Best Actress 1962, Part 6: Anne Bancroft and "The Miracle Worker"
Вставка
- Опубліковано 12 лип 2024
- This is a review of Anne Bancroft's Oscar-winning performance in "The Miracle Worker".
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
04:21 The Beginning of Anne's career
15:01 Two fo the Seesaw
24:08 The Miracle Worker
44:25 My Review
52:48 The Oscar Race of 1962
You can find the reviews of the other Best Actress nominees of 1962 here: • Review 1962
Ressources:
"A Portrait of Joan" by Joan Crawford
"My Way of Life" by Joan Crawford
"Anne Bancroft. A Life" by Douglass K. Daniel
"The Lonely Life. An Autobiography" by Bette Davis
"This'n That" by Bette Davis with Michael Herskowitz
"The Story of my Life" by Helen Keller
"As I am" by Patricia Neal
"Arthur Penn: American Director" by Nat Segaloff
"Patricia Neal. An Unquiet Life" by Stephen Michael Shearer
"Anne Bancroft. The Life and Work" by Peter Shelley
"Dark Victory. The Life of Bette Davis" by Ed Sikov
"Joan Crawford. A Biography" by Bob Thomas
#annebancroft #academyawards #bestactress #oscars #themiracleworker #pattyduke #bettedavis #leeremick #katharinehepburn #geraldinepage - Розваги
Patty duke's performance is so good in this film. Damn, shes so good
In terms of Anne Bancroft, another factor was the importance of The Actors Studio in terms of her career. Though there had been several Oscar winners who had been associated with The Actors Studio (Karl Malden, Kim Hunter, Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, and Joanne Woodward), Bancroft's association with The Actors Studio meant the revival of her career, after her failed stint in Hollywood. It's important to note that she was never associated with Lee Strasberg: when she came to The Actors Studio, she spent her time with what was known as the Playwrights Unit, where she befriended a number of the playwrights (including Horton Foote and William Gibson), and was always available when readings were planned of new work. She had a lot to do with the final version of TWO FOR THE SEESAW, and after the TV version of THE MIRACLE WORKER, she worked very closely with Gibson and Arthur Penn on the development of the play. And the fight scene in THE MIRACLE WORKER really seemed almost revolutionary for its intensity and physicality. And Arthur Penn did try as much as possible to recreate that intensity and physicality in the movie version. Along with Patty Duke, those were overwhelming performances, and it seemed inevitable that they would win. (Now, their wins have been tarnished, in Bancroft's case, because of the pettiness of Bette Davis, and in Duke's case, because of the idea that the win was undeserved when it should have gone to Angela Lansbury in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE. But as someone who saw all those movies in the first run, i can say that if Bancroft and Duke hadn't won, THAT would have been a surprise, because the acclaim, both critical and popular, was deafening. Duke would be the youngest winner in her category until Tatum O'Neal in PAPER MOON, and Bancroft had proven she had the gumption to restart her career after a dismal Hollywood beginning. And then she would be nominated two years later for THE PUMPKIN EATER, proving her mettle.) And must commend you on another sterling installment!
Thanks a lot for your comment!
Great commentary.
This was an amazing comment, I’m so glad you shared this!
Agreed and I enjoyed the background but just one part. When you have had the chance to perform the part many hundreds of times on Broadway, nuancing every move and word to audience reaction AND then you get a Tony award for the performance it seems a little unfair to get an Oscar for the movie as well (i.e. pretty much the same performance).
Such a beautiful and well needed tribute for the great Anne Bancroft. It's sad that her moment of glory is undermined by Bette Davis's disdainful comments about this win. All everyone talks about now is Bette Vs Joan saga. Anyone who has witnessed the performance can't say Annie didn't deserve the Oscar. I would personally rank Bette Davis's performance at the end too.
The artist of such remarkable range and depth should be praised and remembered for her achievements rather than a petty cat fight. What she did in The Graduate is awe-inspiring. Soo much said in between silences and so little screen time.
P.S Fritz what can I say. You are amazing. Thank you for this.
Thanks so much for these kind words!
it is the only year I wouldn’t have minded anyone winning…but, I would have chosen for Geraldine Page ..i guess I was personally moved by her performance in that character. …Wonderful work you do! Can’t wait for your next .Congratulations
I'm on Team Hepburn for the win, but thanks for giving Bancroft her due in this fantastic overview!
How can this only have 150 likes?? You did an AMAZING job covering one of the juiciest Best Actress years ever in the history of the Awards. Thank you for pointing me in the direction of “Be Kind Rewind”. Your two channels have quickly become favorites!!
Thanks so much! 🥰 my channel is more niche but I like that 😀
YAY!! Waiting for this was as suspenseful and exciting as any Oscar night.... maybe more!
I hope it's worth the wait
@@FritzandtheOscars It definitely was - thank you. Personally I found it refreshingly honest of Bette to admit how desperately she wanted to win (and without any disrespect to the brilliant Anne Bancroft, Davis would have gotten my vote), but l do wish Bette had not allowed her disappointment to fester as she did. I find it rather tragic that her exaggerations about Joan eventually resulted in "Feud" (which l have assiduously avoided), thus further sullying both Miss Crawford's reputation as well as her own. Anne Bancroft was amazing in an excellent film, but whilst Baby Jane bears multiple viewings I cannot imagine many people watching The Miracle Worker more than once or twice.
Yes, 🎉 thank you for your wonderful videos, Fritz. 🤩
I have watched The Miracle Worker dozens of times since I was a child and have found it inspirational and moving. Baby Janes depresses and horrifies me. I never believe Davis’s decent into childish dementia. If bravery in allowing herself to be photographed in her makeup, then why couldn’t Davis be emotionally brave (her scene in front of the mirror is emotionally artificial)?
Thanks so much for watching!@@krock1981
I remember watching all the nominee's performances at one point long before Feud debuted, and, even though I loved Bette Davis, I always thought that Ms. Bancroft and Ms. Hepburn's performances were the most superlative of the lot. 1962 as a whole, was a great year for actresses, truly a treasure trove of high caliber performances.
Totally. One of the greatest lineups ever
Anne Bancroft had the advantage of literally HUNDREDS of performances of the key emotional scenes before a LIVE audience. An actor learns from the audience just how long to hold a pause, a certain effective movement etc. etc. When Bette Davis did Baby Jane she had to create right there on set on film and that was that. It is somehow unfair for an actress to get a Tony award and an Academy Award for the same performance. Incidentally, Bancroft was glorious, of course.
I don't deny that there is an advantage but at the same time, the demands of stage and movie acting are so different that you still need to completely adjust your performance@@poetcomic1
I had rather see the best doing both. If anyone else could have done a better performance, okay, fine, but I can't imagine any actor better than Anne in the role. There's nothing wrong with rewarding the best. There is something special about Anne Bancroft as a human being. Her personality was delightful in interviews, and seeing her with Mel Brooks was heartwarming. I have enjoyed introducing my daughters and grandchildren to The Miracle Worker beginning in the 1990s and most recently in 2024. I told my granddaughter about Helen Keller and she made herself an eye mask and wore sound canceling headphones around the house for short periods of time before we watched the movie. Afterwards, playing Helen with me as Anne, or myself, became our favorite game. And the game gained more participants in my granddaughter's first grade class which perplexed her teacher to the point of calling my daughter to ask what was going on since several little girls were stumbling around and feeling classmates faces and mouths! But it also helped the children to understand and feel more comfortable with people who have different abilities. I loved it.
Regarding precursor awards that year, Geraldine Page won the Golden Globe for "Sweet Bird of Youth," having also won the previous year for "Summer and Smoke" over Sophia Loren. Anne won the BAFTA, but "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane" was eligible the following year. Both Davis and Crawford were nominated, losing to Oscar winner Patricia Neal for "Hud."
Anne also won national board of review, I think...but precursors meant much less back then
The level of depth and research to this is astounding. Thank you Fritz for preserving history in an entertaining and thoughtful way! Can’t wait to see a series on the 1969 Oscar Race!
Thank you so much!
You've just made my Saturday soooooo m uch better, Fritz ! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 Finally ! Thank you so much for this video essay.
I love your page. U deserve more subscribers.
Thank you 😊
A comprehensive and engrossing analysis of Anne Bancroft's impressive early career and a fine corrective to anyone who has been misled into discounting how much Bancroft won her Oscar on her own merits and not due to the purported behind-the-scenes machinations of a thwarted non-nominee. Bravo for your excellent work!
Thank you so much 💓
Thank you for this video! As much as I loved Bette in What Ever Happened To Baby Jane, Anne Bancroft was absolutely sensational in The Miracle Worker, she literally became Annie & both her & Patty Duke's performances remain timeless works of great acting (though Patty Duke was clearly lead and not supporting, I'm glad she has an Oscar for the role as much as Angela Lansbury heavily deserved to win for The Manchurian Candidate). And Bette never had the Best Actress win locked up to begin with. Anne had won the BAFTA & National Board Of Review, Geraldine Page won the Drama Golden Globe, Katharine Hepburn won Best Actress at Cannes, and Lee Remick won the Laurel Award for Top Female Dramatic Performance. It's very easy to see why Anne won but also easy to see why each nominee had a chance to win. Much like Anne was definitely in 2nd place to win for The Pumpkin Eater after Julie Andrews' legendary Oscar Winning performance for Mary Poppins (BAFTA, Drama Golden Globe, and Cannes wins for Anne).
Very good comment
Thanks for showing clip of real Ann Sullivan
Brilliantly insightful, giving credit (and, frankly, discredit) where due.
Wow! What an utterly well done presentation. I loved Bancroft performance as Anne Sullivan and you covered this beautifully.
Thanks so much
Wow I had no idea bette lost her last 3 Oscar nominations to actresses who recreated their Broadway roles to Hollywood movies I know that must’ve hurt bette especially during those exact same time she tried going back to her Broadway roots twice and failed both times. Doing both research thanks to Izzy from be kind rewind and watching all the nominees movies I can say this was clearly going to Anne only Kate and Geraldine Paige were competing to win, whereas based on personal preference I thought Anne and Kate were the top 2 best while Kate going #1 for me, while Bette at a strong #3, it’s surprising bette was more bitter about losing whatever happened to baby Jane than she was for all about eve and the little foxes
Another very well done episode! Congratulations!
It’s incredible how the myth has survived that Bette was favourite for the Oscar . She herself kept that alive too .
Great video as always, Fritz! Now I'm curious to know how you have ranked all of the nominees.
Will publish the ranking soon
So comprehensive
So insightful
Such depth and specificity in your analysis
On a side note, it’s sad to see the resentment that Bette Davis carried for twenty-five years. It’s difficult to imagine that level of emotional corrosion helping one’s artistry. It’s a cautionary tale as one looks at her entire post-“All About Eve” career when she became so mannered, so vocally hindered, so lacking in evoking genuine emotion. And she thought she deserved to be cast in the film versions of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and “Driving Miss Daisy.” With the exception of two television dramas in the late 1970’s, she parodied herself so often playing demented actresses. Bette Davis was not in the same class as Hepburn and Bancroft who always challenged themselves artistically on screen and on stage. I realize Davis needed money; however, it’s sad she couldn’t have earned a living behind the camera after 1950 to preserve her legacy. Garbo knew when to leave - when what she had to offer was no longer in vogue as she aged in a complicated industry
I always found the level of passion in Bancroft’s Annie Sullivan to wipe out any other actress’s attempt at playing that role
@@paulswanson8926 Anne made that role her own for all time
Agreed Bette’s stubbornness was a curse to her I could’ve easily seen her playing in a streetcar and Virginia Woolf but she refused to evolve as a actress in addition she didn’t make the smart decisions when it came to her personal life that caused her to only do certain movies for money
Anne Bancroft gave the same speech at the Oscars as she did at the Tonys. Just an anecdote.
She wasn 't at the Oscars.
@@ikurrinegartzia5487No she wasn’t. But she gave Joan Crawford a note (There are three reasons why I deserve this award: Arthur Penn, Bill Gibson, Fred Coe.) And it’s the same as her Tony acceptance.
I’m so glad you make these videos. I love them. I love your passion for detail. Also, Ann turning down Funny Girl - that’s noteworthy. What about a code about the people who turned down the role and what what happened to them? I know I read Carol Burnett turned it down: I mean, the (entertainment) world would have been immensely different if either actor had taken the role instead of - the one that got it. You are a genius at what you do. Thank you for making your videos.
I am with you. It's a lot of fuss after the fact which spices up a tv show, but Joan preventing Bette's win never passes the smell test. [That Crawford would so cunningly arrange to be the one picking up oscar is so "left field" that if you saw it in a melodrama, you wouldn't believe it. It was as evil as it is delicious (clearly I am flawed) and it is this piquant, lowbrow quality which keeps the story entertainingly alive.] As for Bancroft, I remember her saying that on Broadway she had to cry. She made a deal with herself that she would never "cheat." The scene was played with her back to her audience. They wouldn't know. But she wouldn't fake it and made herself cry each time. When Bancroft tells the story, you believe it. There is greatness in some of her performances and her stature as an actress dips because she didn't remain dedicated to the craft in the last portion of her career. It was almost as though she decided to be happy and whatever fed into her talents was supplanted with a kind of yenta countenance, even with the inflections & pretty much the same in every role. Remain a great actress or be happy? Can't begrudge her that! 1:17:51
At 58:24, you say Joan was doubtful Bette would win, but newspaper articles that The Concluding Chapter of Crawford found disapprove that. You show many other vintage newspaper quotes but not the ones quoting Joan.
Also, Joan promoted the heck out of Baby Jane, whereas Bette did not. Plus, while Joan heaped praise on Bette's performance, Bette did not do the same for Joan.
I highly suspect Joan, who had worked just as hard, was miffed that there wasn't the same kind of dedication promoting nor any acknowledgment of her performance (including her voicework for Bette in three scenes when Jane mimicks Blanche. Did Academy voters take note of that, I wonder and not vote for Bette).
Yes, there is no evidence (or proof even) of any kind that Joan (or Hedda) prevented Bette from winning.
What's interesting and seems to never be brought up is that years later, when Patty won her Emmy for the TV version of The Miracle Worker, Bette had, in fact, been nominated that year for White Mama. It must have been a double hitter for Bette to lose twice to the same material.
1:12:09 Joan Fontaine seems to forget she herself did The Witches (The Devil's Own) in 1966?
1:13:10 Imagine that. Hush received 7 nominations, including one for Agnes. The film received 2 more nods than Baby Jane but one less for acting, namely for Bette. What's funny is that Bette (as a silent producer) took it upon herself to hack away at the script (cutting the Miriam character down) and employ bully tactics all in the name of revenge against Joan (this revenge in the delusional belief Joan had fixed the 1963 Oscars). Ultimately, though, all that trouble Bette went through cost her come Oscar time.
I have noticed that some of the bette clips have no sound on a phone but they work on a computer. Sorry for that, I'm not sure what's the problem here
@@FritzandtheOscars Thanks.
Excellent comment
I love your videos. Watching this a second time
Thanks so much! Glad you like them!
😢once again UA-cam did not notify me about this new upload from your channel. I’ve been waiting for this one for ages, you done such a great job with the 1962 Oscar best actresses ❤❤❤. Ann is such an underrated artist; she was absolutely amazing in the Miracle Worker
Thanks a lot for watching! Strange that you did not get a notification but I'm happy you found it! :)
@@FritzandtheOscarsBe Kind Rewind just uploaded a video about Valley of The Dolls, where Patty Duke starred in. Only after learning about the terrible childhood Duke had due to her manager, I realised that Ann was also the miracle worker for Patty Duke as well.
Yes, I watched that video of bkr (it's amazing as usual). I know about Patty's horrible childhood but that was not part of my video here so I'm glad she talked about it@@jiananlee5482
I'd love to see a movie just about Ann Sullivan. I've seen Miracle Worker 2-3 x's. Till saw clip where Ann says, "They didn't bury the bodies [right away]." OMG 😮
1:11:31 Bette's says she should've had the Oscar. In other words Anne Bancroft did not deserve hers. Bette is probably the only nominee in history to publicly state such a thing.
How can patty duke win best supporting actress and ann Bancroft not winning for best lead actress?
Bancroft's screen time was 1 hour, 21 minutes vs. Duke's 1 hour, 5 minutes. Close, plus Duke was, at the time, the youngest Oscar winner.
Wish coulda seen her in Two For the Seesaw. It had to be better than movie.
Great video! Where did you get the footage for the playhouse 90 Miracle Worker??
Found a way to buy the movie
@@FritzandtheOscars that's great! I've been trying to find that in years which gives me hope that it wasn't destroyed. Thank you!
“ feud “ is a real insult to Bette and Joan . It did the unforgivable , it made those two strong , assertive woman into “ victims “
Don't dismiss the star appeal of Dana Andrews. He was also the kind of big Hollywood name that brings butts to seats on Broadway.
Oh, I love him. He should have won Best Actor for The Best Years of our Lives
@@FritzandtheOscars Supporting for that film. March was the lead. He's underrated, Laura being a good example. Everyone talks about Jean Simmons, but his part is twice as large, and it's much more about him than her.
@@steveweinstein3222 Just shows how everyone sees things differently. For me, Andrews is the clear lead of Best Years - March is a co-lead but if someone had to be in supporting, it would rather be him for me. But they are both leads but Andrews is the real standout
Movie
Ryan Murphy you will pay for ur crimes. Running bette davis and joan Crawford image with that terrible show called fued
Loved your post!! Lol. Murphys show was a fraud. But one must admit entertaining
The fact that Bette Davis wanted a THIRD Oscar more than "ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD" and complained she did not get it for the next two decades makes me sad. If you need an Oscar that badly, your priorities and perspective are seriously out of whack. I guess Katharine Hepburn & Meryl Streep got what Davis apparently needed so desperately. Even Streep, with 20+ nominations, hasn't beat Hepburn's win record yet. Hepburn won four within Davis' lifetime. Streep has three Oscar wins. Do I think Davis deserved a third Oscar? Yes, for "ALL ABOUT EVE" in 1950!! In "BABY JANE", she is somewhere between a demented circus clown and a screaming witch. In 1962, the Oscar race probably deservedly came down to Hepburn and Bancroft, with Bancroft the winner. For Davis to say it all came down to Joan Crawford's imaginary "campaign against her" is not only sad and misguided, it is also pathetic.
I suppose Bette came close to a third a couple of times (Also Dark Victory) but she just never could get it
Movie Nothing
Thanks for your work.For me it' s a tie between Bancroft and Page. Bravo ,Fritz !.