Getting ever so closer to that golden year of 1939. But first we have the solid year of 1938 where I have some Monties to give out. So on with the show...
BEST FILM:
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
BRINGING UP BABY (WINNER)
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
JEZEBEL
HOLIDAY
MERRILY WE LIVE
VIVACIOUS LADY
BOYS TOWN
THE LADY VANISHES
Everyone knows Bringing Up Baby is my second favorite film of all time and it is a great representation of the screwball genre. Cary Grant is at his most hilarious best and the usually rigid Katherine Hepburn gets to loosen up and has a great time in this entertaining film. I award it a Montie with all my heart.
BEST DIRECTOR:
FRANK CAPRA - YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
MICHAEL CURTIZ - THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (WINNER)
HOWARD HAWKS - BRINGING UP BABY
GEORGE CUKOR - HOLIDAY
WILLIAM WYLER - JEZEBEL
The super talented Michael Curtiz did such an amazing job on Robin Hood, that he was my clear cut winner for a Montie. Well he had a little help from William Keighley too. I mean Howard Hawks did a fantastic job with Bringing Up Baby but I thought Curtiz had the bigger task.
BEST ACTOR:
JAMES STEWART - YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
CARY GRANT - BRINGING UP BABY
ERROL FLYNN - THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (WINNER)
JAMES CAGNEY - ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES
SPENCER TRACY - BOYS TOWN
It is common knowledge that the Academy has made several notorious blunders in it's history. Never nominating Errol Flynn for any of his film roles is one of them. I rectify that by giving Errol a most well deserved award for his totally entertaining performance as Robin Hood. It doesn't get any better than this.
BEST ACTRESS:
JEAN ARTHUR - YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (WINNER)
GINGER ROGERS - VIVACIOUS LADY
KATHERINE HEPBURN - HOLIDAY
BETTE DAVIS - JEZEBEL
OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND - THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
The always delightful Jean Arthur is just wonderful in You Can't Take It With You as Alice Sycamore, you just can't take your eyes off her when she is onscreen.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
BASIL RATHBONE - THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
CLAUDE RAINS - THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
LEW AYRES - HOLIDAY
CHARLES RUGGLES - BRINGING UP BABY
WALTER CATLETT - BRINGING UP BABY (WINNER)
Walter Catlett is a hoot as Constable Slocum in Bringing Up Baby. Even though he doesn't come into the film late in the final moments, he makes an immediate impact. His aw shucks small town demeanor conflicts with Kate Hepburn's wily sophisticate with uproarious results.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
BILLIE BURKE - MERRILY WE LIVE
VIVIEN LEIGH - A YANK AT OXFORD
MAY ROBSON - BRINGING UP BABY (WINNER)
MARY ASTOR - THERE'S ALWAYS A WOMAN
MILDRED NATWICK - THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
May Robson was quaint and quite a firecracker as Susan's Aunt Elizabeth, who had to deal with all sorts of mayhem and confusion at her home.
So final tally has Bringing Up Baby bringing home 3 Monties (Film, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress). The Adventures of Robin Hood taking home 2 Monties (Director, Actor). And the lovely Jean Arthur picking up her first Montie for You Can't Take It With You.
Next up...the great golden year that is 1939.
Well you already know where I stand on Bringing Up Baby...HATE it!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm in definite agreement with you on Jean Arthur...she was great in You Can't Take It with You.
However, I'm going with James Cagney for Angels with Dirty Faces. I think he was totally briliant in that film. Now, I must admit, I have never seen Boys Town, so I haven't yet seen the performance that beat Cagney. And I haven't seen Robin Hood, so I can't judge the performance you say beat him. But, I think Cagney was absolutely amazing in that role, so, I'm going with him.
Sorry for being really late on commenting on these Monties posts. You see, I've been really bad at keeping up with blogs lately. I'm really loving this series though. And can I just say THANK YOU. Errol Flynn totally deserved an Oscar for something somewhere along the line! I just love him. I read a book that talked about how he wasn't such great shakes as an actor and I tend to disagree. I'm so glad you disagree right along with me!
ReplyDeleteAlso, love Bringing Up Baby. And while Michael Curtiz seems to have been, by all accounts, a pretty awful person to work with - he was an amazing director.