Discussion

1953 (the nominees and the winner in alphabetical order):

Leslie Caron – Lili (Lili Daurier)

Ava Gardner – Mogambo (Eloise “Honey Bear” Kelly)

Audrey Hepburn – Roman holiday (Princess Ann) - WINNER

Deborah Kerr – From here to eternity (Karen Holmes)

Maggie McNamara – The moon is blue (Patty O’Neill)

1953 – My rankings:

1. Audrey Hepburn – Roman holiday

This performance is a fine, faultless character development from the young, enchanting Miss Hepburn. Though she had not to play Her Highness at all as she was the picture of a princess, yet she just shined naturally, without the smallest effort in every scene (especially in those ones when her character can forget who she really is for a day). This story could be about anybody; it doesn’t necessary that the person must be a princess being unsatisfied with her fate and obligations. Who doesn’t want to escape from their gloomy everyday life just to do and experience something else; so everyone can relate to this story and character. Sitting on the terrace of a café, changing the hair-style, dancing on a romantic evening or just walking in the rain and falling in love in the meanwhile.

I put her in front of Leslie Caron because although both actresses managed to achieve character development – I so prefer – Miss Hepburn’s performance was more dramatic (and for me it is an essential condition of Oscar nomination and winning).

Three extraordinary rise above the others: the one is when after the dancing chaos we are in Joe Bradley’s room and the lovers are looking at each other for long then they fall into each other’s arms; the other one is when they say goodbye to each other in front of the palace in the car and the third one is at the end of the press conference. 

Download links:

http://d01.megashares.com/dl/tOobP6Y/Roman.Holiday.1953.INTERNAL.DVDRip.XviD-SAPHiRE.avi?r=ft

Or:

http://netload.in/datei4wYAqAv3qc/Roman.Holiday.1953.720.264.part1.rar.htm 

http://netload.in/dateiQrYZmpfprx/Roman.Holiday.1953.720.264.part2.rar.htm 

http://netload.in/dateiLm1wZffpyS/Roman.Holiday.1953.720.264.part3.rar.htm 

http://netload.in/dateiHpi19hUIHv/Roman.Holiday.1953.720.264.part4.rar.htm

2. Leslie Caron – Lili

Principally I could compare this performance to Shirley Booth’s from the previous year; it was so cute. But while Booth’s performance was captivating in its adult and dramatic manner, this had a childish, innocent appeal. Caron’s acting was very believable to me from beginning to end – this was much more a coming-of-age than Julie Harris’ performance also from the previous year. This movie was a short little “still life” that could entirely carry me away – we laugh and cry with the innocent Lili. The movie also showcases brilliantly what a ballerina-turned-actress was capable of in those classic years: her scenes as the waitress are little gems – first she moves awkwardly, then in her fantasy she transforms into a seductive waitress and woman from her mousy attitude. The last dance sequence is also full of emotions – what joy shines on her face when she discovers real love inside of her that differs from the sudden crush she felt for the Magician and that can only be expressed by dance so magnificently!

Download links (my own upload):

http://www.filefactory.com/file/2q7bqfgjt7ml/Lili%20(Charles%20Walters%2C%201953)%20starring%20Leslie%20Caron%20and%20Mel%20Ferrer.avi

The remaining three nominations are riddles to me and I put them in tie – all of them were uninteresting and not worth even the nomination:

Ava Gardner – Mogambo

Miss Gardner has incredibly good acting qualities – kind/chirping voice, impressive/sexy look, beautiful face – and she could use these to the maximum in this movie. Mogambo is a very silly movie with beautiful landscape scenery, so there is nothing much to expect from the performances. Gardner plays a jealous woman who is saved from escaping into desperation and self-pity only by her own sharp tongue and modern way of thinking, when her safari knight breaks up with her in the favor of the newly arrived, innocent looking blonde. Probably the lack of drama was the main reason that this character could not unfold, so that’s why it just stuck in a kind of mediocrity that is not worthy of an Oscar nomination. The only better performance is by Grace Kelly who was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category but lost to Donna Reed.

Download links:

http://www.sockshare.com/file/7806A9C0A4E4A967

Deborah Kerr – From here to eternity  

It is obvious that this performance was nominated due to the film’s popularity and not because this was something outstanding. Nothing extra, no change in emphasis, no character development – absolutely one-dimensional, almost boring performance. It is true that Miss Kerr played real “lady-like” characters before this and this one (the slut cheating on his husband whenever she has the chance) meant a turning point in her career; but it was not enough for an Oscar nomination.

Download links:

http://uploaded.net/file/2qylnffu/From.Here.to.Eternity.1953.720p.BluRay.x264-x0r.part1.rar 

http://uploaded.net/file/cx2j6dfl/From.Here.to.Eternity.1953.720p.BluRay.x264-x0r.part2.rar 

http://uploaded.net/file/7peiiwbp/From.Here.to.Eternity.1953.720p.BluRay.x264-x0r.part3.rar 

http://uploaded.net/file/8fv0p9nh/From.Here.to.Eternity.1953.720p.BluRay.x264-x0r.part4.rar 

http://uploaded.net/file/gapd7fql/From.Here.to.Eternity.1953.720p.BluRay.x264-x0r.part5.rar

Maggie McNamara – The Moon is blue

The character of a talkative, slightly jolly yet outspoken young woman really suited this Audrey Hepburn look-alike actress, but unfortunately it remained as uninteresting as the film itself. She played the character with no depth or scope; she just rattled off her lines as they were written. And that’s it.

Download links (my own upload):

http://www.filefactory.com/file/2r1sjsv5cg9d/The%20Moon%20is%20Blue%20(1953%20Comedy)%20William%20Holden%2C%20Otto%20Preminger.avi

Discussion

1952 (the nominees and the winner in alphabetical order):

Shirley Booth – Come back, little Sheba (Lola Delaney) - WINNER
Joan Crawford – Sudden fear (Myra Hudson)
Bette Davis – The star (Margaret Elliott)
Julie Harris – The member of the wedding (Frances ‘Frankie’ Addams)
Susan Hayward – With a song in my heart (Jane Froman)

1952 – My rankings:

1. Shirley Booth – Come back, little Sheba

Well, this was the most enchanting and cutest performance I’ve ever seen! Booth says the most ordinary sentences and yet they have some incomprehensible charm, simplicity and honesty. The American happy family living in the suburbs in the 50’s is only an illusion as the lost dog, Lola is waiting for to come back! And this allegory is so sad. The character of Lola was presented here in a poignant and touching manner – all through the first half of the movie you just can’t stop smiling at her. The high-pitched voice, the clumsy movements of the aging woman who had long lost her juvenile appeal and the tender sentimentalism of the wife whose love for her husband is so strong, that no matter what comes in their lives, she will hang on, were all great and refreshing to watch. And when her husband starts drinking again, the character is able to descend into dramatic depths as well. At the end – instead of leaving the man – she is waiting for him as a completely changed woman. It is always a rewarding challenge to play a dramatic role on the screen that was originally written for the stage and this proved to be an extraordinary performance from beginning to end! I completely agree with the Academy's choice. Bravo!

Download links:

http://uploaded.net/file/su0dxd8a/Come_Back_Little_Sheba_1952.avi

1.       

2. Bette Davis – The star

The forgotten movie actress who doesn’t get roles anymore and doesn’t know what to do with her life. Cluster of clichés and yet without Davis, this portrait would not have been so impressive. Though this characterization was not as captivating as Margo Channing (played by her) or Norma Desmond (played by Gloria Swanson), Davis was not a disappointment here at all. Probably the weakness of the screenplay is to blame for the weakness of her character, so it was not her fault entirely. Her outburst scene in connection with her character’s parasitical, blood-sucking relatives or when she gives the customers a good dressing down in the store, were genuine, powerful, almost cathartic. She was gentle as a mother and pitiable as the ‘star’ finding solace in self-pity and self-deception. I was not satisfied with her voice and manner of speech – she was not able to change this, or show something new in this field. I put her in front of Crawford, because there wasn’t that much diversity and color in Crawford’s performance.

Download links (my own upload):

http://www.filefactory.com/file/3twyu6x5pdrj/The%20star%201952%20Bette%20Davis.avi

3. Joan Crawford – Sudden fear

Miss Crawford plays a playwright here, but her difficult love affair stands in the middle of the story. Though this story is full of unrealistic coincidences; Crawford is very believable in the character of a defenseless, cornered woman (that would culminate later in What ever happened to Baby Jane). The story and the performance start to get interesting from where the rich playwright, Myra learns what his fortune-hunter husband and his recently turned up old lover are contemplating against her. Crawford’s performance is mesmerizing in this particular scene (as she listens to the accidentally recorded conversation of the lovers) – she doesn’t say a single word, only her facial expressions speak for themselves: surprise, confusion, fear, desperation, helplessness. After this, she goes on playing the loving wife for her husband, while she is plotting a perfect revenge. During the execution of the plan, her character managed to create tension: her forehead is beaded with sweat, she is trembling with fear; arousing sympathy in the audience. The reason I place Crawford in this position is that there was nothing original in her performance, there was no flavor and thus giving the impression of old-fashioned acting (after those performances that could add some extra to screen acting in the previous years: Bette Davis, Vivien Leigh, Shirley Booth). This performance was good, but it could not reach perfection and catharsis.  

Download links (my own upload):

http://www.filefactory.com/file/74oo9uymkkx9/Sudden%20Fear%20(1952)%20%20Joan%20Crawford%2C%20Jack%20Palance.avi

4. Susan Hayward – With a song in my heart

It is always difficult, but at the same time rewarding task to play an existing person on the big screen; and Miss Hayward can cope with it very well, though – let’s add – there was not much here to play. The movie showing Jane Froman’s life was like an endless record of her best hits instead of being concentrated on Froman’s war wounds and how she managed to struggle with it afterwards. With these scenes Miss Hayward would have been wonderful – I’m sure, knowing that she’s not short of any acting abilities – but without them, Hayward had nothing left to do but lip-synching to the playbacks. There were one or two delicate scenes (the one when Jane confesses to her nurse that she’s in love with the officer, two scenes when she sings for the same young soldier and the medley at the end of the movie), but these are not enough to rank Hayward into a better position.

Download links (my own upload):

http://www.filefactory.com/file/2hqq91be7z8p/With%20A%20Song%20In%20My%20Heart%20(1952)%20%20Susan%20Hayward.avi

5. Julie Harris – The member of the wedding

This was a very powerful and – in comparison with the spirit of the age – a very modern performance, but neither the role nor the performance was believable to me. I think it was a great mistake to choose a 25 year old young woman to play a 12! year old kiddo. Though Harris didn’t look like a woman at all (she was quite ugly and undeveloped) – wasn’t there a gifted child actor around?! Moreover this role is the most stupidly, the most wretchedly written one I’ve ever seen in a movie or on stage – not believable, not lifelike, just bad as it could be. It was a waste of money making this movie and a waste of time watching it! (I can’t help my brusqueness, sorry!)

Download links (my own upload):

http://www.filefactory.com/file/29qdnw4sgl4d/Member%20of%20the%20Wedding%201952%20Julie%20Harris.avi

Discussion

1951 (the nominees and the winner in alphabetical order):

Katharine Hepburn - The African Queen (Rose Sayer)
Vivien Leigh - A streetcar named Desire (Blanche DuBois) - WINNER
Eleanor Parker - Detective story (Mary McLeod)
Shelley Winters - A place in the sun (Alice Tripp)
Jane Wyman - The blue veil (Louise Mason)

1951 - my rankings:

1. Vivien Leigh - A streetcar named Desire

For me, this performance is equivalent to the other great one, Elizabeth Taylor's in Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf. The first thing that comes to my mind about this one is vulnerable. Vivien Leigh vas mesmerizing all the time with overwhelming dynamics, captivating sensitivity and perfect timing (for instance when she may cry or when it was unsuitable). Her character is well-built from the beginning: all mysteries are thrown off gradually, while her character is loosing her footing, becoming the prisoner of her fantasies forever. This is not acting performance any longer - Leigh was able to step out of herself and become one with her character. Very few actors are able to do so, making us forget that what we see is only acting. But this role was the reality for poor Vivien who kept repeating Blanche's monologue even in her later years before her stage performances (no matter what role she played that night). What she had done here brings about the most elementary catharsis in the audience, just like a Greek tragedy can. And the conception shown here is still relevant today: men and women with principles and ideas do not have a place in society; where only brutality, indifference, nonchalance and contempt are in fashion. So the weak Blanche DuBois must fall and fortunately we can watch it in the faultless performance of Vivien Leigh. This time I really think, she deserved that Oscar!

Download links:

http://uploaded.net/file/93o1s3dh/A_Streetcar_Named_Desire_1951_DvDRip_DivX_NoGroup.rar

2. Katharine Hepburn - The African Queen

My first impression of Miss Hepburn's performance was challenging: she was exposed to many physical aspects and impacts. The whole thing was very naturalistic - she had to be dirty, muddy, sweaty; her hairdo and clothes were not always perfect, because they were swept away by the water, the mud or the swarm of mosquitos. There were fine nuances in the performance that could be called remarkable; but I think the popularity of this movie was due to its well-written screenplay, the dialogues and the two lovable characters. Here I have to mention Humphrey Bogart, who was much better than Kate - he was hardly recognizable in this role. Hepburn was in full form here - no question about it - but this time she was not able to do more (that would have made this performance special). Nevertheless I put her in second place; because when Kate does less, it is even more than many others are capable of (no wonder she won 4 Oscars!)

Download links:

http://uploaded.net/file/6hk5un6z/The_African_Queen_1951_DVDRip_XViD_iNTERNAL_TDF.rar

3. Jane Wyman - The blue veil

This is a very sentimental (but in the good sense) movie with Miss Wyman's clarified, fine performance. The story itself about a mother who loses her child then she dedicates her whole life to raise the children of others is extremely touching. This was not a loud, dynamic or powerful performance, but rather as light as a feather, cute and moving; working with nuances. I could emphasize three scenes as my favorites - the one when Louise tells Stephanie (played by a young Natalie Wood) that she cannot stay any longer and when the girl starts crying, she breaks down as well. The other one is her monologue at the end of the movie when she rightfully asks the question: who is the real mother of this child? The woman who gave it life or the woman who gave it love? And the last scene when she meets all of "her children". Maybe the theme of the film was more touching than the performance itself - which is hard to disregard - that's why I put her behind Hepburn.

Download links:

http://www.filefactory.com/file/76yf6iurggqf/The%20Blue%20Veil%20%281951%29.avi

4. Eleanor Parker - Detective story

We can see a woman with a dark past here. When her secret comes to light, she is forced to tell everything to her beloved husband with mixed emotions of shame, confusion and repentance. These are very well-acted by Miss Parker - we know from the previous year that she was a terrific actress - but this role was a supporting one, no matter how hard it determined the main character (played by Kirk Douglas with aplomb). If Parker's character had been more emphasized, I would have put her even in front of Hepburn, but since this is the case I just couldn't. This was a bit part with a very small room for manoeuvre and not much chance to display a wide range of acting tools. She must have been nominated in the Supporting Role category; however in this case she wouldn't have been a match for Kim Hunter; moreover Lee Grant - nominated in the Supporting Role category, playing in the same movie - was much better than her.

Download links:

http://www.netload.in/dateilQB8gOkGzO/Detective.Story.1951.DVDRip.x264-NoRBiT.mkv.htm

5. Shelley Winters - A place in the sun

The same as in Parker's case - this was a supporting role, destined for hindering the tender love affair of the two real main characters. It was an important role, because the character ruins every single pipe dream of the Eastman boy for a better future; but Winters also must have been nominated in the Supporting Role category or not been nominated at all. Winters played glamour roles before this one, so her change into a mouse of a woman was excellent, but this also prevented her to show diversified acting skills. However she has two extraordinary scenes - the one when she's begging for the doctor to help her getting rid of the unexpected child, but the doctor rejects her request. The other one is when she sits in the boat with Eastman and she continually soliloquize about their future together. The reason I put her behind Parker is while Parker was able to wheedle some emotions out of me, unfortunately Winter's character was irritating and wasn't able to arouse even the littlest of compassion.

Download link:

http://www.filefactory.com/file/73phx8o92w15/

Discussion

First of all:

Academy Award Winners and Nominees - Actress in a Leading Role!

Have you always agreed with the decision of the Academy?
Have you ever asked yourself or other film enthusiasts why that particular actress went home with the Oscar statuette that year?
Have you ever wondered who were the runners-up and in what order?

I have established my own rankings, starting from 1950 (the whole work is still in progress, though). What authorizes me to do this? Nothing; this is just my opinion as long as I have two eyes to see, two ears to hear and my devotion to classic movies and acting. I have three important viewpoints to decide which performance is the best: character development, peculiarity/uniqueness and great emotional appeal.
My judgment is objective. Though I have favorite actresses; I judge every one of the nominees by their performances and nothing else.

I want to share it with all of You - the debate is open; everybody can agree or disagree with me.

1950 (the nominees and the winner in alphabetical order):

Anne Baxter - All about Eve (Eve Harrington)
Bette Davis - All about Eve (Margot Channing)
Judy Holliday - Born yesterday (Emma 'Billie' Dawn) - WINNER
Eleanor Parker - Caged (Marie Allen)
Gloria Swanson - Sunset Boulevard (Norma Desmond)

1950 - my rankings:

1. Eleanor Parker - Caged

A very serious issue is at the heart of this movie and Miss Parker really lived up to the requierements of her role. She shows an extraordinary character development through her acting - the awkward, defenceless, young girl (who only gets involved in a crime by accident) changes into a strong woman, hardened by her circumstances by the end of the movie. She gets stuck in the LIFE and peremptorily becomes a criminal. Parker had the chance to show many different faces in the role: helplessness in the beginning when she's put behind bars; fear from the new environment; the "excitement" of having a baby in prison; tenderness when she first holds the boy in her arms or as she treats and shields the kitten; immense anger when her mother cannot undertake the raising of the child or when the cruel jailer takes the kitten away; refrainment from criminal life in the beginning; despair when they shave her hair; suffering in the solitary and finally a completely changed, hardened herself when she leaves the jail. Though the performance as an overall could not always reach the point of catharsis for me; I think she would have deserved the Academy Award this year!

Download link:

http://www.firedrive.com/file/E9D06FEB3978BAC4

2. Judy Holliday - Born yesterday

Miss Holliday deploys a wide range of acting skills here from sheer comedy to serious drama. Her character is a fastidiously elaborated one with fine characteristics (for example: the constant adjusting of her hair, unique walking, strange almost shrilling speaking voice), and flawless interpretation. And yet it is not overacted at all; moreover her performance thus give a lot more sense to the dialogs of the movie. Her character has developed as well (the dumb blonde who is unable to have independent thoughts, outsmarts her corrupt, ambitious and rich fiancé who is a bastard and leaves with her gentle and solid teacher).
I put her behind Parker, because for me, sense of drama was too little.

Download link:

http://uploaded.net/file/uyj245m0/Born.Yesterday.1950.480p.WEB-DL.x264-mSD.mkv

3. Bette Davis - All about Eve

In the person of Margo Channing we can see a detailed, very memorable character. The fine stage actress who are frightened of getting old and her private life is just as difficult as her professional one, comes to life in the sure body of Miss Davis. She knows every trick to make this character working and be grand. Her every scene is unique, her tone is multi-dimensional, she has style and her character develops on some level (towards the end of the movie she understands that her acting career is not that important anymore, but rather to find happiness on the side of the beloved man). In much lesser hands this role would have hammed, but Miss Davis is much more better than that.
I put her in the third place, because the victim of the surprising twist in the end was not her character.

Download link:

http://rapidgator.net/file/2349ba90724f0ebe331f7b7645f93f5c 
http://rapidgator.net/file/6af09f25cdd56c4e5aa24382ae6ba99f

Or:

(720p Blu-Ray):
http://rapidgator.net/file/1b892accdbdc82c54c25e125f25933c3

3. Gloria Swanson - Sunset Boulevard

(tied with Davis for the third place)

This is a very theatrical performance, typical of silent movies; but its grandiosity and uniqueness just lie in it. The character of Norma Desmond is complex and memorable. Swanson is looking great; she was a perfect choice for the role - one of my favorite parts was when she imitated Chaplin (good job). There are many elements in her portrayal of character that we now call clichés (for example: being lit up, suicide attempts with the purpose of blackmailing, scenes of jealousy), but she manages to evoke emotion in the audience even if it's nothing more than compassion. Her last scene is poignant; perhaps the most impressive closing scene of a movie from the point of acting. The reason I put her in tie with Davis is that both actresses played similar characters.

Download link:

http://uploaded.net/file/yr68pk3n/Sunset_Boulevard_1950_DVDRip_DivX_MDX.rar

Or:

(720p Blu-Ray rip)
http://www.firedrive.com/file/11E6300E4366D443

5. Anne Baxter - All about Eve

Miss Baxter had the chance to play a fantastic titular role, but unfortunately she could not always make the best of her opportunities. Her performance is too one-dimensional, her speaking is monotonous, her voice is veiled and without any emotion. Naturally her character required such mystery, to be so enigmatic; but she should have performed these with greater feelings. Apart from this, her sentences and overall portrayal were good and true (maybe the director asked her to be low-key), but this time - for me - it was not enough.