The Smackdown Returns: Which Years Should We Cover?
Last year's Supporting Actress Smackdown season was way too short with only two episodes so we're starting much earlier this year and aiming for at least 5 or 6 from spring to summer.
Friday February 17th - Best Supporting Actress 2016
Nominees TBA. Since the smackdown is normally a retrospective we will probably approach this 'in-the-moment' event differently but we're still brainstorming.
Friday March 31st - Best Supporting Actress 1963
We've been promising this year forever so we are going to force ourselves through it which should be easier than its been since its only three films! The nominees: Margaret Rutherford in The VIPs, Lilia Skalia in Lilies of the Field and three of Albert Finney's co-stars in Tom Jones: Diane Cilento, Joyce Redman, and '60s Oscar fixture Dame Edith Evans
But what shall we do for April through August (finale)? You get four choices come after the jump...
PLEASE CHOOSE ONE FROM EACH GROUP IN THE COMMENTS...
NOTE: We won't necessarily be doing the ones with the most votes (sometimes issues of scheduling or unavailability of films or preferences of guest panelist come into play) but this will at least help us decide. These are the years that haven't yet been done.
Group 1
GROUP 2
GROUP 3
GROUP 4
Reader Comments (103)
1944
1970
1985
1998
'47
'60
'86
'05
Please please do 2001 - I'm dying to see this year's smackdown as it was quite a year for supporting actress turns bar the dullest winner (as often is the case) with an even worst acceptance speech
I remember that in a previous discussion someone said that 1985 had very few voters back in StinkyLulu.
1944
1965
1985
2002
1937 Brady, Leeds, Shirley, Trevor, May Whitty OR 1947 Barrymore, Grahame, Holm, Main, Revere: 80th or 70th Anniversary edition.
1972 Berlin, Heckart, Page, Tyrell, Winters: I shockingly never see any of those movies
1985 Avery, Huston, Madigan, Tilly, Winfrey: I like the actress. I like the movies. I don’t like the performances. So, time for a revisit.
2002 Bates, Moore, Latifah, Streep, Zeta-Jones: Because ALL are amazing, and because that lineup could actually have Pfeiffer (White Oleander), Richardson (Spider), Collette (The Hours), Morton (Minority Report) or Watson (Red Dragon) and still be amazing!
44
70
85
02
1944, 1957, 1987, 1998
So excited for the return of the Smackdown!
My picks:
1944
1970
1981
2002
1937,1951,1986,1998
1947
1972
1985
1998
1944, 1957, 1987, 2002
I would love to do 1970, but I don't think The Landlord is readily available. I've wanted to see it for years.
Yay!! 1944, 1957, 1985, 1998
1944
1972
1991
1997
1938, 1972, 1987, 2004
1938
1970
1985!!!
1997
1944,1970,1991,1997
1944, 1972, 1981, 1997
1943. My winner: Katina Paxinou
1951. My winner: Thelma Ritter
1991. My winner: Juliette Lewis
1998. My winner: Lynn Redgrave
1943, 1965, 1981, 1997
Because of the interesting mix of films we'd be forcing your to watch:
44, 60, 91, 02
1946; 1957; 1987; 2004
Thank you!
1944--Jennifer Jones' extraordinary performance. <mic drop>
1944: Because Gaslight was fun to watch, and Dragon Seed has Hepburn in Yellowface, so that'll be interestingly anger-inducing
1957: Because Umeki became the first Asian to win, and I still don't understand why
1986: For Hannah and Her Sisters and Room with a View
1997: Because Boogie Nights, Titanic, LA Confidential, and Good Will Hunting are great movies with great performances.
@ Brookesboy- I told you we would get this chance to rate Jennifer Jones!
My picks- 1944, 1960, 1985, 2004
1960, 1994, 1997, 2005
Love that you're doing 2016.
1947, 1970, 1985, 2002
Can we vote against years? ;-)
PAUL -- HAHA. way to make it complicated. but now i'm curious what you would vote against. I'm surprised and delighted that 1944 is so enormously requested. so we'll definitely do that one as it has almost twice as many votes as anything else (provided we can find the movies)
also i cant believe nobody has commented on my rising way above the call of duty to have Dame Margaret Rutherford and Dame Viola Davis knitting together in the image.
1938, 1962, 1994 and 2002.
1947
1951
1991
2005
NAT - it turns out the only year I would campaign and vote against is 1994, for reasons that are obvious to anyone who closely follows my comments here at the blog (possibly one person). ;-)
1947 cuz of Gloria Graham (and a fantastic podcast ep of You Must Remember This) and Gentlemen's Agreement (an important film)
1960 cuz I've seen all the films
1985 cuz of Anjelica Huston (duh!) and The Color Purple (why no love with Oscar voters?)
2005 cuz I love all of the performances that year
Nathaniel I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't even notice the knitting! I was so excited for the return of the Smackdown and that we'd finally get to 1963.
But know that you've drawn my attention to it...very impressive! Even the yarn is the same color and they seem to be at about the same place in whatever it is they are making!!
Bravo!
And knowing that one of the years will be 1944 gives a nice heads up to get started on revisiting those films, though honestly the idea of ever clapping eyes on Dragon Seed again-despite my fervent appreciation for Aline MacMahon's talent-is not appealing.
SMACKDOWN!!!!
1937
1972, becasse "The Poseidon Adventure"! Best Disaster Flick EVA!!!
1981
1997, so that someone can explain what exactly Kim Basinger did in that performance to deserve an Oscar, and even be nominated instead of her male co-stars.
tom, and now we get to watch Since You Went Away again! That iconic scene in the train station??? I'm getting vlerklempt!
1946, 1970, 1986, 2001
2005
1987
1970
1946
Tough choice.
I think Group 1. 1944
Group 2. 1957 (it's a forgotten year)
Group 3. 1985
Group 4. 1997
1938
1951
1994
2005
1946, 1970, 1986, 2004
Nathaniel- While they are knitting maybe Dame Margaret shared her pep pills with Viola? Not that she needs them.
Everyone- On youtube free (full movie) for 1944 is Since You Went Away- good quality, Gaslight- soso quality, None But Lonely Heart- bad quality, it's all blow up. Mrs Parkington is on youtube but you have to pay for it. Dragon Seed isn't.
1944
1965
1985
1998
1944, 1957, 1991, 1997
1985 please please!
Also 1942, 1972, 2001
1944
1957
1994
2005
1944 - 1960 - 1985 - 1998
1944, 1957, 1994, 1997 are my picks from each group.