Alternate Best Actor 1955: Results

5. James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause- Despite his overacted first scene Dean gives an effective performance relying on his unique charisma.

Best Scene: Jim tries to save Plato.

4. Alec Guinness in The Prisoner- This a disjointed work, but Guinness gives a powerful turn nevertheless.

Best Scene: The Cardinal breaks down.

3. Alec Guinness in The Ladykillers- Guinness gives a very enjoyable performance in his peculiar creation. 

Best Scene: Professor Marcus double crosses Louie.

2. Toshiro Mifune in I live in Fear- Mifune, despite being quite miscast as a seventy year old, gives a powerful portrayal of a debilitating fear.

Best Scene: Nakajima looks on as another man states facts about nuclear fallout.

1. Robert Mitchum in The Night of the Hunter- Good predictions Mark, Maciej, Kevin. Robert Mitchum gives perhaps his best performance. Mitchum gives a brilliantly stylistic turn in his creation of the charming, passionate and sadistic Harry Powell. The year overall came right down to the evil preacher and the good butcher. I'll give Mitchum the win for the moment, but a re-watch of Marty could possibly swing things Borgnine's way as they both give great performances.

Best Scene: Powell prepares for a murder.

Overall Rank:

1. Robert Mitchum in The Night of the Hunter
2. Ernest Borgnine in Marty
3. Laurence Olivier in Richard III
4. Spencer Tracy in Bad Day At Black Rock
5. James Dean in East of Eden
6. Toshiro Mifune in I Live in Fear
7. Alec Guinness in The Ladykillers
8. Alec Guinness in The Prisoner
9. Fredric March in The Desperate Hours
10. James Stewart in The Man From Laramie
11. Toshiro Mifune in Samurai II
12. Henry Fonda in Mister Roberts
13. James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause
14. Richard Todd in The Dam Busters
15. Jack Hawkins in The Prisoner
16. Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief
17. Humphrey Bogart in The Desperate Hours
18. Michael Redgrave in The Dam Busters
19. Glenn Ford in Blackboard Jungle
20. Ralph Meeker in Kiss Me Deadly
21. James Cagney in Love Me or Leave Me
22. Glenn Ford in Trial
23. Edmund Gwenn in The Trouble With Harry
24. John Forsythe in The Trouble With Harry
25. William Holden in Picnic
26. Larry Roberts in Lady and the Tramp
27. Frank Sinatra in The Man with the Golden Arm
28. William Holden in Love is a Many-Splendored Thing
29. Bela Lugosi in Bride of the Monster
30. Billy Chapin in The Night of the Hunter
31. Tony McCoy in Bride of the Monster

Next Year: 1955 Supporting