Best Supporting Actor 1964: Results

5. Edmond O'Brien in Seven Days in May- O'Brien has limited opportunities due to the nature of the film, but he still manages to realize his alcoholic senator quite well.

4. Lee Tracy in The Best Man- Tracy is good in showing the differences between his warm great facade, and his cynical side he shows behind close doors.

3. Stanley Holloway in My Fair Lady- Stanley Holloway gives a very enjoyable performance that is very entertaining, he also handles his songs incredibly well making them some of the best moments of the film.

2. John Gielgud in Becket- Gielgud although is in the film for less than ten minutes makes a sustainable impression instantly bringing Louis to life as a charismatic, humorous, and strong willed King.

1. Peter Ustinov in Topkapi- Good Prediction Dinasztie. This is a very good year actually with all of the nominees giving good performances. The best though is easily Peter Ustinov even though to be fair he had an advantage since he is the lead of his film. Ustinov nonetheless gives an absolutely hilarious performance, that makes Arthur Simpson a wonderful endearing character that is joy to follow through the film's story.

Deserving Performances:
George C. Scott in Dr. Strangelove
Frank Overton in Fail-Safe
Fredric March in Seven Days in May

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Best Supporting Actor 1964: John Gielgud in Becket

John Gielgud received his first Oscar nomination for portraying King Louis VII of France in Becket.

John Gielgud portrays King Louis of France who actually is only in two scenes during the film. This is not a forgettable two scene performance though, and does give the most memorable supporting performance in the film. In his first scene he stands as an ally of sorts for Thomas Becket (Richard Burton) who is at odds with King Henry II (Peter O'Toole). He really makes himself an ally because anyone who makes a problem for Henry helps him since France and England stand at constant odds with one another.

Gielgud is always absolutely at ease with these sort of authority roles, which is quite necessary for the part since the film requires that Louis establishes himself as a King all in a single scene. Gielgud must have the Kingly presence right from the first moment because he is gone in the next. Gielgud though is a master of these sorts of character and has all of the qualities realized from his first scene. From the moment you see him you not only know he is the king, but also a strong willed King, just from the the way Gielgud looks and stands.

When he talks Gielgud only furthers his characterization of a jovial, quick witted King, who also always seems to be in charge of his affairs. Gielgud has the right command of his single scene, and does take over the scene as needed. In his one scene he is charming, he is funny, and he shows the experience of Louis when it comes to manners involving Henry, through his fairly casual manner he helps Becket undermine Henry as well as he is able to.

It is a great single scene performance that is perfectly placed within the film. His other scene really does not have much to it he just quickly brings Becket to meet Henry, although again Gielgud shows the strength and the intelligence of Louis. Gielgud certainly is not on screen for long, but he still leaves a nice impression after he has left the screen. Louis could easily have been a forgettable character, with a forgettable performance behind him, but Gielgud does his best to make the most of his relatively minor character.

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Best Supporting Actor 1964

And The Nominees Were:

John Gielgud in Becket

Lee Tracy in The Best Man

Peter Ustinov in Topkapi

Stanley Holloway in My Fair Lady

Edmond O'Brien in Seven Days in May

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Best Supporting Actor 1981: Results

5. James Coco in Only When I Laugh- James Coco gives an good enough comedic performance, but his moments of sadness, as well as happiness are particularly strong.

4. Howard Rollins in Ragtime- Rollins gives a good performance as a man who goes to great lengths to keep his dignity my only problem was that I though he could have given an amazing performance if he had pushed even harder with his performance during key moments.

3. Ian Holm in Chariots of Fire- Holm gives a great performance as a very particular athletics coach realizing the humanity, the humor and intelligence of the man extremely well.

2. John Gielgud in Arthur- Gielgud gives an impressive comedic performance as well as when needed a heartfelt performance. Gielgud takes every opportunity of his character an makes the most of it.

1. Jack Nicholson in Reds- Out of this great year Nicholson tops it. Nicholson gives an amazing supporting performance that rises far above his film. Nicholson despite his short screentime creates a fully realized portrait of Eugene O'Neil as a man.

Deserving Performances:
John Gielgud in Chariots of Fire

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Best Supporting Actor 1981: John Gielgud in Arthur

John Gielgud won his Oscar from his second nomination for portraying Hobson in Arthur.

John Gielgud I imagine helped secure his victory by also being in the eventual best picture nominated Chariots of Fire this same year. Where portrays the master of Trinity College. In that role I found Gielgud to be quite hilarious actually in finding the humor in just how proper and prejudice the Master of Trinity is, in fact I would not have minded if he had one for Chariots of Fire as well because his scenes are some of my favorite scenes in that film, and I love basically all the scenes of that film. Gielgud though instead won for his larger role in Arthur, as billionaire playboy Arthur Bach(Dudley Moore)'s butler.

The role of Hobson is a pivotal role in Arthur since a good deal of the film is made up Hobson's and Arthur's various verbal barbs to one or another. Gielgud in particularly has a great deal of various little comments about just about everyone he comes by. As with Chariots of Fire Gielgud shows exactly how to play a superior snobbish fellow just perfectly. Gielgud although is rather different here than his Chariots Of Fire snob, as Hobson is a nice fellow at heart who just enjoys a good old verbal comeback.

 John Gielgud always has the perfect presence in this film always acting as the comeback to Arthur's antics perfectly. There is always such great precision in everything he says which is absolutely great for the dynamic between Gielgud and Moore. Every single line that Gielgud has is spoken with the utmost certainty that makes everything he says rather amusing. Gielgud knows he has good lines to say and makes the most of everyone that he has.

What is interesting about his performance though is how it also has a more dramatic side that goes along right with his comedic side. This basically comes out with his final scene with Dudley Moore which is simply great. Gielgud in this scene with Moore shows that their relationship together was not simply that of master and servant but instead actually of father and son.They have a great final heartfelt moment that is earned by both actors completely, and Gielgud fits this scene of fatherly warmness as well as with his moments of comedy. Gielgud gives a great supporting performance that truly makes the film.

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Best Supporting Actor 1981

And the Nominees Were:

Ian Holm in Chariots of Fire

James Coco in Only When I Laugh

John Gielgud in Arthur

Howard Rollins in Ragtime

Jack Nicholson in Reds

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