Here are the five nominees: (Winner in Bold)
Biggest Snub:
Josef von Sternberg – The Last Command
My Overall Thoughts:
This is an interesting year where they give some great nominees as the very few field to choose from which shows the way of thinking of the voters in the first ever Oscar ceremony.
My Rankings:
Directing
3. Herbert Brenon – Not Yet Seen
2. Frank Borzage
1. King Vidor
Movies
3. Sorrell and Son – Not Yet Seen
2. 7th Heaven – Film about faith, perseverance and hope in the most desperate of situations that works despite being a silent film. Has some great themes that are thoroughly explored here.
1. The Crowd – Amazing film that on the surface seems to be quite simplistic yet is in reality quite complex. Vidor does a wonderful job telling this story in a way that it can be so relatable to just about anyone. Ironically, it’s still feels that way after over 90 years. This movie deals with the idea that people want to each find a way to be unique and stand out from everyone else, but the vast number of people that surround us make it even more difficult to spot the special-ness of each person if it isn’t highlighted some how. The story is told in a very realistic fashion which helps make it seem like these people and events actually occurred at some point. Vidor was deservingly nominated for Best Director (Drama) at the Oscars that year, but lost due to studio infighting since the film was viewed by some as being too bleak instead of upbeat. Can’t wait to see this again one day to catch all that I must have missed along the way.
Do I agree with the Oscar winner? – Not Really! As good a job the FB does with 7H, KV work on TC was so much more impactful and he should have walked away with Gold for that work.
Let me know what you think about these films and my rankings!
MovieRob 