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Showing posts with label Clark Gable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clark Gable. Show all posts
Best Actor 1935: Results
Best Actor 1935: Clark Gable, Franchot Tone, and Charles Laughton in Mutiny on the Bounty
Mutiny on the Bounty is an aged film certainly but it still is enjoyable in its own old fashioned way. The story is not really accurate apparently Captain Bligh was really just a man trying to do his job, and the mutineers all ended up basically killing each other when they got to their paradise of an island, instead the it position the film as a struggle between good and cruelty. The three nominees represent different parts of this conflict on the ship.
First there is Clark Gable who received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Fletcher Christian. Fletcher Christian as portrayed here is the good man aboard the ship who tries his best to help his fellow sailors, and eventually takes the ship due to the cruelty of Captain Bligh. Christian is not all too complicated none of the characters are, nor do they exactly need to be.
Clark Gable sans his usual mustache portrays Fletcher Christian effectively. Christian as I said is not a complicated character but just an honest man doing his best to make conditions on the Bounty better. He portrays Christian with the right amount of passion, and power in the performance. He is instantly believable as the the commander of the men, and there is absoultely no doubt that people would look up to Christian in this film.
Clark Gable gives a very good performance and does have his usual charm which is an always welcome factor in his film. I would say that his charm is not quite as great as in his other two Oscar nominated performances but it still is always apparent in this performance. I would say the most important part of his performance is just the fact that it is so easy to follow through the film with Gable in the lead. He was a true movie star and he proves that once again with his undeniable charm and screen presence. It is not his best performance but it is again a good one, which completely work well for the dashing daring Fletcher Christian.
In the middle the semi-neutral party is Ensign Byan in portrayed by Franchot Tone with his only Oscar nomination. Byan is a simple idealistic midshipman, who like Christian wants to be treated with respect, and also dislikes the cruelty of Captain Bligh. Byan though does not really act out, he says Bligh has done wrong, but does not end up participating in the Mutiny himself.
Tone actually is just fine in his role as Byan, who really is more of a supporting role, but since there was only one actor category there is no surprise he was nominated here. Byan is not complicated but Tone portrays him as just the good guy he is. He handles Byan's reactions realistically and effectively enough. He and Gable get along well in the film as well, and their scenes together work fairly well.
My reservation is Byan does not do all that much, but stand in the middle between the forces for most of the film, but he does not standout like Bligh's nastiness does, and Christian's charm, but than again nor should he since he is the man in the middle really. Byan though eventually does have to stand up for himself, when he is put on trial as a mutineer. Tone handles his one big scene at the end fairly well, even if not amazingly. Overall Tone is never all that special in his role, but he is just fine.
Finally the last part of the struggle is the evil Captain Bligh portrayed by Charles Laughton in his second Oscar nomination. Charles Laughton portrays Bligh as an evil slimy Captain. Bligh I would not say is really portrayed as a whole human being but perhaps is more representation of a type of systematic cruelty.
Laughton portrays Bligh fairly well even if the character is rather simple. Bligh as written mostly does just two things. One of them is smugly look at the proceedings as he orders other people about, whether that is their task, or if he orders a cold punishment for a mind infraction. Laughton is properly cold and calculated in his cruelty. He shows his characters power madness in such a strict structural ways that works well once again with the film.
Bligh really is never not being evil even if at times he is doing the ship work in a normal captain like way. He never really acts as a normal human being, but nor is he suppose to be. This is a film about very thematic characters and no character is more like this than Laughton. Laughton never really acting like a normal descent person is appropriate with Bligh's power hungry attitudes, and the fact that he is suppose to be really just an evil villain not a normal person.
He really is suppose to be the representation of cruelty which Laughton does quite well. He does this both when he acts rather quietly evil with just the orders when he is control, or when he roars and yells back at Christian in the pivotal mutiny scene. Laughton performance is not an amazing one, or even a subtle one but like the others it is an effective performance that work well for the film.
Clark Gable sans his usual mustache portrays Fletcher Christian effectively. Christian as I said is not a complicated character but just an honest man doing his best to make conditions on the Bounty better. He portrays Christian with the right amount of passion, and power in the performance. He is instantly believable as the the commander of the men, and there is absoultely no doubt that people would look up to Christian in this film.
Clark Gable gives a very good performance and does have his usual charm which is an always welcome factor in his film. I would say that his charm is not quite as great as in his other two Oscar nominated performances but it still is always apparent in this performance. I would say the most important part of his performance is just the fact that it is so easy to follow through the film with Gable in the lead. He was a true movie star and he proves that once again with his undeniable charm and screen presence. It is not his best performance but it is again a good one, which completely work well for the dashing daring Fletcher Christian.
Tone actually is just fine in his role as Byan, who really is more of a supporting role, but since there was only one actor category there is no surprise he was nominated here. Byan is not complicated but Tone portrays him as just the good guy he is. He handles Byan's reactions realistically and effectively enough. He and Gable get along well in the film as well, and their scenes together work fairly well.
My reservation is Byan does not do all that much, but stand in the middle between the forces for most of the film, but he does not standout like Bligh's nastiness does, and Christian's charm, but than again nor should he since he is the man in the middle really. Byan though eventually does have to stand up for himself, when he is put on trial as a mutineer. Tone handles his one big scene at the end fairly well, even if not amazingly. Overall Tone is never all that special in his role, but he is just fine.
Laughton portrays Bligh fairly well even if the character is rather simple. Bligh as written mostly does just two things. One of them is smugly look at the proceedings as he orders other people about, whether that is their task, or if he orders a cold punishment for a mind infraction. Laughton is properly cold and calculated in his cruelty. He shows his characters power madness in such a strict structural ways that works well once again with the film.
Bligh really is never not being evil even if at times he is doing the ship work in a normal captain like way. He never really acts as a normal human being, but nor is he suppose to be. This is a film about very thematic characters and no character is more like this than Laughton. Laughton never really acting like a normal descent person is appropriate with Bligh's power hungry attitudes, and the fact that he is suppose to be really just an evil villain not a normal person.
He really is suppose to be the representation of cruelty which Laughton does quite well. He does this both when he acts rather quietly evil with just the orders when he is control, or when he roars and yells back at Christian in the pivotal mutiny scene. Laughton performance is not an amazing one, or even a subtle one but like the others it is an effective performance that work well for the film.
Best Actor 1935
Victor McLaglen in The Informer
Clark Gable in Mutiny on the Bounty
Franchot Tone in Mutiny on the Bounty
Charles Laughton in Mutiny on the Bounty
Who will it be the informer or one of the men of the bounty?
Note: I decided not to include Paul Muni in Black Fury because he was not nominated actually. He got votes but someone like Boris Karloff for Bride of Frankenstein technically could have as well, so I decided to only take the actually nominated.
Best Actor 1939: Results
2. James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington- James Stewart using his charm which only has really gives a very strong performance. Stewart really is great in his way as the innocent Smith, to his transition to the lone man fighting for what is right.
1. Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind- Clark Gable gives a truly legendary performance as Rhett Butler. Rhett is made is into the extremely memorable character by Gable. Gable is able to stand out in this epic, and stand with Vivien Leigh which is an incredible achievement. An iconic performance that is truly a great performance. This whole year was a great year for acting performances, and each would have been deserving in any year, but I feel Gable happens to be the most powerful, most effective performance, and really was the most challenging character. For such achievement Gable becomes my second two time lead winner now tying with Walter Huston.
John Wayne in Stagecoach
Best Actor 1939: Clark Gable in Gone With the Wind
Clark Gable received his third and final Oscar nomination for portraying Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind.
Gone With The Wind is an incredibly strong epic. It is a long movie, that is actually worth watching the whole. It has a few problems but overall it really is a truly great and grandiose film experience.
Clark Gable performance is certainly is an iconic performance, just about everything about him is a truly iconic performance. Now an iconic performance does not automatically mean a good one or a great one, it can merely be the idea or image of the performance. But there is one thing for sure when speaking of the character there seems that only that person could have ever really be thought as that character.
Clark Gable just is Rhett Butler, and Rhett is Gable. As soon as he appears, he is the character there is no doubt, he just simply is the part. Everything about him only ever insures him as Rhett Butler. I never for a moment in the film questioned him in the part which aided the making his performance as a truly iconic one. His performance as Rhett is one that is essential to the film, and Gable is a character of great impact of the film. This all begins with his initial entrance at the bottom of the stair case looking up at Scarlett (Vivien Leigh). His single look here begins the ease of performance Gable has with this performance. He says nothing but Gable has already suggested more than enough of Butler. Gable look is absolutely perfect there is no question to that look it is as Scarlett describes it, being able to see through her clothes.
For about a third of the film Rhett really does not continuously appear in scenes in comes in and out of the film. Every time though he appears he certainly makes a strong impact, this partially in the way Rhett is written but more fully due to Gable incredibly powerful presence. Gable's presence here is like none other, his natural charisma and strength are never more visible and as strong than as Rhett. Every single moment Gable is on screen his personality is simply magnetic. He always stands out in a scene and always a perfect command in them. Such as his first scene where he questions the abilities of the southern gentlemen to win against the North. He shows Rhett is a man who always has command over his situation. He makes Rhett into a man who knows what he wants and how to get it, and a man who shall not be forgotten, and is not forgotten ever in the film.
Now the most important factor of his performance though that really makes it legendary are his scenes with Vivien Leigh. Vivien Leigh's performance is an astounding performance, one of true brilliance, and Gable being able to stand up along with Leigh performance is a true feat there. Both of the two work wonderfully together. They both are completely in tune with their characters and in each other to make their scenes together scenes of cinematic greatness. I really like Gable way of dealing with Leigh and the way she deals back toward him. They simply could not be better, and both are absolutely brilliantly in showing these two characters who sees things the way they are even if they are of low character at times. They are fantastic in the way they tear at each other down to their true selves. These "romantic" scenes together are fascinating because they really are not tender, but in many ways harsh, yet they still hold tremendous power, because of Leigh and Gable are truly great together.
Gable finally consistently appears in the final fourth of the film, after Rhett marries Scarlett. Gable got along perfectly before that point, excelling as Rhett, while Rhett was always able to stay away partially and never truly become involved with the troublesome Scarlet. Rhett when he does become even more deeply involved with Scarlet including to having a daughter together, Rhett finds great troubles with this relationship, and this really puts Gable performance to the test. Gable is more than up to the task, though and gives truly emotionally honest portrayal as Rhett. He shows Rhett desire to love Scarlet but also his sadness and regret due to her inability to shake her own selfishness. Gable is simply perfect in all of these scenes, and especially the final scene where Scarlet goes to Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) for the last time. His exit and final line delivery are mark of not only an iconic performance, but also of a truly great legendary performance.
Clark Gable performance is certainly is an iconic performance, just about everything about him is a truly iconic performance. Now an iconic performance does not automatically mean a good one or a great one, it can merely be the idea or image of the performance. But there is one thing for sure when speaking of the character there seems that only that person could have ever really be thought as that character.
Clark Gable just is Rhett Butler, and Rhett is Gable. As soon as he appears, he is the character there is no doubt, he just simply is the part. Everything about him only ever insures him as Rhett Butler. I never for a moment in the film questioned him in the part which aided the making his performance as a truly iconic one. His performance as Rhett is one that is essential to the film, and Gable is a character of great impact of the film. This all begins with his initial entrance at the bottom of the stair case looking up at Scarlett (Vivien Leigh). His single look here begins the ease of performance Gable has with this performance. He says nothing but Gable has already suggested more than enough of Butler. Gable look is absolutely perfect there is no question to that look it is as Scarlett describes it, being able to see through her clothes.
For about a third of the film Rhett really does not continuously appear in scenes in comes in and out of the film. Every time though he appears he certainly makes a strong impact, this partially in the way Rhett is written but more fully due to Gable incredibly powerful presence. Gable's presence here is like none other, his natural charisma and strength are never more visible and as strong than as Rhett. Every single moment Gable is on screen his personality is simply magnetic. He always stands out in a scene and always a perfect command in them. Such as his first scene where he questions the abilities of the southern gentlemen to win against the North. He shows Rhett is a man who always has command over his situation. He makes Rhett into a man who knows what he wants and how to get it, and a man who shall not be forgotten, and is not forgotten ever in the film.
Now the most important factor of his performance though that really makes it legendary are his scenes with Vivien Leigh. Vivien Leigh's performance is an astounding performance, one of true brilliance, and Gable being able to stand up along with Leigh performance is a true feat there. Both of the two work wonderfully together. They both are completely in tune with their characters and in each other to make their scenes together scenes of cinematic greatness. I really like Gable way of dealing with Leigh and the way she deals back toward him. They simply could not be better, and both are absolutely brilliantly in showing these two characters who sees things the way they are even if they are of low character at times. They are fantastic in the way they tear at each other down to their true selves. These "romantic" scenes together are fascinating because they really are not tender, but in many ways harsh, yet they still hold tremendous power, because of Leigh and Gable are truly great together.
Gable finally consistently appears in the final fourth of the film, after Rhett marries Scarlett. Gable got along perfectly before that point, excelling as Rhett, while Rhett was always able to stay away partially and never truly become involved with the troublesome Scarlet. Rhett when he does become even more deeply involved with Scarlet including to having a daughter together, Rhett finds great troubles with this relationship, and this really puts Gable performance to the test. Gable is more than up to the task, though and gives truly emotionally honest portrayal as Rhett. He shows Rhett desire to love Scarlet but also his sadness and regret due to her inability to shake her own selfishness. Gable is simply perfect in all of these scenes, and especially the final scene where Scarlet goes to Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) for the last time. His exit and final line delivery are mark of not only an iconic performance, but also of a truly great legendary performance.
Best Actor 1939
James Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Laurence Olivier in Wuthering Heights
Robert Donat in Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Mickey Rooney in Babes in Arms
Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind
So will it be one of the three screen legends, the then young star, or the actor who should be far better remembered than he is?
Best Actor 1934: Results
2. William Powell in The Thin Man- Powell is in top form as Nick Charles. He is a perfect Sleuth to follow because of his perfect charm and wit, and his perfect chemistry with Myrna Loy.
1. Clark Gable in It Happened One Night- This is an interesting year because all three lead performances are comedy performances, I wonder is this is the only year where all the nominees are trying to be funny. Gable wins partially because he is the funniest as Peter Warne. Every scene he is in he is incredibly charming and his comedic timing could not be better. Also his chemistry with Claudette Colbert is astounding, so a well deserved win for "The King"
Deserving Performances:
Stan Laurel in Babes in Toyland
Oliver Hardy in Babes in Toyland
Henry Brandon in Babes in Toyland
Best Actor 1934: Clark Gable in It Happened One Night
Clark Gable won an Oscar from his first nomination for portraying Peter Warne in It Happened One Night.
It Happened One Night is an extremely enjoyable romantic comedy. I just love every minute of it and I am not a fan of romantic comedy.
Clark Gable here does not give a performance that bares his soul, it is not one that requires him to bare his darkest deepest emotions, no that is not what is required. But who cares he gives a great performance from something entirely different, his comedic timing and charm. Clark Gable is just brilliant here, he is just wonderful in the film from beginning to end. Every single moment he has he is always and utterly entertaining. The only thing that really requires dramatic work involves his change from only wanting to benefit from getting a story from a runaway socialite Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) to falling in loving with her. This part of the character Gable handles well, making it very natural, but that is hardly what makes this performance so strong.
The rest of his performance is Gable himself who is as charming as possible as Warne. He is simply magnetic in the role, and infuses great comedic energy in every scene. His comedic timing is always spot on in every scene but I have some particular scenes that I enjoy the most. One I really like is when he gets rid of someone trying to tell on Ellie by pretending he is a gangster who kidnapped Ellie. He is hilarious with the voice he uses and pretends to act tough. Another scene that I like a lot is when he tells Ellie of his various methods of hitch hiking. His faces he makes and the way he tells about is one is just perfect, and very funny. I find that all his comedic work is just great every second of it. His charm is just strong, every scene he has is wonderful, Gable is usually a charming presence anyways but here I feel he really does out do himself. Something as simple as undressing is made into cinematic magic simply by the way Gable does it.
As for his chemistry with Claudette Colbert I would be hard pressed to name a better film couple. Again they are just perfect together in every type of scene. Their initial disdain for each other is well handled without being too much to make it so their love still makes sense. Their comedic scenes together are handled so each one lets each other be funny and the other reacts in the right way. Also when their being funny at the same time it is great such as when they pretend to be a feuding married couple to fool detectives looking for Ellie. Their romantic scenes are equally effective. Together they are absolutely right and true, their romance never seems wrong but only ever seems right. These two characters disliking each other than coming together is made seamless because of these two actors who work marvelously together. Gable does not have any scenes typical of an Oscar nominee or an Oscar winner but that does prevent this being a great performance that is just wonderful to watch, and truly deserving winner of a different style.
Clark Gable here does not give a performance that bares his soul, it is not one that requires him to bare his darkest deepest emotions, no that is not what is required. But who cares he gives a great performance from something entirely different, his comedic timing and charm. Clark Gable is just brilliant here, he is just wonderful in the film from beginning to end. Every single moment he has he is always and utterly entertaining. The only thing that really requires dramatic work involves his change from only wanting to benefit from getting a story from a runaway socialite Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) to falling in loving with her. This part of the character Gable handles well, making it very natural, but that is hardly what makes this performance so strong.
The rest of his performance is Gable himself who is as charming as possible as Warne. He is simply magnetic in the role, and infuses great comedic energy in every scene. His comedic timing is always spot on in every scene but I have some particular scenes that I enjoy the most. One I really like is when he gets rid of someone trying to tell on Ellie by pretending he is a gangster who kidnapped Ellie. He is hilarious with the voice he uses and pretends to act tough. Another scene that I like a lot is when he tells Ellie of his various methods of hitch hiking. His faces he makes and the way he tells about is one is just perfect, and very funny. I find that all his comedic work is just great every second of it. His charm is just strong, every scene he has is wonderful, Gable is usually a charming presence anyways but here I feel he really does out do himself. Something as simple as undressing is made into cinematic magic simply by the way Gable does it.
As for his chemistry with Claudette Colbert I would be hard pressed to name a better film couple. Again they are just perfect together in every type of scene. Their initial disdain for each other is well handled without being too much to make it so their love still makes sense. Their comedic scenes together are handled so each one lets each other be funny and the other reacts in the right way. Also when their being funny at the same time it is great such as when they pretend to be a feuding married couple to fool detectives looking for Ellie. Their romantic scenes are equally effective. Together they are absolutely right and true, their romance never seems wrong but only ever seems right. These two characters disliking each other than coming together is made seamless because of these two actors who work marvelously together. Gable does not have any scenes typical of an Oscar nominee or an Oscar winner but that does prevent this being a great performance that is just wonderful to watch, and truly deserving winner of a different style.
Best Actor 1934
William Powell in The Thin Man
Clark Gable in It Happened One Night
Frank Morgan in The Affairs of Cellini
Who do you Pick? Which of the Mustached Men will win?
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