Greetings, everyone,
Here is my nominee for the greatest film performance of all time:
**Frank Faylen ** in *The Lost Weekend * (1945)
Frank Faylen was one of Hollywood’s most versatile and dependable character actors. Prolific, too. In 1939 (Hollywood’s “Platinum Year”), he appeared in 18 films, then beat that in 1943 with 24 films.
He is best known for his role as Herbert T. Gillis, the father of the title character on the TV show “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” (1959-1963).
But in 1945 he burned up the screen in *The Lost Weekend * as “Bim” Nolan, a sadistic male nurse who can barely disguise his contempt for the patients in a drunk tank. In a mesmerizing (and disturbing) performance he cruelly taunts Ray Milland’s character for his alcoholism. He also pulls off what is arguably the most difficult acting trick of all - he subtly hints at Bim’s homosexuality without ever being “swishy.”
On a minute-per-minute basis, this is easily the greatest film performance ever.
I also want to call attention to two other great performances:
**Isabell Jewell ** in *A Tale of Two Cities * (1935)
Isabell Jewell is best known for her role as Emmy Slattery in *Gone With The Wind * (1939).
In *A Tale of Two Cities * she plays an unfortunate seamstress who accompanies Sidney Carton (Ronald Colman) to the guillotine. Her character is a sweet, simple soul, innocent of politics, who has no idea why she has been condemned. It is a beautiful, heartbreaking performance.
**George Sanders ** in *Samson and Delilah * (1949)
Born to play cynical cads, George Sanders won Best Supporting Actor for All About Eve (1950).
Sanders was also a notorious ham. So when he appeared as the Saran of Gaza in Samson and Delilah, directed by Cecile B. DeMille (not known for his subtle technique) one could be forgiven for expecting some real scenery-chewing. Instead, Sanders surprised everyone by delivering a beautifully understated performance. Although the Saran is the “villain” of the piece, Sanders makes him intelligent, sympathetic and utterly believable.
Who is your nominee? I love to watch truly great acting.
Respectfully,