Best Actress 1954

[bizarre]

I have only seen Wyman, who is dignified, subtle and sensitive in a role that would, at the time, have been brave for an actress in her position to take, relatively glamour-free and conscious of her aging beauty. But the film is not allegorical in the same way as other Sirks are - and is therefore less interesting. And Wyman would play a far richer iteration of this same character the following year in the superior All That Heaven Allows. My picks for this year still include her, though:

1. Eva Dahlbeck, A Lesson in Love
2. Joan Crawford, Johnny Guitar
3. Setsuko Hara, Sound of the Mountain
4. Jane Wyman, Magnificent Obsession
5. Haruko Sugimura, Late Chrysanthemums

[jowy_jillia]

My Choices:
Ingrid Bergman - Journey to Italy
Dorothy Dandridge - Carmen Jones
Ava Gardner - The Barefoot Contessa
Judy Garland - A Star Is Born
Grace Kelly - The Country Girl (also for "Rear Window and "Dial M for Murder")



Edited By jowy_jillia on 1252835935

[ITALIANO]

I dont even remember whom I voted for here, which says alot about what I feel about this year's nominees.

If I voted for Garland, I did it without much enthusiasm. Not because of her performance, which is very good (and Mason is even better), but because the movie has the power of putting me to deep sleep any time I try to see it. This is very subjective, I know, and there are many good things in A Star is Born, but honestly it takes a lifetime to say a very simple story (the 30s version was better), and some of the musical numbers are truly unbearable. But ok, Garland is good, and this isn't only the politically correct thing to say, it is true.

Or I might have voted for Grace Kelly, who was very good in one of those powerful roles that American plays used to offer to actresses. Kelly isn't Eleonora Duse, but compared to some of the Best Actress winners in recent years she's still pure gold.

The three others are good too, and the only reason why I'm sure I didnt vote for Hepburn it's because I did it for 1953.



Edited By ITALIANO on 1250954807

[Damien]

And James Mason is equally impressive, and it's equally ridiculous that he didn't win.

Really, even over Brando?

Most definitely!

[Greg]

And James Mason is equally impressive, and it's equally ridiculous that he didn't win.

Really, even over Brando?

[Damien]

Judy! Judy ! Judy!

Any of the other 4 in another year would have been a great choice, one doing the Academy proud. But this year any of the other 4 winning is a travesty.

And James Mason is equally impressive, and it's equally ridiculous that he didn't win.

A hardcore auteurist friend of mine looked at this year's nominees and scoffed, "Thy nominated a Cukor, a Preminger, a Wilder and a Sirk and they give it to a George Seaton."



Edited By Damien on 1249529619

[Reza]

What a great lineup. Voted for Garland.

Grace Kelly is good but for me the standout in The Country Girl is Bing Crosby. Dandridge, Audrey and Wyman.....all superb.

My top 5:

Judy Garland, A Star is Born
Dorothy Dandridge, Carmen Jones
Audrey Hepburn, Sabrina
Grace Kelly, The Country Girl
Joan Crawford, Johnny Guitar

Wyman (Magnificent Obsession) & Gardner (The Barefoot Contessa) tie for the 6th slot.



Edited By Reza on 1258695737

[Mister Tee]

I'd have said Garland anyway, but the vote's made clearer by having watched most of Star Is Born yesterday afternoon on TCM. It's truly a showcase role for Garland -- displaying a wide emotional range simply in her acting scenes, and, obviously, carrying the musical sequences with aplomb as well.

I'm pleased ro see most people here not openly resentful of Kelly, who does indeed give a very good performance. You can see the external advantages she had at the time: deglam role, rising star status (unlike Garland then), broad resume for the year (Dial M as well as Rear Window), NY Critics' prize and connection to a heavily-nominated best picture contender. Garland's industry-baby sentimental appeal was about her only countervailing card, and it may have been offset by the set-diva rumors, as well as her film's wobbly commercial performance. Today, the sentimental choice looks better than the critics' darling, but it's not as if it's a night/day difference.

[Penelope]

Garland, though Dandridge is a close second.

[Big Magilla]

Omissions:
Simmons and Holliday

For which films?

i'm sorry Simmons for "Desiree" and Holliday for "It Should Happen to you". Forgot to say that Kelly could has well been nominated for "Rear Window".

Figured that, just wanted to be sure, though neither is among by favorite performances from those two.

Jane Powell in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Ethel Merman in There's No Business Like Show Business, Shirley Booth in About Mrs. Leslie, Joan Crawford in Johnny Guitar and the now eligible Ingrid Bergman in The Greatest Love (AKA Europa '51) and Danielle Darrieux in The Earrings of Madame de... would be my runners-up.

[dws1982]

This is a really good lineup. Should've been Garland's year, but I don't hate Grace Kelly (or the fact that she has an Oscar) the way many do nowdays.

For my favorite performance of the year, I'm torn between Garland and Ingrid Bergman in Voyage to Italy (not Oscar eligible that year). Probably would go with Garland, but it's a close call.

[jowy_jillia]

Omissions:
Simmons and Holliday

For which films?

i'm sorry Simmons for "Desiree" and Holliday for "It Should Happen to you". Forgot to say that Kelly could has well been nominated for "Rear Window".

[Big Magilla]

This line-up is quite strong. Kelly gets a bum rap for taking home the Oscar that really should have gone to Garland, but she is quite impressive in The Country Girl and it's not just the dowdy clothes and makeup. Still, I can't vote for anyone but Garland here.

[Big Magilla]

Omissions:
Simmons and Holliday

For which films?

[jowy_jillia]

I'm voting for Kelly.

Omissions:
Simmons and Holliday

1953
1. Audrey Hepburn - Roman Holiday - 7 votes
2. Deborah Kerr - From Here to Eternity - 4 votes
3. Leslie Caron - Lili - 1 vote

1952
1. Julie Harris - The Member of the Wedding - 4 votes
1. Susan Hayward - With a Song in my Heart - 4 votes
3. Shirley Booth - Come Back, Little Sheba - 3 votes
4. Joan Crawford - Sudden Fear - 1 vote

1951
1. Vivien Leigh - A Streetcar Named Desire - 20 votes
2. Shelley Winters - A Place in the Sun - 2 votes

1950
1. Gloria Swanson - Sunset Blvd. - 13 votes
2. Bette Davis - All About Eve - 7 votes
3. Eleanor Parker - Caged - 1 vote

1949
1. Olivia de Havilland - The Heiress - 10 votes
2. Deborah Kerr - Edward My Son - 2 votes
3. Loretta Young - Come to the Stable - 1 vote

1948
1. Jane Wyman - Johnny Belinda - 8 votes
2. Olivia de Havilland - The Snake Pit - 6 votes

1947
1. Rosalind Russell - Mourning Becomes Electra - 4 votes
2. Susan Hayward - Smash Up - 3 votes
3. Joan Crawford - Possessed - 2 votes
3. Loretta Young - The Farmer's Daughter - 2 votes

1946
1. Celia Johnson - Brief Encounter - 11 votes
2. Olivia de Havilland - To Each His Own - 2 votes
2. Jennifer Jones - Duel in the Sun - 2 votes
4. Jane Wyman - The Yearling - 1 vote

1945
1. Joan Crawford - Mildred Pierce - 6 votes
1. Gene Tierny - Leave Her to Heaven - 6 votes
3. Ingrid Bergman - The Bells of St. Mary's - 3 votes

1944
1. Barbara Stanwyck - Double Indemnity - 13 votes
2. Ingrid Bergman - Gaslight - 5 votes

1943
1. Jean Arthur - The More the Merrier - 4 votes
2. Jennifer Jonies - The Song of Bernadette - 3 votes
3. Ingrid Bergman - For Whom the Bell Tolls - 2 vote
3. Joan Fontaine - The Constant Nymph - 1 vote

1942
1. Greer Garson - Mrs. Miniver - 7 votes
2. Bette Davis - Now, Voyager - 6 votes
3. Katharine Hepburn - Woman of the Year - 1 vote

1941
1. Barbara Stanwyck - Ball of Fire - 8 votes
2. Bette Davis - The Little Foxes - 5 votes

1940
1. Katharine Hepburn - The Philadelphia Story - 9 votes
2. Joan Fontaine - Rebecca - 6 votes
3. Bette Davis - The Letter - 3 votes

1939
1. Vivien Leigh - Gone With the Wind - 18 votes
2. Greta Garbo - Ninotchka - 2 votes

1938
1. Bette Davis - Jezebel - 4 votes
1. Wendy Hiller - Pygmalion - 4 votes
3. Margaret Sullavan - Three Comrades - 3 votes
4. Norma Shearer - Marie Antoinette - 1 vote

1937
1. Irene Dunne - The Awful Truth - 7 votes
2. Greta Garbo - Camille - 6 votes
3. Janet Gaynor - A Star is Born - 1 vote
3. Luise Rainer - The Good Earth - 1 vote
3. Barbara Stanwyck - Stella Dallas - 1 vote

1936
1. Carole Lombard - My Man Godfrey - 10 votes
2. Irene Dunne - Theodora Goes Wild - 1 vote
2. Luise Rainer - The Great Ziegfeld - 1 vote

1935
1. Katharine Hepburn - Alice Adams - 7 votes
2. Claudette Colbert - Private Worlds - 2 votes
2. Bette Davis - Dangerous - 2 votes

1934
1. Claudette Colbert - It Happened One Night - 7 votes
2. Bette Davis - Of Human Bondage - 1 vote

1932/33
1. Katharine Hepburn - Morning Glory - 5 votes
2. May Robson - Lady for a Day - 2 votes

1931/32
1. Marie Dressler - Emma - 6 votes

1930/31
1. Marlene Dietrich - Morocco - 8 votes
2. Marie Dressler - Min and Bill - 1 vote
2. Norma Shearer - A Free Soul - 1 vote

1929/30
1. Greta Garbo - Anna Christie - 3 votes
2. Ruth Chatterton - Sarah and Son - 1 vote
2. Greta Garbo - Romance - 1 vote
2. Norma Shearer - The Divorcee - 1 vote

1928/29
1. Ruth Chatterton - Madame X - 4 votes
2. Jeanne Eagels - The Letter - 1 vote

1927/28
1. Janet Gaynor - Sunrise - 5 votes
2. Janet Gaynor - Seventh Heaven - 3 votes
3. Janet Gaynor - Street Angel - 1 vote

Most Wins:
Katharine Hepburn - 3
Vivien Leigh - 2
Barbara Stanwyck - 2

Most Runner-Ups:
Bette Davis - 5
Greta Garbo - 2
Olivia de Havilland - 2
Jennifer Jones - 2
Deborah Kerr - 2

Actual Winners who didn't recieve any vote
28/29. Mary Pickford - Coquette
31/32. Helen Hayes - The Sin of Madelon Claudet
40. Ginger Rogers - Kitty Foyle
50. Judy Holliday - Born Yesterday