Want to know the best Best Actress Oscar Winners? How about the worst Best Actress Oscar Winners? Curious about Best Actress Oscar Winners box office grosses or which Best Actress Oscar Winners picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Best Actress Oscar Winners got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which one got the worst reviews? Well you have come to the right place …. because we have all of that information.
Since 1927, there have been 90 Best Actress Oscar Winners. This page will rank all 90 Best Actress Oscar Winning movies from Best to Worst in five different sortable columns of information. If you use the sort and search buttons the massive table becomes very interactive.
Best Actress Oscar Winners Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In The Table Below
The really cool thing about ther table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Best Actress Oscar Winners by the winners
- Sort Best Actress Oscar Winners by actual domestic box office grosses
- Sort Best Actress Oscar Winners by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost
- Sort Best Actress Oscar® Winning Movies by critic reviews and audiences voting. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Best Actress Oscar Winning Movie received.
- Sort Best Actress Oscar Winning Movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR Movie Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score. The ceiling to earn points for box office is $200 million…once a movie passes that mark it stops earning points in that category.
R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | UMR Score | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
1 | Gone with the Wind (1939) AA Best Picture Win |
Vivien Leigh | 56.6 | 2,179.1 | 3,842.80 | 1 | 92 | 13 / 08 | 100.0 | |
2 | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) AA Best Picture Win |
Louise Fletcher | 109.0 | 573.1 | 858.60 | 3 | 90 | 09 / 05 | 100.0 | |
3 | The Silence of the Lambs (1991) AA Best Picture Win |
Jodie Foster | 130.7 | 334.8 | 698.40 | 4 | 91 | 07 / 05 | 99.9 | |
4 | Annie Hall (1977) AA Best Picture Win |
Diane Keaton | 48.9 | 236.4 | 236.40 | 11 | 92 | 05 / 04 | 99.9 | |
5 | It Happened One Night (1934) AA Best Picture Win |
Claudette Colbert | 5.2 | 243.9 | 402.40 | 3 | 90 | 05 / 05 | 99.9 | |
6 | Terms of Endearment (1983) AA Best Picture Win |
Shirley MacLaine | 108.4 | 371.0 | 371.00 | 2 | 83 | 11 / 05 | 99.9 | |
7 | Mrs. Miniver (1942) AA Best Picture Win |
Greer Garson | 15.3 | 569.1 | 942.90 | 2 | 81 | 12 / 06 | 99.9 | |
8 | Driving Miss Daisy (1989) AA Best Picture Win |
Jessica Tandy | 106.6 | 289.4 | 395.90 | 9 | 81 | 09 / 04 | 99.8 | |
9 | Million Dollar Baby (2004) AA Best Picture Win |
Hilary Swank | 100.5 | 174.4 | 376.30 | 24 | 90 | 07 / 04 | 99.8 | |
10 | Network (1976) AA Best Picture Nom |
Faye Dunaway | 42.2 | 213.5 | 213.50 | 13 | 91 | 10 / 04 | 99.7 | |
11 | Shakespeare in Love (1998) AA Best Picture Win |
Gwyneth Paltrow | 100.3 | 230.6 | 665.00 | 17 | 70 | 13 / 07 | 99.7 | |
12 | Cabaret (1972) AA Best Picture Nom |
Liza Minnelli | 61.4 | 389.1 | 389.10 | 5 | 85 | 10 / 08 | 99.7 | |
13 | Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) AA Best Picture Nom |
Elizabeth Taylor | 28.0 | 274.4 | 274.40 | 5 | 84 | 13 / 05 | 99.7 | |
14 | A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) AA Best Picture Nom |
Vivien Leigh | 13.7 | 295.7 | 295.70 | 4 | 85 | 12 / 04 | 99.6 | |
15 | The Lion in Winter (1968) AA Best Picture Nom |
Katharine Hepburn | 28.6 | 235.2 | 235.20 | 10 | 88 | 07 / 03 | 99.6 | |
16 | Mary Poppins (1964) AA Best Picture Nom |
Julie Andrews | 75.6 | 866.7 | 1,816.90 | 1 | 81 | 13 / 05 | 99.5 | |
17 | The Great Ziegfeld (1936) AA Best Picture Win |
Luise Rainer | 10.3 | 444.0 | 671.70 | 2 | 64 | 07 / 03 | 99.5 | |
19 | La La Land (2016) AA Best Picture Nom |
Emma Stone | 151.1 | 188.3 | 553.20 | 19 | 82 | 14 / 06 | 99.5 | |
18 | Moonstruck (1987) AA Best Picture Nom |
Cher | 80.6 | 222.3 | 222.30 | 5 | 84 | 06 / 03 | 99.4 | |
20 | Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) AA Best Picture Win |
Janet Gaynor | 3.5 | 119.5 | 119.50 | 9 | 89 | 04 / 03 | 99.3 | |
20 | On Golden Pond (1981) AA Best Picture Nom |
Katharine Hepburn | 112.8 | 437.3 | 437.30 | 2 | 79 | 10 / 03 | 99.3 | |
21 | The Good Earth (1937) AA Best Picture Nom |
Luise Rainer | 8.0 | 332.0 | 589.90 | 5 | 85 | 05 / 02 | 99.3 | |
22 | Gaslight (1944) AA Best Picture Nom |
Ingrid Bergman | 7.3 | 245.9 | 501.30 | 29 | 83 | 07 / 02 | 99.3 | |
24 | Funny Girl (1968) AA Best Picture Nom |
Barbra Streisand | 52.4 | 430.8 | 430.80 | 3 | 82 | 08 / 01 | 99.3 | |
25 | The Song of Bernadette (1943) AA Best Picture Nom |
Jennifer Jones | 13.4 | 482.5 | 482.50 | 4 | 77 | 12 / 04 | 99.3 | |
26 | Roman Holiday (1953) AA Best Picture Nom |
Audrey Hepburn | 9.1 | 163.3 | 163.30 | 22 | 89 | 10 / 03 | 99.2 | |
28 | Suspicion (1941) AA Best Picture Nom |
Joan Fontaine | 5.2 | 198.7 | 312.80 | 26 | 86 | 03 / 01 | 99.2 | |
27 | Mildred Pierce (1945) AA Best Picture Nom |
Joan Crawford | 9.7 | 306.8 | 500.50 | 16 | 82 | 06 / 01 | 99.1 | |
31 | The Heiress (1949) AA Best Picture Nom |
Olivia de Havilland | 6.4 | 160.2 | 160.20 | 32 | 89 | 08 / 04 | 99.1 | |
29 | Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) AA Best Picture Win |
Michelle Yeoh | 76.9 | 78.7 | 113.50 | 25 | 91 | 11 / 07 | 99.1 | |
32 | Silver Linings Playbook (2012) AA Best Picture Nom |
Jennifer Lawrence | 132.1 | 178.9 | 320.20 | 23 | 87 | 08 / 01 | 99.1 | |
30 | Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) AA Best Picture Nom |
Sissy Spacek | 81.5 | 337.8 | 337.80 | 6 | 80 | 07 / 01 | 99.1 | |
33 | Born Yesterday (1950) AA Best Picture Nom |
Judy Holliday | 11.8 | 264.0 | 264.00 | 5 | 81 | 05 / 01 | 99.0 | |
34 | The Rose Tattoo (1955) AA Best Picture Nom |
Anna Magnani | 12.0 | 248.8 | 248.80 | 21 | 75 | 08 / 03 | 99.0 | |
35 | Erin Brockovich (2000) AA Best Picture Nom |
Julia Roberts | 125.6 | 251.2 | 512.50 | 13 | 79 | 05 / 01 | 98.9 | |
36 | The Country Girl (1954) AA Best Picture Nom |
Grace Kelly | 18.3 | 428.5 | 428.50 | 6 | 77 | 07 / 02 | 98.9 | |
37 | Johnny Belinda (1948) | Jane Wyman | 11.2 | 302.5 | 302.50 | 2 | 80 | 12 / 01 | 98.8 | |
38 | Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) AA Best Picture Nom |
Katharine Hepburn | 52.5 | 467.7 | 467.70 | 4 | 71 | 10 / 02 | 98.7 | |
39 | Jezebel (1938) AA Best Picture Nom |
Bette Davis | 4.3 | 170.2 | 233.20 | 36 | 84 | 05 / 02 | 98.6 | |
40 | Walk the Line (2005) | Reese Witherspoon | 119.5 | 201.3 | 314.00 | 16 | 81 | 05 / 01 | 98.4 | |
41 | To Each His Own (1946) | Olivia de Havilland | 9.7 | 299.7 | 299.70 | 21 | 81 | 02 / 01 | 98.1 | |
42 | Anastasia (1956) | Ingrid Bergman | 14.3 | 280.0 | 280.00 | 13 | 79 | 02 / 01 | 97.8 | |
43 | Hud (1963) | Patricia Neal | 14.3 | 179.1 | 179.10 | 18 | 79 | 07 / 03 | 97.8 | |
45 | Kitty Foyle (1940) AA Best Picture Nom |
Ginger Rogers | 4.9 | 188.1 | 262.30 | 17 | 73 | 05 / 01 | 97.5 | |
44 | As Good as It Gets (1997) | Helen Hunt | 148.5 | 348.7 | 737.90 | 6 | 73 | 07 / 02 | 97.5 | |
47 | I Want to Live! (1958) | Susan Hayward | 9.1 | 164.3 | 164.30 | 18 | 83 | 06 / 01 | 96.9 | |
46 | The Farmer's Daughter (1947) | Loretta Young | 8.9 | 259.9 | 259.90 | 21 | 74 | 02 / 01 | 96.8 | |
48 | The Blind Side (2009) AA Best Picture Nom |
Sandra Bullock | 256.0 | 367.9 | 444.40 | 8 | 67 | 02 / 01 | 96.5 | |
49 | Black Swan (2010) | Natalie Portman | 106.6 | 145.6 | 449.50 | 25 | 87 | 05 / 01 | 96.2 | |
51 | Klute (1971) | Jane Fonda | 24.2 | 158.4 | 158.40 | 14 | 84 | 02 / 01 | 96.0 | |
50 | The Piano (1993) AA Best Picture Nom |
Holly Hunter | 40.2 | 104.6 | 104.70 | 37 | 88 | 08 / 03 | 96.0 | |
53 | Come Back, Little Sheba (1952) | Shirley Booth | 9.7 | 190.6 | 190.60 | 11 | 72 | 03 / 01 | 95.9 | |
52 | Coming Home (1978) AA Best Picture Nom |
Jane Fonda | 29.6 | 136.2 | 136.20 | 20 | 77 | 08 / 03 | 95.9 | |
54 | Misery (1990) | Kathy Bates | 61.3 | 156.2 | 156.20 | 19 | 84 | 01 / 01 | 95.6 | |
55 | Places in the Heart (1984) AA Best Picture Nom |
Sally Field | 34.9 | 112.0 | 112.00 | 25 | 84 | 07 / 02 | 95.1 | |
56 | A Touch of Class (1973) AA Best Picture Nom |
Glenda Jackson | 22.4 | 136.6 | 136.60 | 16 | 77 | 05 / 01 | 94.9 | |
57 | Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) | Ellen Burstyn | 23.9 | 138.0 | 138.00 | 25 | 84 | 03 / 01 | 94.7 | |
58 | Two Women (1960) | Sophia Loren | 8.6 | 133.9 | 133.90 | 35 | 85 | 01 / 01 | 94.2 | |
59 | Min and Bill (1930) | Marie Dressler | 3.8 | 202.8 | 291.90 | 11 | 64 | 01 / 01 | 94.1 | |
60 | Norma Rae (1979) AA Best Picture Nom |
Sally Field | 30.0 | 129.0 | 129.00 | 30 | 76 | 04 / 02 | 94.1 | |
61 | Howards End (1992) AA Best Picture Nom |
Emma Thompson | 26.1 | 67.9 | 67.90 | 48 | 88 | 09 / 03 | 93.3 | |
62 | Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) AA Best Picture Nom |
Frances McDormand | 54.5 | 65.5 | 189.30 | 52 | 90 | 07 / 02 | 93.0 | |
63 | The Miracle Worker (1962) | Anne Bancroft | 7.1 | 102.7 | 102.70 | 37 | 86 | 05 / 02 | 92.8 | |
64 | Dead Man Walking (1995) | Susan Sarandon | 43.7 | 108.3 | 108.30 | 39 | 86 | 04 / 01 | 92.8 | |
65 | The Divorcee (1930) AA Best Picture Nom |
Norma Shearer | 2.6 | 139.6 | 139.60 | 35 | 69 | 04 / 01 | 92.6 | |
64 | Fargo (1996) AA Best Picture Nom |
Frances McDormand | 24.6 | 60.0 | 147.80 | 66 | 91 | 07 / 02 | 92.5 | |
67 | The Hours (2002) AA Best Picture Nom |
Nicole Kidman | 41.7 | 77.5 | 202.30 | 57 | 83 | 09 / 01 | 91.8 | |
68 | The Queen (2006) | Helen Mirren | 56.4 | 92.5 | 202.10 | 57 | 87 | 06 / 01 | 91.8 | |
70 | Butterfield 8 (1960) | Elizabeth Taylor | 21.6 | 337.1 | 479.90 | 6 | 54 | 02 / 01 | 91.4 | |
71 | Sophie's Choice (1982) | Meryl Streep | 30.0 | 110.1 | 110.10 | 23 | 79 | 05 / 01 | 90.7 | |
73 | Darling (1965) AA Best Picture Nom |
Julie Christie | 9.9 | 104.5 | 104.50 | 25 | 71 | 05 / 03 | 90.5 | |
72 | Nomadland (2020) | Frances McDormand | 2.1 | 2.5 | 6.40 | 50 | 81 | 06 / 03 | 90.3 | |
74 | Children of a Lesser God (1986) AA Best Picture Nom |
Marlee Matlin | 31.9 | 92.6 | 92.60 | 32 | 76 | 05 / 01 | 89.9 | |
73 | Poor Things (2023) AA Best Picture Nom |
Emma Stone | 34.6 | 34.6 | 111.90 | 61 | 86 | 11 / 04 | 89.8 | |
75 | The Accused (1988) | Jodie Foster | 32.1 | 84.1 | 84.10 | 35 | 83 | 01 / 01 | 88.8 | |
76 | Room at the Top (1959) AA Best Picture Nom |
Simone Signoret | 2.7 | 48.8 | 48.80 | 89 | 83 | 06 / 02 | 88.6 | |
77 | The Three Faces of Eve (1957) | Joanne Woodward | 4.0 | 77.0 | 77.00 | 61 | 81 | 01 / 01 | 86.8 | |
78 | Room (2015) AA Best Picture Nom |
Brie Larson | 14.7 | 18.8 | 45.30 | 104 | 90 | 04 / 01 | 86.5 | |
79 | Women in Love (1969) | Glenda Jackson | 8.4 | 63.4 | 63.40 | 34 | 81 | 04 / 01 | 86.3 | |
80 | The Favourite (2018) AA Best Picture Nom |
Olivia Colman | 34.4 | 40.7 | 113.30 | 79 | 76 | 10 / 01 | 85.8 | |
81 | Monster (2003) | Charlize Theron | 34.5 | 61.6 | 107.90 | 81 | 79 | 01 / 01 | 83.9 | |
82 | Blue Jasmine (2013) | Cate Blanchett | 33.4 | 44.3 | 129.30 | 85 | 82 | 03 / 01 | 83.7 | |
83 | Monster's Ball (2001) | Halle Berry | 31.3 | 59.7 | 85.70 | 76 | 78 | 02 / 01 | 83.4 | |
84 | The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) | Maggie Smith | 5.7 | 43.4 | 43.40 | 45 | 82 | 02 / 01 | 83.1 | |
85 | Boys Don't Cry (1999) | Hilary Swank | 11.5 | 24.6 | 24.60 | 116 | 87 | 02 / 01 | 82.4 | |
86 | The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) | Helen Hayes | 1.9 | 98.8 | 98.80 | 55 | 61 | 01 / 01 | 80.4 | |
87 | Coquette (1929) | Mary Pickford | 4.5 | 137.8 | 137.80 | 15 | 47 | 01 / 01 | 79.2 | |
87 | The Trip to Bountiful (1985) | Geraldine Page | 7.5 | 22.8 | 22.80 | 102 | 82 | 02 / 01 | 79.1 | |
88 | Still Alice (2014) | Julianne Moore | 18.8 | 24.7 | 57.90 | 117 | 82 | 01 / 01 | 78.9 | |
89 | The Reader (2008) | Kate Winslet | 34.2 | 51.3 | 163.50 | 82 | 70 | 05 / 01 | 78.9 | |
91 | Dangerous (1935) | Bette Davis | 1.3 | 59.8 | 92.90 | 101 | 68 | 01 / 01 | 76.6 | |
92 | Morning Glory (1933) | Katharine Hepburn | 1.1 | 50.5 | 77.90 | 92 | 70 | 01 / 01 | 76.2 | |
93 | Judy (2019) | Renée Zellweger | 24.3 | 28.6 | 49.40 | 89 | 74 | 02 / 01 | 73.8 | |
94 | La Vie en Rose (2007) | Marion Cotillard | 10.3 | 16.1 | 135.20 | 138 | 75 | 03 / 02 | 72.9 | |
95 | The Iron Lady (2011) | Meryl Streep | 30.0 | 40.8 | 156.30 | 101 | 59 | 02 / 02 | 60.7 | |
96 | The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021) | Jessica Chastain | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.50 | 90 | 70 | 02 / 02 | 60.0 | |
97 | Blue Sky (1994) | Jessica Lange | 3.4 | 8.9 | 8.90 | 153 | 69 | 01 / 01 | 57.5 |
Academy Award® and Oscar® are the registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences.
Conspiracy Theory: The time…the 59th Academy Awards®. As is the custom the previous year’s Best Actor winner was the presenter of the Best Actress Award. In this case that meant William Hurt had the duty to announce the category. At the time Hurt was in a relationship Marlee Matlin. Hurt and Matlin had starred in Children Of A Lesser God together and had become an off screen couple. What if Sigourney Weaver’s name was really the winner and Hurt called the love of his life…Marlee Matlin? Only three people in the entire world would know the truth…..Hurt and the two accountants responsible for keeping the results secret. Would the two accountants really rush on to the stage during one of the most heart felt Oscar® acceptance speeches and take the Oscar® away from the hearing impaired Matlin?
Hey bob cox…..our first Oscar page is complete…as every Best Oscar Winning Actress now has an UMR page.
Congratulations for a job well done.
Bravo.
C ‘ est magnifique.
wunderbar.
maravilloso.
Cogerson, well done! ladies first. such a gentleman. yea Cogerson, Yea UMR, Yea Oscar, Yea actresses.
howdy Cogerson, I do not think sean penn earned his best actress win in dead man walking, possibly susan Sarandon. I do not think Jessica tandy won for blue sky 1994 line 90 you got it right with holly hunter the piano. I hate typing and computers but need them both : ^ )
Thanks bob cox…..those errors have been fixed…..somewhere during a recent update I noticed some weird things had been happening on these Oscar pages….currently they are all fixed…I hope….but I will keep an eye open the next time we update the entire website. Thanks as always for catching the errors.
Per Bruce’s request, I have dug up an old list of the ladies I felt should have won The Oscar for Best Actress between the years 1933 to 1973. I wrote this list when I was the movie critic for my high school newspaper better known as The Colerain High School CARDINAL QUILL. My list of winners are as follows:
1.) BEST ACTRESS 1933, Greta Garbo, “Queen Christina”
2.) BEST ACTRESS 1934, Claudette Colbert, “It Happened One Night”
3.) BEST ACTRESS 1935, Madeleine Carroll, “The 39 Steps”
4.) BEST ACTRESS 1936, Myrna Loy, “Libeled Lady”
5.) BEST ACTRESS 1937, Barbara Stanwyck, “Stella Dallas”
6.) BEST ACTRESS 1938, Katharine Hepburn, “Bringing Up Baby”
7.) BEST ACTRESS 1939, Judy Garland, “The Wizard Of Oz”
8.) BEST ACTRESS 1940, Rosalind Russell, “His Girl Friday”
9.) BEST ACTRESS 1941, Greer Garson, “Blossoms In The Dust”
10.) BEST ACTRESS 1942, Ginger Rogers, “The Major And The Minor”
11.) BEST ACTRESS 1943, Teresa Wright, “Shadow Of A Doubt”
12.) BEST ACTRESS 1944, Barbara Stanwyck, “Double Indemnity”
13.) BEST ACTRESS 1945, Ingrid Bergman, “The Bells Of St. Mary’s”
14.) BEST ACTRESS 1946, Dorothy McGuire, “The Spiral Staircase”
15.) BEST ACTRESS 1947, Gene Tierney, “The Ghost And Mrs. Muir”
16.) BEST ACTRESS 1948, Jane Wyman, “Johnny Belinda”
17.) BEST ACTRESS 1949, Joan Crawford, “Flamingo Road”
18.) BEST ACTRESS 1950, Bette Davis, “All About Eve”
19.) BEST ACTRESS 1951, Elizabeth Taylor, “A Place In The Sun”
20.) BEST ACTRESS 1952, Maureen O’Hara, “The Quiet Man”
21.) BEST ACTRESS 1953, Lauren Bacall, “How To Marry A Millionaire
22.) BEST ACTRESS 1954, Grace Kelly, “Rear Window”
23.) BEST ACTRESS 1955, Susan Hayward, “I’ll Cry Tomorrow”
24.) BEST ACTRESS 1956, Judy Holliday, “Solid Gold Cadillac”
25.) BEST ACTRESS 1957, Kay Kendall, “Les Girls”
26.) BEST ACTRESS 1958, Doris Day, “Teacher’s Pet”
27.) BEST ACTRESS 1959, Maria Schell, “The Hanging Tree”
28.) BEST ACTRESS 1960, Deborah Kerr, “The Sundowners”
29.) BEST ACTRESS 1961, Sophia Loren, “Two Women”
30.) BEST ACTRESS 1962, Anne Bancroft, “The Miracle Worker”
31.) BEST ACTRESS 1963, Natalie Wood, “Love With A Proper Stranger”
32.) BEST ACTRESS 1964 Shirley MacLaine, “What A Way To Go”
33.) BEST ACTRESS 1965, Julie Andrews, “The Sound Of Music”
34.) BEST ACTRESS 1966, Lynn Redgrave, “Georgy Girl”
35.) BEST ACTRESS 1967, Audrey Hepburn, “Wait Until Dark”
36.) BEST ACTRESS 1968, Patricia Neal, “The Subject Was Roses”
37.) BEST ACTRESS 1969, Liza Minnelli, “The Sterile Cuckoo”
38.) BEST ACTRESS 1970, Carrie Snodgrass, “Diary Of A Mad Housewife”
39.) BEST ACTRESS 1971, Janet Suzman, `”Nicholas And Alexandria”
40.) BEST ACTRESS 1972, Cicely Tyson, “Sounder”
41.) BEST ACTRESS, Joanne Woodward, “Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams”
P.S. When I originally wrote the list in the mid 1970s, I had Dorothy McGuire for “The Spiral Staircase” in a tie with Rosalind Russell for “Sister Kenny” for Best Actress during 1946 but after seeing both films, I now feel Miss McGuire should have been the clear winner for the award although there is no denying that Miss Russell’s performance was truly worth of the nomination it received at the time. I also gave Miss McGuire an Oscar in 1953 for her performance in “The Invitation” on my original list but upon viewing Lauren Bacall’s MAGNIFICENT 1953 performance in HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE in recent years, I now feel that Miss Bacall should have won The Oscar in 1953 because her comic delivery and timing were impeccable in that movie. The only other change I made to my original list is I now list Cicely Tyson for “Sounder” for Best Actress in 1972. My original choice, back in the day, was Diana Ross for “Lady Sing The Blues” as the 1972 Best Actress Oscar winner. I still find Diana’s performance to be fantastic but the film’s script consisted of some truly flimsy writing and thus the movie isn’t really all that credible as far being biographical is concerned.
Two minor corrections in the above posts. Ginger Rogers should have won The Oscar for a film entitled “The Major And The Minor ” not “The Major And Minor” in my first post.
The second thing I should note is I meant to say in the second post is I now feel that Miss McGuire should have been the clear winner for The Oscar and not “I know feel Miss McGuire’ should have been the clear winner for The Oscar”.
Bruce, if it is possible to correct these mistakes for me, I would appreciate it if you would do so since there seems to be no way to edit one’s posts here on the UMR.
Hey Greg…..I will fix those errors when I am near my main computer…currently I am on my iPad and can not get to that edit screen. We have never been able to find a comment widget that would allow commenters to fix errors. Maybe in the future.
Hey Greg…those minor errors have been fixed.
Hey Greg….thanks for the clarifications…it looks like you put some serious thought into your selections. I guess since you seem to be such a big fan of Dorothy McGuire….you are wondering why does she not have an UMR page…..and the answer to that question……”I don’t know”….lol.
I will be doing a more in depth response later tonight….as crack open my Danny Peary book….as I am real curious how much you two were thinking alike. I agree Bacall was awesome in How To Marry A Millionaire.
Good to know that you thought process did not change too much….I would bet my current picks would look nothing like my original picks.
Thanks again for posting this information.
Hey Greg….thanks for sharing this information. You have some pretty interesting picks. Ones that I really like include Grace Kelly in Rear Window, Deborah Kerr in The Sundowners, Maureen O’Har in The Quiet Man, Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday, Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity and Bette Davis in All About Eve.
The ones you agree with the actual winners…that I liked too….would be Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker, Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night and Jane Wyman in Johnny Belinda. I was never a huge fan of Loren in Two Women.
Some of the big surprises here? Suzman in Nicholas and Alexandria, Shirley MacLaine in What a Way To Go, Maria Schell in The Hanging Tree and Joan Crawford in Flamingo Road.
Thanks for digging these out….I will have to look at your winners and compare them to what Danny Peary thought…and ultimately figure out a way to do a full UMR page on this subject.
Excellent information.
1.) Bruce , thanks for your reply to my posts. I figured you liked some of the choices I made. Just out of curiosity, what was it about Sophia Loren’s performance in TWO WOMEN that you didn’t like?!
2.) Just my opinion but Joan Crawford gave an iconic performance in FLAMINGO ROAD. NBC didn’t try to turn FLAMINGO ROAD into a television series back in the 1980s for nothing!!!! Same goes for Gene Tierney in 1947’s THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR which NBC tried to turn into a successful TV series back in the 1960s. Both Joan’s and Gene’s performances have stood the test of time quite well simply because both performances are among the best of all time in my humble opinion.
3.) Check out THE HANGING TREE when you get a chance, if you haven’t seen it already!!! Just my opinion but HANGING TREE is one of the most unique and underrated westerns of all time. Besides, I always felt Maria Schell was more talented than her brother Maxmilian Schell who actually won an Oscar in 1961. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think ole Maximilian is a hack but Maria is definitely the most talented member of the Schell family as far as i’m concerned.
4.) Can’t wait until you do a full Alternate Oscar page here at UMR. In the meantime, I’ll dig out my Best Actor list for 1933 to 1973 and post it to the Best Actor UMR page within the coming week.
Hey Greg….here are some comparisons between your winner and Danny Peary’ winners.
1. You both agree on Greta Garbo and Queen Christina
2. You and Oscar agree on Colbert but he thinks Bette Davis in Of Human Bondage
3. He does not agree on Best Actress but he names The 39 Steps as the Best Picture.
4. Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby…you a win, Peary a nomination while the Oscar people shut her out.
5. Peary thinks Garland should have gotten a nomination for Wizard ?♂️
6. You both agree Rosalind Russell should have won for His Girl Friday
7. He thinks Teresa Wright should have gotten a nomination for Shadow of a Doubt
8. You both agree on Stanwyck in Double Indemnity
9. He has Bergman in as a top 3 performance, but not the winner for St. Mary’s
10. He was not I impressed with Wyman in Johnny Belinda at all
11. He thinks Crawford should have gotten a nomination for Flamingo Road
12. 1950….he thought Davis was deserving…but Gloria Swanson even more.
Part 2.
1. Peary thinks Maureen O’Hara in The Quiet Man and Grace Kelly in Rear Window should have nominations but not the wins you pick
2. Same thing with Judy Holliday in The Solid Gold Cadillac….I have never heard of this one.
3. He gives no love for Schell in The Hanging Tree….I have seen that one..but the on,y performance that I really remember is George C. Scott’s.
4. Two Women was just too depressing…..Loren was fine…but it felt like acting versus feeling like the tragedy was really happening. Peary picked Natalie Wood for Splendor in the Grass.
5. Everybody agrees on Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker
6. You both agree on Julie Andrews and The Sound of Music
7. In 1967, you both pick Audrey Hepburn…..just for different movies….you Wait Until Dark (Oscar voters agree as they gave her a nomination) but he picked Two For The Road.
Many times your pick made his nomination list….but if was nominated for an Oscar I did not mention it.
Well that was fun. Thanks again for sharing the list.
Hey Bruce!!!
1.) Yes sir, you’re right!!! This was fun!!!
2.) Now that I know where Danny Peary stands on some of my favorite films and thespians, I think I will now go out and buy his book!!! Good to know that somebody besides yours truly thinks that Greta Garbo, Rosalind Russell, and Barbara Stanwyck deserved to win Oscars
3.) Yes, you are correct in thinking that I am a very big Dorothy McGuire fan. Not only do I think that Dorothy deserved the Oscar for her performance in THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE but I also think the lady deserved Oscar nominations for her work in such films as A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, THE INVITATION, FRIENDLY PERSUASION, GENTLEMEN’S AGREEMENT, and DARK AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS as well.
4.) Check out the movie SOLID GOLD CADILLAC if and when you get the chance. Judy Holliday gives an ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS performance in this 1956 classic.
5.) In closing, let me give you a preview of my upcoming Best Actor list. Some actors on the list might include Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, John Garfield, Montgomery Clift, Henry Fonda, Gene Kelly and Dick Powell to name a few.
P.S. Thanks Bruce for fixing the errors in my previous posts. Much Appreciated. 🙂
No problem….I see I made a ton of errors in my return comment…..I do not like doing comments on my iPad…..as I make more mistakes and it takes longer….but that is what I did last night.
Hey Greg.
1. I highly recommend his book….as well as his Cult Movies books (3 volumes)….you can normally pick up some used versions for about 5 dollars…or so.
2. I think Russell was awesome in His Girl Friday….and Stanwyck has never been better than in Double Indemnity ….so I would think I would be on board with you and Peary.
3. I will have to move Dorothy McGuire up the que of pages to do…pretty sure Steve has a McGuire video.
4. I will add Solid Gold Cadillac to my list of movies to watch.
5. Look forward to your Actor list….thanks for the preview…..me brain if trying to figure out a way to do an UMR page on this subject.
Good stuff.
Hello Greg,
what an interesting list! Though I don’t agree with some of your choices, I love the fact that I have finally found somebody who values that wonderful actress Dorothy McGuire has highly as I do. Granted, she never was as important or popular a star as, let’s say Monroe, Day or Taylor, but what a wonderful actress! A Tree grows in Brooklyn, The Dark at the top of the Stairs, the highly underrated Invitation, Enchanted Cottage…just to mention a few. I highly agree with you on including Barbara Stanwyck in your list, but as much as I would agree on giving the AA to Stella Dallas in almost any year, to me Rainer’s performance as O Lan in The Good Earth remains one of the greatest performances of all time, and thus one of the occasions when the academy voted for the right person- in my, but many other people’s opinion. I also agree with you on Teresa Wright for an Oscar worthy performance in Shadow of a Doubt, but Jennifer Jones was as deserving that year. Her Bernadette was a demanding part, played to perfection by Jones in her first important movie. About Joan Crawford in Flamingo Road (and hopefully BOB doesn’t read this): A good performance, but not nearly as great as de Havilland’s Catherine Sloper in The Heiress…and believe me, I am anything but a fan of that still living actress. Never been too impressed with Liz Taylor in Butterfield 8, so I would have been quite happy if Deborah Kerr had won for her wonderful stint in Sundowners. Patricia Neal was a great actress, too, and Barbra Streisand nowadays is a highly controversial figure because of her reputaion as being hard to work with as well as speaking her mind on political issues, but back in the day her Fanny Brice in Funny Girl was a sensation, and to this movie lover certainly has stood the test of time- the movie asked for an actress who was as adept at comedy as drama, and Streisand, in her movie debut, more than delivered. Plus the fact that she sang all of those songs in her own voice…no lip synching to Marnie Nixon here. I have to agree with Danny Peary regarding Audrey Hepburns performance in Two for the Road- simply awesome and quite a departure from what she usually did on screen. I stop here, but just want to add that I love reading the names of Maureen O’Hara, Gene Tierney, Judy Holiday and Cicely Tyson in your post 😉
Hey Lupino. Great comment about Dorothy McGuire and Greg’s Oscar picks…but the thing that impressed me the most? You using your new name. “LupinoHoF 17” you have made my day!
Hey SteinHoF 16…your movement is taking off….congrats…..it only took a year…lol. WoC and I have gotten a kick out of seeing LupinoHoF 17 and PhilHoF 17 showing up on the comments….not to mention SteveTHX1138…..lol.
Hey SteinHOF,
just for you I’ll use my new name correctly here for the first time (see my post to Snowman Bruce if you need explanation)
Very cool!
Hey Lupino…..you will be happy to see that we now have a Dorothy McGuire UMR page. Glad to see you enjoyed A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. It is actually ranked as her 3rd best movie according to the UMR formula….which might seem strange to those that are not aware of that movie…..but it is a great movie.
I like reading your selections for who should have won…..I think this is an interesting subject…..just trying to figure out a way to jam it all onto one page. You and Danny Peary agree on many of the movies. Is this a book you have in your vast movie book collection?
Good feedback to Greg’s unburied treasure of movie thoughts.
Hello Snowman,
great to see Miss McGuire has made this site!
Don’t you think “LupinoHoF” sounds a little bombastic? Had to try it, though…and made it all wrong, in case you didn’t notice- called myself LupinHoF…although pronounced en francais it sounds quite nice 🙂
Although I do not own Peary’s book on alternate Oscars, I do own his “Cult Movie Stars”, which covers people as diverse as Aquanetta, Diana Dors, Margaret Hamilton (The wicked Witch of the West), Vampira or Mamie van Doren, singling out their movies that made them Cult movie Stars in his opinion.
Too tired now to give your Dorothy McGuire page my full attention tonight, but a big Thanks in advance for doing it!
Enjoy the snow and the obviously days off from work it seems to bring to you 😉
Hey Lupino.
1. Yep Mrs. McGuire now has her very own UMR page….I figured as much as you and Greg were talking about her….that I should do a page on her.
2. The snow has stopped….but it is not supposed to melt until Monday…so I should have the time to catch up on lots of movie stuff……at least when I am not shoveling my driveway…..we have the biggest drive way in the cul-de-sac….normally this is awesome….it did not seem so awesome today…lol.
3. I actually do not have his Cult Movie Stars book….but I have read it a few times….quality stuff from him.
4. I have actually found some of his recent writings……as he does a “Danny Peary Talks to….” people like Debra Winger and such. Trying to get his permission to share some of his new stuff here.
5. Of the three main influences on me from a critical side….he is the only one still living.
6. Look forward to a more detailed McGuire response.
Hi Lupino,
1.) Thanks for your reply to my post and my apologies for taking so long to reply to you. Good to know that I, too, have found yet another big time Dorothy McGuire fan. 🙂 I totally agree with you about Invitation being an extremely underrated movie. By the way, congratulations on your recent induction into UMR’s Hall Of Fame.
2.) I like Louise Rainer and while I remember enjoying her performance in “The Good Earth” when I saw it years ago, her performance doesn’t seem all that memorable to me in the long run. Other Best Actress nominees, besides Rainer and Stanwyck , in 1937 included Greta Garbo for “Camille”, Irene Dunne in “The Awful Truth”, and Janet Gaynor in “A Star Is Born”. “A Star Is Born”, “Camille” “Stella Dallas” and “The Awful Truth” are much more memorable movies than “The Good Earth” as far as i’m concerned. “A Star Is Born” has been remade twice as a major motion picture while “Stella Dallas” was later launched as a very successful radio soap opera series here in The USA during the 1940s. “The Good Earth” is a good movie but I saw it once and then never had the urge to see it again thus I consider it to be a “one and done” movie for yours truly.
2.) I have mixed feelings about Jennifer Jones as an actress. There is no denying that the lady is truly talented but I have often felt she was nominated for Oscars for either the wrong films or during the wrong years. In 1946, I think she should have been Oscar nominated for her role in “Cluny Brown” as opposed to her role in “Duel In The Sun” I also feel that Jones gave better performances in some of her non Oscar nominated films like 1948’s “Portrait Of Jennie” and 1949’s “Madame Bovary” than she did in some of her Oscar nominated films like 1945’s “Love Letters” and 1955’s “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing” thus I feel that Ms. Jones should have Oscar nominated in 1948 and 1949 but not in 1945 and 1955. However, I will admit that I did, indeed, like Jennifer’s performance in “Song Of Bernadette” and can see why many people have enjoyed the film over the years. I just happen to think that Teresa Wright gave a more memorable performance in a movie that is a more memorable film in my opinion.
3.) To me, “The Heiress” is just another one of those movies that I saw once and then never had the urge to see it again. Besides, I found Montgomery Clift’s performance in the movie to be the most interesting and entertaining in the entire film. For my money, the best performance Olivia De Haviland ever gave was as Maid Marion in 1938’s “Adventures Of Robin Hood”. Besides, no one in their right mind was ever going to try to turn “The Heiress” into a television series like the American television network NBC did with “Flamingo Road” back in the 1980s!!!
4.) Quite frankly, neither Liz Taylor or Greer Garson should have been nominated for Oscars in 1960 in my humble opinion. Liz’s “Butterfield 8” nomination should have gone to Doris Day for her performance in “Midnight Lace” while Garson’s “Sunrise At Campobello” nomination should have gone to Dorothy McGuire for her performance in “Dark At The Top Of The Stairs” as far as i’m concerned. However, the clear winner for The Oscar should have been Deborah Kerr for “The Sundowners”. Period. End Of Story.
5.) Pure And Simple. 1967 was Audrey Hepburn’s year. The Oscar should of have been hers to have and behold whether it was for “Two For The Road” or “Wait Until Dark”. Of the two films, I just happen to like “Wait Until Dark” a little bit more. That’s all.
6. ) Lupino, I’m glad to know like you liked my mentioning of O’Hara, Holiday, Tierney, and Tyson in my post because it means I have finally a movie website where the posters talk about the truly classic movies from the cinema’s golden era and not just the latest blockbusters of the past five years.
Hey Greg….enjoyable reading your conversation with Lupino….lots of good stuff. Glad Steve told you about our website…you have become a solid contributor.
Hello Greg,
I usually stay away from comenting during the weekend, but since I had to work anyway today it seems more like an ordinary day 😉
Yes, this site is great in being so diverse- you can talk about last month’s blockbusters, the “golden age” of Hollywood, and even sneak in a conversation on european stars, films and directors!
I half-heartedly agree with your comment re Jennifer Jones, she has given great performances in movies without Oscar recognition. I just love Portrait of Jennie, and Jones’ contribution to that movie is the one that holds the delicate story together. I certainly agree with you on Cluny Brown, JJ should have done much more comedy parts. But I also enjoy her performance as Singelton in Love Letters a lot, and her Pearl Chavez in Duel is just so fitting for a movie that tries to look like Gone with the Wind, but essentially is just one overblown piece of “Kitsch”…but how entertaining! I already had my say on Bernadette 🙂
Louise Rainer as O Lan…what else can I say than what I already have? Don’t want to sound corny, but to me her performance digs out the deepest emotion the human soul holds hidden from the world. I don’t care about that false chinese makeup, to me, this performance is an iconic one if ever there was such a thing. It touched me deeply the first time around, and does so with each repeated viewing.
I agree with you on Hepburn’s two films of 1967, like you, I love them both, but Two for the Road was, in my opinion, the better one- Wait…gave me chills upon first viewing, but Two for the Road is a movie about real people, not a fabricated Hollywood thriller.
I find it hard to defend Olivia de Havilland, because there is something about that “sweetness” she usually shows in interviews that rings so false to my ears- yet, as an actress, I really feel she is one of the greats, and The Heiress is her finest hour. Like Rainer’s in Earth, her Catherine Sloper is a study of the human soul, showing the effects of manipulation, being kept uncertertain about oneself and growing up without love does to any human being. BUT- we will always agree on Monty Clift, because he is one of my top three male actors! Nice talking to you again, and even though I doubt we will ever agree on O Lan or Catherine Sloper, being forced to re-evaluate one’s opinion about certain performances is most satisfying 🙂
Hey Lupino…glad you were able to comment on the weekend….sorry you had to work. In my area….it looks like the snow is going to take out Monday as well….so I will end up with a 5 day weekend…..I know it is rough…lol.
I like your breakdown on Greg’s picks. Especially your breakdown on Jennifer Jones.
One of the rules we try and follow….is one page on a classic performer and then one page on a current performer…that way we try and cover all the basis. So I really appreciate your comment….”this site is great in being so diverse- you can talk about last month’s blockbusters, the “golden age” of Hollywood, and even sneak in a conversation on european stars, films and directors!”
Good stuff as always.
Hey Lupino and Bruce!!!
1.) Love the diversity of this website. Two most recent movies I have seen are the current “Wonder Woman” blockbuster and the recent remake of “Murder On The Orient Express with Michelle Pfieffer as part of the cast. Favorite movie of the past five years is a little “boy and his dog” movie called “Max” from 2015 that featured Thomas Haden Church as part of the cast.
2.) Lupino, glad we were able to find common ground on Jennifer Jones, so to speak. I totally understand where you were coming from for the most part. I just could never get into the “Love Letters” movie because it just bored me to tears in the long run.
3.) I am also glad, Lupino, we could agree on the greatness of Montgomery Clift as well. The man was an out and out acting genius in my opinion.
4. ) Agree to Disagree on both Rainer and DeHaviland while finding some common ground on Audrey Hepburn. I’m sure I will probably being re-evaluating some of my long held opinions, thoughts, and beliefs about movies as I continue to post on this forum as well.
Hey Greg…..glad you like that we do current and classic movies here. Originally we only did current stars, until my mother-in-law requested a Clark Gable page. Seen then almost 70% of our views come from the classic pages…..good thing, I finally listed to my MIL and did that Gable page.
Max….is an interesting movie….love parts of the story….did not buy the “bad guy” in the movie…..seems the movie had enough to work with…without introducing that storyline. Good stuff as always.
Hey Rory 53…..I agree some of the movies have not aged well. Mrs. Miniver was a movie that helped England… As a morale booster. But today it has lost must of its emotional impact. This list pretty shows how movies have changed over years. I appreciate the vist and the comment.
Great list – it’s quite interesting when looking through it that today some of these films are almost unwatchable. In my opinion ‘Mrs Miniver’ is probably the worst. It is so contrived and ridiculous – representing an ‘Average British Family’ – Total nonsense and a terrible film.