A Star is BornJoan Crawford, Johnny GuitarGrace Kelly, Dial M for Murder, Rear WindowGiuletta Massina, La Strada Runner-ups: Ava Gardner, (The Barefoot Contessa), Alida Valli (Senso), Ingrid Bergman (Fear), Jane Wyman (Magnificent Obsession), Audrey Hepburn (Sabrina), Rosara Revueltas (Salt of the Earth), Kyoko Kagawa (The Crucified Lovers), Marilyn Monroe (River of no Return) ,Supporting ActorToshiro Mifune, Seven SamuraiEdmond O'Brien, The Barefoot ContessaRod Steiger, On the WaterfrontSeiji Miyaguchi, Seven SamuraiHumphrey Bogart, The Caine MutinyRunner-ups: Lee J. Cobb (On the Waterfront), Isao Kimura (Seven Samurai), Richard Basehart (La Strada), Anthony Dawson (Dial M for Murder), John Mills (Hobson's Choice), Jack Carson (A Star is Born) Supporting ActressKinuyo Tanaka, Sansho the Bailiff Mercedes McCambridge, Johnny GuitarThelma Ritter, Rear WindowFrancoise Arnoul, French CancanKeiko Tsushima, Seven SamuraiRunner-ups: Kyoko Kagawa, (Sansho the Bailiff), Agnes Moorhead (Magnificent Obsession)Not seen: The Country Girl, Three Coins in the Fountain, The High and the Mighty, and Broken Lance *Bad luck for Ray Milland and Ava Gardner, since this is the closest they ever get to nominations. *Bad luck also for Kyoko Kagawa, who I didn't realize until earlier today was in two of my favorite movies of the year. *Last year France won three of the four acting awards. This year Japan does. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 1954 Favorites 1954 was the year in which a plantation was destroyed by ants (The Naked Jungle) and elephants (Elephant Walk). It just goes to show you that size doesn’t matter. However there is one giant of a film — my favorite epic, The Egyptian, which shows size matters very much. I love that movie. Best ActorMarlon Brando (On the Waterfront)James Mason (A Star Is Born) Alastair Sim (The Belles of St. Trinian’s)James Stewart (Rear Window)Best ActressJudy Garland (A Star Is Born) Grace Kelly (Rear Window)Eleanor Parker (The Naked Jungle) Margaret Rutherford (Aunt Clara) Alida Valli (Senso)Best Supporting Actor George Cole (The Belles of St. Trinian's) Rod Steiger (On the Waterfront) Peter Ustinov (The Egyptian) Michael Wilding (The Egyptian) John Williams (Dial M for Murder)Best Supporting Actress Bella Darvi (The Egyptian) Nina Foch (Executive Suite) Joyce Grenfell (The Belles of St. Trinian’s) Mercedes McCambridge (Johnny Guitar) Eva Marie Saint (On the Waterfront) Best Musical Scenes The amazing score for The Egyptian, by Bernard Herrmann and Alfred Newman “The Man that Got Away” sung by Judy Garland (A Star Is Born) Best Line "The greatest gift any man can bring to a woman is his innocence, which he can give only once" (The Egyptian) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrat Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Grace Kelly, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window Not seen: The Country Girl, Three Coins in the Fountain, The High and the Mighty, and Broken Lance Skimpole, even if you haven't seen Grace Kelly's Oscar-winning role, I believe you have seen her two best performances that year. Though she doesn't wear a fake nose in The Country Girl like Nicole Kidman in The Hours, she's "deglamorized" so that she may not look like the Country Club Girl she obviously is. Some of my movie buddies probably like The Country Girl much better than I do. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceA Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I agree with you, kingrat, despite the fact that I have Kelly nominated for The Country Girl. I thought that beyond the obvious deglamorization, she showed a few hints of subtle acting that elevated it from pure stunt, in my book. I'm not much of a fan of the film over all, though, and I'm equally baffled by Seaton's nomination. I would have given it to Donen for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, which, despite my dislike of the musical genre, was very well done, with terrific filming of the complicated dance sequences. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 I agree with you, kingrat, despite the fact that I have Kelly nominated for The Country Girl. I thought that beyond the obvious deglamorization, she showed a few hints of subtle acting that elevated it from pure stunt, in my book. I'm not much of a fan of the film over all, though, and I'm equally baffled by Seaton's nomination. I've never seen the film of The Country Girl, but I'm intrigued by the fact that the great Uta Hagen won a Tony Award for her performance in the original play. Uta didn't make many movies -- she was blacklisted -- but she won a few Tonys, including for creating the role of Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. I've seen her on screen a few times, later in her career, and in the play Mrs. Klein. She was brilliant -- totally different kind of actress from Grace Kelly, though. I wonder how she would have been in the film. She also famously played Desdemona to Paul Robeson's Othello in the 1940s. Uta was one of the great and famous acting teachers, here's a glimpse of her: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedracer5 Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 1954 Winner in BOLD BEST PICTURE Dial M For Murder Executive Suite It Should Happen to You The Long, Long Trailer Magnificent Obsession On the Waterfront Phffft Rear Window River of No Return Sabrina Seven Brides for Seven Brothers A Star is Born Susan Slept Here There's No Business Like Show Business White Christmas Witness to Murder BEST ACTOR Ray Milland, Dial M For Murder William Holden, Executive Suite Jack Lemmon, It Should Happen to You Desi Arnaz, The Long, Long Trailer Rock Hudson, Magnificent Obsession Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront Jack Lemmon, Phffft James Stewart, Rear Window Robert Mitchum, River of No Return Humphrey Bogart, Sabrina William Holden, Sabrina Howard Keel, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers James Mason, A Star is Born Dick Powell, Susan Slept Here Donald O'Connor, There's No Business Like Show Business Bing Crosby, White Christmas Danny Kaye, White Christmas George Sanders, Witness to Murder BEST ACTRESS Grace Kelly, Dial M For Murder Judy Holliday, It Should Happen to You Lucille Ball, The Long, Long Trailer Jane Wyman, Magnificent Obsession Judy Holliday, Phffft Grace Kelly, Rear Window Marilyn Monroe, River of No Return Audrey Hepburn, Sabrina Jane Powell, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Judy Garland, A Star is Born Debbie Reynolds, Susan Slept Here Ethel Merman, There's No Business Like Show Business Barbara Stanwyck, Witness to Murder BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Robert Cummings, Dial M For Murder John Williams, Dial M For Murder Karl Malden, On the Waterfront Jack Carson, Phffft Raymond Burr, Rear Window John Williams, Sabrina Walter Hampden, Sabrina Russ Tamblyn, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Barbara Stanwyck, Executive Suite Nina Foch, Executive Suite Marjorie Main, The Long, Long Trailer Agnes Moorehead, Magnificent Obsession Eva Marie Saint, On the Waterfront Kim Novak, Phffft Thelma Ritter, Rear Window Anne Francis, Susan Slept Here Marilyn Monroe, There's No Business Like Show Business Mitzi Gaynor, There's No Business Like Show Business Rosemary Clooney, White Christmas Vera-Ellen, White Christmas FUNNIEST LINES: From The Long, Long Trailer: DESI ARNAZ: "It's a fine thing when you come home to your home and your home is gone!" LUCILLE BALL: "You didn't let me finish. I was going to say, is 'you turn right here, left'" DESI: Turn right here left? Have you any conception how much room it takes to turn this thing around? We may have to go on for miles and miles! (After Lucy goes barreling out the front door of the lopsided trailer and lands in a 5-ft deep mud puddle) DESI (half-asleep): What's the matter honey? Can't you sleep? BEST GOWN: ***TIE*** Audrey Hepburn's weird strapless half-column gown/half-ball gown. It's a look that wouldn't work on most people, but on Audrey, it's exquisite. Rosemary Clooney's fantastic black velvet gown in her "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" number in White Christmas. She looks amazing in this gown. BEST ENSEMBLE CAST: The cast of Executive Suite. What a great business drama. Even June Allyson wasn't half bad. BEST MUSICAL NUMBER: The barn raising dance in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. What an amazing number! SEXIEST MUSICAL NUMBER: Marilyn Monroe's "Heat Wave" song and dance in There's No Business Like Show Business FUNNIEST MUSICAL NUMBER: Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye's "Sisters" number in White Christmas BEST SONG: "White Christmas" in White Christmas, performed by Bing Crosby and later the four main cast members at the end. I also loved Rosemary Clooney's performance of "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" in the same film. BEST TORCH SONG: ***TIE*** Judy Garland performing "The Man That Got Away" in A Star is Born Frank Sinatra performing "One For My Baby (And One More For the Road)" in Young at Heart MOST DISAPPOINTING MUSICAL: Brigadoon. When the only thing you remember from the film are Van Johnson's plaid pants, then you know it was a stinker. MOST BORING MUSICAL: Deep in My Heart. I only watched it to see Gene Kelly and his brother Fred. They were the best part of the film, unfortunately, they did not appear closer to the beginning. Even Rosemary Clooney, who I loved in White Christmas is wasted in her appearance. FILM THAT WAS BORING THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN: The Barefoot Contessa BEST PERFORMANCE DESPITE BEING MISCAST Humphrey Bogart's portrayal of Linus in Sabrina. He's much too old for the role (and looks every bit of it), but he makes the best of it and I really enjoyed his performance. FUNNIEST MORBID LINE: In Rear Window: Thelma Ritter (after watching Raymond Burr washing and scrubbing the bathroom walls): "Must've splattered a lot... Come on, that's what we're all thinkin'. He killed her in there, now he has to clean up those stains before he leaves." STRANGEST FILM THAT I REALLY LIKED: Susan Slept Here. Between the storyline and Debbie Reynolds' bizarre musical dream, this was a strange film, but I found it oddly charming and liked it. BEST SCENERY: The filmed on location scenery of Yosemite National Park in The Long, Long Trailer. FUNNIEST SCENE: In The Long, Long Trailer: Lucille Ball's attempt to cook dinner in the back of the trailer while husband Desi Arnaz drives to a nice trailer park. The idea being that dinner will be done when he pulls in somewhere. Well, this plan doesn't exactly work out. Ball endures a hilarious tossing and turning in the back of the trailer. She tries to signal Arnaz to stop but he's too busy singing about "Ragu of Beef." At the conclusion of the scene, Arnaz opens the trailer door expecting a delicious dinner, only to find Ball sitting on the floor covered in flour, Caesar salad, angel food cake, her entire dinner. SPEEDRACER'S TAKEAWAY FROM "THE LONG LONG TRAILER" "Trailer brakes first!... Think of it as a train behind you. Forty feet of train!" 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogie56 Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 The New York Film Critics Circle Awards for 1954 were: Best Actor Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront* James Mason, A Star Is Born Edmond O’Brien, The Barefoot Contessa Humphrey Bogart, The Caine Mutiny Best Actress Grace Kelly, The Country Girl, Rear Window, Dial M For Murder* June Allyson, The Glenn Miller Story Judy Garland, A Star Is Born Audrey Hepburn, Sabrina Eva Marie Saint, On the Waterfront ————————————————————————————————— The National Board of Review Awards for 1954 were… Best Actor Bing Crosby, The Country Girl* Best Actress Grace Kelly, The Country Girl, Rear Window, Dial M For Murder* Best Supporting Actor John Williams, Dial M For Murder, Sabrina* Best Supporting Actress Nina Foch, Executive Suite* 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoraSmith Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 ACTOR: 1. James Stewart - Rear Window 2. Marlon Brando - On the Waterfront 3. Ray Milland - Dial M for Murder 4. James Mason - A Star Is Born 5. Anthony Quinn - La strada 6. George Sanders - Viaggio in Italia 7. Humphrey Bogart - Sabrina 8. Toshiro Mifune - Seven Samurai 9. Bing Crosby - The Country Girl 10. Fernandel - The Sheep Has Five Legs ACTRESS: 1. Grace Kelly - Dial M for Murder2. Grace Kelly - Rear Window3. Judy Garland - A Star Is Born 4. Giulietta Masina - La strada 5. Ingrid Bergman - Viaggio in Italia 6. Kinuyo Tanaka - Sansho the Bailiff 7. Audrey Hepburn - Sabrina 8. Doris Day - Young at Heart 9. Elizabeth Taylor - Rhapsody10. Julie Adams - Creature from the Black Lagoon SUPPORTING ACTOR: 1. John Williams - Dial M for Murder 2. Karl Malden - On the Waterfront 3. William Holden - Sabrina 4. Raymond Burr - Rear Window5. Ernest Borgnine - Johnny Guitar 6. Louis de Funès - The Sheep Has Five Legs 7. Peter Lorre - 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 8. Victor Mature - Betrayed SUPPORTING ACTRESS: 1. Thelma Ritter - Rear Window 2. Eva Marie Saint - On the Waterfront3. Mercedes McCambridge - Johnny Guitar 4. Judith Evelyn - Rear Window5. Ethel Barrymore - Young at Heart 6. Yukiko Shamazi - Seven Samurai7. Donna Reed - The Last Time I Saw Paris 8. Georgine Darcy - Rear Window BEST JUVENILE PERFORMANCE: Masahiko Kato - Sansho the Bailiff BEST EXTRA: Bess Flowers - Rear Window BEST ANIMAL PERFORMANCE: Soft-coated wheaten terrier in Rear Window MOST SCARY MONSTER: Gojira LEAST SCARY MONSTER: Creature from the Black Lagoon BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: On the Waterfront (Leonard Bernstein) BEST ORIGINAL SONG: Three Coins in the Fountain (Frank Sinatra in Three Coins in the Fountain) BEST NON-ORIGINAL SONG: One for My Baby (Frank Sinatra in Young at Heart) BEST QUOTE: "I coulda' been a contender. Instead of a bum, which is what I am - let's face it." (On the Waterfront) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 SUPPORTING ACTRESS: 8. Georgine Darcy - Rear Window Few know the actress's name but all who have seen Rear Window remember the impact of Miss Torso. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Judith Evelyn - Rear Window Judith Evelyn, so good in her non-speaking role in Rear Window, had an even bigger role in 1954, as Taia, Pharaoh's mother, in The Egyptian. Here she is, on the left, in a photo with Gene Tierney: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Just a note to say that I made a change on my acting selections for 1953. Having just seen Pickup on South Street for the first time, I have selected Thelma Ritter as best supporting actress of that year for her sympathetic, at times poignant and totally human portrayal of a street peddler. Particularly memorable is her final scene in the film, with her tired face and trembling lower lip depicting fear. A beautiful performance. I'm glad I finally saw it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogie56 Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 Here are my choices of the 85 films I've seen from 1954 for… Best Supporting Actress of 1954 1. EVA MARIE SAINT (Edie Doyle), On the Waterfront 2. FLORA ROBSON (“Nurse”), Romeo and Juliet 3. NINA FOCH (Erica Martin), Executive Suite 4. SHELLEY WINTERS (Eva Bardeman), Executive Suite 5. JEAN PETERS (Barbara), Broken Lance 6. KATY JURADO (Senora Devereaux), Broken Lance 7. THELMA RITTER (Stella), Rear Window 8. OLGA LINDO (Sybil Birling), An Inspector Calls 9. JOYCE GRENFELL (Sgt. Ruby Gates/Cloe Crawley), The Belles of St. Trinian’s 10. PRUNELLA SCALES (Vicky Hobson), Hobson's Choice and ... KYOKO KAGAWA (Anju), Sansho the Bailiff SOPHIA LOREN (Sofia), The Gold of Naples ELLEN MOORE (Sheila Birling), An Inspector Calls DAPHNE ANDERSON (Alice Hobson), Hobson's Choice HENRIETTA WILLIAMS (Teresa Vidal), Salt of the Earth KINUYO TANAKA (Tamaki), Sansho the Bailiff 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 BEST PERFORMANCE DESPITE BEING MISCAST Humphrey Bogart's portrayal of Linus in Sabrina. He's much too old for the role (and looks every bit of it), but he makes the best of it and I really enjoyed his performance. I liked Bogie for his willingness to poke fun at his age in this film a bit. "Look at me - Joe College with a touch of arthritis." 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceA Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Bogie, did you not have a juvenile performance for this year, or did I miss it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogie56 Posted July 24, 2016 Author Share Posted July 24, 2016 Bogie, did you not have a juvenile performance for this year, or did I miss it? No, I didn't have one. I should see Them! again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LawrenceA Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 No, I didn't have one. I should see Them! again. Lol...my pick was a last ditch choice. I didn't find one that jumped out looking over my movie list other than her. Her part is very small, and she doesn't do much, but what she does is effective. There are several years when I don't have any picks, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingrat Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Speedracer, concerning your disappointment about The Barefoot Contessa: in the biography of Mankiewicz Pictures Will Talk, the author suggests that M's best films were the ones where he wore only two of the three hats he sometimes wore (writer/director/producer). With Mankiewicz serving in all three capacities on The Barefoot Contessa, there was no one to urge or force him to make the cuts to the dialogue that would have tightened the movie. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted July 24, 2016 Share Posted July 24, 2016 Tommy Rettig gives a good performance in The Egyptian, as the son of Gene Tierney and Edmund Purdom. That was the same year -- 1954 -- that Rettig began playing Jeff in the television series Lassie. Btw -- I should add Jean Simmons to my list of leading ladies for 1954, for her performance in The Egyptian. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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