Cary Grant, None But the Lonely Heart

as ERNIE MOTT

The two thoughts I had running through my head over and over again while watching None but the Lonely Heart was “this movie sucks” and most crucially, “I can’t believe he got nominated for this”. It’s dumbfounding that of all the iconic films in Cary Grant’s filmography, Oscar’s attention only came for Penny Serenade and for this one. As Ernie Mott (the film has a stupid habit of reiterating his name over and over again, as if it knows we’re so bored by the picture’s cruddiness that we’d tune it all out), the wandering loser who comes back to help out with his sick mom’s shop, only to get caught up in some illegal dealings, Cary is so totally, utterly…mundane.

Happy Birthday Oscargasms!

Today Oscargasms turns 2 years old! Just want to take a moment to thank anyone who reads this blog for your support. I've said it before and I'll say it again--I think Oscar blogging is such a weird and random thing, and it's so cool that we're able to connect with each other from wherever it is we're all from over our mutual love for Oscars, film, and performances. Every single time I come across a comment on this site I get very happy, because I'm glad to know that there's someone out there who's actually interested in what I'm typing out, and it makes it easier to move forward with the blog!

Here's to another year of Oscargasms and another year of performances!

Alexander Knox, Wilson

as PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON

Won: Golden Globe - Best Actor

The Role: For some reason, Darryl Zanuck had mad love for President Woodrow Wilson, so much so that he set out to make what was at the time the most expensive film ever made (more so than Gone with the Wind for christ's sake). And on top of all that, he cast a second-string actor to carry the whole thing. Just think about how that would be roll out today. But as the head of Princeton who'd go on to become the 28th President of the United States and lead our country past the first World War, I can justly say that Knox proved my doubts wrong.

Barry Fitzgerald, Going My Way

as FATHER FITZGIBBON

Won: Academy Award - Best Supporting Actor | New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actor

The Role: as the traditional elder pastor of a church which is facing financial issues, Barry Fitzgerald has the unique honor of being the only actor ever to have been nominated for the same role in the same year in two different categories. It's the first high-profile case of flagrant category confusion; mix that with Fitzgerald's Best Actor win at New York and it's really fascinating to see that a performance like this got so much support from people. I say "performance like this" because it's sort of...an inconsequential one, adorable to an extent but one without much weight.

Bing Crosby, Going My Way

as FATHER CHUCK O'MALLEY 

Won: Academy Award - Best Actor

The Role: as the young incoming priest to St. Dominic's Church whose happy-go-lucky nature proves to be too modern and unconventional for the parish, this was the role that helped make Bing Crosby one of the most popular movie stars of his time. The movie as we know was a massive hit that year, and the performance was dubbed by the New York Times as one of "the best" and "sturdiest" of Crosby's career, two terms I find to be rather sensational.

Going My Way