by Allan Fish
Straight to it again…
Best Picture The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, UK (10 votes – winner by 1)
Best Director Carl Th.Dreyer, Day of Wrath (14 votes)
Best Short Meshes of the Afternoon, US, Maya Deren (6 votes)
Best Actor Roger Livesey, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (18 votes)
Best Actress Lisbeth Movin, Day of Wrath (11 votes)
Best Supp Actor Ant0n Walbrook, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (11 votes)
Best Supp Actress Anne Svierkier, Day of Wrath (7 votes, another by 1)
Best Score Bernard Herrmann, Jane Eyre (8 votes)
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and my choices…
Best Picture THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP, UK
Best Short RED HOT RIDING HOOD, US, Tex Avery
Best Director Michael Powell, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Best Actor Roger Livesey, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Best Actress Maria Félix, Doña Barbara
Best Supporting Actor Anton Walbrook, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Best Supporting Actress Deborah Kerr, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Best Musical Score Bernard Herrmann, Jane Eyre
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and on to 1944…
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Best Picture/Director
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An American Romance (US…King Vidor)
Arsenic and Old Lace (US…Frank Capra)
Bluebeard (US…Edgar G.Ulmer)
A Canterbury Tale (UK…Michael Powell)
The Children are Watching Us (Italy…Vittorio de Sica)
Le Ciel est a Vous (France…Jean Grémillon)
Cobra Woman (US…Robert Siodmak)
Cover Girl (US…Charles Vidor)
The Curse of the Cat People (US…Robert Wise, Gunther Von Fritsch)
Dark Waters (US…André de Toth)
Don’t Take it to Heart (UK…Jeffrey Dell)
Double Indemnity (US…Billy Wilder)
Experiment Perilous (US…Jacques Tourneur)
Farewell, My Lovely (US…Edward Dmytryk)
Frenchman’s Creek (US…Mitchell Leisen)
Gaslight (US…George Cukor)
The Great Sacrifice (Germany…Veit Harlan)
Hail the Conquering Hero (US…Preston Sturges)
Henry V (UK…Laurence Olivier)
I’ll Be Seeing You (US…William Dieterle)
It Happened Tomorrow (US…René Clair)
Ivan the Terrible Part One: Ivan Grozyni (USSR…Sergei M.Eisenstein)
Lady in the Dark (US…Mitchell Leisen)
Laura (US…Otto Preminger)
Lifeboat (US…Alfred Hitchcock)
The Lodger (US…John Brahm)
Mademoiselle Fifi (US…Robert Wise)
Maria Candelaria (Mexico…Emilio Fernández)
The Mask of Dimitrios (US…Jean Negulesco)
Meet Me in St Louis (US…Vincente Minnelli)
The Memphis Belle (US…William Wyler)
Ministry of Fear (US…Fritz Lang)
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (US…Preston Sturges)
Mr Skeffington (US…Vincent Sherman)
Murder Melody (Denmark…Bodil Ipsen)
On Approval (UKClive Brook)
Phantom Lady (US…Robert Siodmak)
The Rainbow (USSR…Mark Donskoi)
The Scarlet Claw (US…Roy William Neill)
Show Business (US…Edwin L.Marin)
Since You Went Away (US…John Cromwell)
Spider Woman (US…Roy William Neill)
The Suspect (US…Robert Siodmak)
Sylvie et le Fantôme (France…Claude Autant-Lara)
This Happy Breed (UK…David Lean)
To Have and Have Not (US…Howard Hawks)
Torment (Sweden…Alf Sjöberg)
The Tower of the Seven Hunchbacks (Spain…Edgar Neville)
Tunisian Victory (US/UK…Frank Capra, Hugh Stewart)
The Uninvited (US…Lewis Allen)
The Way Ahead (UK…Carol Reed)
The Way You Wanted Me (Finland…Teuvo Tulio)
Western Approaches (UK…Pat Jackson)
When Strangers Marry (US…William Castle)
The Woman in the Window (US…Fritz Lang)
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Best Short
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At Land (US…Maya Deren)
The Barber of Seville (US…James Culhane)
Big Heel Watha (US…Tex Avery)
Jammin the Blues (US…Gjon Mili)
Little Red Riding Rabbit (US…Friz Freleng)
Mouse Trouble (US…William Hanna, Joseph Barbera)
Screwball Squirrel (US…Tex Avery)
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Best Actor
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Pedro Armendariz Maria Candelaria
Charles Boyer Gaslight
Eddie Bracken Hail the Conquering Hero
Clive Brook On Approval
John Carradine Bluebeard
Nikolai Cherkassov Ivan the Terrible Part One: Ivan Grozyni
Laird Cregar The Lodger
Bing Crosby Going My Way
Brian Donlevy An American Romance
Cary Grant Arsenic and Old Lace
Alexander Knox Wilson
Charles Laughton The Suspect
Peter Lorre The Mask of Dimitrios
Fred MacMurray Double Indemnity
Fredric March The Adventures of Mark Twain
Ray Milland Ministry of Fear
Ray Milland The Uninvited
Robert Newton This Happy Breed
David Niven The Way Ahead
Laurence Olivier Henry V
Dick Powell Farewell My Lovely
Edward G.Robinson The Woman in the Window
Franchot Tone Phantom Lady
Spencer Tracy The Seventh Cross
Tommy Trinder Champagne Charlie
Charles Vanel Le Ciel est a Vous
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Best Actress
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Lauren Bacall To Have and Have Not
Tallulah Bankhead Lifeboat
Anne Baxter Guest in the House
Joan Bennett The Woman in the Window
Ingrid Bergman Gaslight
Phyllis Calvert Fanny by Gaslight
Claudette Colbert Since You Went Away
Bette Davis Mr Skeffington
Dolores del Rio Maria Candelaria
Deanna Durbin Christmas Holiday
Marie-Louise Fock The Way You Wanted Me
Judy Garland Meet Me in St Louis
Rita Hayworth Cover Girl
Kim Hunter When Strangers Marry
Betty Hutton The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Celia Johnson This Happy Breed
Odette Joyeux Sylvie et le Fantôme
Madeleine Renaud Le Ciel est a Vous
Ginger Rogers I’ll Be Seeing You
Ginger Rogers Lady in the Dark
Simone Simon Mademoiselle Fifi,
Barbara Stanwyck Double Indemnity
Claire Trevor Farewell My Lovely
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Best Supp Actor
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John Alexander Arsenic and Old Lace
Mischa Auer Lady in the Dark
Leslie Banks Henry V
Warner Baxter Lady in the Dark
William Bendix Lifeboat
Walter Brennan To Have and Have Not
Al Bridge Hail the Conquering Hero
Elisha Cook Jnr Phantom Lady
Donald Crisp The Uninvited
Roland Culver On Approval
Henry Daniell The Suspect
Harry Davenport Meet Me in St Louis
William Demarest Hail the Conquering Hero
William Demarest The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Dan Duryea The Woman in the Window
Barry Fitzgerald Going My Way
Leo Genn Henry V
Sydney Greenstreet The Mask of Dimitrios
Gerald Hamer The Scarlet Claw
William Hartnell The Way Ahead,
Stanley Holloway Champagne Charlie
Stanley Holloway This Happy Breed
Stig Jarrel Torment
Mervyn Johns The Halfway House
Kurt Katch The Mask of Dimitrios
Cecil Kellaway Frenchman’s Creek
Esmond Knight Henry V
Mike Mazurki Farewell My Lovely
Thomas Mitchell Dark Waters
Robert Mitchum When Strangers Marry
Robert Newton Henry V
John Philliber It Happened Tomorrow
Eric Portman A Canterbury Tale
Claude Rains Mr Skeffington
Edward Rigby Don’t Take it to Heart
Edward G.Robinson Double Indemnity
Zachary Scott The Mask of Dimitrios
Walter Slezak Lifeboat
Clifton Webb Laura
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Best Supp Actress
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Jean Adair Arsenic and Old Lace
Eve Arden The Doughgirls
Renée Asherson Henry V
Fay Bainter Dark Waters
Ethel Barrymore None But the Lonely Heart
Ann Carter The Curse of the Cat People
Josephine Hull Arsenic and Old Lace
Jean Kent Waterloo Road
Angela Lansbury Gaslight
Beatrice Lillie On Approval
Diana Lynn The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Nazimova Since You Went Away
Margaret O’Brien Meet Me in St Louis
Anne Revere National Velvet
Gail Russell The Uninvited
Gale Sondergaard Spider Woman
Googie Withers On Approval
Mai Zetterling Torment
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Best Score
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Adolph Deutsch The Mask of Dimitrios
Bronislau Kaper Gaslight
Arthur Lange, Hugo Friedhofer The Woman in the Window
Clifton Parker Western Approaches
Sergei Prokofiev Ivan the Terrible Part One: Ivan Grozyni
David Raksin Laura
Miklós Rózsa Double Indemnity
Hans Salter Christmas Holiday
Hans Salter Phantom Lady
Max Steiner The Adventures of Mark Twain
Max Steiner Since You Went Away
Robert Stoltz It Happened Tomorrow
Herbert Stothart Kismet
Dimitri Tiomkin The Bridge of San Luis Rey
Ernst Toch Address Unknown
William Walton Henry V
Edward Ward Cobra Woman
Franz Waxman Mr Skeffington
Roy Webb Farewell My Lovely
Victor Young Frenchman’s Creek
Victor Young The Uninvited
I have to say, Best Score is a right swine this year.
With DOUBLE INDEMNITY, HENRY V, LAURA, THE SCARLET CLAW, IVAN THE TERRIBLE, and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS up for this year I again find it almost impossible to settle on one choice, but a decision must be made…….
Best Picture: Henry V
Best Director: Billy Wilder (Double Indemnity)
Best Actor: Lawrence Oliver (Henry V)
Best Actress: Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity)
Best Supporting Actor: Gerald Hamer (The Scarlet Claw)
Best Supporting Actress: Margaret O’Brien (Meet Me in St. Louis)
Best Short: Jammin’ the Blues
Best Score: Max Steiner (Since You Went Away)
For Best Supporting Actor, I could well have given the prize to Edward G. Robinson, who as usual is top-rank, for Best Supporting Actress, Josephine Hull pushes real close. Dick Powell and Fred MacMurray push real close to Olivier for Best Actor. For score it was admittedly blasphemous to bypass Walton and Prokofiev, but Max Steiner’s gorgeous score to SINCE YOU WENT AWAY may well be the most beautiful he ever wrote in his legendary career.
Best Screenplay: Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler (Double Indemnity)
Best Cinematography: Robert Krasker and Jack Hildyard (Henry V)
Best Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons (Meet Me in St. Louis)
Best Film Editing: Reginald Beck (Henry V)
Best Song: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (Meet Me in St. Louis)
For me it’s between the two monarchs this year.
Best Picture: Henry V
Best Director: Olivier
Best Actor: Allan, you forgot the winner! — Nikolai Cherkassov, Ivan Grozny
Best Actress: Stanwyck
Supporting Actor: Mazurki
Supporting Actress: O’Brien
Best Score: Walton — but a tough choice with Prokofiev and Raksin in the mix.
Best Short: Hey Grandma! — it’s Little Red Riding Rabbit.
Cherkassov is an excellent choice.
Yay for Lisbeth Movin and Deborah Kerr for winning best actress and best supporting actress for “Day of Wrath” in 1943.
I vote “When Strangers Marry” for best film in 1944.
I vote William Castle for best director (“When Strangers Marry”) in 1944.
I vote “Mouse Trouble” for best short in 1944.
I vote Charles Boyer for best actor in “Gaslight” in 1944.
I vote Ingrid Bergman for best actress in “Gaslight” in 1944.
I vote Robert Mitchum for best supporting actor in “When Strangers Marry” in 1944.
I vote Ann Carter for best supporting actress in “The Curse of the Cat People” in 1944.
I vote “Gaslight” for best score in 1944.
Picture: Double Indemnity
Director: Sergei Eisenstein, Ivan the Terrible, Part I
Actor: Nickolai Cherkassov, Ivan the Terrible, Part I
Actress: Barbara Stanwyck, Double Indemnity
Sup. Actor: Clifton Webb, Laura
Sup Actress: Hattie McDaniel, Since You Went Away
Best Picture: Double Indemnity
Best Director: Sergei Eisenstein
Best Actor: Dick Powell (Murder My Sweet)
Best Actress: Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity)
Best Supp Actor: Clifton Webb (Laura)
Best Supp Actress: Claire Trevor (Murder My Sweet)
Top Five: 1. Double Indemnity 2. Laura 3. Murder My Sweet 4. Ivan The Terrible 5. Henry V
Special mention must be made for The Scarlet Claw which I absolutely love but couldn’t fit into my list for this year (the top five above are simply greater IMO). Claw is a fun film which may be the best Rathbone Holmes movie in the series. One could argue that the two 1939 pictures that came earlier are superior (and also happen to actually stick to the Victorian era) but it surly is very close. A great year overall for movies…
Maurizio, Claire Trevor was my (very close) second choice for best supporting actress, and yes, for me this is a supporting performance.
Right to it then (Pardon the lack of spacing as I’m doing this from my blackberry): PICTURE: DOUBLE INDEMNITY. SHORT: LITTLE RED RIDING RABBIT (d. Friz Freleng). DIRECTOR: Fritz Lang (MINISTRY OF FEAR). LEAD ACTOR: Laurence Olivier (HENRY V). LEAD ACTRESS: Barbara Stanwyck (DOUBLE INDEMNITY). SUPPORTING ACTOR: Claude Rains (MR. SKEFFINGTON). SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Angela Landsbury (GASLIGHT). Score: William Walton (HENRY V). See you next week!!!!!
Film: ‘Ivan the Terrible, Part I’
Runners-Up: ‘Henry V’; ‘Curse of the Cat People’
Director: Eisenstein
Runners-Up: Olivier (‘Henry V’); Wise (‘Curse of the Cat People’)
Actor: Cherkassov (‘Ivan the Terrible’); Olivier (‘Henry V’)
Actress: Johnson (‘This Happy Breed’); Bankhead (‘Lifeboat’)
S. Actress: Lansbury (‘Gaslight’); Agnes Moorehead (‘Since You Went Away’)
S. Actor: Robinson (‘Double Indemnity’); Holloway (‘This Happy Breed’)
Best Pic: Double Indemnity
Runner-ups: Ivan, Hail the Conquering Hero, Miracle of Morgan’s Creek, Phantom Lady
Best Dir: Eisenstein
Best Actors: Cherkassov-Ivan; Stanwyck-Double Indemnity
Best Scr-Wilder & Chandler–Double Indemnity
Best Cin: Joseph LaShelle-Laura
Lots of nice films, but the Russians take the laurel.
PICTURE: Ivan the Terrible
DIRECTOR: Eisenstein
LEAD ACTOR: Nikolai Cherkasov
LEAD ACTRESS: Stanwyck, Double Indemnity
SUPPORTING ACTOR: William Demarest, Hail the Conquering Hero
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Ann Carter, Curse of the Cat People
SHORT: I guess Little Red Riding Rabbit
SCORE: Prokofiev
Plus bonus picks:
Cinematography: Meet Me in St. Louis (George Folsey – though it might be something of a combined award for photography and set design…)
Script: To Have and Have Not
Best Song: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Best Picture: Since You Went Away
Best Director: John Cromwell, Since You Went Away
Best Actor: Fredric March, The Adventures of Mark Twain
Best Actress: Claudette Colbert, Since You Went Away
Best Supporting Actor: Claude Rains, Mr. Skeffington
Best Supporting Actress: Angela Lansbury, Gaslight
Best Score: Max Steiner, Since You Went Away
Best Picture: Double Indemnity
Best Director: Eisenstein (Ivan the Terrible I)
Best Actor: Laurence Olivier (Henry V)
Best Actress: Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity)
Best Supporting Actor: Claude Rains (Mr. Skeffington)
Best Supporting Actress: Angela Lansbury (Gaslight)
Best Score: Max Steiner (Since You Went Away)
Pic: Double Indemnity (US…Billy Wilder)
Dir: Double Indemnity (US…Billy Wilder)
Short: Mouse Trouble (US…William Hanna, Joseph Barbera)
Actor: Laurence Olivier Henry V
Actress: Barbara Stanwyck Double Indemnity
Sup Actor: Walter Brennan To Have and Have Not
Sup Actress: Margaret O’Brien Meet Me in St Louis
PIcture- Double Indemnity
Director- Wilder (Double Indemnity)
Actor- Olivier (Henry V)
Actress- Garland (Meet Me in St. Louis)
Supp. Actor- Clifton Webb (Laura)
Supp. Actress- Mary Anderson (Lifeboat)
Score- Prokofiev (Ivan the Terrible Part I)
Best Film – Murder, My Sweet
Best Director – Edward Dmytryk (Murder, My Sweet)
Best Actor – Dick Powell (Murder My Sweet)
Best Actress – Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity)
Best Supporting Actor – Edward G. Robinson (Double Indemnity)
Best Supp Actress: Claire Trevor (Murder, My Sweet)
Best Script – Billy Wilder & Raymond Chandler (Double Indemnity)
Best Cinematography – Harry J. Wild (Murder, My Sweet)
Best Score – David Raksin (Laura)
May be a bit presumptuous, but do you like noir, Shubha?
This was a huge year for American Noir. It was pretty much ground zero for the genre as a cinematic force. I only rate two previous films (Maltese Falcon and Seventh Victim) from 40-43 as all-time classics. Three greats were released in 1944 IMO (and Shubs highlights them all).
Sadly, Lang’s The Woman In The Window is a stinker compared to Scarlet Street from the following year.
Yes, I absolutely love noirs
And agree with Maurizio, this was a terrific year for the classical film noirs.
Best Picture: Laura
Best Director: Minnelli
Best Actor:Fred MacMurray
Best Actress: Ingrid Bergman
Best Supp Actor: Walter Brennan
Best Supp Actress: Margaret O’Brian
Best Picture: Ivan the Terrible Part I
Best Director: Sergei Eisenstein
Best Actor: Laurence Olivier (Henry V)
Best Actress: Judy Garland (Meet Me in St. Louis)
Best Supporting Actor: Edward G. Robinson (Double Indemnity)
Best Supporting Actress: Margaret O’Brien (Meet Me in St. Louis)
Best Score: William Walton (Henry V)
Best Short: Screwball Squirrel
Sam, I should have my comedy ballot e mailed to you later today. I put the finishing touches on it over the weekend.
Best Film – Laura
Best Director – Otto Preminger (Laura)
Best Actor – Sir Laurence Olivier (Henry V)
Best Actress – Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity)
Best Sup. Actor – Clifton Webb (Laura)
Best Sup. Actress – Claire Trevor (Murder, My Sweet)
Best Short – Jammin the Blues
Best Score – Sergei Prokofiev (Ivan the Terrible I)
I haven’t voted for anything in this feature yet, but have been a dedicated reader. This particular year, one of my favourites is listed, so I feel more compelled. I apologize for the near-sweep:
Best Film: Gaslight
Best Director: George Cukor – Gaslight
Actress: Ingrid Bergman – Gaslight
Actor: Boyer – Gaslight
Supp Actress: Lansbury – Gaslight
Supp Actor: Robinson – Double Indemnity
Score: Gaslight
NBot really a fan of the Gaslight remake, Dave. The 1940 version is far better, hence MGM suppressing it.
I like both versions actually.
I’ll definitely have to check out the 1940 version. Thanks Allan!
Some great movies, tough decisions…
Picture: Laura
Director: Eisenstein
Lead Actor: Olivier
Lead Actress: Stanwyck
Supporting Actor: Robinson
Supporting Actress: Margaret O’Brien
Score: David Raskin, Laura
More tight competition this year than I remembered. Really from now through the mid seventies we’re entering probably my favorite extended period of movie history, especially internationally though for now the winners are still mostly American.
Feature: Murder My Sweet (a rose by any other name…)
Short: Jammin’ the Blues
Director: Gjon Mili (Jammin’ the Blues)
Actor: Laurence Olivier ( Henry V)
Actress: Lauren Bacall (To Have and Have Not)
Supp. Actor: Clifton Webb (Laura)
Supp. Actress: Margaret O’Brien ( Meet Me in St. Louis)
Score: Laura
Screenplay: Double Indemnity
Cinematography: Murder My Sweet
Editing: At Land
(Jammin could easily have won that last one maybe even those last two – though murder is among the most gorgeous noirs – but I wanted to spread the love around. I thought Deren would get short & director this year since her film tied and she narrowly lost for me but I forgot the absolutely incredible Jammin was this year. I’d posting a link below for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet to encourage them to vote for it but I’m finding it hard to do so from a mobile device. Anyway I’d be happy to see At Land triumph as well. I was actually introduced to Jammin a while back by Tony’s post on Wonders. After the musical poll I named it my personal #1 musical (‘musical’?) of all time.
Oh and honorable mention: Miracle at Morgan’s Creek
Damn looking at the ballots it looks like neither the Deren or the Mili will get it. Sam or Allan, can you repost Tony’s great tribute this afternoon? It doesn’t videos but me and some other people posted links in the comments. Maybe someone could even embed one in the post itself? It deserves more attention! Probably a list cause at this point.
*l
*lost, or lost on the list, or whatever. Anyway here’s a link to Tony’s piece:
http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2009/08/16/the-hottest-music-video-that-never-was-jammin-the-blues-1944/
And here’s a post I did for you guys last year on the Deren. Video included.
http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/the-legends-at-land-scorpio-rising-cats-cradle-•-fixing-a-hole-avant-garde-month/
You can still change your votes, people!
For some reason I’m way more invested in the short race than the feature one this year!
Fantastic Joel! I will shortly be changing my own vote!
PICTURE: Meet Me In St. Louis (OTHER NOMINEES: Lifeboat, Double Indemnity, The Sullivans, The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek, Arsenic and Old Lace, Laura, Murder My Sweet, Wilson, Since You Went Away, Henry V)
DIRECTOR: Vincente Minnelli, Meet Me in St. Louis (2nd: Alfred Hitchcock, Lifeboat)
ACTOR: Lawrence Olivier, Henry V (2nd: Alexander Knox, Wilson)
ACTRESS: Betty Hutton, The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (2nd: Judy Garland, Meet Me in St. Louis)
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Clifton Webb, Laura (2nd: William Bendix, Lifeboat)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Margaret O’Brien, Meet Me In St. Louis (2nd: Jennifer Jones, Since You Went Away)
SHORT: Jammin’ The Blues
SCORE: David Raskin, Laura (2nd: Max Steiner, Since You Went Away)
FURTHER:
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Jo Swerling and John Steinbeck, Lifeboat (2nd: Preston Sturges, The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek)
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Jay Dratler, Sam Hoffenstein and Betty Reinhardt, Laura (2nd: Margaret Buell Wilder and David O. Selznick, Since You Went Away)
B&W CINEMATOGRAPHY: Joseph LaShelle, Laura
COLOR CINEMATOGRAPHY: Leon Shamroy, Wilson
B&W ART DIRECTION: Gaslight
COLOR ART DIRECTION: Meet Me In St. Louis
B&W COSTUME DESIGN: Gaslight
COLOR COSTUME DESIGN: Meet Me in St. Louis
FILM EDITING: Lifeboat
SOUND: Wilson
SPECIAL EFFECTS: Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
MAKEUP: Arsenic and Old Lace
SCORE OF A MUSICAL: Meet Me In St. Louis
SONG: “Swinging on a Star” from Going My Way (“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from “St.Louis” was actually written years earlier for another film, so it would be ineligible, under my own and Academy rules)
ANIMATED SHORT: Swooner Crooner (Frank Tashlin, WB)
An unexpectedly great year. The supporting performances were particularly hard to pick (hated that the two ladies from ARSENIC can’t get a joint award, but then again, they couldn’t beat the charming O’Brien; and in the male supporting perfs, it was difficult not to mention Monty Woolley in SINCE YOU WENT AWAY, Barry Fitzgerald in GOING MY WAY, and Edward G. Robinson in DOUBLE INDEMNITY). Lots of great noir and wartime drama this year (THE SULLIVANS and SINCE YOU WENT AWAY are great weepy movies about American homelife during WWII). But, in the end, it’s difficult not to have MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS at the top. It’s one of the first musicals to take place in the “real” world that doesn’t have its performers taking the stage to deliver their songs, thus pushing the musical genre more into a fantastic realm. It’s also, like Luhrmann’s MOULIN ROUGE, a film that’s set in the past (1901, I thin), but contains music that was written for a variety of different sources year after the film was set.
Tremendous presentation here Dean, be rest assured MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS came very very close to the top spot for me!
Sam alerted me to Joel’s posts here and must concur that Mili deserves a vote.
Pic: Double Indemnity
Dir: Edward Dmytryk (Murder, My Sweet aka Farewell My Lovely (UK title))
Short: Jammin’ The Blues
Actor: Dick Powell (Murder, My Sweet)
Actress: Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity)
Sup Actor: Dan Duryea (The Woman in the Window)
Sup Actress: Ann Carter (The Curse of the Cat People)
Score: Miklós Rózsa (Double Indemnity)
Cinematrography: Harry J. Wild (Murder, My Sweet)
PS: I second Shubhajit for Best Script – Billy Wilder & Raymond Chandler (Double Indemnity)
I don’t think there’s a film so wholly known under two titles, Tony, I can’t think of another. It premiered in 1944 as FML, but then studio execs thought it sounded like a musical so changed it to MMS for its US run, but kept it as FML in the UK, as they point out. I kept it at FML as that was the premiere title, but to be honest, it’s probably more known as MMS now.
Anyway, thank God for another Powell vote.
Agreed about Dick Powell Fish/Tony. I was hoping I wasn’t the only screwball voting for him in 1944.
Powell is my runner-up to Cherkassov so I appreciate the vote as well. I always give extra credit for career-transforming roles and Powell in this picture is practically the paradigm. He’s like the American Beat Takeshi in that sense — and he even directed some pictures, though no noirs as far as I know.
I don’t normally vote for best short, but I saw “Jammin’ the Blues” on TCM a few months ago and was just blown away. I absolutely second all the praise this film has received–music and dance, images, personalities, this film has it all. You can also find it at YouTube.
Upshot: please add my vote for “Jammin’ the Blues” for best short feature.
Bravo R.D.!
Best Picture: Double Indemnity
Best Director: Billy Wilder (Double Indemnity)
Best Actor: Lawrence Oliver (Henry V)
Best Actress: Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity)
Best Supporting Actor: Clifton Webb (Laura)
Best Supporting Actress: Margaret O’Brien (Meet Me in St. Louis)
Best Score: Sergei Prokofiev (Ivan the Terrible I)
I’d like to strangle little Margaret O’Brien (‘Beat Me in St. Louis’) with her pigtails.
hahahahaha Mark!!!!!
I’d sell her on ebay to Romania.
Picture: Meet Me in St Louis (almost impossible to choose between this and ‘To Have and Have Not’)
Director: Minnelli (Meet Me in St Louis)
Actor: Edward G Robinson (The Woman in the Window) (I also like Olivier and, though these two aren’t nominated, Bogart in ‘To Have and Have Not’ and Cary Grant in ‘None But the Lonely Heart’)
Actress: Judy Garland (Meet Me in St Louis)
Supporting actor: Claude Rains (Mr Skeffington)
Supporting actress: Ethel Barrymore (None But the Lonely Heart)
Oh, Judy, Grant was terrible. Truly terrible, as the Academy Award nom proved.
Can’t agree. I think it’s a powerful film and Grant’s scene in his mother’s shop especially sticks in my mind. I do love him in general, admittedly.
Judy, I also like the film quite a bit, and think Barrymore is wonderful. Grant of course is also excellent.