Best Supporting Actor 1943: Results

5. Akim Tamiroff in For Whom the Bell Tolls- Tamiroff gives a far too simple approach as Pablo, and fails to bring the depth to part that could have easily been found.

4. Charles Bickford in The Song of Bernadette- Bickford is satisfactory enough as the priest who eventually comes around to helping Bernadette, particularly when he is doubting. His character never requires much though and frankly his more tender scenes seems a bit rough around the edges.

3. J. Carrol Naish in Sahara- Naish has an extremely limited role but manages to create a sympathetic portrait as well gives a passionate speech. Not much but he does a fine job.

2. Claude Rains in Casablanca- Rains gives an extremely flashy always trying to steal a scene no matter how he does it. Although he certainly is enjoyable to watch I just wish he was a little less obvious about the whole thing. 

1. Charles Coburn in The More the Merrier- Coburn easily wins this year for me who I think does what Rains tries to do without being so obvious. Coburn gives a great comedic performance. He is completely steals every single scene he is in and makes the most of every opportunity he has with his character.

Deserving Performances:
Dana Andrews in The Ox-Bow Incident

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Best Supporting Actor 1943: Akim Tamiroff in For Whom the Bell Tolls

Akim Tamiroff received his second and final Oscar nomination for portraying Pablo in For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Akim Tamiroff plays Pablo the leader of the group of rebels in the Spanish Civil War who Robert Jordan (Gary Cooper) comes to join to blow up a bridge. Akim Tamiroff's Pablo is a rather weak willed man, who Tamiroff is perhaps just a tad too cartoonish in his portrayal since Tamiroff does his usual routine which is a combination of a craziness as well as some joviality.

Although this can work as just a side character in comedies or as a comic relief in other films here it does not really work so well. Tamiroff does tone down his usual style here, but really not enough to make Pablo either realistic or compelling. What I really do not like about his performance is the fact that Pablo could have been a pretty interesting character, but Tamiroff never reaches this potential like say Katina Paxinou does in the role of Pablo's wife and the eventual leader of the rebel group Pilar.

I suppose Pablo is appropriately weak willed and cowardly in the hands of Tamiroff, but there is really too much emphasis on this aspect of Pablo. Yes it is obvious that leadership would be taken from Pilar because of this but Tamiroff never makes any indication to how Pablo was ever their leader to begin with he seems too much like a clown much of the time, and too much like a loser most of the time. There is not even the slightest hint to Pablo ever being a strong man or a leader.

Tamiroff though fails more thoroughly when Pablo comes off as a dangerous man who you have no idea what he is going to do. Tamiroff never seems brutal, or sinister enough to give Pablo's actions any emotional weight. Tamiroff always remains far far too simplistic and never manages to bring the complexity of the character to life. Pablo perhaps could have been a fascinating character in his unpredictability, but Tamiroff never brings more than a paper thin characterization to the part.

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Best Supporting Actor 1943

And the Nominees Were:

Claude Rains in Casablanca

Akim Tamiroff in For Whom the Bells Tolls

Charles Coburn in The More the Merrier

J. Carrol Naish in Sahara

Charles Bickford in The Song of Bernadette

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