Best Actor 1949: Results

5. Richard Todd in The Hasty Heart- Todd performance never gets the below the surface with his performance. He is okay overall, despite a fairly over the top accent, but never anything special.

4. Gregory Peck in Twelve O'clock High- Peck's sometimes dull, and unemotional manner, works for the role of General Savage. Peck has the right commanding presence in the film, and although his performance is never exactly interesting it does work for the film.

3. John Wayne in Sands of Iwo Jima- John Wayne gives a standard Wayne performance, as the tough commanding sergeant Stryker. Wayne is fine, and fairly effective especially in reaction shots, but his performance is never anything that special.

2. Broderick Crawford in All The King's Men- Crawford is terrific as the evil slimy Willie Stark, but his transition into the evil Stark from a the good Stark is haphazard. Also in his public persona scenes as Stark he lacked the right amount of charisma to make his ascension to power completely believable.

1. Kirk Douglas in Champion- Douglas begins in the film as an incredibly charming guy, but than slowly dissolves into a manipulative cold man. Douglas' believable and carefully done transformation shows to Crawford, and Todd, how to do a character transformation properly. 

Deserving Performances-
James Cagney in White Heat
Dennis Price in Kind Hearts and Coronets

Best Actor 1949: Gregory Peck in Twelve O'Clock High

Gregory Peck received his fourth Oscar nomination for portraying Brigadier General Frank Savage in Twelve O'Clock High.

Twelve O'Clock High tells the story of World War II bomber pilots, and it was one of the first Hollywood films to show the psychological trauma of war.

Frank Savage is the man who is put in charge of the 918th heavy bombardment group, because there former commanding officer according to Savage became over identifying with his men. Savage really is not an overly complicated character actually, just a man put in charge of a job, and determined to do so to its fullest. Savage is a commanding man who will get these men into shape, even if it means being quite rough at times.

Peck really is fine for this role and has the right commanding presence as Savage. He has the right demeanor in the role which suits the character of Savage. Savage although must be shown to be a fine leader, is not really shown to be all more than that until the end of the film. Savage says what needs to be done and expects everyone to do it. Savage I suppose grows in respect with his men, which again Peck does not really change in his performance, nor did he have to, but rather the film dictates this growth in respect.

Peck really is not one of my favorite actors. I find he can many times be incredibly dull, and far too unemotional. He is slightly dull, and not particularly emotional in this performance, but that actually works well for Savage as a character. Peck always straight delivery and method works for Savage, even though that does mean neither his character or his performance is ever all that compelling. Still though his performance is fine and does work in context of the film. Also at the end Savage suffers a nervous breakdown. I did not think Peck really indicated or lead to the breakdown all that well, but his performance of the actual breakdown is fine. Overall not a very interesting performance, but one that does serve its purpose.

Best Actor 1949

And the Nominees Were:

John Wayne in Sands of Iwo Jima 

Gregory Peck in Twelve O'Clock High 

Broderick Crawford in All The King's Men

Richard Todd in The Hasty Heart

Kirk Douglas in Champion

Best Actor 1945: Results

5. Cornel Wilde in A Song To Remember- Wilde performance is just a dull boring performance lacking in any redeeming factors.

4. Bing Crosby in The Bells of St. Mary's- I will admit Bing certainly smiles a lot but does little past that. He sings, and smiles that is it.

3. Gene Kelly in Anchors Aweigh- Kelly does his usual thing here, some like it, I don't really.

2. Gregory Peck in The Keys of the Kingdom- Gregory Peck gives a nice charming performance as a Priest, who stays interesting and effective to watch throughout the film.

1. Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend- No doubt about this one Milland by far gives the best performance, in a harrowing, and very effective turn as an alcoholic writer. His performance is exceptionally effective, and shows incredibly realistic performance of a man who is just about over the edge.

Deserving Performances:
Cornel Wilde in Leave Her to Heaven

Best Actor 1945: Gregory Peck in The Keys of the Kingdom

Gregory Peck received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Father Francis Chisholm in The Keys of the Kingdom.

The Keys of the Kingdom is a well made and quite effecting film for me anyways about a priest and his years in China as a missionary.

Gregory Peck, I am glad to say due to the other non winners of this year, actually gives a very good performance. Peck stays strong throughout the film, and stays as an especially interesting man to watch as he starts as a young man. Peck early on is properly charming, and just give a very nice watchable performance. He is interesting to follow throughout the film, as a young man. Peck gives just an interesting performance in which can be followed through the story of the Priest.

I really liked his performance as just a nice charming man, Peck shows how an almost entirely good guy performance does not need to be either dull or boring. Peck makes the priest a likable and enjoyable character watch. He lacks any deep problems, and is a very principled man. He though does become slowly more and more principled as the film goes on. As he grows more and more in tune with the Chinese people he is around. Peck although playing a nice character does not make him an simple man, even if he is a man of simple tastes.

Peck stays an interesting guide throughout the priest trials and tribulations as his time as the missionary. He is humorous and very heartwarming in the good moments of his time in China. His relationship's with the local people are made very sweet by Peck. Peck also holds the right strength and power in his moments of showing his passion for his work, and his protection and defense of the local people he cares for. Peck is also incredibly strong in the moments of hardship the priest must face such as the violence in China and the losses of his friends. Peck again is terrific, and very strong. Peck ages very well creating a very poignant portrait of a man, making hi final farewell in the film a truly heartfelt moment.

Best Actor 1945

And the Nominees were:

Gregory Peck in Keys of the Kingdom

Bing Crosby in Bells of Saint Mary's

Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend

Gene Kelly in Anchors Aweigh

Cornel Wilde in A Song to Remember

Is this the biggest one horse race in this category or will it be someone else? Oh and I guess this is my Christmas edition due to Bells of Saint Mary's.

Best Actor 1947: Results

5. Gregory Peck in Gentleman's Agreement- All Phil Green does is make speech after speech about antisemitism, or give disapproving looks. No actor could really have made these constant speeches interesting. The only other part of his performance are his romantic scenes with Dorothy McGuire which lack chemistry.

4. Michael Redgrave in Mourning Becomes Electra- Orin is very difficult character and Redgrave gives his best go at it. He mixes his performance with both a little subtlety that works fairly well, and theatrics which are interesting but are not always entirely convincing.

3. John Garfield in Body and Soul- Garfield gives a a good performance throughout but his character is a little too simple for most of the film. When he does get a chance to do more he does, it is shame his character was not more fully written for the whole film.

2. William Powell in Life With Father- Poor Powell always second place. Powell last Oscar nomination is a nice funny performance, it is not that much be certainly a good entertaining performance.

1. Ronald Colman in A Double Life- A good prediction Dinasztie Colman gives a terrific performance interspersing subtlety of Anthony John with the insanity of Othello especially well. It is a risky performance for sure but one that succeeds very well. He was last Lead Actor winner I saw and I am glad the last I saw was a great one.

Deserving Performances:
Cary Grant in The Bishop's Wife
Rex Harrison in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir

Best Actor 1947: Gregory Peck in Gentleman's Agreement

Gregory Peck received third Oscar nomination for portraying crusading magazine writer Phil Green who pretends to be Jewish.

Gentleman's Agreement is most certainly very heavy handed with its constant repetition of its point over and over again. I think though it does hold a certain interest despite how obviously it is written, and directed.

I think something that makes Agreement so heavy handed is the character of Phil Green. Green is simply made far too perfect,and always more than ready to tell everyone else about their imperfectness. Now I will say because of this Peck will has a pretty much thankless role. His character is pretty one dimensional, and good guys do not have to be one dimensional but I think Phil Green here is all the way. The whole film is him saying oh the world needs to now about Antisemitism, and how others do nothing to prevent it, or do things to contribute to it.

He does two things most of the time. One are his constant speeches about what is right, and what is wrong. I think Peck does a fine job making these speeches, even though he cannot get over the fact that Phil makes the speeches over and over again. He does have the right passion, yet he seems to be forcing them after awhile. He never seems to be completely authentic, unable to get over the forced nature of the writing. This is something I feel is overcome by fellow nominee John Garfield who plays Peck's Jewish friend. Garfield really sells his couple of speeches, and makes pretty strong impact, much better than Peck's constant ones.
 His thing he does is this one look he gives to people who are antisemitic. He gives this one look, that I found sort of unintentionally funny after a while. Peck possibly could have diversified his looks a little, either way the look is not a problem exactly for old Phil's one dimensionality but it is nothing special when it comes to a performance.

The one other part of his performance that still has plenty of telling people what is right, but is slightly different is his romantic scenes with Dorothy Maguire. This romance is not at all convincing and is terribly forced feeling. I would of course blame the script, but not entirely, I think the actors themselves needed to sell the romance a little which they fail to do. Maguire and Peck lack chemistry, and their scenes together seem incredibly forced, which is very problematic since their relationship is sort of suppose a driving force of the film. Overall Peck's performance mostly simply served the purpose of a very boring and uninteresting character. Peck though does not always even serve this purpose do to the failed romantic moments, and his inability to really sell all of his character's speeches.

Best Actor 1947

And the Nominees Were:

Gregory Peck in Gentleman's Agreement

John Garfield in Body and Soul

Ronald Colman in A Double Life

William Powell in Life With Father

Michael Redgrave in Mourning Becomes Electra  

Who do you pick, who do you predict? 

Best Actor 1962: Results

5. Burt Lancaster in Birdman of Alcatraz- Burt Lancaster does his best despite Robert Stroud being an incredibly oddly written character. Lancaster does succeed as much as he can with his material, and does show his charisma and star quality almost throughout the film.

4. Marcello Mastroianni in Divorce Italian Style- Mastroianni is downright hilarious, and creates a brilliant performance of deadpan brilliance. His performance is simple at times by always appropriately so, and always to maximize the hilarity of his performance.

3. Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird- Gregory Peck gives an especially effective and just about perfect performance as Atticus Finch. He is especially brilliant in his creation of Atticus which is absolutely magnificent. He also adds the right heart in his scenes with the children, and the right power and passion especially in his final speech at the trial.

2. Jack Lemmon in Days of Wine and Roses- Lemmon gives a brilliant and searing performance. Lemmon excels in all of his scenes, first carefully suggesting his alcoholism early on, but later having truly chilling moments involving his most troubled moments of alcoholism. A truly brilliant performance that is sometimes hard to watch simply because he is so good.

1. Peter O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia- Peter O'Toole gives a performance of true greatness as Lawrence. He not only holds interest throughout his long running film, but he also shows an incredible unique portrait of a fascinating man. His transition of all forms are brilliantly shown, and he gives a performance of utter brilliance. O'Toole is absolutely perfect in every moment of his incredible performance, that I think is one of the greatest, and certainly O'Toole's best.

Deserving Performances:
James Mason in Lolita

Best Actor 1962: Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird

Gregory Peck won an Oscar from his fifth and final Oscar nomination for portraying Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.

To Kill A Mockingbird is a very effective drama film with an interesting story, and a incredible sense of place.

 Atticus Finch is a character who is fairly simple yet for some reason terrific. He is one of the most upstanding characters, yet he does not seem one dimensional because of this, instead that just seems to be right for Atticus. Gregory Peck creates Atticus incredibly well just from the initial conception of the character he is perfectly developed. Everything physically about Peck in this performance just seems right and completely honest for Atticus. His posture and his demeanor just absolutely brilliant, he just is completely the character he never seems not to be Atticus, he is always the perfect honest southern lawyer. He just absolutely fits the part, everything he does adds to his portrayal and he makes it seem like no one else could be Atticus besides Peck.

Peck excels in every single scene he is in,  I particularly like how warm of a performance he gives. He really seems like the perfect father to the children, and Peck does this with the utmost grace and simplicity. He never seems to be trying to be the perfect father, the words of wisdom and discipline that come with Atticus always are absolutely natural from Peck. He tells his stories and comforts the children so naturally, that Peck is Finch in this role there is no question of that. He always adds the right amount of heart to every moment of speeches to the children. He never makes the scenes sappy or corny, but rather effective moments of the true unconditional love a father has for his children. Scout says that Atticus always said things in the right way and this is completely true because Peck always says everything in the right way a truly heart warming performance that earns every second of warmth it creates.

Peck most famous and most powerful scene does come during the trial of Tom Robinson. Peck first of all controls and stands out in the trial scene. He throughout it shows Atticus' brilliance in the courtroom, showing his knowledge and control of his situation. His best moment of the scene comes in the summation to the jury near the end of the trial. Peck in this final summation is simply magnificent. His performance at the end here always consistently gives me chills because he is so good. He stands on the screen for nine minutes, not a single second could I stop watching him. He is just incredible putting all truest passion, and power into the scene. His honest urging for the jury to find Robinson innocent is one of the most powerful speeches in film history, and that is due to Peck's pitch perfect performance. Overall Atticus is not in the film that much in fact one could possibly try to argue he is supporting but that matters not Peck is wonderful in this performance and makes the most of every second he has. This is the type of performance that seemed to be destined for Peck, and Peck met his destiny completely.

Best Actor 1962

And the Nominees Were:

Peter O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia

Jack Lemmon in Days of Wine and Roses

Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird

Marcello Mastroianni in Divorce, Italian Style

Burt Lancaster in Birdman of Alcatraz  

Who do you predict, who do you pick?