Alternate Best Actor 1974: Results

5. Charles Bronson in Death Wish- Although the role probably could have been far more complex, Bronson still is consistently effective in his portrayal of one man's revenge even if it is in a relatively simple fashion.

4. Peter Falk in A Woman Under the Influence- Falk is good in his role always giving effective reactions throughout the film, that appropriately supports Gene Rowlands's great performance.

3. Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein- Wilder is always very funny in his role, but really makes it work is his conviction in his portrayal of the insanity of his character. 

2. Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three- Matthau is terrific here easily bringing a great deal of humor to his role without ever compromising any of his more dramatic moments.

1. Gene Hackman in The Conversation- Hackman stands easily as my choice in his incredible performance in this film. He is simply outstanding in his complex portrayal of this man's paranoia and guilt. There is not a single moment wasted in Hackman's unique and always fascinating characterization.

Overall Rank:

1. Gene Hackman in The Conversation
2. Art Carney in Harry and Tonto
3. Jack Nicholson in Chinatown
4. Al Pacino in The Godfather Part II
5. Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three
6. Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein
7. Jeff Bridges in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
8. Clint Eastwood in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
9. Peter Falk in A Woman Under The Influence
10. Dustin Hoffman in Lenny
11. Charles Bronson in Death Wish
12. Warren Beatty in The Parallax View
13. Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein
14. Paul Newman in The Towering Inferno
15. Steve McQueen in The Towering Inferno
16. Cleavon Little in Blazing Saddles
17. Albert Finney in Murder on The Orient Express

Next Year: 1992

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Alternate Best Actor 1974: Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three

Walter Matthau did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Lieutenant Zachary Garber in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three.

The Taking of Pelham One, Two Three is an  thrilling and entertaining film about four men who hijack a subway train threatening to kill a hostage a minute if 1,000,000 dollars is not delivered in an hour.

One of the many aspects of The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three that makes it as great of a thriller as it is, and it is ample amount of humor it brings to the entire proceedings. Someone who helps in this throughout is Walter Matthau as transit policeman Garber who ends up being the one trying to negotiate for with head hostage taker Mr. Blue (Robert Shaw) who is quite firm about his timeline. Garber's a very unique hero for the film who spends much of the time behind a microphone until close to the end of the film.

Garber's role of trying to figure out the criminal's escape plan while trying to keep all of the hostages alive is technically speaking relatively simple. Matthau though never makes Garber any less than he should be though, and is always good in bringing to life any moment in terms of the severity of the situation. He also stands as frankly just a likable character to follow along through the proceedings through Matthau rather unusual charm. Matthau uses this charm well though in the role, to brings us right into the story.

Matthau makes the most out of his role through his abilities as a natural comedian though. Matthau though finds the right tone throughout his performance. He knows exactly how to combine humor in his role equally well with his more dramatic moments. He is able to find the precise tone for the entirety of his performance. He aids well in bringing a lot of lighter moments to keep the film funny the whole way through. Matthau never lays on too thick or too think, and gives delightful spin on what could have been a far less memorable role.

Matthau is just hilarious throughout through the smallest quick gestures. He has excellent comedic timing in the role with his quick sharp asides throughout the process of the negotiation. His moments with Robert Shaw are particular highlights in the film. Robert Shaw is absolutely cold as ice in his portrayal of Blue's negotiation, and Matthau creates an very enjoyable dynamic by being the lighter sides to things as Garber cracks jokes along the way. He is able to make every one of them really work well as both being funny, but as well still keeping the scenes properly dramatically compelling as well by not overdoing it.

It is actually quite amazing how well Matthau maneuvers through his role since he never runs short on being a believable man in this situation as well as always very amusing one as well. He simply never falters from one scene to next making through the film with ease. Matthau as well though does actually make Garber believable as a mind to match with Shaw's blue. He of course is never nearly as intense as Shaw in the role, but Matthau is good in showing that Garber is always taking a moment in his deciphering of their plan. Through these small moments of subtly Matthau is able to make Garber's success at the end of the film realistic.

Matthau was the perfect choice for this role of the film, since he is able to be so casual in the role while being entirely invested as well. This is just a great work by Matthau because really Garber could have sunk the film in the wrong hands, and really it would have been easy, very very easy, to allow Robert Shaw run away with the entire picture. Matthau though stands as a worthy opponent to Shaw throughout the film. He does not quite have the raw power of course as Shaw's work, but Matthau more than fulfills his particular role in the film. Matthau simply never fails to succeed in his unique role both being a hilarious and worthy protagonist for the film.

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Alternate Best Actor 1974

And the Nominees Were Not:

Peter Falk in A Woman Under The Influence

Charles Bronson in Death Wish

Gene Hackman in The Conversation

Walter Matthau in The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three

Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein

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Best Supporting Actor 1966: Results

5. Mako in The Sand Pebbles- Mako gives a good realistic performance. His role is limited, and his character is frankly cut off just when he is becoming interesting.

4. James Mason in Georgy Girl- Mason although has a thankless role in many ways gives a charming, and dryly comic performance, that manages to turn his character into an actual man and not just a creep as he easily could have been.

3. Robert Shaw in A Man For All Seasons- If I was giving the award to my favorite actor Shaw would take this, with close competition from Mason. Nevertheless Shaw gives a strong performance in only two scenes realizing Henry VIII's distinct personality marvelously.

2. George Segal in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?- Segal has an extremely thankless role especially compared to the flashiness of the performances around him, but Segal stays true to his part and creates an effective realistic portrait of a man in the strange situation of the film.

1. Walter Matthau in The Fortune Cookie- Walter Matthau stands on top for this with his consistently hilarious performance. Matthau never wastes a moment as his shyster lawyer deriving comedy from every facet of his character and makes the film.

Deserving Performances:
Richard Attenborough in The Sand Pebbles
Richard Crenna in The Sand Pebbles
Lee Van Cleef in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
John Hurt in A Man for All Seasons

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Best Supporting Actor 1966: Walter Matthau in The Fortune Cookie

Walter Matthau won his Oscar from his first nomination for portraying William 'Whiplash Willie' Gingrinch in The Fortune Cookie.

The Fortune Cookie tells about a football cameraman Harry Hinkle (Jack Lemmon) who is tackled on the field, and reluctantly agrees to fake severe injury to make money from a liability suit started by his shyster lawyer brother in law. 

I do not want to be misunderstood from my first two reviews of Walter Matthau's lead performances that were nominated. One which I really did not care for and the other I thought was only okay. I like Walter Matthau, but he strangely was only nominated in the lead when he played a character much much older than himself for whatever reason, and I am not crazy about Matthau old man mannerisms which strangely drove both of those performances. Walter Matthau though here portrays a character that is suppose to be basically his actual age, and there are no unneeded mannerisms to be seen.

Matthau portrays the brother in law shyster lawyer who pushes hard for the lawsuit. Walter Matthau has sometimes been argued as a lead in this film, and there certainly can be a case for that as he is the driving force of the film, and there are plenty of scenes where he is the central character. I do not mind this placement though as there is another identifiable lead in Jack Lemmon, and there are certainly many scenes where Matthau does not appear. He could really be placed in either category and I really would not mind. I really do not mind though because part of the reason Matthau even stands out the most in scenes where he is not even the focus is because just how good he is as Whiplash Willie.

Matthau is another Oscar winning performance that disputes the idea that the academy never rewards comedic performance, or at least never rewards straightly comedic performances. As with the likes of Peter Ustinov's second win, and Kevin Kline's win, Matthau is another winner who never stops going for laughs with his performance.  Matthau absolutely makes the film with his performances as the lawyer who comes up with the trumped up lawsuit to make himself rich. Matthau never tries for a moment to show that old Willie is anything more than a shyster, he wants to make a buck and that is all there is to right down the line.

Matthau simply is hilarious in the role from beginning to end. From his first scene Matthau is comedic gold as the rather amoral lawyer. Much of the humor that comes from his performance are some of his small reactions especially his brilliant look he makes after hearing that Lemmon's character had a previous injury that he could use for his own purposes in a new lawsuit. Matthau has a perfect devilish smile here as Willie that shows Willie's way of finding someway to benefit and exploit just about anything that comes his way anyway that he can. Even though Willie is completely amoral Matthau can't help but make Willie likable, there is just something absolutely endearing about Matthau's portrayal.

Matthau has a constant energy in the role that makes him the best part of every scene, even when has only a couple of lines Matthau still steals the scene, that is simply how enjoyable he is as Willie. Every moment Matthau is an enthusiastic presence and coming out with a terrific line, or reaction every chance he gets. Matthau is hilarious in his whole realization of every part of Willie's plan in every advance and set back Matthau never stops being funny in showing every trick that Willie has up his sleeve. What I like about Matthau's performance is that he always shows that Willie is the smartest man always in the room, even if he uses his intelligence so poorly.

I must say actually that I don't know if Matthau are a great pair actually since in both this and the Odd Couple Matthau absolutely steals the show, not that Lemmon is bad he is good as well actually, but Matthau definitely is the one that you remember from their scenes together. I suppose it really is not Lemmon's fault so much here because Matthau absolutely controls their scenes together, and I suppose one could attest it to Matthau just being absolutely on in his performance here. Matthau never has a wasted scene, or moment in his performance every scene he brings the humor he needs to in the role. As I watched the film I only wanted more of Matthau as Willie he just that entertaining in the role. It is a great performance that always succeeds.

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Best Supporting Actor 1966

And the Nominees Were:

Robert Shaw in A Man For All Seasons

James Mason in Georgy Girl

Walter Matthau in The Fortune Cookie

George Segal in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Mako in The Sand Pebbles

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