Johnny Belinda(1948).

Johnny Belinda(1948). Cast: Jane Wyman, Lew Ayres, Charles Bickford, Agnes Moorehead, Stephen McNally, and Jan Sterling. Wyman won an Oscar for this film for Best Actress.

Deaf/mute girl Belinda, lives in a small fishing village with her father and her aunt. She can not communicate with her family and lives in a world all her own. Until, a doctor named Robert, comes to help the family with the birth of a calf.. He and Belinda quickly become friends and  he teaches her sign language.

One evening, when Locky McCormick and his girl friend, Stella Maguire, stop by the farm with a group of their friends. They begin playing music and dancing and Robert places Belinda's hand on the violin so that she can feel the music for the first time.

Later, having been rejected by Stella, a drunken Locky rapes Belinda. Belinda becomes withdrawn and her father asks Robert, to find out what is wrong with her.

Robert takes Belinda, to town to visit an ear specialist and learns that she is pregnant. Robert only tells Aggie, knowing her father, will take it to hard.

One Sunday.. her father and Robert, take her to church for the first time. Locky and Stella, also attend the service and Belinda's reaction to Locky makes Robert think that he may be the father of the child.

After the baby, is born the townspeople, believing that Robert is the child's father, ostracize him and the McDonalds. Robert offers to marry Belinda, but.. her father does not think it is a very good idea, because he is not in love with her.

When Locky shows up during a storm, Belinda's father suddenly realizes the identity of his grandson's father and the two men get into a fight to and Locky pushes her father off a cliff to his death.

Robert, leaves town to start a new life and promises to send for Aggie and Belinda, as soon as he can. The townspeople decide to take the baby from Belinda and give him to Stella and Locky, who have since married. Stella, can not go through with it. Locky then tells Stella that he is the baby's father. When he comes after the baby, Belinda shoots and kills him. Will Stella tell the truth and save Belinda from going to jail for murder?

Fun Fact:
Jane Wyman became the first actor since the silent era to win an Oscar without uttering a word.

I think that you will love Agnes Moorehead's down to earth character in this film. I think you will also agree that Jane Wyman, gave one of her greatest performances of all time.

Jan Sterling (April 3, 1921 – March 26, 2004). In 1947, she made her film debut in, Tycoon, billed as Jane Darian. Ruth Gordon, reportedly insisted she change her stage name and they agreed upon Jan Sterling.

She played a prominent supporting role in, Johnny Belinda (1948). She also performed in the films, Caged (1950), Mystery Street (1950), The Mating Season (1951), Ace in the Hole (1951), Flesh and Fury (1952), The Human Jungle (1954), and Female on the Beach (1955). Often cast as hard and determined characters, she played a more sympathetic character in, Sky Full of Moon (1952). In 1954 Sterling was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in, The High and the Mighty.

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: 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

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