Round-Up: Actor 1949

5. John Wayne, Sands of Iwo Jima

4. Gregory Peck, Twelve O'Clock High

3. Broderick Crawford, All the King's Men

It's our third BATTLE OF THE FIVES, and our very first for the actors! This wasn't a very easy decision to make because Kirk Douglas and Richard Todd both turn in very different, very effective performances. Where Douglas is brash and savage, commandeering Champion with total ease, Todd is sensitive, poignant, and the absolute best thing about The Hasty Heart. It's tough because the two really are foils to one another; I was so very impressed by Douglas's icy bad boy and yet so fond of Todd's compassionate Scotsman that as I type out these words I am still debating between the two. I suppose that means that either make for a viable winner in my book, and because I have to choose just one -- ultimately my decision comes down to the performance that more holistically connected with me.

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2. Kirk Douglas, Champion

1. RICHARD TODD, THE HASTY HEART

IN CONCLUSION: And so, Richard Todd takes the win as we close out the 1940s! And just why is this? I absolutely understand the criticism this performance might have in regards to it being "hammy." It's certainly not one that's subdued. But I loved the amount of heart he gives to Lachie, which is in direct contrast to Kirk Douglas who (while excellent for what the character requires) is disconnected from the viewer. That's where Todd succeeds for me - he creates that attachment for me, such that I really feel for him, all the while delivering a pretty excellent performance. All other placements pretty much speak for themselves.

SIXTH PLACE: Hard to say. My guess might be Van Johnson for Battleground? Considering the film won for Best Screenplay and was also nominated for Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actor, I'm thinking Johnson would have blended in quite easily amongst all these war heroes.

Otherwise - had Ralph Richardson not been dropped in Supporting for The Heiress, I'm thinking he could very well have made it in Lead, what with The Fallen Idol also coming out that year as well. Additionally, I was pretty fond of Montgomery Clift in The Heiress as well - he is so convincingly charming and hasty in the film and, having just been nominated the year prior, I imagine he'd have been in the running also. Other than that...Spencer Tracy in Edward, My Son could have at least been a contender considering Deborah Kerr made the cut. Larry Parks in Jolsen Sings Again? Some more less realistic selections could have been Joseph Cotten for The Third Man, James Cagney in White Heat, Robert Ryan in The Set-Up, or Alec Guinness in Kind Hearts and Coronets.

In any case, after a decade's worth of a great many middle-of-the-road Best Actor selections, I'm glad that 1949 proved to be a pretty great year.