Alternate Best Actor 1952: Results

5. James Mason in 5 Fingers- Mason creates an effective villain by emphasizing the cynicism of his character bluntly.

Best Scene: Diello finds out he's been had.

4. Laurence Olivier in Carrie- Olivier gives a strong performance playing a doomed romantic.

Best Scene: Hurstwood confesses his love to Carrie.

3. Michael Denison in The Importance of Being Earnest- Denison gives a hilarious turn that always has brilliant timing and brings the humor out of his material.

Best Scene: His reactions to the final revelations.

2. John Wayne in The Quiet Man- Wayne gives a winning performance that capitalizes on the best of his on screen persona.

Best Scene: Remembering the fatal fight.

1. Takashi Shimura in Ikiru- I should quickly say that I added what I thought was the best scene from each performance simply for fun. This year came down to Wayne and Shimura, although Denison was right behind them as I loved his performance as well. I have to say I hate and love these years as I hate to have to choose to between two performances I like equally but I hate to have to choose. Either way my choice goes to Shimura's powerful performance that is a heartbreaking and inspiring depiction of a dying man.

Best Scenes: "Gondola no Uta" the first and the last time.

Overall Rank:

1. Takashi Shimura in Ikiru
2. John Wayne in The Quiet Man
3. Michael Denison in The Importance of Being Earnest
4. Laurence Olivier in Carrie
5. James Mason in 5 Fingers
6. Dirk Bogarde in Hunted
7. Charlie Chaplin in Limelight 
8. Marlon Brando in Viva Zapata!
9. Orson Welles in Othello
10. James Stewart in Bend of the River 
11. Gary Cooper in High Noon
12. Kirk Douglas in The Bad and the Beautiful
13. Ray Milland in Thief
14. Burt Lancaster in Come Back Little Sheba
15. Alec Guinness in The Card 
16. Jack Palance in Sudden Fear
17. Michael Redgrave in The Importance of Being Earnest
18. Richard Burton in My Cousin Rachel 
19. Micheal MacLiammoir in Othello
20. Kirk Douglas in The Big Sky
21. Jose Ferrer in Moulin Rouge  
22. Gene Kelly in Singin in The Rain
23. Charlton Heston in The Greatest Show on Earth
24. Cornel Wilde in The Greatest Show on Earth
25. Gregory Peck in The Snows of Kilimanjaro 
26. Robert Mitchum in Angel Face
27. Bob Hope in The Road to Bali
28. Bing Crosby in The Road to Bali
29. Dewey Martin in The Big Sky
30. John Whiteley in Hunted

Next Year: 1952 Supporting