Actor Round-up: 1935

5. PAUL MUNI AS JOE IN BLACK FURY

This was bad. This was very, very bad. This piece of work gets my vote for the worst performance by a male actor ever to be "nominated" for an Oscar. It is loud showboating in the worst way possible. I hated this performance. This almost nabbed the Best Actor Oscar in 1935 and let us all thank the Oscar God above for not allowing it to happen.

4. CHARLES LAUGHTON AS BLIGH IN MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY

Laughton comes in last out of all the Mutiny on the Bounty boys not because he was the worst per se, but rather he proved to be the least remarkable in my book. Not quite as convincingly evil as I'd have liked, and never given a chance to humanize his character, Laughton's portrayal of an extraordinary man ultimately comes out just ordinary.

3. CLARK GABLE AS FLETCHER IN MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY



Gable certainly gets points for playing that hero schtick to a tee, and what got him over Laughton was only due to the fact that I found myself liking Fletcher Christian more than Captain Bligh. Otherwise, I don't think Gable had the right acting chops to play this conflicted man--it was all glorified hero and no substance for me.

2. FRANCHOT TONE AS BYAM IN MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY

I suppose Franchot Tone's character is only ever responding to what is happening around him--the ball is never really completely in his court, so to speak. But he is a leading man in this picture through-and-through. He is the heart of the film, and he brings so much soul to his performance. It's an underrated turn by an underrated actor.

1. VICTOR MCLAGLEN AS GYPO IN THE INFORMER

This is a magnificent performance filled to the brim with remorse, emotion, and fear. It's exactly what is often missing from the Best Actor category in the early years--a masculine man who wears his heart on his sleeve, who feels, and who has the potential to crumble before our very eyes. Victor McLaglen's portrayal of a troubled man is beautiful in its sensitivity and pain.

IN CONCLUSION: This was a below-average year. I only liked half of the official nominees (though one wonders if Paul Muni would have managed a win had he actually been an on the official ballot). In this day and age of playing safe with nominations, there is difficulty getting two lead nods in one category much less three, so that achievement alone ought to be applauded. I wonder how close Charles Laughton was to getting a nomination for Ruggles of Red Gap, especially since that was also a Best Picture nominee and because Laughton had won the New York Film Critic's prize for both Ruggles and Mutiny. Other than that, I can't say I know of any other potential Best Actor nominees, though I'm curious about the 1935 Les Miserables since my favorite Fredric March takes on the plum role of Jean Valjean...