Best Supporting Actor 1967: Results

5. Cecil Kellaway in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner-  Kellaway is charming in the role, but it never requires more of him than just a little charm.

4. John Cassavetes in The Dirty Dozen- Cassavetes is appropriately rebellious in his early scenes, but later in the film it becomes quite hard to ever distinguish him from the rest of the dozen.

3. Michael J. Pollard in Bonnie and Clyde- Pollard gives the least memorable performance of the main cast, but this is a strong cast. He plays his past as a rather modest and impressionable boy just as he should, as well as does shine in a  few key moments.

2. George Kennedy in Cool Hand Luke- Although Kennedy does some unneeded overacting from time to time in his performance he still gives a good performance. He is entertaining and especially effective in showing Dragline's complete admiration for the titular Luke, which is an essential part of his film.

1. Gene Hackman in Bonnie and Clyde- Good prediction Dinasztie . Gene Hackman easily gets my vote as he gives such a great performance despite some clear challenges in the part. Although not a single scene focuses solely on his character Hackman fully realizes not only his character but also how he factors in with the rest of the gang. There is not a wasted moment in Hackman's entire performance and when any opportunity presents itself in the film Hackman makes the most of it creating some very powerful moments throughout his performance. 

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Best Supporting Actor 1967: George Kennedy in Cool Hand Luke

George Kennedy won his Oscar from his only nomination so far for portraying Dragline in Cool Hand Luke.

George Kennedy plays Dragline who is the sorta defacto leader of the prisoners when the nonconforming Luke (Paul Newman) comes into their chain gang camp. In his early scenes he is fairly hostile toward Luke. In these early scenes Kennedy does not make Dragline seem to be the boss of the men or anything like that, but rather he just is the most overwhelming presence in the place who clearly has been there for awhile. Kennedy has a strong presence int the film, and always makes it clear why Dragline is the most prominent member of the chain gang.

Kennedy is pretty good in establishing the illiterate Dragline as a fairly likable fellow who does just about anything to help pass the time in the prison. He makes his rather transition to liking Like rather natural actually even though it is a very fast one. He shows that Dragline basically has a certainly hostility to any new prisoner, but Kennedy fairly quietly shows that Dragline quickly sees something special in Luke that he can easily attach himself to, frankly just to again help himself in the prison life.

Kennedy best moments come in just his simple admiration he has for Luke later in the film. He shows such a genuine joy in everything that Luke does. Kennedy realizes the whole idea that Dragline seems to love Luke very well, by showing it as basically that he seems to worship the whole idea of Luke who refuses to conform to what the prison wants him. Kennedy honest enthusiasm in all of these scenes show how much Luke means not only to Dragline but all the prisoners, which is part of the reason why this film works.

I really do enjoy this work every time I watch the film as he is a warm presence throughout and succeeds in bringing an important facet to the film very much to life. My complaints would be that Kennedy from time to time does go a bit too far in his whole Dragline mannerisms that he becomes over the top. He does not do this all of the time that it becomes overly distracting, but  he does do it enough that it does become noticeable. Even with the overacting Kennedy gives good performance that properly fulfills Dragline's important role in the story.

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Best Supporting Actor 1967

And the Nominees Were:

Gene Hackman in Bonnie and Clyde

Michael J. Pollard in Bonnie and Clyde

George Kennedy in Cool Hand Luke

Cecil Kellaway in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

John Cassavetes in The Dirty Dozen

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