The Smackdowns Are Coming!
Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at 1:49PM You thought we'd forgotten the Smackdowns. We have not! Here's what's coming this season. You know you want to join in the movie merriment! We're giving you a headstart so you can get to watching these 13 movies for the first time (or revisiting them) over your summer vacations. More details to follow as we get closer to the actual Smackdowns.
Sunday July 31st
The Best Supporting Actresses of 1977
The Oscar went to the legendary but controversial Vanessa Redgrave for Julia and while she might be impossible to beat, the movies are all juicy in this category. Tuesday Weld co-stars in the provocative Looking for Mr Goodbar, Melinda Dillon was part of the fine cast of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Quinn Cumming charmed voters in The Goodbye Girl, and Leslie Browne, a dancer, debuted in Oscar's all time biggest loser The Turning Point (nominated for 11 Oscars but it lost every category!).
Sunday August 28th
The Best Supporting Actresses of 1984
Dame Peggy Ashcroft won the Oscar for her penultimate feature film role in A Passage to India. But her category was filled with powerhouse actresses: There was Glenn Close winning her third consecutive nomination for The Natural, Lindsay Crouse in the Best Picture nominee Places in the Heart, and Christine Lahti the scene stealer of Jonathan Demme's Swing Shift. The surprise nominee was actor's actor and Oscar darling Geraldine Page, nominated for a tiny role in The Pope of Greenwich Village.
Thursday September 30th
The Best Supporting Actresses of 1963
Only three films to watch for this one since September is always too busy for words: Margaret Rutherford won the Oscar for The VIPs, a Liz & Dick show, Lilia Skalia was also popular in nun mode for Lilies of the Field but it was the Best Picture winning sex comedy Tom Jones that was the informal star of this category with three of Albert Finney's co-stars nominated (the all time record in this category): Diane Cilento, Joyce Redman, and '60s Oscar fixture Dame Edith Evans (nominated shortly thereafter for both The Chalk Garden and The Whisperers)
What other titles from 1977, 1984. and 1963 would you like us to revisit for extra flavor and context?
Reader Comments (31)
Has someone uploaded Looking for Mr Goodbar? It is not in circulation digitally.
Had Vanessa held back on her more controversial remarks two controversial Oscar wins may not have happened subsequently (Field's 2nd and Tomei's 1st).
The Turning Point is tied with The Color Purple for 11 nominations and 0 wins.
As far as 1984, I have always loved to hear discussion of the three women's farming movies - PLACES IN THE HEART, COUNTRY, and THE RIVER. So peculiar that three surface-level similar films would not only come out in the same year but garner each of its female protagonists an Oscar nomination. I'm in the minority in believing that COUNTRY is the best of the three and Jessica Lange's performance easily the best. I actually consider COUNTRY one of the great films of the 80s and highly underrated if not totally forgotten.
I'm in the minority in believing that COUNTRY is the best of the three and Jessica Lange's performance easily the best.
No you're not. No one likes Field's second win. Had she not won she might have garnered more nominations. She had to beg and have a whole media narrative to earn just a supporting nomination almost four decades later.
A weird fact about 1963's Best Supporting Actress race is that not only was it the only time that 3 actresses from the same film were nominated, but a 4th - Joan Greenwood - was the only actress from Tom Jones to get a supporting nomination from the Golden Globes. In a field of 8, yet, which included Patricia Neal - the Best Lead Actress Oscar winner - something that wouldn't happen until Kate Winslet for The Reader. In any case, the winner was the same, Margaret Rutherford for The VIPs. Margaret Rutherford is good, she's one of my favorite all-time actresses, but Maggie Smith is the VIP MVP in this case.
This is heaven to my ears. My favorite series on the internet. I'll start rearranging my queue.
As for 1984's Best Actress race, none of the three farm gals, or Vanessa Redgrave, either, can compare with Judy Davis's transcendent work in A Passage to India. One of the great performances of the 80s, or of all time, for that matter. The biggest snub was Mia Farrow's hilarious turn in Broadway Danny Rose. Where the hell did that come from?!?
1977 is such a fascinating year for Supporting Actress. I am very familiar with most of the performances, having seen them all at least three times. But I am embarrassed to admit I've never seen Close Encounters all the way through, so that's next on my list.
Browne gets a bad rap for Turning Point, but she's got some really great moments. Sadly, they're accompanied by some very bad ones--the scene with Anne Bancroft at Emma's house. Oy vey.
Looking for Mr. Goodbar is on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC-4SX9Pa1w
this is seriously exciting news... the Smackdowns are always a joy
YAY to the return of the Smackdowns!!
I already have '63 all wrapped up. I own the V.I.P.S. and watch it from time to time, Margaret Rutherford is irresistible in it though I agree with Ken S. that Maggie Smith gives the best supporting performance in the film and I had rewatched Lilies of the Field in prep before that Smackdown got pushed back. But I had a hell of a time finding Tom Jones so I was glad it was delayed. Happily TCM ran the film about a month ago and I caught it then and critiqued the three ladies in hopes that the Smackdown would return soon.
I'm going to get right on the other two contests though since it's been many years since I watched any of those films.
Christine Lahti is SO good in Swing Shift. I know I should watch A Passage to India to complete the quintet, but that sure was a tough read. And I don't think the subject will be any easier to watch. I don't doubt it is good, but I can't imagine it being enjoyable.
I love Page in The Pope Of Greenwich Village.
Of the 3 farm ladies I agree with Field's win but Sissy in The River was my personal fave but not a winner I would have given Best Actress to Kathleen Turner in Romancing The Stone she is a wonderful vivacious leading lady in it,has great chemistry with Douglas who alays has chemistry with femailes but here it at it's peak,what I like is that Turner needs and doesn't need a man to rescue her,great work from a missed Actress.
What a great birthday gift! I happily accept the '77 Smackdown! ^_^
Vanessa Redgrave in Julia is arguably the best supporting turn ever. Thank god indeed for her "controversial" remark, but it's a shame that it hinders her from winning more.
A Passage to India is such a rare beast. People who expect some Out of Africa vibe will totally be surprised to see this courtroom drama.
I cannot believe I haven't watched Tom Jones, especially for the hot young Albert Finney. Now HE deserves an honorary Oscar.
Oh yay! I thought maybe it was cancelled this year.
There are a wealth of excellent movies released in 1977, including The Last Wave, The Late Show and 3 Women. For 1984, I'd be interested in The Cotton Club (which I've never seen but want to see) and Blood Simple (which I need to revisit). Of course, both years have great Best Picture winners.
@Craver, Yes, Albert Finney deserves an honorary Oscar. Speaking of 1984, for me, he was neck and neck with Abraham for Best Actor. The mysteriously beautiful Under the Volcano should be revisited.
@cash, thanks for the shoutout to Christine Lahti. I always thought she deserved a bigger movie career. What incredible talent.
Re 1984, all the thee farm ladies are terrific, but Jessica Lange deserves the blue ribbon.
I'm overjoyed that the Smackdown is back!
1984 and 1963 are two years I don't know too much about so I am excited to see these films. It sounds like there are some strong performances from films that aren't discussed much anymore, so that is exciting.
The 1977 race is a very odd and interesting one and I can't wait to revisit all of those performances. I haven't seen Looking for Mr. Goodbar yet, but am excited to. While of course I would love any opportunity to revisit my favorite movie of all time, "Annie Hall," I feel like that is a classic that is routinely talked about. I'd love to see a smackdown between "Star Wars" vs. "Close Encounters" since I feel they are films people get very heated and passionate about. The year also includes my favorite Roger Moore Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me," which I would like to revisit. Also, with the "Roots" remake upon us now, it could be interesting to hypothesize if "Roots" were a movie in 1977, how many Oscars would it be nominated for/win and who would it kick out of various races.
Yay, my favorite seriescoming back! Here are some of my suggestions for the best supporting actress field of each year:
1984:
Lesley Ann Warren - Choose Me
Madeline Kahn - City Heat
Jessica Walter - The Flamingo Kid
Maria Conchita Alonso - Moscow on the Hudson
Jacqueline Bisset - Under the Volcano
Tuesday Weld - Once Upon a Time in America
Maureen Stapleton - Johnny Dangerously
1977:
Joan Blondell - Opening Night
Annette Crosbie - The Slipper and the Rose
Lilia Skala - Roseland
Teresa Right - Roseland
Joan Plowright - Equus
Cloris Leachman - High Anxiety
Janice Rule - Three Women
Elaine Stritch - Providence
1963:
Wendy Hiller - Toys in the Attic
Cicely Courtniedge - The L-Shaped Room
Cara Williams - The Man from the Diners' Club
Roberta Sherwood - The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Arlene Francis - The Thrill of It All
Maureen Stapleton - Bye Bye Birdie
Julie Christie - Billy Liar
Glynnis Johns - Papa's Delicate Condition
1963: not really
1977: Joan Blondell is aces in Opening Night, but every single actor in that movie, uncluding Cassavetes himself, is brilliant. Redgrave would still be my gold (nobody is going to beat her, forget it), but Blondell would be a very deserving silver medal. Not to mention that this should be Gena's Oscar number 2 (out of the 5 Oscars she should have won).
1984: I ADORE Farrow in Broadway Danny Rose and it's a gray area, she could go supporting. It's a hell of a performance.
@ cash- I also read the book in high school and it was a chore to get through. The movie is surprisingly breezy though. It flowed pretty well. And Dame Ashcroft is the best part and she has lots of scenes, so that also helped.
I'd pick James Ivory's"Roseland", set in and around the famous New York ballroom as the 1977 movie for actressing addicts to visit or revisit. The wonderful Joan Copeland (Arthur Miller's real-life sister) is beyond fantastic in it. With great contributions from Helen Gallagher and Christopher Walken(in the role that should have won him the supporting actor Oscar that year).
Love the love for Joan Wilder.
Imagine The Turner in the 80s with the Internet. She would have been huge.
Peggy Sue -- Yeah, Turner definitely deserved the Oscar in 1984. So weird that she wasn't nominated in such a massive year for her and with lots of "samey" best actresses.
Upon first viewing Robert Altman's 3 Women (1977), I felt that Sissy Spacek should have won supporting actress, or at least have been nominated. Instead we get Leslie Browne? Spacek did, after all, win the New York Film Critics Circle that year.
Yes but that's just an early indicator of category fraud on Sissy's part.
Yes Yes YES! I literally just rewatched Julia yesterday and can confirm that Vanessa Redgrave is the greatest supporting actress winner in the category's history. Perfection. So excited for all of these!
I guess I need to rewatch Julia, I didn't know Vanessa Redgrave was considered one of the best winners in that category.
Diane Keaton had quite the year in 1977! Thanks for the link on Goodbar, Clarence. It's pretty good quality too.
Ryan -- yeah, she's also in my top five winners ever in the category
1984
Melanie Griffith, Body Double
Nastassja Kinski, Paris, Texas
Okay, I'm going to get blasted here, but I don't see what all the hoopla was/is surrounding Redgrave's performance – same with Dench in Shakespeare in Love. I just don't get it. I thought Fonda was great. I really felt her terror. But Redgrave? Okay, begin the blasting!