Best Supporting Actor 1947: Results

5. Charles Bickford in The Farmer's Daughter- Bickford is certainly fine in his part, but nothing special. He perhaps could have stolen some scenes but he never is able to.

4. Thomas Gomez in Ride the Pink Horse- Although his part is fairly limited Gomez gives an enjoyable and charming performance that only adds to his film.

3. Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street- Gwenn is not really a definitive Santa Clause by any means, and this is not any sort of great performance, but it is a good one where Gwenn makes Santa Clause just as kind and warm as he should be.

2. Robert Ryan in Crossfire- Robert Ryan plays the sort of role he became best known for and the truth is there is a reason he became known for this sort of role, because he was very good at it. This is not his best variation on this sort of character though.

1. Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death- There is no question for me who wins this year though as Widmark easily gives the most memorable and most effective performance out of the nominees. Widmark becomes basically invisible in his chilling creation of Tommy Udo a psychopath who only ever finds joy from what he does.

Best Supporting Actor 1947: Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street

Edmund Gwenn won his Oscar from his first nomination for portraying Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street.

Miracle on 34th Street depicts the story of a Santa Clause who becomes the Santa Clause for the Macy's day parade and later for the store, the only problem is he claims he really is Santa Clause.

Edmund Gwenn I imagine won by a great deal for his performance here as Kris Kringle, since it is unlikely much consideration was given to Gomez and Bickford whose films received few nominations, and it certainly would not have gone to those rather nasty characters Ryan and Widmark play especially since neither have a single sympathetic quality. Also Miracle seems that it was likely second place for best picture considering it won story and screenplay, but it lost I feel only because the Academy wanted to seem important by going with the "important" picture.  

Also Gwenn is really not supporting in this film he is the subject of the film and the lead actor of the film, it is not an overly egregious nomination since there is at least the other lead of John Payne, but really Gwenn most certainly is lead. Also what is not to like about Santa Clause. This is not a only a unique nomination but also an exceedingly unique win as usually Santa Clause is not the sort of character one would expect to receive a nomination let alone an Oscar win.

This review is for the very day the film begins in, and it is hard to say anything bad about Santa Clause, but I won't let any of these factors change my view of Gwenn's performance. Gwenn really does not take any sort of unorthodox approach to playing Santa Clause he is nice and gentle as he should be. He is warm and kind just as he should be. There is also a bit of a no nonsense part of him though as he does not like people who do the wrong thing either. Gwenn even shows this aspect to be still Kris Kringle merely wishing that only everyone should be nice as well.

Gwenn really is just fine in the role of Santa Clause, but if you have seen Gwenn's other performances like in Mister 880 for example his performance is not that much of a stretch for him. This is basically how he played any nice old man role no differences to attempt to make him any more Santa Clause like in the least. His style of performance though most certainly works for the role though, and I have no issues with the way he plays it either. His Santa Clause certainly is not definitive in any fashion, but he is as he should be.

There certainly are wrong ways to play Santa Clause but most of the time he is on film it is not that hard to get him right, just have a kindly old man who has a beard or at least can grow one who just seems to be respectable not much more than that. Gwenn is not a definitive portrayal of Santa Clause by any means but he is one of the better ones. Gwenn is consistently good, but his performance is not even my favorite of the film that would go to the duo of Gene Lockhart as the rather pathetic judge, and William Frawley as his blunt campaign manager. Yes it most certianly is fun for Santa Clause to win the Oscar, but in the end this only just a good performance not a great one, and certainly not better than Richard Widmark.

Best Supporting Actor 1947: Thomas Gomez in Ride the Pink Horse

Thomas Gomez received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Pancho in Ride the Pink Horse.

Ride the Pink Horse tells of an ex American GI Lucky Gagin (Robert Montgomery) who goes down to a New Mexico border town to seek revenge against a crime boss who killed his friend.

Thomas Gomez plays one of the Mexicans in the border town who runs the local carousel, and befriends Gagin, after he convinces Gagin to buy several locals drinks because the bar did not have enough change for Gagin's ten dollar bill. Thomas Gomez actually gives a very nice performance as Pancho who eventually saves Gagin despite being threatened physically himself. Although really this could have been a role that could have only been stereotype or two dimensional but Gomez makes an honest character out of Pancho even with the little time he is given.

He adds a much needed bright face to the film that tries to bring some joy to the whole proceedings. Gomez does not make Pancho for a second some sort of forced comic relief though, instead Gomez makes Pancho a joyful fellow that naturally brings a lighter element to the film. He actually has good chemistry with Robert Montgomery and the two have a nice dynamic with Montgomery being rather serious and to the point, and Gomez being far more relaxed who would rather take his time with things.

Thomas Gomez is always a good presence in the film and only adds to basically the color of the film. He is particularly good when his loyalty to Gagin is challenged by thugs. Gomez is very good in this scene giving a realistic portrayal of loyalty Pancho has for his friend, and the scene is rather hard one to watch as Pancho is beaten because Gomez is just so likable as Pancho. Although this is not an overly complex character, Gomez only ever works to add to his the film with easy charm and joyful character.

Best Supporting Actor 1947: Robert Ryan in Crossfire

Robert Ryan received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Montgomery in Crossfire.

Crossfire details the investigation behind the murder of a Jewish man.

This really is going to be a spoilers review as the film is a mystery and to really get into the qualities of Ryan's performance. Although I must say this mystery is made quite predictable becuase usually when a film is a mystery film is and that mystery film has a nomination in the supporting actor category it usually gives away who the killer is. Also the fact that Robert Ryan is in a movie is a dead give away to who is the killer since Robert Ryan was type cast as a cruel antagonist. 

I knew the second he walked on screen in the film that he was going to be the killer anyways since Ryan just naturally has an unsavory quality to the way he looks, which is why he played this sort of role so often. I must say this is not the best version of this sort of role for Ryan though as I greatly preferred his work in Billy Budd for example where there seemed to be a greater mystery to his villain and with that made his character far more chilling in that particular film.

Ryan tries from his first scene tries to avoid suspicion in the role of Montgomery although he certainly gives an effort to seem innocent and naive, he simply is Robert Ryan so I know that he could not possibly be good, but really that is not his fault. Ryan actually does fairly good job of showing Montgomery's attempts to try to throw off the investigation by acting unaware of the whole thing, although with the right undercurrent knowing the truth that he clearly is always hiding.

Robert Ryan though is best at what he does best which is being the intense vicious villain. Ryan is appropriately cruel and chilling as he shows that Montgomery really is a racist with absolutely no sympathy for anyone, especially not Jewish people who intensely hates. Ryan does not show any reason behind Montgomery's hate other than just hate that has clearly been with Montgomery for a long time. Although there are not a lot of surprises in this performance there is a reason Ryan was typecast in this sort of role, because he was very good at it as he shows here.

Best Supporting Actor 1947: Charles Bickford in The Farmer's Daughter

Charles Bickford received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Joseph Clancy in The Farmer's Daughter.

The Farmer's Daughter tells of a Swedish American woman Katie Holstrom (Loretta Young) who moves her farm to the big city, and after being the maid to political power broker Agatha Morley(Ethel Barrymore), and her U.S. Representative son (Joseph Cotton).

Charles Bickford plays Joseph Clancy the majordomo to Agatha Morley, and her son. Clancy is a loyal servant who wants what is best for the family, but also proceeds eventually to become a friend to Katie as well. Clancy most of the time is just in the background of the film making the occasional goodhearted comment. He only does a little more when he is encouraging Katie to pursue her plans to run for political office despite the opposition of those around them.  

I frankly do not know why Bickford was always put in what are suppose to warm roles, as I always feel he comes off as a little to rough of an individual for it to really seem entirely natural. This is not to say Bickford is bad, because he is not at all bad really. He is there he says what he has to with certainly a degree of feeling and determination but it never amounts to anything all that special or even all that interesting.

I think this part could have been something a little more special as I think it could have been a scene stealing part potentially in someone with a more natural comedic trivalent like say Charles Coburn for example, but as it is Bickford just never makes himself the center of attention even when he has the chance. I think this character could have been very enjoyable and warm presence in the film, but Bickford never really gets over his demeanor he carries in basically of his roles.

Best Supporting Actor 1947: Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death

Richard Widmark received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Tommy Udo in Kiss of Death.

Kiss of Death details the story of a criminal who becomes an informant to help his family, which gets him into a dangerous situation with one of the men he informed on.

Richard Widmark although had a long screen career he was only ever nominated for his for film role ever as the giggling psychopath Tommy Udo. What I found interesting from his first scene in this film was the fact that Widmark's performance here in no way resembles his later screen persona which was usually a deep voiced commanding figure. In this film though I barely recognized Widmark as he completely becomes the role of Tommy Udo.

As I said Widmark has a deep voice but here that is not apparent in the least. Widmark here instead has a rather high pitched weasel type of voice that works perfectly for the role of Tommy Udo. He makes Tommy Udo not some sort of overwhelming figure who seems to command, but far more freighting by always seeming to be dangerous by just how off of a person Widmark makes him, Widmark always shows that there is something simply off about Udo.

What makes Widmark's performance so memorable though is that Tommy is not only a Killer but a true sadist who loves to kill. The famous wheelchair pushing scene would not be nearly as memorable as it is if it were not for the grinning joyful face that Widmark has the moment Tommy is doing it. There is not a single moment in which Widmark shows any sort of sympathy inside of the disturbing Tommy.

Widmark simply makes the most out of the character of Tommy Udo who easily could have been played way over the top, but instead Widmark makes him bizarrely real in his psychopathy and all the more chilling because of that. There are so many aspects of this performance that could have gone wrong in lesser hands but with Widmark they never do. This is truly an accomplishment becuase of how risky Widmark plays his role, which is a little surprising since it was his first performance in a film.

The way he walks, the way he talks, the way he laughs, and especially the way he smiles only ever work to make Tommy Udo an unforgettable character. Every moment of the film he is in, which is not as much as one might think Widmark makes the most of. He absolutely holds your attention in every scene for every second with his fascinating portrayal. He makes Udo such an effective villain that even when he was off screen I was thinking about him. This is an amazing performance by Widmark that creates a chilling portrait of a smiling psychopath.

Best Supporting Actor 1947

And the Nominees Were:

Robert Ryan in Crossfire

Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death

Edmund Gwenn in Miracle on 34th Street

Thomas Gomez in Ride the Pink Horse

Charles Bickford in The Farmer's Daughter