THE MONTIES: 1932 - It's a grand time for Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford too......

This is the last year for me going backward. After this year I will be up to date and pick up with the year 1942. But for 1932, it was a grand time for Greta Garbo, as she was represented in the film Grand Hotel. Let's get to the nominees and winners shall we...

BEST FILM:

GRAND HOTEL
LOVE ME TONIGHT
I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG
RED DUST - WINNER
SCARFACE
FREAKS
TARZAN, THE APE MAN
SHANGHAI EXPRESS

The scintillating film Red Dust is my favorite film from this year. Boasting the powerhouse trio of Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Mary Astor in a steamy love triangle is pure melodrama at it's best.

BEST DIRECTOR:

VICTOR FLEMING - RED DUST
W.S. VAN DYKE - TARZAN
HOWARD HAWKS - SCARFACE
EDMUND GOULDING - GRAND HOTEL
TOD BROWNING - FREAKS (WINNER)

Director Tod Browning just did an amazing job with this creative and wildly different film. I imagine audiences back then probably were in total shock when watching this movie, as they had never seen anything like it before.

BEST ACTOR:

PAUL MUNI - I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (WINNER)
CLARK GABLE - RED DUST
JOHN BARRYMORE - GRAND HOTEL
MAURICE CHEVALIER - LOVE ME TONIGHT
PAUL MUNI - SCARFACE

Since Paul was in the running for Best Actor with two performances, he seemed like a sure bet to pick up a Montie. And he did. I thought he was just astounding as James Allen, a man who endures not once but twice on a chain gang. His brilliant performance is both impressive and heart-breaking.

BEST ACTRESS:

GRETA GARBO - GRAND HOTEL (WINNER)
JEAN HARLOW - RED DUST
MARLENE DIETRICH - SHANGHAI EXPRESS
JEANETTE MACDONALD - LOVE ME TONIGHT
MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN - TARZAN

Please make way for Ms. Garbo ladies and gentlemen to receive her Montie for her performance in Grand Hotel. I will be the first to admit that this performance of hers may go over the top sometimes but this is Garbo we're talking about here folks. One of the biggest film stars ever. She is every bit as good as advertised.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

JOAN CRAWFORD - GRAND HOTEL (WINNER)
MARY ASTOR - RED DUST
GLENDA FARRELL - I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG
ANNA MAY WONG - SHANGHAI EXPRESS

There were enough great supporting performances by actress that I included this category for this year. And no one was better than Joan Crawford as the secretary who becomes a mistress to a married man. And being a companion to a nice elderly former bookkeeper. Joan is terrific and some would argue she is even better than Garbo. Well here at the Monties, there is no argument as both actresses receives awards from me. Congrats to both.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

WALLACE BEERY - GRAND HOTEL
LIONEL BARRYMORE - GRAND HOTEL
CHARLES RUGGLES - LOVE ME TONIGHT'
ALLEN JENKINS - I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG (WINNER)

Allen Jenkins, a great supporting player gives another good performance here as Barney, a fellow convict. A very underrated actor who I gladly award a Montie.
Ok next year is 1942 and we're back on track now.