Did They Get it Right? – Best Actor – Oscars 1933

Here are the three nominees: (Winner in Bold)

Leslie Howard (Berkeley Square)

Charles Laughton (The Private Life of Henry VIII)
Paul Muni (I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang)

Biggest Snub:

Warner Baxter – 42nd Street

My Overall Thoughts:

This is another year with just 3 nominees. the two whose performances Ive seen are both superb and I have yet to see Howard’s performance here, so its hard to say whether he deserves to be in the company of the two other amazing performances nominated this year.

My Rankings:

Acting Performances

3. Leslie Howard (Not Yet Seen)
2. Charles Laughton
1. Paul Muni

Movies

3. Berkeley Square (Not Yet Seen)
2. The Private Life of Henry VIII – Laughton is what makes this movie worth watching. He does a spectacular job as the King and he gives such a powerful performance and was definitely deserving of winning Best Actor for this role. The story itself seems quite tame for the biopics that now are made because the censors wouldn’t let so much through and this was a story which really needs to be able to defy the censors.
1. I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang – Amazing film that was one of the first social commentary films that was able to bring change just by disclosing the horrors of the chain gang penal system. Muni is amazing in this film and despite being made in 1932, this film is done so well.

Do I agree with the Oscar winner? – Yes and No!  Laughton is superb in the role of Henry VII, but Muni is also superb this year, so either would have been a fitting winner

Let me know what you think about these films and my rankings!