Best Supporting Actor 1971: Results

5. Leonard Frey in Fiddler on the Roof- Leonard Frey gives an enunciation and energetic performance that might be a bit much, but is fitting for the part.

4. Richard Jaeckel in Sometimes a Great Notion- Jaeckel is barely noticeable most of the film, although he is always fine when he is on screen, but his final scene is quite effective.

3. Roy Scheider in The French Connection- Scheider although never has a scene really to himself or his character he gives a realistic performance that more than fulfills the requirements of his role.

2. Jeff Bridges in The Last Picture Show- Bridges gives a performance that I can never say wows me, but it is always a good consistently realistic turn that brings to life the confusion of his character.

1. Ben Johnson in The Last Picture Show- Johnson easily earns my win this year as Sam the Lion. Johnson creates a haunting and humane portrait of a man who stands for a certain noble dying nature.

Deserving Performances:
Andrew Robinson in Dirty Harry
Fernando Rey in The French Connection
Jack Albertson in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Best Supporting Actor 1971: Roy Scheider in The French Connection

Roy Scheider received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Detective Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo in The French Connection.

Roy Scheider portrays Detective Cloudy Russo who is the Narcotics partner to 'Popeye' Doyle (Gene Hackman), and they together try to foil a heroine trade between French and American criminals. Scheider has a descent amount of screentime actually but his role is limited in terms that there is not really any scenes that focus on him as a character, and really there are not even too many  moments within scenes that focus on Scheider. Really all of the characterization is basically up to Scheider as he moves through the plot.

Despite this rather big limitation Scheider still makes Russo into a character, whom does seem like there is probably more to him but we only ever see him on the job. Scheider makes Russo into a very much normal man who does his job. Scheider always is quite natural whenever he is doing anything, and there is never a moment where Scheider acts as if Russo is doing something far out of the ordinary. With this Scheider establishes Russo's history has been long.

Scheider also is good in his distinct chemistry with Hackman as they play off each other in their scenes together. They have a particular dynamic the way they interrogate, and work together that shows their long history on working on cases. They work together perfectly as Hackman as Doyle is the more intuitive one, as well as hot headed one, against Scheider as Russo who acts as the more level headed and cool headed one who tries to keep Popeye sensible.

Although Russo is most certainly a limited part but Scheider makes more than the most it. He is realistic throughout and easily adds to the realistic tone of the film. Even though the character as written could have far too simple, but Scheider though still manages to make Russo into a realistic character. It is not the most complex part, but Russo does his very best in the part to bring Cloudy Russo to life.

Best Supporting Actor 1971: Jeff Bridges in The Last Picture Show

Jeff Bridges received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Duane Jackson in The Last Picture Show.

. Jeff Bridges portrays Duane Jackson one of the more popular teenagers in the town who goes out with the most popular girl Jacy (Cybil Shepherd). Jeff Bridges actually most certainly has a challenge here to make Duane a compelling or likable character. Duane after all is not at all sure of himself is in a point of his life where he understands very little about himself, or anything else and sees many things in a rather shallow manner.

It is than hard for Bridges to really a distinct characterization since Duane is constantly changing his attitudes, and ideas. Bridges actually though does have his usual charm he has in his roles but too a far far lesser degree than say in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. It is still apparent but it can only do so far really, and I can't say even Bridges manages to make Duane likable, even though he does try.

Duane goes through a lot of phases in the film but mostly he just acts as a fairly shallow young man in his shallow relationship. Bridges in turn is properly shallow as Duane, and is most certainly realistic in showing his confusion as well as his shallow wants in his relationship. Bridges is entirely accurate but I'm hard pressed to honestly say I found his performance especially compelling.

I don't want to say he is ever bad though that is most certainly sure. He stays realistic throughout the ever changing Duane, from when he is impudent or later in his scenes where he ends up being cruel after being dumped by Jacy. To even his last scene where he shows Duane having any sort of understanding.

They are all part of Duane almost random journey that is fitting of inexperience youth, which Bridges does realize, I just must admit I never felt myself Duane become all that interesting or affecting in the film despite Bridges' efforts. I know there are many who love this performance, but I personally cannot see it more than just simply a good realistic performance.

Best Supporting Actor 1971: Ben Johnson in The Last Picture Show

Ben Johnson won his Oscar from his only nomination for portraying Sam the Lion in The Last Picture Show.

The Last Picture Show tells of various relationships within a small Texas town.

Ben Johnson plays Sam the Lion who owns the local billiards, diner, and picture show. Same the Lion is a very particular character in the town because he is one of the few people who believes in doing the right thing in his own regard as well as in regard to helping others. Sam also although certainly does not have a perfect life he clearly does not suffer from the psychological troubles which trouble most of the rest of the residents of the town.

Sam the Lion actually has a limited amount of screen time but Johnson makes the most of every moment he has on screen. In short scenes Johnson effortlessly conveys the noble nature of Sam the Lion. There is always a certain quietness in his performance, and within every solemn gaze Johnson always manages to bring to life the wisdom, and intelligence of Sam. It is difficult to establish this sort of almost casual wisdom without seeming unrealistic, but Johnson manages it flawlessly.

Johnson with his little he has manages to create a whole history in the character of Sam. In his somewhat tired world worn face their is an honest experience conveyed by Johnson. He is of course especially stand out in his scene where reminisces about old times. Johnson is brilliant in his ability to convey the truly fond memories Sam has of his particular past. Johnson is especially strong is that it is not that he shows really a regret, Sam really is above a feeling like that, but instead he shows a genuine nostalgic feeling for that time in his life.

Johnson succeeds in every way with Sam the Lion creating a unique presence in every one of his scenes that almost a mysterious quality to him in the way he has his certain warmness and nobility that almost no one else has in the town. It most certainly is a short role in the end, but Johnson's performance has a lasting impact on the film. When he exits the film you feel a genuine loss of warmth, hope and nobility that Johnson so effortlessly conveyed in the role.

Best Supporting Actor 1971: Leonard Frey in Fiddler on the Roof

Leonard Frey received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Motel Kamzoil in Fiddler on the Roof.

Leonard Frey portrays Motel Kamzoil the poor tailor who is love with the eldest daughter Tzeitel of the milkman Tevye (Topol). Motel is only a small aspect of the story, and is a rather modest character as well. Motel though is quite passionate in his love for Tzeitel, and does insist on being her husband even though she has been matched with a different man.

Frey gives an energetic and enthusiastic performance, perhaps a little too enthusiastic frankly with how much he puts into each of his expressions and reactions. It is a musical though and he is in line with many of the performances found in the film with his particular enthusiasm, and it certainly makes sense for his character who is very passionate for his love.

Frey though most of the time is barely even noticeable in the film which technically is fitting for his character but does not make his performance especially compelling either. Frey mostly is as he should be since Motel should be quite the modest individual who never is suppose to really stand out much, except when it comes to Tzeitel or his sewing machine which will make his sewing far easier.

He also has a song number to himself and he does through a lot of energy into his single song that is again quite appropriate to Motel who is quite passionate when he needs to be. In the end still it is hard for me to say this is all that much of a performance. It isn't really bad at all, even if he might be a bit much at times, but not matter what he never makes motel overly special either.

Best Supporting Actor 1971: Richard Jaeckel in Sometimes A Great Notion

Richard Jaeckel received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Joe Ben Stamper in Sometimes A Great Notion.

Sometimes a Great Notion depicts the lives of an independent logging family the stampers who are at odds with Union loggers who are on strike.

This is the sort of nomination that just boggles the mind because one must ask why exactly did anyone in the academy say wow now that there is a performance that needs to be recognized. Especially since Sometimes a Great notion only received two nominations total, so this was not one of those bonus nominations like say Joe Mantell in Marty, I guess they wanted to nominate long time character actor Jaeckel  I suppose but certainly seems quite strange in the end.

Joe Ben really is not at all prominent in the story of the Stampers he in the end is just one of the Stampers crew and in terms of the story is mostly just makes the occasional comment or reaction that is in no way substantial. He neither makes the decisions in the family or the arguments in the family. He really is part of the family he merely acts as just part of the family with his occasional small little reaction here or there that does not make the biggest of differences.

Joe Ben really is a non entity for most of the film until finally in one scene where he is held in place by a tree. Jaeckel is quite realistic in this scene and effectively brings out the emotions in the single scene. Other than this important scene Jaeckel just is around scenes never becoming the focus or making himself the focus. He most certainly never bad for a moment in the film, but there is just so little ever asked from Jaeckel in the part of Joe Ben Stamper that he could never really be more than just adequate.

Best Supporting Actor 1971

And the Nominees Were:

Leonard Frey in Fiddler on the Roof

Jeff Bridges in The Last Picture Show

Ben Johnson in The Last Picture Show

Richard Jaeckel in Sometimes a Great Notion

Roy Scheider in The French Connection