tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569750317755310322.post8308316760195704727..comments2023-11-19T04:43:33.827+11:00Comments on Matt vs. the Academy: 1948 - Johnny BelindaMatt Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10317583098531787395noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5569750317755310322.post-59235247065707303672011-06-03T08:11:40.565+10:002011-06-03T08:11:40.565+10:00Johnny Belinda was the favorite to win Best Pictur...Johnny Belinda was the favorite to win Best Picture going into the Awards. Variety, which had a nearly spotless track record, picked it. So, it must be considered one the bigger disappointments when it ended up winning only one award out of 12 nominations. These things happen, and it certainly was no disgrace. It is a fine film, with great location shots even if California's rugged coastline stood in for Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.<br /> <br />I will say that I felt the characterizations were too delineated. You had the angelic Belinda and humanistic Doctor who delivered calves and took payment in trout fishing privileges. On the other end was the big bully Locky, who seemed to get away with various capital crimes (at least until he pushed his luck too far). In many ways shrewish Agnes Moorehead (having a field day rolling her 'R's) and Charles Bickford, two of the consummate character actors of the forties, had the choicest roles. Wyman did a very nice job and was the first of quite a few mute characters to win Oscars. I still would have placed her behind sisters Olivia de Havilland and non-nominated Joan Fontaine (A Letter from and Unknown Woman) for the year’s top actress performances.Mike Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14953461679716236054noreply@blogger.com