Lew Ayres, Johnny Belinda

as DR. ROBERT RICHARDSON

Perhaps feeling a collective sense of regret for not nominating him 18 years earlier for All Quiet on the Western Front, the Academy decided to give Lew Ayres his first and only nomination for Johnny Belinda, thereby allowing him to be an Academy Award Nominated Actor. However, in the tradition of many an actor to have a sole nomination to their names, this is not a very memorable performance. 

Why? Because this isn't a standout role. It's not a challenging role. This is the Male version of the Supportive Girlfriend archetype that we see so often in the Best Actress category. Ayres comes in, as kind and gentle in demeanor as he is, and is used as the stable hero and savior to Jane Wyman's Belinda. He props up from scene to scene, cocking a smile, asserting his kindness and gentlemanly nature, but there's little else here to see. And even as Belinda's hero, he doesn't even really do much. Ayres is never actually around when bad things happen in the film -- he may have a nice moment wherein he stands up to Belinda's father, but he's supportive without much else to do. In all other aspects of his performance, he is merely there to be a warm voice and presence, but mostly he's reacting to the things that are occurring, with one concerned look demonstrated after the other. He's even helpless in providing any actual assistance for Belinda in the film's climactic courtroom scene. In other words, he's put in this film and yet doesn't actually provide for much literal action. He's a bit of a passive character that goes with the ebb and flow of the drama. What Ayres does provide is passion, even if his overall tone in the film is very Grandfather-preach-talk. In that aforementioned scene with Belinda's father, I can see short spasms of that fire he showcased in All Quiet on the Western Front. But there's otherwise little else to discuss regarding this performance. It's sufficient enough for its purpose, but clearly a moment of coattail glory from Johnny Belinda's success at the box office.