tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post6622437159477473448..comments2024-03-27T21:42:56.131-05:00Comments on 1001plus: Oscar Got It Wrong!: Best Picture 1937SJHoneywellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-86458985112008752472015-09-19T17:13:11.261-05:002015-09-19T17:13:11.261-05:00We're really different on how we rank these, b...We're really different on how we rank these, but I'm okay with that. It's all about why people think the way they do than about the actual opinion. <br /><br />Gun to my head, my two favorites from this year are <i>Stella Dallas</i> and <i>Grand Illusion</i>, even with the second film being nominated the next year. I'd have loved for <i>Snow White, Stella Dallas</i>, and <i>Make Way for Tomorrow</i> to have earned nominations over about half of the films (or more) that were nominated.<br /><br />Based on the actual nominations, I'd have been pretty much okay with any of my top five winning, but I still think the Academy dropped the ball on several of these.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-64147361843220275632015-09-19T16:41:18.305-05:002015-09-19T16:41:18.305-05:00
’37 as was true of so many during Hollywood’s Gol...<br />’37 as was true of so many during Hollywood’s Golden Age was a year with tons of quality films and yet they ended up awarding one of the dullest with the big prize. Zola’s intentions were good but I found it a ponderous bore. The academy loved Muni buried under all that makeup, I thought he was a weak link in Good Earth too, but I much prefer him in his modern dress parts finding his work more naturalist there. <br /><br />If we were talking performance than I’d agree that Barbara Stanwyck in Stella Dallas should win the prize in a walk even though I thought Luise Rainer’s work in The Good Earth was the redeeming feature of that film and unlike her previous win at least a performance worthy of a prize. But I thought the film a creaky enterprise, though I’d rather have seen it score a nod over several that did make the cut.<br /><br />How that list of nominees would run for me:<br /><br />Stage Door-Love this film, to me it’s a perfect example of the way a multi character story should work. The dark turn didn’t bother me since Kay carried that heavy shadow right from her first appearance on screen.<br /><br />A Star is Born-I agree the ’54 version in its non-mutilated form is better than this but this one is still a superior film and Fredric March is just great. He should have taken the actor prize that year.<br /><br />Dead End-This is very close to a great film, Wyler’s direction is fantastic and the cast is studded with brilliance but while I don’t mind them The Dead End Kids weaken the film by being in too much of it.<br /><br />The Awful Truth-A wonderfully made and very entertaining piece of fluff but I’ve never thought it was a great picture. First rate performances though.<br /><br />Lost Horizon-Good film but the speeches knock it down some in my view. The less said about that horrendous remake the better!<br /><br />The Good Earth-Aside from Luise Rainer’s terrific performance and a few set pieces…UGH!<br /><br />In Old Chicago-The ending is impressive and while I think I enjoyed the lead up to it more than you the film is nothing special. Incredible that Alice Brady won a consolation Oscar for this, I would have rather seen Dame May Whitty win but any of the other nominees were more deserving.<br /><br />The Life of Emile Zola-As I said good intentions but a thundering bore.<br /><br />One Hundred Men and a Girl-I actually liked this much better than Zola, although I prefer Deanna in her adult films she’s was a great singer and engaging presence right from the beginning, but for an awards candidate this film doesn’t come close. I think the nomination came because of the success of the film and Durbin’s previous Three Smart Girls.<br /><br />Captains Courageous-I hated this and Tracy’s work in it and usually I’m a huge fan.<br /><br />As far as what’s missing I’d definitely say Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Make Way for Tomorrow and Stella Dallas could have replaced many of the nominated pictures with Snow White being close to the top if it had been included.<br />joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-54089167180601270152015-09-19T12:02:57.895-05:002015-09-19T12:02:57.895-05:00I stand by my earlier comment. Stella Dallas is ex...I stand by my earlier comment. <i>Stella Dallas</i> is extreme, but it's still in the realm of possibility and has emotional depth. <i>The Awful Truth</i> is entertaining, but has no emotional depth. <br /><br />This will almost certainly come up again on future posts like this one.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-2241259275097048732015-09-19T11:42:16.687-05:002015-09-19T11:42:16.687-05:00As much as I love Barbara Stanwyck's performan...As much as I love Barbara Stanwyck's performance (and Alan Hale and Anne Shirley), I find Stella's sacrifice to be anything but genuine. Stella the character is all about the drama! It's not at all hard to think of a solution aside from "Stella has to give up her daughter, lie to her and never see her again, also she can't attend the wedding, she has to stand in the rain and watch through the window and the only reason she gets to see the moment of the marriage is because the cop stops being a jerk just long enough for her to see."<br /><br />Powerful, yes. And ridiculous and silly. <br /><br />The Awful Truth is hilarious. From start to finish. We'll have to agree to disagree about your "emotional depth of a saucer" quip.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17921029597363212734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-64729079141848085702015-09-19T11:07:32.196-05:002015-09-19T11:07:32.196-05:00To tell the truth, I look forward to these posts a...To tell the truth, I look forward to these posts as well, even the ones that end up being really difficult to do. SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-72090691533806572452015-09-19T09:22:41.051-05:002015-09-19T09:22:41.051-05:00I have to tell you, Steve, that this is the post I...I have to tell you, Steve, that this is the post I look forward to every week.<br />I agree with you on Stella Dallas, it has all the ingredients of a Best Picture winner. It is way too long ago since I saw Lost Horizon, but I remember faintly that it was good. Surprising that it is not on the list. TSorensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12208153011927807857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-59947285167341174622015-09-18T17:35:18.940-05:002015-09-18T17:35:18.940-05:00Oh, I disagree completely!
The characters in Stel...Oh, I disagree completely!<br /><br />The characters in <i>Stella Dallas</i> might be a little broad, but they come across like real people living real lives. Stella herself is a woman with particular desires and hopes. She wants to be taken seriously by the people who matter, but she doesn't have the skills to get there. This is a woman who ends up living through her daughter and who makes a genuine sacrifice (albeit one that is pretty melodramatic) for the sake of her child. There's a sense of tragedy in this film. Look at a character like Ed Munn--this is a guy who could easily be a comic drunk, but there's something really upsetting and sad about him, too. There's real pathos in the scene where Stella tries to impress her own daughter and estranged husband after Laurel has spent time with her father's old girlfriend. <br /><br />On the other hand, in <i>The Awful Truth</i> we have a couple who literally got married because they both wanted to buy the same dog. These are people with the emotional depth of a saucer, rich beyond anyone's imaginings during the Depression and concerned only with their own pleasures. Name a single moment of <i>The Awful Truth</i> with the emotional depth of the Christmas scene of <i>Stella Dallas</i>.<br /><br /><i>Stella Dallas</i> is certainly melodramatic, but it's anything other than fluff.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-25881847408176280092015-09-18T16:44:47.212-05:002015-09-18T16:44:47.212-05:00I just think it's weird that you dismiss The A...I just think it's weird that you dismiss The Awful Truth as fluff and then give the award to Stella Dallas, which is a great movie for Barbara Stanwyck's performance, but it's mostly pretty ridiculous. It's fluff, too, just a different kind of fluff.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17921029597363212734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-30452573502106428272015-09-18T15:36:11.422-05:002015-09-18T15:36:11.422-05:00Not at all. I just think it's fluff, and it...Not at all. I just think it's fluff, and it's fluff based on unbelievable and unrealistic characters. I expect more out of my Best Picture winners.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-54721646488341777242015-09-18T12:41:17.688-05:002015-09-18T12:41:17.688-05:00ok thanks
ok thanks<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16656769712133410719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-51745663509702910002015-09-18T12:36:08.485-05:002015-09-18T12:36:08.485-05:00The Awful Truth is a hilarious film, quite possibl...The Awful Truth is a hilarious film, quite possibly my favorite Cary Grant film, and is no doubt the winner here. I've seen it a bunch of times and it holds up magnificently.<br /><br />You must have been in a bad mood when you saw it. That's my only explanation.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17921029597363212734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-57179643884530307952015-09-18T11:33:02.056-05:002015-09-18T11:33:02.056-05:00Just make sure you're getting the version from...Just make sure you're getting the version from 1937, not the truly awful one from the '70s. SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-18111580899030841382015-09-18T11:32:29.828-05:002015-09-18T11:32:29.828-05:00My thoughts were the same--there's nothing her...My thoughts were the same--there's nothing here that really jumps out as being essential viewing to me, although I actually like most of these films. This version of <i>A Star is Born</i> is good, although it's disappointing after the Judy Garland/James Mason version. <i>One Hundred Men and a Girl</i> at least has really good music, but it's otherwise pretty forgettable. <i>Stella Dallas</i> was completely snubbed based on its inclusion. SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-25169982654343073042015-09-18T11:30:21.886-05:002015-09-18T11:30:21.886-05:00I was aware going in that putting The Awful Truth ...I was aware going in that putting <i>The Awful Truth</i> that low would be the most controversial part of this.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-75025969134691339392015-09-18T10:13:28.277-05:002015-09-18T10:13:28.277-05:00I have not seen all of these films, but Grand Illu...I have not seen all of these films, but Grand Illusion and Snow White are worthy choices. Very informative review. I need to check out Lost Horizon.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16656769712133410719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-4657536501353284212015-09-18T10:08:14.497-05:002015-09-18T10:08:14.497-05:00I've seen 8 of these. I'm missing 100 Men...I've seen 8 of these. I'm missing 100 Men and a Girl and A Star is Born. I actually watched Dead End about a week ago.<br /><br />Of the 8 I've seen I liked several of them, but I have to say that none of them jumped out at me when I read their titles as "that's a great film." Based on this I don't have an issue with The Life of Emile Zola winning. I'd say the same thing if Captain's Courageous had won. I liked Lost Horizon (although the question of how the hell the pilot got to them at the beginning of the movie and how he knew how to fly a plane bothered me - I know, overthinking).<br /><br />I am surprised that Stella Dallas was not nominated, especially when they had ten slots open.Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-35941833606411830022015-09-18T10:07:47.704-05:002015-09-18T10:07:47.704-05:00Your post brings back so many good memories! I ju...Your post brings back so many good memories! I just love 1930 movies. I don't care much for Lost Horizon, though - too many speeches. My heart would have gone with The Awful Truth all the way.marie_dresslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06334550550983418668noreply@blogger.com