Kay Posted February 20, 2016 [...]Don't Bet on Women with Roland Young[...] ...and Una Merkel, my best supporting gal of the year. She got all the best lines in this one, as she so often did. By the way, the alternate title for this film is All Women Are Bad. (Most of the film is about trying to find out whether this is so.) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamesjazzguitar Posted February 20, 2016 ...and Una Merkel, my best supporting gal of the year. She got all the best lines in this one, as she so often did. By the way, the alternate title for this film is All Women Are Bad. (Most of the film is about trying to find out whether this is so.) They didn't need to make a movie to answer the question if all women are bad. Just ask Nipkow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomJH Posted February 20, 2016 Thanks for creating this thread, Bogie. While it's fun to pick your own favourite performances for a year, it can also be educational to see the feedback of others and find out what you've been missing. And, perhaps, start thinking it's time to see a few of those performances once again that have become vague memories. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LawrenceA Posted February 20, 2016 Thanks for creating this thread, Bogie. While it's fun to pick your own favourite performances for a year, it can also be educational to see the feedback of others and find out what you've been missing. And, perhaps, start thinking it's time to see a few of those performances once again that have become vague memories. I agree there, Tom. The passage of time has definitely clouded my memory, and it's become more evident with these lists. For example, I posted my thoughts on THE GUARDSMAN, but I for the life of me can't picture either star's face in my mind. After your positive comments on the film, maybe I should rewatch it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomJH Posted February 20, 2016 I agree there, Tom. The passage of time has definitely clouded my memory, and it's become more evident with these lists. For example, I posted my thoughts on THE GUARDSMAN, but I for the life of me can't picture either star's face in my mind. After your positive comments on the film, maybe I should rewatch it. There you go, Lawrence, if that photo helps you, at all. Lynn Fontanne was not a conventional Hollywood beauty by any means, but, when I watched her in The Guardsman, I thought she had a sophisticated elegance, as well as intelligence, that made her most attractive to me. Of course, if I appeared before her looking like Howard from Treasure of the Sierra Madre, I'm not at all certain that the attraction would be a mutual thing. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 21, 2016 It’s time for 1932 Here are Oscar’s choices for 1931-1932 and 1932-1933. Winners in bold. Remember, the Oscars did not have supporting awards this year. We can correct that with all of your choices. I have put ‘X’s’ beside the non 1932 films. That done you can see that there was only one left from each category. 1931-1932 Oscars Best Actor Wallace Beery, The Champ* X (31) Fredric March, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* X (31) Alfred Lunt, The Guardsman X (31) Best Actress Helen Hayes, The Sin of Madelon Claudet* X (31) Marie Dressler, Emma Lynn Fontaine, The Guardsman X (31) 1932-1933 Oscars Best Actor Charles Laughton, The Private Life of Henry VIII* X (33) Leslie Howard, Berkeley Square X (33) Paul Muni, I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang Best Actress Katherine Hepburn, Morning Glory* X (33) May Robson, Lady For a Day X (33) Diana Wynyard, Cavalcade X (33) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingrat Posted February 21, 2016 1932 had a number of interesting films in diverse genres. Once again, I'm having trouble finding candidates for Supporting Actor, but let's start off with Best Supporting Actress. Despite the Rooney Mara Principle, whereby every actress in every film has been nominated in the supporting category, my executive decision is that Ann Dvorak is a lead actress in both THREE ON A MATCH and SCARFACE, which is why she is not mentioned here. Second thoughts: Since Bogey has placed Ann in supporting categories, I'll follow his lead. Best Supporting Actress for 1932: Ann Dvorak, THREE ON A MATCH* Ann Dvorak, SCARFACE Aline MacMahon, ONE WAY PASSAGE Anna May Wong, SHANGHAI EXPRESS Bette Davis, SO BIG Glenda Farrell, I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG Karen Morley, SCARFACE 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 21, 2016 Kingrat, Not that it makes any difference but I chose to put Ann Dvorak in the supporting category for both of those films. I would like to see them again though. Here are my choices of the 55 films I've seen from 1932 for… Best Supporting Actress of 1932 1. ANN DVORAK (Cesca Camonte), Scarface: The Shame of a Nation 2. MAY ROBSON (Mrs. Mary Walker), If I Had a Million 3. ALISON SKIPWORTH (Emily La Rue), If I Had a Million 4. ALINE MACMAHON (Nurse Bowers), Life Begins 5. EVA MOORE (Rebecca Femm), The Old Dark House 6. GENEVIEVE TOBIN (Mitzi Olivier/”Mitsi”), One Hour With You 7. GLORIA STUART (Margaret Waverton), The Old Dark House 8. ANN DVORAK (Vivian Revere), Three on a Match 9. BEULAH BONDI (Mrs. Davidson), Rain 10. ANNA MAY WONG (Hui Fei), Shanghai Express and ... DOROTHY TREE (Rita), Life Begins LILLIAN BOND (Irene Wilkins), Air Mail 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingrat Posted February 21, 2016 Bogey, I'll revise my post to match yours. Ann Dvorak is awfully good in both SCARFACE and THREE ON A MATCH. She also starred in 1932 in a film called THE STRANGE LOVE OF MOLLY LOUVAIN, which TCM has shown. Unfortunately, her career is not going to take off. She's terrific in a couple of excellent 1947 films, THE LONG NIGHT and THE PRIVATE AFFAIRS OF BEL AMI, but neither is well known. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomJH Posted February 21, 2016 It's probably not wise to provide my entire list this early before I see the suggestions made by other posters but who said I was wise? 1932 was a year particularly rich with fine and interesting performances, it seems to me. My picks are more or less in order, with the winner in bold. Here goes: BEST ACTOR Paul Muni, I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG Paul Muni, SCARFACE (First Place Tie) Lionel Barrymore,GRAND HOTEL John Barrymore, GRAND HOTEL Herbert Marshall, TROUBLE IN PARADISE Honourable Mention: Charles Laughton in Payment Deferred, Charles Laughton in Island of Lost Souls, Maurice Chevalier in Love Me Tonight, John Gilbert in Downstairs, James Cagney in Taxi, Warren William in Skyscrapper Souls, Maurice Chevalier in One Hour With You, Lee Tracy in Blessed Event, John Barrymore in A Bill of Divorcement, William Powell in Jewel Robbery, William Powell in Lawyer Man, John Barrymore in State's Attorney, Warren William in The Mouthpiece. BEST ACTRESS Joan Crawford, GRAND HOTEL Miriam Hopkins, TROUBLE IN PARADISE Jean Harlow, RED DUST Clara Bow, CALL ME SAVAGE Jeanette MacDonald, LOVE ME TONIGHT Honourable Mention: Jean Harlow in Red Headed Woman, Katharine Hepburn in A Bill of Divorcement, Joan Blondell in Lawyer Man, Zita Johann in The Mummy, Joan Blondell in Make Me A Star. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Charles Laughton, SIGN OF THE CROSS Lionel Barrymore, ARSENE LUPIN Adolphe Menjou, A FAREWELL TO ARMS Paul Lukas, DOWNSTAIRS Charlie Ruggles, LOVE ME TONIGHT BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Ann Dvorak, SCARFACE Claudette Colbert, SIGN OF THE CROSS Ann Dvorak, THREE ON A MATCH May Robson, IF I HAD A MILLION Mary Astor, RED DUST Honourable Mention: Genevieve Tobin in One Hour With You, Billie Burke in A Bill of Divorcement, Eva Moore in The Old Dark House SPECIAL COMEDY SHORTS PERFORMANCE AWARD Laurel & Hardy, The Music Box Billy Gilbert, The Music Box SPECIAL IT SURE IS A LOT OF FUN TO WATCH AWARD Bela Lugosi, White Zombie Leslie Banks, The Most Dangerous Game Boris Karloff, The Mummy Boris Karloff, Mask of Fu Manchu Olga Baclanova, Freaks Myrna Loy, Thirteen Women Marlene Dietrich, Shanghai Express Bela Lugosi, Chandu the Magician W. C. Fields, Million Dollar Legs Charles Laughton, Devil and the Deep 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 21, 2016 Great list, Tom. I have a lot to catch up on! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LawrenceA Posted February 21, 2016 Best Performances of 1932 Best Actor Charles Laughton Island of Lost Souls Paul Muni I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang ** Paul Muni Scarface Raimu Fanny Michel Simon Boudou Saved from Drowning Best Actress Joan Crawford Rain ** Marlene Dietrich Shanghai Express Marie Dressler Emma Greta Garbo Grand Hotel Jean Harlow Red Dust Best Supporting Actor Leslie Banks The Most Dangerous Game ** Lionel Barrymore Grand Hotel Guy Kibbe Winner Take All Adolphe Menjou A Farewell to Arms Charles Ruggles Love Me Tonight Best Supporting Actress Beulah Bondi Rain Joan Crawford Grand Hotel Ann Dvorak Scarface ** Myrna Loy The Mask of Fu Manchu Eva Moore The Old Dark House Best Juvenile Dickie Moore Winner Take All 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomJH Posted February 21, 2016 Thanks Bogie. I really tossed back and forth on the two Paul Muni performances then just called it a draw. They're such contrasting performances, too. I think he might be at his most sincere and powerful (ultimately poignant- that ending!) in Fugitive. But at the same time he was never more fun to watch than as Scarface. Speaking of fun, that's why I came up with that last list. How can you not make same kind of mention of such an array of really fun performances all in one year. Leslie Banks, for example, rubbing the scar on his forehead, as Count Zaroff in Most Dangerous Game is an irrestible hoot, no matter how much ham may be there. All those "fun" performances have given me so much pleasure over the years, just as much, if not more, than some of the performances to which I gave awards. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 21, 2016 Ann Dvorak has gone 4 for 4 with us for Best Supporting Actress for Scarface. Even if the Oscars had the supporting category there is no telling if she would have won. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 21, 2016 I think this was possibly Muni's year with both Scarface and Chain Gang. I know he had success in some of the bigger Warners bio pics a few years later but these two films were grittier. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregoryPeckfan Posted February 21, 2016 Ann Dvorak has gone 4 for 4 with us for Best Supporting Actress for Scarface. Even if the Oscars had the supporting category there is no telling if she would have won. Hi, I just want to say before I start posting my choices with each category separately, that I will break that 4 fo 4. My choice will be someone who likely would never win in that era. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregoryPeckfan Posted February 21, 2016 Okay, first may I say that I'm not a Scarface fan. It is well done, but I prefer Muni's other film much better. So glad allowed to have same people mentioned multiple times in the same category with this list. I'm a big Barrymore family fan. BEST ACTOR: John Barrymore in Grand Hotel Lionel Barrymore in Grand Hotel Wallace Beery in Grand Hotel Gary Cooper in Farewell to Arms Clark Gable in Red Dust William Powell in Jewel Robbery Charles Laughton in Payment Deferred Herbert Marshall in Blonde Venus Chester Morris in Red-Headed Womsn Paul Muni in I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang Johnny Weissmuller in Tarzan the Ape Man Winner: Lionel Barrymore for Grand Hotel 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kingrat Posted February 21, 2016 I think Paul Muni made a career mistake when he didn't insist on doing leading man roles as well as the biopics. He had the looks to play romantic leads, and I prefer him in contemporary roles. My Best Actor list will look very much like Tom's, especially at the top. Tom also mentioned someone I had left out of the supporting actor considerations. The Special Thanks category is a great idea. And how could I have left out Mary Astor in RED DUST? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregoryPeckfan Posted February 21, 2016 BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: John Barrymore in Rasputin and the Empress Lionel Barrymore in Arsine Lupin Donald Crisp in Red Dust Cary Grant in Blonde Venus Preston Foster in I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang Jean Hersholt in Grand Hotel Walter Huston in Rain Boris Karloff as The Mummy Lewis Stone in Grand Hotel Winner: Lewis Stone for Grand Hotel 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregoryPeckfan Posted February 21, 2016 Since my Juvenile winner is also male, I'll post my choice before moving on to the actresses: Dickie Moore for Blonde Venus. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregoryPeckfan Posted February 21, 2016 BEST ACTRESS: Ethel Barrymore for Rasputin and the Empress Joan Crawford in Grand Hotel Marlene Dietrich for Shanghai Express Irene Dunne for Back Street Glenda Farell for I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang Kay Francis for Jewel Robbery Greta Garbo for Grand Hotel Jean Harlow for Red Dust Jean Harlow for Red-Headed Woman Helen Hayes for Farewell to Arms Maureen O'Sullivan for Tarzan the Ape Man WINNER: Greta Garbo for Grand Hotel 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GregoryPeckfan Posted February 21, 2016 And finally, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Mary Astor in Red Dust Ann Dvorak in Scarface Myrna Loy in The Mask of Fu Manchu Una Merkel in Red Headed Woman May Robson in Red Headed Woman Anna Mae Wong for Shanghai Express WINNER: Anna Mae Wong for Shanghai Express 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kay Posted February 21, 2016 1932 - Once again, winners felt impossible and pointless to choose. They, as well as all nominees, are based entirely on bias because that's the only way this feels fair to me, (otherwise I'm just grasping at smoke.)ActorLionel Barrymore - Grand Hotel***Stuart Erwin - Make Me a Star Walter Huston - Kongo Edmund Lowe - Chandu the Magician (inclusion is slightly ironic) Paul Muni - I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang Paul Muni - Scarface ActressOlga Baclanova - FreaksVirginia Bruce - KongoJoan Crawford - Grand HotelAnn Dvorak - Scarface Ann Dvorak - Three on a Match Jean Harlow - Red-Headed Woman*** Edna May Oliver - Penguin Pool Murder Supporting Actor Leslie Banks (the hunter) - The Most Dangerous Game Edgar Kennedy (the warden) - Hold 'Em Jail Bela Lugosi (Roxor) - Chandu the Magician Zeppo Marx (the reactor) - Horse Feathers*** Warner Oland (a suspicious character) - Shanghai Express Supporting Actress Olga Baclanova (the Baroness) - Downstairs Glenda Farrell (the no-good dame) - I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang*** Aline MacMahon (a sympathetic gal) - One Way Passage Vivienne Osborne (the ex-wife) - The Dark Horse Thelma Todd (the universal girlfriend) - Horse FeathersAnna May Wong (the companion) - Shanghai Express Best SynergyGroucho Marx and Zeppo Marx - Horse FeathersChico Marx and Harpo Marx - Horse FeathersEdna May Oliver and James Gleason - Penguin Pool MurderRoland Young and Charlie Ruggles - This Is the Night*** 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomJH Posted February 21, 2016 Kay, I like your Best Synergy category. You also reminded me how effective Virginia Bruce was in Kongo and Edna May Oliver, well, she always puts on a good show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kay Posted February 21, 2016 Kay, I like your Best Synergy category. You also reminded me how effective Virginia Bruce was in Kongo and Edna May Oliver, well, she always puts on a good show. Yeah, Edna May Oliver could take up permanent residence in these lists, and so would the Marx brothers if I let them. "Best Synergy" I feel could almost be a real Oscar category. Roland Young and Charlie Ruggles are such a great team they will be showing up again later in this context- and winning again, too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
