Oscarblogging IV - Burton and O'Toole

I just had to do it.  After looking over my last post on the Oscars, I realized that if anyone deserves a closer look, it is Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton - both seven time nominees without a win...ever!  The two most snubed men in Academy Awards history (after Henry Fonda of course - only two nominations for his entire career, and only one win the year after his honorary Oscar.)

Richard Burton

Let's start with this amazing actor who died without ever winning an Oscar.  First up, those films he was nominated for (and lost):

• My Cousin Rachel (BSA) (lost to Anthony Quinn in Viva Zapata!)
• The Robe (BA) (lost to William Holden in Stalag 17)
• Becket (BA) (lost to Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady)
• The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (BA) (lost to Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou)
• Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (BA) (lost to Paul Scofield in A Man For All Seasons)
• Anne of the Thousand Days (BA) (lost to John Wayne in True Grit)
• Equus (BA) (lost to Richard Dreyfuss in The Goodbye Girl)

One does not even know where to begin with this list.  Losing to Rex Harrison?  Losing because the Academy wanted to reward John Wayne's long career?  It really does amaze me.  Strangely enough, they at least got the movies to be nominated for right.  I can't find a single one in which he did not get a nomination when he deserved it.  He just couldn't win.  But if you want to see a sadder case, let's look at:

Peter O'Toole

At least O'Toole is still alive and working, but his work of late is not up to snuff with his earlier performances.  Here are the nominations:

• Lawrence of Arabia (BA) (lost to Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird)
• Becket (BA) (lost to Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady)
• The Lion in Winter (BA) (lost to Cliff Robertson in Charly)
• Goodbye, Mr. Chips (BA) (lost to John Wayne in True Grit)
• The Ruling Class (BA) (lost to Marlon Brando in The Godfather)
• The Stunt Man (BA) (lost to Robert De Niro in Raging Bull)
• My Favorite Year (BA) (lost to Ben Kingsly in Gandhi)

The first thing that strikes me about the list is that each and every one of them were Best Actor nominations - no supporting roles there.  As well, he seems to have been up against Burton a few times in his career - and both lost.  Maybe they cancelled each other out.  Still - again losing to Harrison and Wayne? O'Toole shouldn't have even been nominated for My Favorite Year.  It's good, but not that good.  His best performances are in Lawrence of Arabia in which he had no shot to beat Peck and in The Lion in Winter in which he should have won!  But what O'Toole has that Burton does not is a further list of films that might have seen a nomination:

• Lord Jim
• What's New Pussycat?
• Creator
• The Last Emperor

And here is where my biggest amount of disgust appears - if there was ever a chance for him to take home a statue, it was in 1987 when The Last Emperor swept.  He could have easily beat Sean Connery if only he had been nominated.  He still has time, unlike Burton, but the older he gets the less he has a shot at winning.  His performances are not near as good anymore.  But I still think he has that one last great role ahead of him.  At least I hope so.  He is one of my all time favorites!

OK, now I really mean it.  No more Oscarblogging unless asked to (or until next year.)  Hope you enjoyed.  That is all.

Comments

[Keiper]

One of the only conspiracy theories I ever believed was that Audrey Hepburn got snubbed at the Academy Awards for "My Fair Lady." I mean, everyone got a prize except for her, and that went to Julie Andrews, who originally was going to be Eliza Dolittle. I mean c'mon - Rex Harrison? He's not a bad actor, but I didn't see him too differently in My Fair Lady than any of his other roles.

Peter O'Toole and Gregory Peck are a tough call, though honestly if I was a judge...I'd probably decide on O'Toole. His role in Lawrence of Arabia not only was his shining moment, but he put a lot of effort and grief into that role. I understand he still suffers from it today. At least O'Toole has had that competition throughout his life - Cliff Robertson's Charly, Robert DeNiro, Ben Kingsley. John Wayne I don't mind too much here, I actually really liked his performance in "True Grit." Gotta love him grabbing both rifles and yelling, "Fill yer hands, you sonuvabitch!"