Alternate Best Actor 1943: Results

5. Claude Rains in The Phantom of the Opera- Rains is held back by his film but he manages to be both rather sympathetic, and effectively evil in this film.

Best Scene: The Phantom's Face is revealed.

4. Henry Fonda in The Ox-Bow Incident- Fonda is overshadowed by other elements in his film, but he is consistently solid and exceptional in one scene.

Best Scene: Gil reads Donald Martin's letter.

3. Charles Laughton in This Land is Mine- Laughton gives a strong performance that makes the transition from cowardice to bravery believable.

Best Scene: Albert watches as his friend is executed.

2. Roger Livesey in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp- Livesey's performance is one of the finest examples of portraying the progression of a character over time and through experiences.

Best Scene: Candy reunites with Theo.

1. Joseph Cotten in Shadow of a Doubt- Good Prediction Psifonian feel free to name a request. Cotten easily wins this year with his incredible charming and chilling performance as a man with dark secret he wants to hide.

Best Scene: Uncle Charlie tells young Charlie about the true nature of the world.

Overall Rank:

1. Joseph Cotten in Shadow of A Doubt
2. Roger Livesey in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
3. Paul Lukas in Watch on the Rhine
4. Charles Laughton in This Land is Mine
5. Joel McCrea in The More the Merrier 
6. Mickey Rooney in The Human Comedy
7. Henry Fonda in The Ox-Bow Incident
8. Claude Rains in Phantom of the Opera
9. Humphrey Bogart in Sahara
10. Franchot Tone in Five Graves to Cairo
11. Susumu Fujita in Sanshiro Sugata
12. Don Ameche in Heaven Can Wait
13. Gary Cooper in For Whom The Bell Tolls
14. Walter Pidgeon in in Madame Curie

Next Year: 1943 Supporting

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Alternate Best Actor 1943: Roger Livesey in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

Roger Livesey did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Clive Candy in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.

Although I have read some mighty high praise including the words masterpiece used as well as the best film ever to come out of England for The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed by the film. This is not to say I disliked it as it has plenty of good qualities. I found the film is far too long though, and that it fails to bridge its comedic parts with its serious moments into a cohesive whole leaving the film very tonally inconsistent.

The film itself about the military career of Clive Candy played by Livesey and how he goes from a young soldier to a very old general. There are some performances that cannot tread through the strange tone of the picture like Anton Walbrook as a German soldier who starts the picture as a bit of a caricature meant to be funny, but ends up being the most dramatic character in the film. Livesey though plays Clive Candy and is able to find consistency in his performance despite how inconsistent the film can be at times. Livesey is no doubt helped by the nature of his character which is that of the prim and proper British soldier, who is suppose to be rather consistent.

This is a story that takes place through many years, and although he stays consistent as the very British type he ages and does change in certain ways through the years. Livesey is especially able in this facet of his performance. His manner of just aging is actually quite brilliant as he goes from a youthful man ready for adventure to an old timer would is basically retired. If one has seen his performance in The Entertainer this is a particularly amazing transformation as he moves toward and becomes his older self right within this film. This actually is probably one of finest examples of how to an actor should age his character throughout the course of the film.

In all of his ages he is always within the code of the perfect British Soldier though in that he always stands upright, speaks with distinction, and gives a strong sense of both obedience to his cause and command in his own personal will. There are differences though found in the style of man he is. In the early parts of the film Livesey is quite dashing and daring as the youthful Candy. He expresses the youthful exuberance of the man who takes to his task with all the passion one would expect, but with a certain degree of humor and charm as well. He shows Candy as a man at the top of his game as a professional soldier.

We take a rather large jump as we meet Candy as an older man during World War I. Livesey's physical changes are precise and natural, but as well expresses a spiritual change. Although still very proper there just is not that same strength in his spirit there was before. Livesey though is effective in showing as well a change in outlook and personal style. Candy is no longer outgoing in quite the same way. It is quite remarkable to see Livesey change from the man who steps forward in the passion of a young man, to that of the the older soldier who hasn't been jaded but has settled in his ways where everything he does is much lower key.

In the last phase we meet a retired Candy who Livesey makes as that retired general type. It doesn't feel like cliche or stereotype as Livesey has shown us how Candy has come to this point. In these late scenes he is all together quieter, but with a strong dignified wisdom in him. Again physically Livesey reworks himself again, and pretty effectively suggests the manner one sees in a portrait or picture of a retired general. Livesey also reflects the experiences of Candy in his sometimes somber demeanor that conveys what the man has lost, but Livesey still has a passion in his portrayal. It is at its most restrained but as well at its most moving as Livesey shows really what his current cause means to him.

Roger Livesey performance is a impeccably calculated work that peels away exactly what makes up the life of the proper British soldier who can go from an open energetic young man, to a much slower elderly fellow. He finds the right consistency in style that allows him to traverse through the sometimes rather jarring tonal shifts found in the film. Livesey's portrayal of the film is easily its best facet as he gives a striking portrait of the career soldier. Although I may not have always found that the film entirely worked, Livesey's performance always does making Candy likable and allowing us into the mind of the type of character who usually keeps quite the distance from the audience.

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Alternate Best Actor 1943

And the Nominees Were Not:

Henry Fonda in The Ox-Bow Incident

Roger Livesey in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

Joseph Cotten in Shadow of a Doubt

Charles Laughton in This Land is Mine

Claude Rains in Phantom of the Opera

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