Alternate Best Actor 1961: Results

5. Sidney Poitier in A Raisin in the Sun- Poitier tends go a little more theatrical at times than he needs to but for the most part Poitier gives an effective performance as a character that is far from the heroic roles he usually played.

Best Scene: The opening scene.

4. Clark Gable in The Misfits- Gable gives a moving portrayal of a individualistic cowboy past his prime that is worthy of being his swan song.

Best Scene: Gay goes to recapture the horses.

3. Dirk Bogarde in Victim- Although I do wish the film let Borgarde explore his character a little more, Bogarde still gives a powerful portrayal of a repressed homosexual.

Best Scene: Melville Farr reveals the truth to his wife.

2. James Cagney in One, Two, Three- James Cagney gives a very entertaining and incredibly energetic performance that could not be a better fit for the screwball comedy he leads.

Best Scene: MacNamara tries to solve all his problems in a few hours.

1. Toshiro Mifune in Yojimbo - Well I did not even need to have a second to think of my favorite performance by a leading actor from 1961. This is one of the very best performances from Toshiro Mifune creating one of the most memorable heroes in cinema.

Best Scene: The Final Duel.

Overall Rank:

1. Toshiro Mifune in Yojimbo
2. Stuart Whitman in The Mark
3. Paul Newman in The Hustler
4. Marcello Mastroianni in Divorce, Italian Style 
5. James Cagney in One, Two, Three
6. Dirk Bogarde in Victim
7. Clark Gable in The Misfits
8. Marcello Mastroianni in La Notte
9. Sidney Poitier in A Raisin in the Sun
10. Gregory Peck in The Guns of Navarone
11. Anthony Perkins in Goodbye Again
12. Warren Beatty in Splendor in the Grass
13. Yves Montand in Goodbye Again
14. Marlon Brando in One Eyed Jacks
15. Spencer Tracy in Judgment At Nuremberg
16. Rod Taylor in 101 Dalmatians
17. Fred MacMurray in The Absent Minded Professor
18. George Peppard in Breakfast At Tiffany's
19. Richard Beymer in West Side Story
20. Glenn Ford in Pocketful of Miracles
21. Horst Buchholz in Fanny

Next Year: 1961 Supporting