Round-Up: Actress 1949

5. Loretta Young, Come to the Stable

4. Susan Hayward, My Foolish Heart

3. Jeanne Crain, Pinky

2. Deborah Kerr, Edward, My Son

1. OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND, THE HEIRESS

IN CONCLUSION: To the surprise of just about no one, Olivia de Havilland takes the win (and second consecutive victory to boot) to close out the 1940s. Hers is a very great performance, though not quite one that I'm over the moon about. Still, it's a solid albeit fitting end to a volatile decade's worth of actressing. Regarding the remaining placements: Loretta Young never stood a chance with me considering her character and film's subject matter and Susan Hayward was more dull than expected (though not surprisingly so). I think the only surprise here was the fact that I liked Pinky / Jeanne Crain as much as I did. I toyed with the thought of giving Crain second place to de Havilland, but upon further reflection, I had to concede to the fact that while Crain's was a heavier part to bear, she just did not have the talent to match it, and often comes off as not trying at all. Kerr on the other hand actually tries (and tries real damn hard) and has some moments that are more superior to anything Crain achieves.

SIXTH PLACE: As with the actors - it's hard to say. Though I imagine that a lady from A Letter to Three Wives must have been in the running. With Crain getting much of her attention on a separate prestige picture, I think that leaves us with either Ann Sothern or Linda Darnell in the sixth spot. Perhaps voters were split as to whom deserved it most?

Taking a look at the films from that year, there are some alternate choices to be considered. Katharine Hepburn in Adam's Rib could have been an option. Oscar favorite Ingrid Bergman could have been in the running if Under Capricorn didn't flop as much as it did. Jennifer Jones had Madame Bovary and Ginger Rogers had The Barkleys of Broadway. The New York Film Critics Circle seemed to have paid Edith Evans some attention for Women of Dolwyn and The Queen of Spades, though it doesn't seem as though either were realistically on Oscar's radar. Further, could June Allyson have landed some attention for Little Women? Or Patricia Neal for The Fountainhead, considering her adjacent presence that year in The Hasty Heart?

WHAT'S NEXT: We. Are. Officially. Done. With. The. 1940's!!! As was the case with the closing of 1927-1939, I'll be writing up some postmortem thoughts within the next month. Hallelujah to all!