The Hunchback of Notre Dame : Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

Well???

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

Yes in any year except for the amazing outstanding year of 1939, it would be a tough call but I think the Academy got it right giving it to Robert Donat, have you seen Goodbye, Mr Chips? Donat is fantastic, but of course so is Charles Laughton, at least they didn't give it to fricken Clark Gable!

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?


...at least they didn't give it to fricken Clark Gable!
Said on another thread, considering Gable was up for a gong for Rhett Butler, it's rather amazing that Laughton didn't even score a nomination for Quasimodo.

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

Without a doubt, yes he did.

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

Even if nominated, he would have been, at best third, as I think both Donat and Stewart would have been ahead. Not a good year to give the performance of your life.


It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

He was certainly better than Mickey Rooney who was nominated that year for Babes In Arms.

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

He did. Donat is a forgettable winner and his film flat and forgettable, though he is a first-rate actor. In this great year, Laughton, Stewart, and Gable (I don't care what you people say above) were all worthy. Olivier is excellent too really.

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

He really did.

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

YES! But then, so did Alfred Hitchcock, who never received a well deserved Oscar many times over.

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

Magnificent performance, one of his best, should have been at least nominated.

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

Why the hating on Clark Gable? He gave a great performance as Rhett. Watch the scene late in the movie when he's crying to Olivia deHavilland. That is a great and poignant piece of acting there.

And anyone who thinks Gable wasn't a great actor needs to see The Misfits, another great performance... and his last.

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

Hey generalusgrant I looked at your comment and didn't realise up to now why you went off like that. I don't think Clark Gable deserves such negative comments, at all. Gaving said that, I do think that Charles Laughton did outperform everyone that year and if Clark was among the nominees, CL defenitely should have been included.
I can live with Donat winning as the ill-fated actor was/is one of the most underrated actors of thirties and forties mostly due to ill health.

His (last) performance in 'The Misfits' was great and probably his best ever and
he could have won that role. For most of his career Clark had been considered the greatest movie star and he was. He wasn't among the greatest of actors in the thirties and forties but he was practically always dependable and when his looks and star quality started to fade his acting was more evident and he bagan playing parts he couldn't have played in previous decades and pulled them off!!!!!!

Hope this make sense,
Pat

Re: Did Laughton deserve an Oscar?

I think Laughton did deserve the Oscar for this. It's the best performance of 1939 by an actor and the fact that he wasn't actually even nominated, let alone won, is baffling.
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