My favorite category offering up five nominations that I haven't ever seen before. That's always exciting because it means I can possibly find a hidden gem here. Some interesting names and films, so let's dive into it.
1971 Best Supporting Actor
Ben Johnson - The Last Picture Show
This was one that I was always curious about because I didn't recognize the name and he's a winner in a film with a lot of recognizable names and a film that's considered a classic. And honestly when I started watching, I had to ask who exactly is Sam the Lion, which is Johnson's character. He owns a couple local places like the movie theater, billiards hall, and diner. He is this noble figure in the small town who always seems to do what's right. Johnson plays the character with lots of solemn looks and a quietness that can make it hard to remember he's the Oscar winner in the film. He's got a very natural, unassuming style and it makes sense when you find out Johnson was mostly a stuntman and world champion cowboy before acting. He has that quietly strong persona that works well for Sam the Lion and makes him wholly believable. It's a similar story and performance as seen from Richard Farnsworth in Comes a Horseman and maybe that's part of the reason I enjoy it. Johnson has this monologue in the film where he remembers old times while fishing at a lake that is the highlight of the performance and is his Oscar moment. It's one of those scenes that you can watch over and over because the acting is so real and you forget there's a script and not just Johnson talking about his own life. It's great stuff and cements a very good performance. This might easily be overlooked in the film and in the Oscar winners pantheon but Johnson is worth remembering and taking a look at again.
Jeff Bridges - The Last Picture Show
This is Bridges' first ever nomination and it's also a little sad because I don't get to further explore his history and find some new awesome performances from him. This is a young, baby faced Bridges who portrays a high school kid who is pretty popular and likable and dating the hottest girl in their small West Texas town. This is Bridges starting out and you can see those beginnings and traces of what will make him a great actor of his generation. He's charming and fun to watch and has so much energy in his performance that it's almost contagious. He also sticks out a bit in the film because a lot of the other characters are so depressing to watch. He goes through all the small town high school ups and downs where the hot girl dumps him, he fights, he has fun moments with his friends, and then has to come to grips with reality and move on from the town and join the Army. It's a great introduction to someone who will become a great actor. It might not be the winner this year but it shows you what will be possible in the future. It's a sympathetic performance in a great film and one you should check out to see where it all began.
Leonard Frey - Fiddler on the Roof
It still amazes me that Fiddler on the Roof was such a big hit in 71. A musical about poor Jewish farmers captured the zeitgeist of the country at the time and did well at the box office. It got a lot of awards love and I feel like Frey got swept up in all that love and landed himself a nomination. I can't say that he particularly stands out other than he feels like the most natural actor in the film. He was in the original London stage production, but his Motel the tailor comes off as being a very genuine character. It doesn't have the sheen of theatricality that most of the other performances do, which to me is a good thing. I think he really roots the film to the ground and keeps it from being such a fantastical musical. But I also wouldn't say he really wows or stands out other than his different acting style. He is perfectly fine in the role and I can't begrudge the nomination. It seems natural that he would get the nod, since his only real competition was the guy who was a university student and marries the middle daughter. His Motel character is someone we can kinda latch onto and root for, as we want him to marry Teyve's oldest daughter, no matter how meek and soft he comes off as. It's a fine performance and one that I'm glad to have seen even if it doesn't get me that excited to talk about.
Richard Jaeckel - Sometimes a Great Notion
I love when this project introduces me to a film that I never knew existed and it turns out to be really enjoyable. And the funny thing is, this is a Paul Newman directed and starring film with Henry Fonda, so you'd think this would be one I'd heard of, but nope. And I bet the same can be said for most everyone else reading this. Weird that this has become completely unknown. The story is based on a book by the guy (Ken Kesey) who wrote the book for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and tells the story of a logging family in Oregon who continue to work while the union loggers are on strike. It's a good film based off an epic book, so the film could be a little longer to explore in depth the family issues and the broader logging problems. But it works well for me and I'd recommend giving it a watch easily. Now, about Richard Jaeckel's performance. There is nothing in the beginning two-thirds of the film that is remotely nomination worthy. Jaeckel is the nephew of Fonda and they all live together in one house. Jaeckel is this good natured, always smiling and upbeat guy with a wife and a couple young kids. He mostly stays around the periphery speaking up to provide a positive voice since Fonda and Newman are grumpy and sarcastic. Nothing special until Jaeckel's final scene which is where he earns his Oscar nomination. Spoiler if you don't want to know what happens but there is an accident while out cutting trees next to a river bank and a tree falls and pins him down in the water. His head is above the water but the river is rising and the tree rolls on him. The scene initially plays with Jaeckel being his usual jovial and upbeat self telling Newman not to worry and cracking jokes. But there is this moment of sheer panic and terror that crosses his face the first time the log rolls on him and you forget you're watching a movie. The tension and increasing horror of the scene is tremendously played out by Jaeckel and Newman. You really feel for the two men being in an impossible situation of almost certain eventual death. It's a heartbreaking scene made more impactful because of Jaeckel's acting. Definitely worth the nomination for that scene alone and really that's all Jaeckel really gets to do in the film so it works out well for him.
Roy Scheider - The French Connection
Roy Scheider is an interesting actor. Growing up, I only ever knew him as the Sheriff from Jaws and had no idea he was a respected actor who was nominated for two Oscars and in a bunch of popular films. This project has allowed me to see him in a few of those films and see that he is not simply a one note actor. He has range and can play all kinds of characters. He really surprised me in All That Jazz, which cemented him to me as an actor's actor. He is tremendous in that film. I was interested to see what he brought to this nomination where all I knew was that he played a NYC cop. The film doesn't waste any time or effort on getting to know the characters. It's very matter of fact, so all we see of Scheider is when he's doing his job as a narcotics cop and partner to Gene Hackman. Scheider is perfectly supporting. I say that in a good way because Scheider does what you want from a character like his and he does it in a serious and gung ho manner. He and Hackman have a good chemistry that is believable but not delved into very much. He kinda reels in Hackman at times and that's all you can really ask for from his character. It also shows that Scheider is better than his role. He was destined to become more than just a bit player and his acting shines through a meager role. Not much to work with and a decent little performance and I feel like Scheider being in this film and Klute this year helps get him the nomination here.
Another strong year. There isn't a bad performance in the bunch. Frey is last but isn't bad by any means. He does well with what he's given and even adds a different style to the musical which I appreciate. Next up you can go either Scheider or Brdiges, it doesn't really matter. Both are serviceable to the story and are good but you know they can and will deliver better work in the future. But both are still indelible to their films. Jaeckel is the big surprise. I didn't know the film or him at all and here he is in second. He gets it solely because of his ending scene which is hauntingly effective and so damn good. And speaking of one scene being amazing, Johnson gets the win in part because of his monologue which goes to show that supporting performances can be won off just a single scene for me. All of these men were good and I'm always glad when that happens. Hopefully I can end the 70s on a similar high note.
Oscar Winner: Ben Johnson - The Last Picture Show
My Winner: Ben Johnson - The Last Picture Show
Richard Jaeckel
Jeff Bridges
Roy Scheider
Leonard Frey
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