When you said Always Second Best Actress would become a new series on this channel I looked to the framed photo of Natalie Wood on my wall and lovingly whispered, "soon my love"
I'm picturing a well deserve video on an actress who is HIGHLY underrated and considered by many to be one of the finest actresses of her time..... IRENE DUNN !!!!!!!!
Now before you say anything Marni Nixon didn't get a damn thing on her resume...but for 2024, Disney's Angela Bassett finally does the work. She finally won an honorary Oscar because she can simply act, sing and dance better than most other actresses, singers and dancers did but she's simply the best! That's my humble opinion.
Actresses in foreign films almost never win Oscars. I think it's fair to think of the Oscars as being awards for a certain type of movies, with rare exceptions. The fare that generally does well is generally not as varied as say, Le Palme d'Or.
There are some of her more famous roles I have yet to see but it’s always good to have something you’ve never experienced to look forward too. BN is just incredible she was amazing. It’s a role that might not be sympathetic but it is. She brings strength and vulnerability to her character.
@@louise-yo7kz i recently discovered Black Narcissus and was blown away by her performance. I always loved her in From Here to Eternity and also recently read that they almost cast Joan Crawford in the role. oh the horror....
I will say...it's an overused phrase but I think it's *literally* applicable here. I read so many stories about her process that I don't see often when reading about other actresses from this time (ex: Embedding with the Salvation Army for two weeks to prep for Major Barbara)
It's not ironic, cause there's no subversion of expectation such as e.g. Katherine Hepburn (4 times Oscar winner and almost never Oscar attendee) presenting an Oscar to Deborah Kerr (six times second best, never Oscar winner). Glenn Close is a coherent choice, since neither she nor DK won competetitive Oscars. Glen Close had lost 5 times by that time. 😃 they are both legendary🥰🥰🥰 though
@@AndreiGromit I disagree, someone totally accepted by the academy like Hepburn makes perfect sense for presenting Kerr her honorary award, whereas it’s ironic that Close had to give an award for something she hereself has so far never been able to achieve
Deborah Kerr involving Marnie Nixon in crafting her performance in the King and I, and going out of her way highlighting her contribution in interviews shows what a Class Act she was more than anything else.
Can't wait for Greta Garbo's, Barbara Stanwyck's, Rosalind Russell's, Ava Gardner's, Gene Tierney's, Eleanor Parker's, Irene Dunne's, Debbie Reynolds', Diahann Carroll's, Mary Tyler Moore's, Sharon Stone's, Angela Bassett's, Gena Rowlands', Mary McDonnell's, Joan Allen's, Isabelle Huppert's, Glenn Close's, Cicely Tyson's, Lee Remick's, Liv Ullmann's, Sigourney Weaver's, Marlene Dietrich's, Merle Oberon's, Rita Hayworth's and Lana Turner's videos. Not gonna lie when you said this was gonna become an ongoing series, the potential of my favorite girls Garbo and Stany getting their own videos made me wail a death screech of joy inside.
and the amazing Gena Rowlands!! I've been rewatching her work and reading about her alleged hiding of her husband's work and interviews (?) from public viewing, especially by a particularly angry and entitled professor and author, the guy who wrote "Cassavetes on Cassavetes."
A lot of Black and POC actors/actresses miss the opportunities to receive Oscar nominations and/or wins. It’s crazy, then again racism, and lack of “good” roles play factors. I can’t wait for more of these “second best” videos💯
In contrast to the British theatrical system, which celebrates actors giving radically different performances from role to role like Judi Dench (who played both Lady Macbeth and Sally Bowles) , I think Hollywood rewards actors with stardom who turn in performances which are variations on the same theme. Deborah Kerr was just consistently great in all of her roles. She was never a "type."
I disagree. Elizabeth Taylor in Virginia Woolf, Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf, Charlize Theron in Monster. Hell Meryl Streep in every one of her Oscar winning performances. If anything, actress have to age themselves or dramatically change their appearance to win an Oscar. Male actors are given space for subtle, less showy roles.
case in point: kristen stewart this year as Diana. the only thing she did differently was the accent. she was marginally better in the dramatic moments but very much within her wheelhouse.
This got me thinking about Michelle Pfeiffer and her career trajectory. Love Field, The Age of Innocence, White Oleander….so many missed opportunities to recognize her talent
I firmly believe one of her best roles was in ‘Batman Returns’. She even learned to used the whip and knock off the four mannequin heads in one take! And that was a real bird that flew out of her mouth in the scene when she met Penguin.
Even in “Mother!”, Pfeiffer’s presence made that film exceedingly more horrifying. I’ve never felt quite so uncomfortable watching a film during her scenes just… interacting with Jennifer Lawrence. So unsettling. She’s so underrated. :(
_Black Narcissus_ is one of my all-time favorite films, and it wouldn't have been half as good without her characterization of Sister Clodagh, and if anyone loves understated horror and hasn't seen _The Innocents_ try to find a copy!
Her performance in Night of the Iguana means so much to me on a personal level. Her monologue about depression, mental illness, existential despair never fails to move me deeply. I'm so excited to hear someone else rave about her because she truly is a quiet powerhouse of energy and emotion. Great video!
Deborah Kerr is one of the greatest actresses of our, I recently watched Black Narcissus and An Affair to Remember to celebrate her being 100 years old and my god she was fantastic.
I’m glad you’ve finally done a video on her. She was a wonderful person and actress. One of my favorites is “Tea and Sympathy” (1956) w/ John Kerr (which never gets enough attention compared to her other works). Don’t even get me started on the score. Oh, it’s such a tender, touching movie. Especially the closing scene. One of the few movies to ever make me cry. And a probably the most iconic quote from the film: “Years from now when you talk about this-and you will-be kind.” Kerr definitely was and is an overlooked celebrity. I’ve always fancied her beautifully serene, shy nature. My favorite actress of Golden Age Hollywood. Thanks for covering her!
I’m so excited that you’re making this series!! I can’t wait for Barbara Stanwyck’s video! Like Deborah, she’s a classic leading lady who should have 2 Best Actress Oscars but for whatever reason ended up with none. As much as I love Ingrid Bergman, I really wish Stanwyck won for Double Indemnity in 1945 as that is her signature work, and I would have loved for her to win for Stella Dallas in 1938 as well, as her final scene of her tearfully looking at her daughter is still so touching even after all this time
She should’ve been nominated for The Lady Eve and Meet John Doe in my opinion! Those are nominations should should’ve had and I’m forever angry she didn’t get them for those films. Also she should’ve had 3 Oscar’s because The Lady Eve was a tour de force!
I worship Deborah Kerr so much. This was such a good surprise. Anxiously awaiting the day you deep dive into Julie Andrews outside the “nanny trop” and into her Blake Edwards years.
I love her too and it’s nice if there is a series of those great actresses who never won. But I hope the series on Best Actress winners still continues regularly so we get to hear from those who are too forgotten these days like Pickford and people who I don’t even know about much.
@@sarasamaletdin4574 yes I want to see BKR's view on Mary, I think BKR knows who Mary is but doesn't talk about her, which is surprising, given the fact that her channel talks about women in film history, Mary is the most important woman in film history
Kerr and Garson are both AMAZING actresses who NEVER got the recognition they deserve, to this day. The actresses and actors from "old Hollywood", I feel, will never be replicated. So glad I found your channel!
Totally agree! One if my favourite movies of hers with Mitchum, along with Cary Grant and Joan Simmons is Stanley Donen "The grass is greener". In my opinion she was very suited for comedy and not given enough roles.
@@melodramaboy thank you very much for that piece of information do you happen to know why they all turned it down it does seem strange though because it's now considered an absolute classic take care it's nice to interact with people who actually enjoy the cinema the way I do a film with no zombies
Funnily enough, one of the cinematic quotes that have accompanied me all these years, is Deborah Kerr in The Night of the Iguana: "The subterranean travels that the spooked and bedevilled take thorugh the unrighted sides of their own natures until - finally - they see a faint grey light and keep climbing towards it" Mr Wiliams credited, I will never forget how D. Kerr deliverd that.
Yes, it's amazing she was nominated so many times and never clinched a win -- but a truth that not many people really want to admit, is that the most talented of artists aren't normally the ones who get the recognition. Is that a bad thing? Maybe, but it just goes to show that true accolades are in the work, and the lasting impression one leaves on the world. Awards - while perfectly nice and fine - are fickle and rely more on 'of the moment' popularity in a relatively small circle of influence than reflecting any true barometer of achievement. In any case, this a wonderfully made video and I appreciate the insight. Cheers!
Black Narcissus is one of my favourite films of all time. And I love Deborah Karr for the way she treated her dubbing voice Marnie Nixon e.g. "Well, she is not allowed to tell that she was the singing voice in 'the King I' and due to signing issues in her contract. But I signed nothing so I can tell." Above all her talent and beauty she was although a hundred percent pro! Nether afraid of acknowledge the achievement of colleagues or other artists.
I find that there's generally this pattern, where when an artist turns the tables and tries something completely new successfully, that's when they get their name on the map (Kerr, Crawford, Leigh, Hepburn when she went for screwball comedy). It's probably part of why Garson has unfortunately slipped into oblivion in recent years - she never left the safety of the curated set of roles provided to her by MGM. Ironically, the iconography of such subversion of the audience's expectations often overshadows the actual work of an artist. Should anyone be interested, I believe Kerr to be at her finest in Black Narcissus and the Innocents (those perfromances are otherworldly, truly excellent and criminally underappreciated), and not in From Here to Eternity (as wonderfully subtle as she is there), even though that is her most fondly remembered perfromance.
This video is amazing! I wasn't really interested with the Deborah Kerr feature on the Criterion Channel but after seeing this, I want to binge-watch all the selected films in that feature!
I totally agree. It's one of those rare films which has scarcely no area in which it could be improved. It's near flawless and Kerr is the jewel in its crown. It is, of course, far more than a horror film, should anyone not be a fan of the genre. It should be seen.
I saw you say on Twitter that this video wasn't doing well, so I decided to come back and rewatch it. I don't watch many movies and know next-to-nothing about old Hollywood but your videos are always so fun and informative; I really appreciate how you use the focus on singular actresses to discuss the context of women in showbiz at the time. Thanks for making 'em!
Thank you so much for this interesting and well-researched video. I relished it. As with Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr has always been one of my favorite actresses. And no, I was not alive when she made all her movies! I'm much younger than that. I simply sought them out whenever I had the chance. She was a presence on film that you simply could not ignore in any scene she was in. As that one director said, she acted with her eyes when words were not necessary. In my opinion, Deborah Kerr had that same screen presence that Olivia Dehavilland had, but sadly did not get the accolades she so richly deserved. I respect her so much -- as do many others apparently, since you lengthy video has gotten over 51,000+ views in 3 days. Hats off for a screen legend. RIP Deborah Kerr.
I hope that you eventually do videos on Maggie smith and Angela Lansbury. I feel like my entire generation associates these actresses with their more recent works. I’m a fan of both but still think I’ve only seen one or two performances from each of them that are older than the 90s. I would love to learn more about their early careers.
My mum took me out of school to see "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969 - I was 12). She was brought up in London and always took us out of school (in Canada) when she thought that we MUST see some film. I remember "Lawrence of Arabia", "A Man for All Seasons", "Romeo and Juliet" (Zeffirelli version). But Maggie Smith's performance as Jean Brodie remains one of the most resonant after all these years...
She really did have the misfortune of going against Olivia de Havilland in The Heiress, which was, as mentioned, a career best for Olivia. The Heiress is actually one of the best performances by a Best Actress winner, in my humble opinion, and isn't mentioned enough when folks recount the "best of the Best Actress winners". I admire that, theoretically, De Havilland faced stiff competition from Kerr rather than just enjoying a cakewalk, although I as I understand it, her win was as much of a sure thing as there ever was in the history of the Oscars. Still, Edward My Son is an underrated gem and per the usual, Kerr was riveting. I think most folks would consider her the "alternative winner", and many "the best" nominee from that year, and it's a valid argument.
As someone who has always had great respect for Kerr, I admit I've taken her talents for granted. For that, I apologize. The only film you mentioned that I haven't seen is The Innocents, so I will be viewing it this week. That being said, this may be your best video yet. I was glued to every image and to every word you spoke. You have surpassed all of your previous work, which was already laudable. You're now in Pauline Kael territory. Good Job!
I will always remember the first time I watched The Innocents. Her performance is insanely good and just heartbreaking. My favorite ghost horror movie ever and the nuance in her performance is exactly what the Capote interpreted adaptation needed.
She's definitely at the peak of her abilities, and isn't afraid to go to some dark places in the role, lending a creepy, too-attentive element to Ms. Giddens relations with the children.
Check her out in The Chalk Garden. Her profession is the same as her character in The Innocents. Much different story though. The whole family can enjoy it.
What a great way to celebrate Deborah's centennial ❤️ Thank you for such a detailed video about her wonderful career! I'm actually a big fan of hers too. She's one of those actors that is terribly underrated nowadays and not even popular/known for any other reason outside of their work, but that I love and appreciate anyway, simply because I've watched a lot of their work and learned about their career and everything somehow connected/resonated with me. Hope this video inspires some people to give her films a chance!
Have A Very Happy 100th Birthday Deborah Kerr and RIP. Her Lifetime Achievement Academy Award was one of the Most Well Deserved (along with Ciesly Tyson and Dame Angela Lansbury's wins).
I loved her in "Night of the Iguana" as a woman who has seen some challenging times but it made her more compassionate.Great cast with Ava Gardner, Grayson Hall and Richard Burton.
Kerr is my entry point to Hollywood classic era. Her portrayal as Terry in An Affair to Remember was so fascinating to the point it made me to open up to hollywood classic era. Will always remember her for that. Thanks for making a video on her.
Incidentally, “The Grass is Greener” has a certain touch of magic, and deserves a viewing. Ms. Kerr resides firmly in my pantheon of greats, thank you for spotlighting her here!
A great actress who was wonderful in several films including with her version of “An Affair to Remember” w/ Cary Grant. From “Black Narcissus”, “From Here to Eternity” to “Night of the Iguana” I’ve enjoyed her acting.
I can't explain how well Deborah Kerr seems to act "falling in love". I've seen both "An Affair To Remember" and "From Here To Eternity". Both characters are such different women but I felt myself believe them genuinely falling in love. I love her.
Deborah Kerr has always been an actress that stood out to me. Even as a kid she seemed so beautiful to me...refined but also mysterious. It was hard to look away from her whenever she was on screen. I was so excited that she got her own video in this channel and you did her absolute justice! Thank you for another treat. And the bit with Olivia Coleman was hilarious! Also, it was very interesting to see excerpts of her interviews...quite striking to know her response to the woman who worked as a censor watcher. "How terribly dull". I think I would have felt the same way if a censor person ever bragged to me about never having to censor much of my work. It's awesome that you picked up on her sense of humor. Makes her even more relatable.
Here representing Black Narcissus. The absolute best. Vacation From Marriage is also so good. Bonjour Tristesse is so great. I also love The Grass is Greener.
"Bonjour Tristesse", first mention that I found here, such a subtle, mature and heartwrenching part. Also, my favorite that nobody seems to have seen: 1959 "The Journey" with again a formidable Yul Brynner, where the emotion between them, barely hinted in TKI, is again forbidden but passionate and unmistakable
7:47 Miss Kerr was Scottish, not English. You could edit and say ..."she was 'British' like Greer." Also, since you go to great lengths to discuss Miss Kerr's work during the '60's, I would site the omission of Miss Kerr's compelling performance as the mysterious and enigmatic 'Miss Madrigal' in 1964's 'The Chalk Garden'. A top drawer production featuring an offbeat role for Miss Kerr. Overall, this was a worthwhile featurette about Miss Kerr. Your film clips are gorgeous and I always enjoy your narration.
Every time I see a correction of “Scottish, not English”, I always think of the UN cafeteria exchange between Peter Capaldi and James Gandolfini in 2009’s _In the Loop._
Thanks SM. I was going to point this out but thought I should read comments first to see if I had been beaten to it. :) I think part of the problem is that many Americans (like the narrator) never seem to acknowledge "Britain" or British", and Scotland is only this picturesque place attached to England. After all, they continually call Elizabeth 2 Queen of England! (Which, of course, she is not as there is no such title).
I'm glad there's content on topics like this that's so thoughtful and smart. There's a lot of throwaway, poorly-produced content on movies and celebrities, so it's refreshing to see videos like this that are so smart and well-done.
Definitely an overlooked actress. Her comedic talent is simply stupendous. At the very least she deserves an honorary Oscar too. Five nominations is good but not enough for this wonderful actress.
@@Solitaire_Guy she may be my fav actress from that era (I can't decide tho lol, too many to pick) personally think she should have won for Theodora goes wild. Not necessarily my fav of her performances but imo it was the best of that years nominations.
@@blabla5938 She is one of my favorites. Love Affair, The Awful Truth, My Favorite Wife, etc. These are good performances. I do think she should have won for Theodora (looking at the other nominees). Comedic performances tend to be overshadowed though which is unfortunate as they are harder to pull off. Her dramatic skill is good too. Perhaps a little less than her comedy but better than most actresses.
"An Affair To Remember" was, for me, one of those films which just floors you. Cary Grant is...Cary Grant, but I was so enchanted by Kerr's performance that the film quickly bumped up my "Greats You HAVE to Watch" list. And you're so right; its Kerr's simple "blink and you'll miss it" actions and expressions that draw you in to each and every one of her performances. Thank you so much AGAIN for all your work! x
Your videos are sometimes the only thing I have to look forward to. I can rewatch old ones a million times or find one I surprisingly haven't seen yet. Thank you so much for making these videos, they're honestly like 1 of 4 things that make me genuinely happy 🥰
Wonderful video yet again and it’s more than justified to be a huge fan of Deborah Kerr. I love her, too. What I don’t understand though is why she also never won a BAFTA.
I've been waiting for this one! She's one of my favorite actresses and I feel that she's often underrated and at the very least hasn't stayed as popular and relevant as other actresses of her time. I find her acting to be incredibly compelling and she has a wonderful range.
“Kerr rhymes with star” being in every article sounds funny, but smart. Hollywood during the time wanted to make sure people know how to pronounced her last name. Great job on analyzing her work. Cannot wait for more of these videos😌⭐️
Deborah Kerr and Maggie Smith are my 2 favorite actresses. Deborah was such an intensely intimate actor, reveling in close-ups, and exquisite planes of her face. her beauty was not of the convential sort, shadow and light both highlighted the strong but very feminine features, and her eyes always glowed with an internal fire . In every scene, you always knew she was the smartest person in the room.
I didn’t realize this was missing in my life until I received the notification about it. DK is significantly and constantly overlooked. I’ve watch “Affair” more times than I care to comment and I keep going back to “Separate Tables” where she just is a tour de force. On a side note, since you mentioned her in this, I think Angela Lansbury deserves a video. Also one who was severely overlooked in her “movie” time and typecast out of Hollywood.
We are kindred spirits, Theresa B. I've watched "An Affair to Remember", my third favorite film of all time, dozens of time- my eyes mist at the scene with the grandmother, and I lose it when Cary discovers the painting. Always. But Deborah's best performance, which should have been rewarded with a best actress Oscar, is her Sibyl Railton-Bell in "Separate Tables". One of my top ten movies of all time and one that I watch 2, 3 and even 4 times a year (I'm retired).
I think many actors would welcome being yesterday’s news if it came with an Oscar! As much as people try to down play it’s importance it means a lot to actors. Hell even Sean Penn accepted his with gratitude after bad mouthing the Academy for years. Everyone wants to be appreciated by their peers no matter the job or industry.
@@MrStGeorgeIllawarra it's a longer list than that, to be concise. But getting nominated several times, makes for a consistently good actor, as opposed to someone who does well once, wins, then does only crap.
From Here to Eternity was magic in a bottle - it revitalized the careers of Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Monty Clift, and Frank Sinatra! I love well-written & successful films that give talented actors another push towards success. We need another one like this in Hollywood!
Recent examples: Amy Adams, Michelle Williams, Annette Bening 😭 😭 😭 all iconic epically good actors. Also Saoirse…though still relatively young/early in her career.
Julianne Moore misses being on this list by finally winning for Still Alice but before that she was constantly being nominated and losing year after year.
Well, Julianne Moore finally won her first Academy Award in 2015 for best actress in "Still Alice" after nominated four times. But at least, she's got out of this mess for good.
@@kellie8468 Black Narcissus is one of the great Powell/Pressburger films, but it had too many characteristics going against it for it to do well in Hollywood: - It was made entirely outside the Hollywood system - It has a very British vibe - It expects the audience to think about the subject and become deeply involved - It's about sexuality when such things were a bit taboo in 'Murica - It questions religion at a time when that was taboo in "Murica.
Your writing is always top notch. Like genuinely thank you for your content, thank you for giving me something new to be giddy and excited about mmmm to research for myself!! Like last month I reread Breakfast at Tiffany’s because of your video and had such a great time lol…I’m so excited to dig into Deborah’s filmography!!
Love, love, love you for doing this as part of an inspired series. Can't wait for the next instalment! My favourite Kerr films are Love on the Dole, Black Narcissus and The Innocents. The latter truly a forgotten masterpiece, way ahead of its time. Bravo BKRW 💋
"The Innocents" is fantastic, with one of Kerr's most dedicated and daring performances. One of those movies wherein everyone seemed to know what they were doing, and executed to perfection.
Love this! Deborah is marvelous in everything. I rewatched Tea and Sympathy for the 5th or 6th time and I was astounded at the dozens of layers and complexities I hadn't noticed in the previous viewings. That is my favorite of her work - so subtly meaty. What a lovely tribute to her, thank you!
A part of me wonders if instead of waiting out for Sunset Boulevard's Musical Movie release, The Academy will just award Glenn Close an Honorary Oscar, much like they did Deborah Kerr and Peter O'Toole
I would love for Betty Buckley to play the Sunset Boulevard Musical Movie...she's under-appreciated IMO. I always wish she had gotten more film roles, because she was amazing in all of her roles. Hell, I'd love a Tender Mercies spin-off that focuses on her character, Dixie (patent pendingggg).
In a recent interview, Andrew Lloyd Webber said that the talks for Sunset Boulevard remained too long in development hell, and they just scrapped it. It’s just so sad really. It would take another while before we can get Glenn her proper competitve Oscar… I always thought that Sunset has easier chances for a film revival with Glenn and other A-list cast. I guess ALW was traumatized how Cats turned out (despite an A-list cast, it flopped), and right now he’s focusing on Cinderella and preparing it for a Broadway transfer (there’s lots of drama regarding the West End version of the musical, dicussions on Theatreboard forum amounts to that. There’s also skepticism whether Cinderella can pull off on Broadway, as its pantomime-type of performance is not an American’s cup of tea).
Whenever I see a new 'Be Kind Rewind', I know my day suddenly has gotten better and I'll be learning about some new, great cinematic gems to watch! I always was a huge Deborah Kerr fan when I was a kid (started when I was 10 and into 'The King and I', but even I haven't seen all these gems you mentioned, so I'm gonna go looking for them now :)
Oddly enough I think Deborah Kerr is one of the "classic Hollywood" actresses which I watched the most partly because my parents loved her (they showed me The King and I when I was young) and her films are actually quite good. I mean, The Innocents is well written and superbly acted, but I remember that I was actually scared by it - a black and white movie that's made 60 years ago.
Deborah Kerr was a class act. Because of her amazing range and depth she raised the bar in whatever film she was in. As a teen I remember that we saw “An Affair to Remember” every summer at camp in the dining hall. When I saw “Sleepless in Seattle” I totally understood Rita Wilson’s explanation to Tom Hanks about why that film was the perfect chick flick tearjerker. Of course I saw many of her other films later on when became interested in Hollywood classic films. It’s too bad that she wasn’t as appreciated as she deserved to be during her lifetime.
Although the "Welcome back, Ingrid" storyline didn't hurt, Bergman is impressive in "Anastasia" and performance-wise merited Oscar consideration, regardless of the movie's other assets; did she steal the prize from Kerr or anyone else that year? Hard to say yes to that notion, after watching Bergman's work. As for 1960, I think Elizabeth Taylor does give one of her best performances in the otherwise-underwhelming "BUtterfield 8," but might have to go along with Kerr's assessment and give her the Oscar on merit for her warm, moving and down-to-earth performance in "The Sundowners"- Kerr did win the NYFC prize and could have been rated a dark horse at least, with Shirley the front-runner before Taylor's illness hurled all her competitors down the elevator shaft MacLaine's Fran Kubelik presided over.
@@DAN-lo7fz I would go with Kerr or MacLaine for 1960, but based on performance alone I place Taylor above quite a few other winners, even if they had the advantage of appearing in better films. There's a reason Taylor did get nominated for a subpar film before any illness factored in to gain her the win, and I think scenes such as the one wherein Gloria recounts her childhood seduction, with Taylor providing a depth and emotional clarity that is riveting to watch, provide the answer as to why Taylor was deemed worthy of placement among the top five that year.
@@wrinklykongputhy It's an interesting topic- quality of performance versus quality of role and/or film. I wonder how many great performances are out there that don't get much (or any) recognition due to the other two factors.
Ingrid is my favorite actress of all time, so it's obvious where I fall on that side of the equation, even though Anastasia isn't quite Ingrid's very best work (to me, Gaslight is).
Thanks for emphasizing the work in the wrap up of this video. While awards are nice, the work is what captures our imagination. Deborah Kerr is one of my favorite actresses and I continue to watch her films, some I've seem many times. I had the good fortune to meet her when I was a teenager and she was very kind and gracious - I think this part of her characters is not acting, just bringing herself to the role.
As emotional as Rita Wilson was when she was talking about An Affair to Remember, I get misty eyed when Tom Hanks and Alexander Gould weep over The Dirty Dozen.
Hello. Your channel has become rather an obsession for me. I have gone from one vid, to the next, to the next and I just want to pause long enough to say thank you for these incredible showcases. I grew up watching and being inspired by these actors and I often feel so sad that so few people today have any knowledge of their greatness. You're changing all that! I love your writing. Your delivery. Your attention to detail and your passion for great performances. You've already taught me so much. I cannot say thank you enough. With love from one more aspiring actor learning from the greats, Dave 😘
Great homage! I didn't realize how many of her films I was familiar with! She was enjoyable in each role! But it's exactly what you said; I didn't hear much about her off screen. I never realized how important that is for a movie star.
Regarding the supporting "Eternity" aspect you mention, today Kerr could go for Supporting Actress as part of the ensemble cast, and probably win. Her screen time is about the same as co-star and winner Donna Reed's, and there's not a problem with a top star (sometimes with a lot more screen time) going for the supporting prize now, even when they should be placed in the lead category; in Deborah's "Eternity" case, I don't think supporting would be wrong though, as Lancaster and Clift are the two main characters, while Kerr and Reed are the main female stars, but in smaller roles.
Nowadays stars would do anything to go into supporting categories to get an easy win or nomination. Not to disparage the category, but it belongs to the real supporting turns!
I love her in the Innocents! I'll admit, the first time I heard of her was in sleepless in Seattle! And I watched An Affair to Remember because of it. I didn't really like it much, but I wasn't used to old movies then, maybe I should give it another try. Thanks for the great video as always! Now I've got a lot more movies to add to my watch list!
With each and every video, you confirm you have the best film essays on RUclips. I love that you shed light on actresses who were previously in the shadows of big stars. Mostly, I appreciate how you pull back the curtain on stardom and shine a spotlight on talent versus star power. Well done, once again! 👏 👏 👏
I first remember her as the older Emma Harte in A Woman of Substance/Hold The Dream, she’s how I picture the character when reading the books, even the younger version that she doesn’t play. I love the way she gave credit to Marni Nixon, a touch of class.
Fantastic insight into a great artist! I like that you champion "The King and I", not only because it showcases her acting range in a musical, which she never did and was therefore a challenge, but because it's an unconventional choice in light of "Black Narcissus" and "The Innocents". I admit, I think those last two are two of my favorites of hers, but she really does have a wonderful body of work, and "The King and I", and her performance, are MUCH better than Ingrid and "Anastasia" are. I'm looking forward to when you get to Barbara Stanwyck, Thelma Ritter (even though only Best Supporting nominees?), Glenn Close, Garbo, Irene Dunne, and/or Myrna Loy (although, I don't think she was ever nominated...). And what about someone more "current", like Marsha Mason or Michelle Pfieffer or Annette Benning. The sad thing is, there isn't even enough Best Actresses of color to warrant one of these videos =(
I love Deborah Kerr. A consistently great actress giving great performances. I think she could have and should have won several Oscars. As an Australian, I particularly liked her and Robert Mitchum performance in the Sun Downers. They really captured the accent, the mannerisms, and the feel of Australians, particularly in that era. I know its very hard for anyone who isn't Australian to get our accent right, and they nailed it. All hail Ms Deborah Kerr is an actress among actresses.
I don't know who you are and stumbled on this video, but this documentary was FANTASTIC. Beautifully produced and written, great research and quoting and really thoughtful analysis. Thank you so much. Kerr was an EXCELLENT actress, of depth and subtlety, had great films, and definitely not awarded as she should have been. Was very happy that she was given a career academy award. Thank you again for this beautiful analysis and study of Deborah Kerr.
When you said Always Second Best Actress would become a new series on this channel I looked to the framed photo of Natalie Wood on my wall and lovingly whispered, "soon my love"
This comment made my heart go pitter pat.
Yes please. I love Natalie Wood. Splendor in The Grass is one of my favorites.
Thinking of you, dearest Judy, though you probably weren't nominated enough to qualify...
I love this. Thank you.
I'm picturing a well deserve video on an actress who is HIGHLY underrated and considered by many to be one of the finest actresses of her time.....
IRENE DUNN !!!!!!!!
The fact that she credited Marni Nixon despite the norms of the time is awesome.
She must have seen "Singin' in the Rain" and realised how much of a "heel" she would be if she didn't. ;-)
Marni Nixon finally got to sing in The Sound of Music as one of the nuns.
Marni Nixon deserved a Lifetime Achievement Oscar in my Humble Opinion...
Now before you say anything Marni Nixon didn't get a damn thing on her resume...but for 2024, Disney's Angela Bassett
finally does the work. She finally won an honorary Oscar because she can simply act, sing and dance better than most other actresses, singers and dancers
did but she's simply the best! That's my humble opinion.
Simply the BEST❤
I would have given her the Oscar for Black Narcissus and The King And I. She was fabulous!
Actresses in foreign films almost never win Oscars. I think it's fair to think of the Oscars as being awards for a certain type of movies, with rare exceptions. The fare that generally does well is generally not as varied as say, Le Palme d'Or.
In both she was very compelling. I really liked her work in Black Narcissus
She’s especially compelling in Black Narcissus! I often watch that and Heaven Knows Mr. Allison back to back in movie marathons.
There are some of her more famous roles I have yet to see but it’s always good to have something you’ve never experienced to look forward too. BN is just incredible she was amazing. It’s a role that might not be sympathetic but it is. She brings strength and vulnerability to her character.
@@louise-yo7kz i recently discovered Black Narcissus and was blown away by her performance. I always loved her in From Here to Eternity and also recently read that they almost cast Joan Crawford in the role. oh the horror....
This had been said a lot lately, but she always understood the assignment.
More like she did her homework.
Epic.
I will say...it's an overused phrase but I think it's *literally* applicable here. I read so many stories about her process that I don't see often when reading about other actresses from this time (ex: Embedding with the Salvation Army for two weeks to prep for Major Barbara)
I love her work, but I never liked her persona, nor believed her character. Don't know why.
I loved what Deborah Kerr did with her role in ‘Night of the Iguana’.
Isn't it ironic that Glenn Close presented Deborah Kerr with her honorary Oscar?
It's not ironic, cause there's no subversion of expectation such as e.g. Katherine Hepburn (4 times Oscar winner and almost never Oscar attendee) presenting an Oscar to Deborah Kerr (six times second best, never Oscar winner). Glenn Close is a coherent choice, since neither she nor DK won competetitive Oscars. Glen Close had lost 5 times by that time. 😃 they are both legendary🥰🥰🥰 though
LOL. She passed the curse onto Glenn.
A little too ironic, but I really do think (sorry, couldn’t help it😅)
@@AndreiGromit I disagree, someone totally accepted by the academy like Hepburn makes perfect sense for presenting Kerr her honorary award, whereas it’s ironic that Close had to give an award for something she hereself has so far never been able to achieve
You can't make this stuff up!
Deborah Kerr involving Marnie Nixon in crafting her performance in the King and I, and going out of her way highlighting her contribution in interviews shows what a Class Act she was more than anything else.
A great actress....lovely lady...that always gave a exceptional performance.
Can't wait for Greta Garbo's, Barbara Stanwyck's, Rosalind Russell's, Ava Gardner's, Gene Tierney's, Eleanor Parker's, Irene Dunne's, Debbie Reynolds', Diahann Carroll's, Mary Tyler Moore's, Sharon Stone's, Angela Bassett's, Gena Rowlands', Mary McDonnell's, Joan Allen's, Isabelle Huppert's, Glenn Close's, Cicely Tyson's, Lee Remick's, Liv Ullmann's, Sigourney Weaver's, Marlene Dietrich's, Merle Oberon's, Rita Hayworth's and Lana Turner's videos.
Not gonna lie when you said this was gonna become an ongoing series, the potential of my favorite girls Garbo and Stany getting their own videos made me wail a death screech of joy inside.
and the amazing Gena Rowlands!! I've been rewatching her work and reading about her alleged hiding of her husband's work and interviews (?) from public viewing, especially by a particularly angry and entitled professor and author, the guy who wrote "Cassavetes on Cassavetes."
Thank you. I add to the many great actresses mentioned here for this séries Debra Winger
A lot of Black and POC actors/actresses miss the opportunities to receive Oscar nominations and/or wins. It’s crazy, then again racism, and lack of “good” roles play factors. I can’t wait for more of these “second best” videos💯
Everyone forgets Jean Arthur.
Deborah Kerr may have never won an Oscar, but she was NEVER second best to anyone! She was top shelf.
In contrast to the British theatrical system, which celebrates actors giving radically different performances from role to role like Judi Dench (who played both Lady Macbeth and Sally Bowles) , I think Hollywood rewards actors with stardom who turn in performances which are variations on the same theme. Deborah Kerr was just consistently great in all of her roles. She was never a "type."
@Fadhil Ramadhani yes! And while I love Katherine Hepburn, she is always Hepburn.
I disagree. Elizabeth Taylor in Virginia Woolf, Nicole Kidman as Virginia Woolf, Charlize Theron in Monster. Hell Meryl Streep in every one of her Oscar winning performances. If anything, actress have to age themselves or dramatically change their appearance to win an Oscar. Male actors are given space for subtle, less showy roles.
Hollywood only rewards money.
@@TheWarrrenator Really? Have you seen the Oscar winners of the last few years? Few in the world has seen these films.
case in point: kristen stewart this year as Diana. the only thing she did differently was the accent. she was marginally better in the dramatic moments but very much within her wheelhouse.
A very happy 100th birthday to one of the greatest actresses who ever lived!
This got me thinking about Michelle Pfeiffer and her career trajectory. Love Field, The Age of Innocence, White Oleander….so many missed opportunities to recognize her talent
She was superb in the movie about Madoff with Robert DeNiro…. The best performance of her career.
"Dangerous Minds" & "I am Sam" too. Absolutely wonderful & believable!
I firmly believe one of her best roles was in ‘Batman Returns’. She even learned to used the whip and knock off the four mannequin heads in one take! And that was a real bird that flew out of her mouth in the scene when she met Penguin.
Don't forget Dangerous Liasons..
Even in “Mother!”, Pfeiffer’s presence made that film exceedingly more horrifying. I’ve never felt quite so uncomfortable watching a film during her scenes just… interacting with Jennifer Lawrence. So unsettling. She’s so underrated. :(
_Black Narcissus_ is one of my all-time favorite films, and it wouldn't have been half as good without her characterization of Sister Clodagh, and if anyone loves understated horror and hasn't seen _The Innocents_ try to find a copy!
Her performance in Night of the Iguana means so much to me on a personal level. Her monologue about depression, mental illness, existential despair never fails to move me deeply. I'm so excited to hear someone else rave about her because she truly is a quiet powerhouse of energy and emotion. Great video!
Deborah Kerr is one of the greatest actresses of our, I recently watched Black Narcissus and An Affair to Remember to celebrate her being 100 years old and my god she was fantastic.
AATR showed what a good light comedienne she was; often an underrated skill.
I’m glad you’ve finally done a video on her. She was a wonderful person and actress. One of my favorites is “Tea and Sympathy” (1956) w/ John Kerr (which never gets enough attention compared to her other works). Don’t even get me started on the score. Oh, it’s such a tender, touching movie. Especially the closing scene. One of the few movies to ever make me cry. And a probably the most iconic quote from the film: “Years from now when you talk about this-and you will-be kind.” Kerr definitely was and is an overlooked celebrity. I’ve always fancied her beautifully serene, shy nature. My favorite actress of Golden Age Hollywood. Thanks for covering her!
I’m so excited that you’re making this series!! I can’t wait for Barbara Stanwyck’s video! Like Deborah, she’s a classic leading lady who should have 2 Best Actress Oscars but for whatever reason ended up with none. As much as I love Ingrid Bergman, I really wish Stanwyck won for Double Indemnity in 1945 as that is her signature work, and I would have loved for her to win for Stella Dallas in 1938 as well, as her final scene of her tearfully looking at her daughter is still so touching even after all this time
She should’ve been nominated for The Lady Eve and Meet John Doe in my opinion! Those are nominations should should’ve had and I’m forever angry she didn’t get them for those films.
Also she should’ve had 3 Oscar’s because The Lady Eve was a tour de force!
I worship Deborah Kerr so much. This was such a good surprise. Anxiously awaiting the day you deep dive into Julie Andrews outside the “nanny trop” and into her Blake Edwards years.
I love her too and it’s nice if there is a series of those great actresses who never won. But I hope the series on Best Actress winners still continues regularly so we get to hear from those who are too forgotten these days like Pickford and people who I don’t even know about much.
@@sarasamaletdin4574 yes I want to see BKR's view on Mary, I think BKR knows who Mary is but doesn't talk about her, which is surprising, given the fact that her channel talks about women in film history, Mary is the most important woman in film history
Kerr and Garson are both AMAZING actresses who NEVER got the recognition they deserve, to this day. The actresses and actors from "old Hollywood", I feel, will never be replicated. So glad I found your channel!
Her teaming with Robert Mitchum is one of the most underrated screen pairings of all time
Agree- they're sublime together in "Heaven Knows" and create one of the most believable onscreen husband-wife dynamics in "The Sundowners."
Totally agree! One if my favourite movies of hers with Mitchum, along with Cary Grant and Joan Simmons is Stanley Donen "The grass is greener". In my opinion she was very suited for comedy and not given enough roles.
She had a subdued but unmistakable sexiness that made me wonder why Hitchcock never cast her.
I couldn't agree with you more
He wanted to cast Deborah, William Holden and Cary Grant in Dial M For Murder but all three declined.
Because she wasn't blonde?
@@melodramaboy thank you very much for that piece of information do you happen to know why they all turned it down it does seem strange though because it's now considered an absolute classic take care it's nice to interact with people who actually enjoy the cinema the way I do a film with no zombies
I was thinking the same thing!
Deborah Kerr is another reason why we love/hate the Oscars
Funnily enough, one of the cinematic quotes that have accompanied me all these years, is Deborah Kerr in The Night of the Iguana: "The subterranean travels that the spooked and bedevilled take thorugh the unrighted sides of their own natures until - finally - they see a faint grey light and keep climbing towards it" Mr Wiliams credited, I will never forget how D. Kerr deliverd that.
wow, that's a beautiful quote!
What a great series! I immediately thought of Barbara Stanwyck and Myrna Loy, can’t wait for more
Oh god yes, Barbara especially. She's so unbelievably incredible as an actress, it's shocking and downright perverse that she never won.
Yes, it's amazing she was nominated so many times and never clinched a win -- but a truth that not many people really want to admit, is that the most talented of artists aren't normally the ones who get the recognition. Is that a bad thing? Maybe, but it just goes to show that true accolades are in the work, and the lasting impression one leaves on the world. Awards - while perfectly nice and fine - are fickle and rely more on 'of the moment' popularity in a relatively small circle of influence than reflecting any true barometer of achievement. In any case, this a wonderfully made video and I appreciate the insight. Cheers!
Did Gary Oldman ever win an Oscar?
Also, awards and top roles can be "bought" -- just ask Norma Shearer and Jennifer Jones.
Black Narcissus is one of my favourite films of all time. And I love Deborah Karr for the way she treated her dubbing voice Marnie Nixon e.g. "Well, she is not allowed to tell that she was the singing voice in 'the King I' and due to signing issues in her contract. But I signed nothing so I can tell." Above all her talent and beauty she was although a hundred percent pro! Nether afraid of acknowledge the achievement of colleagues or other artists.
What an actress!!!! There was nothing she couldn’t do. Her presence was more than enough to carry an entire film. Thank you for this video.
I find that there's generally this pattern, where when an artist turns the tables and tries something completely new successfully, that's when they get their name on the map (Kerr, Crawford, Leigh, Hepburn when she went for screwball comedy). It's probably part of why Garson has unfortunately slipped into oblivion in recent years - she never left the safety of the curated set of roles provided to her by MGM. Ironically, the iconography of such subversion of the audience's expectations often overshadows the actual work of an artist. Should anyone be interested, I believe Kerr to be at her finest in Black Narcissus and the Innocents (those perfromances are otherworldly, truly excellent and criminally underappreciated), and not in From Here to Eternity (as wonderfully subtle as she is there), even though that is her most fondly remembered perfromance.
This video is amazing! I wasn't really interested with the Deborah Kerr feature on the Criterion Channel but after seeing this, I want to binge-watch all the selected films in that feature!
I think a win for The King and I would have been sublime and it would’ve been a lovely addition to Brynner’s best actor win
Absolutely! She should have won .
The chemistry between them during the waltz scene is so exquisitely palpable.
I've always felt that "Shall We Dance" was the best sex scene ever filmed. Simply masterful.
“Black Narcissus”, “The King and I”, and “The Innocents” are my favorite films of hers.
I've always adored Deborah. I think she can melt into any character. She's just that good. ❤
She is absolutely brilliant in the Innocents.
Yep, and in typical Oscar fashion, not even nominated for it.
Top 10 horror of all time.
One of my favorite horror films! Top 3!
I totally agree. It's one of those rare films which has scarcely no area in which it could be improved. It's near flawless and Kerr is the jewel in its crown. It is, of course, far more than a horror film, should anyone not be a fan of the genre. It should be seen.
I saw you say on Twitter that this video wasn't doing well, so I decided to come back and rewatch it. I don't watch many movies and know next-to-nothing about old Hollywood but your videos are always so fun and informative; I really appreciate how you use the focus on singular actresses to discuss the context of women in showbiz at the time. Thanks for making 'em!
Thank you so much for this interesting and well-researched video. I relished it.
As with Greer Garson, Deborah Kerr has always been one of my favorite actresses. And no, I was not alive when she made all her movies! I'm much younger than that. I simply sought them out whenever I had the chance. She was a presence on film that you simply could not ignore in any scene she was in. As that one director said, she acted with her eyes when words were not necessary.
In my opinion, Deborah Kerr had that same screen presence that Olivia Dehavilland had, but sadly did not get the accolades she so richly deserved. I respect her so much -- as do many others apparently, since you lengthy video has gotten over 51,000+ views in 3 days. Hats off for a screen legend. RIP Deborah Kerr.
I hope that you eventually do videos on Maggie smith and Angela Lansbury. I feel like my entire generation associates these actresses with their more recent works. I’m a fan of both but still think I’ve only seen one or two performances from each of them that are older than the 90s. I would love to learn more about their early careers.
My mum took me out of school to see "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969 - I was 12). She was brought up in London and always took us out of school (in Canada) when she thought that we MUST see some film. I remember "Lawrence of Arabia", "A Man for All Seasons", "Romeo and Juliet" (Zeffirelli version).
But Maggie Smith's performance as Jean Brodie remains one of the most resonant after all these years...
I've seen her performance in "Edward, My Son" early this year and... It's still one of the best female performances in film that I've seen in 2021 🙂
She really did have the misfortune of going against Olivia de Havilland in The Heiress, which was, as mentioned, a career best for Olivia. The Heiress is actually one of the best performances by a Best Actress winner, in my humble opinion, and isn't mentioned enough when folks recount the "best of the Best Actress winners". I admire that, theoretically, De Havilland faced stiff competition from Kerr rather than just enjoying a cakewalk, although I as I understand it, her win was as much of a sure thing as there ever was in the history of the Oscars.
Still, Edward My Son is an underrated gem and per the usual, Kerr was riveting. I think most folks would consider her the "alternative winner", and many "the best" nominee from that year, and it's a valid argument.
As someone who has always had great respect for Kerr, I admit I've taken her talents for granted. For that, I apologize. The only film you mentioned that I haven't seen is The Innocents, so I will be viewing it this week. That being said, this may be your best video yet. I was glued to every image and to every word you spoke. You have surpassed all of your previous work, which was already laudable. You're now in Pauline Kael territory. Good Job!
I will always remember the first time I watched The Innocents. Her performance is insanely good and just heartbreaking. My favorite ghost horror movie ever and the nuance in her performance is exactly what the Capote interpreted adaptation needed.
She's definitely at the peak of her abilities, and isn't afraid to go to some dark places in the role, lending a creepy, too-attentive element to Ms. Giddens relations with the children.
Check her out in The Chalk Garden. Her profession is the same as her character in The Innocents. Much different story though. The whole family can enjoy it.
Was not expecting the Olivia Colman/Fleabag bit 34:13, made me laugh out loud!
I've only just discovered her work recently, and I'm absolutely in love with her. Her versatility in playing her characters is honestly so impressive!
"A new series titled Always Second Best Actress"!!!! This is the best channel on RUclips
What a great way to celebrate Deborah's centennial ❤️ Thank you for such a detailed video about her wonderful career! I'm actually a big fan of hers too. She's one of those actors that is terribly underrated nowadays and not even popular/known for any other reason outside of their work, but that I love and appreciate anyway, simply because I've watched a lot of their work and learned about their career and everything somehow connected/resonated with me. Hope this video inspires some people to give her films a chance!
Have A Very Happy 100th Birthday Deborah Kerr and RIP.
Her Lifetime Achievement Academy Award was one of the Most Well Deserved (along with Ciesly Tyson and Dame Angela Lansbury's wins).
It was great fun.
I loved her in "Night of the Iguana" as a woman who has seen some challenging times but it made her more compassionate.Great cast with Ava Gardner, Grayson Hall and Richard Burton.
Kerr is my entry point to Hollywood classic era. Her portrayal as Terry in An Affair to Remember was so fascinating to the point it made me to open up to hollywood classic era. Will always remember her for that. Thanks for making a video on her.
Incidentally, “The Grass is Greener” has a certain touch of magic, and deserves a viewing. Ms. Kerr resides firmly in my pantheon of greats, thank you for spotlighting her here!
A great actress who was wonderful in several films including with her version of “An Affair to Remember” w/ Cary Grant. From “Black Narcissus”, “From Here to Eternity” to “Night of the Iguana” I’ve enjoyed her acting.
I can't explain how well Deborah Kerr seems to act "falling in love". I've seen both "An Affair To Remember" and "From Here To Eternity". Both characters are such different women but I felt myself believe them genuinely falling in love. I love her.
Deborah Kerr has always been an actress that stood out to me. Even as a kid she seemed so beautiful to me...refined but also mysterious. It was hard to look away from her whenever she was on screen. I was so excited that she got her own video in this channel and you did her absolute justice! Thank you for another treat. And the bit with Olivia Coleman was hilarious!
Also, it was very interesting to see excerpts of her interviews...quite striking to know her response to the woman who worked as a censor watcher. "How terribly dull". I think I would have felt the same way if a censor person ever bragged to me about never having to censor much of my work. It's awesome that you picked up on her sense of humor. Makes her even more relatable.
Here representing Black Narcissus. The absolute best.
Vacation From Marriage is also so good.
Bonjour Tristesse is so great.
I also love The Grass is Greener.
"Bonjour Tristesse", first mention that I found here, such a subtle, mature and heartwrenching part.
Also, my favorite that nobody seems to have seen: 1959 "The Journey" with again a formidable Yul Brynner, where the emotion between them, barely hinted in TKI, is again forbidden but passionate and unmistakable
7:47 Miss Kerr was Scottish, not English. You could edit and say ..."she was 'British' like Greer."
Also, since you go to great lengths to discuss Miss Kerr's work during the '60's, I would site the omission of Miss Kerr's compelling performance as the mysterious and enigmatic 'Miss Madrigal' in 1964's 'The Chalk Garden'. A top drawer production featuring an offbeat role for Miss Kerr.
Overall, this was a worthwhile featurette about Miss Kerr. Your film clips are gorgeous and I always enjoy your narration.
Every time I see a correction of “Scottish, not English”, I always think of the UN cafeteria exchange between Peter Capaldi and James Gandolfini in 2009’s _In the Loop._
Thanks SM. I was going to point this out but thought I should read comments first to see if I had been beaten to it. :) I think part of the problem is that many Americans (like the narrator) never seem to acknowledge "Britain" or British", and Scotland is only this picturesque place attached to England. After all, they continually call Elizabeth 2 Queen of England! (Which, of course, she is not as there is no such title).
I'm SO EXCITED for this second best actress series.
Same here👏🏾‼️
I'm glad there's content on topics like this that's so thoughtful and smart. There's a lot of throwaway, poorly-produced content on movies and celebrities, so it's refreshing to see videos like this that are so smart and well-done.
What an amazing video.
Ms Kerr was true talent and icon-sublime in Black Narcissus and joyful in The King and I
What a truly wonderful tribute.
🙏❤️
I already can't wait for the rest of this series. Crossing my fingers for an Irene dunne episode. Love your videos.
Definitely an overlooked actress. Her comedic talent is simply stupendous. At the very least she deserves an honorary Oscar too. Five nominations is good but not enough for this wonderful actress.
@@Solitaire_Guy she may be my fav actress from that era (I can't decide tho lol, too many to pick) personally think she should have won for Theodora goes wild. Not necessarily my fav of her performances but imo it was the best of that years nominations.
@@blabla5938 She is one of my favorites. Love Affair, The Awful Truth, My Favorite Wife, etc. These are good performances. I do think she should have won for Theodora (looking at the other nominees). Comedic performances tend to be overshadowed though which is unfortunate as they are harder to pull off. Her dramatic skill is good too. Perhaps a little less than her comedy but better than most actresses.
Definitely, “Penny Serenade” with Irene Dunne and Cary Grant is a must watch.
Love her in penny serande.
Kerr's an absolute Star and a marvelous artist, i absolutely adore her. For me, Oscars are not synonymous with great acting, but with popularity.
"An Affair To Remember" was, for me, one of those films which just floors you. Cary Grant is...Cary Grant, but I was so enchanted by Kerr's performance that the film quickly bumped up my "Greats You HAVE to Watch" list.
And you're so right; its Kerr's simple "blink and you'll miss it" actions and expressions that draw you in to each and every one of her performances.
Thank you so much AGAIN for all your work! x
TY for explaining how to pronounce her name. My whole life I have been getting it wrong
Your videos are sometimes the only thing I have to look forward to. I can rewatch old ones a million times or find one I surprisingly haven't seen yet. Thank you so much for making these videos, they're honestly like 1 of 4 things that make me genuinely happy 🥰
Wonderful video yet again and it’s more than justified to be a huge fan of Deborah Kerr. I love her, too. What I don’t understand though is why she also never won a BAFTA.
Her work in Night of the Iguana, Separate Tables, and Black Narcissist stuns but The Innocents stays with you!
I've been waiting for this one! She's one of my favorite actresses and I feel that she's often underrated and at the very least hasn't stayed as popular and relevant as other actresses of her time. I find her acting to be incredibly compelling and she has a wonderful range.
“Kerr rhymes with star” being in every article sounds funny, but smart. Hollywood during the time wanted to make sure people know how to pronounced her last name. Great job on analyzing her work. Cannot wait for more of these videos😌⭐️
Deborah Kerr and Maggie Smith are my 2 favorite actresses. Deborah was such an intensely intimate actor, reveling in close-ups, and exquisite planes of her face. her beauty was not of the convential sort, shadow and light both highlighted the strong but very feminine features, and her eyes always glowed with an internal fire . In every scene, you always knew she was the smartest person in the room.
I love this channel and I loved the fact that this video was published on what would have been Deborah Kerr’s 100th birthday 👏
17:10 - What an amazing agent and what an amazing interview you picked out to showcase it. Cudos.
I didn’t realize this was missing in my life until I received the notification about it. DK is significantly and constantly overlooked. I’ve watch “Affair” more times than I care to comment and I keep going back to “Separate Tables” where she just is a tour de force.
On a side note, since you mentioned her in this, I think Angela Lansbury deserves a video. Also one who was severely overlooked in her “movie” time and typecast out of Hollywood.
We are kindred spirits, Theresa B. I've watched "An Affair to Remember", my third favorite film of all time, dozens of time- my eyes mist at the scene with the grandmother, and I lose it when Cary discovers the painting. Always. But Deborah's best performance, which should have been rewarded with a best actress Oscar, is her Sibyl Railton-Bell in "Separate Tables". One of my top ten movies of all time and one that I watch 2, 3 and even 4 times a year (I'm retired).
Not winning the Oscar several times makes you legendary. Winning just makes you yesterday's news.
Oh please. The only people who say this are losers. Or winners who make terrible terrible choices afterwards like Cuba Gooding Jnr or Hilary Swank.
I think many actors would welcome being yesterday’s news if it came with an Oscar! As much as people try to down play it’s importance it means a lot to actors. Hell even Sean Penn accepted his with gratitude after bad mouthing the Academy for years. Everyone wants to be appreciated by their peers no matter the job or industry.
@@langleymneely get nominated, win and then get back to me.
@@MrStGeorgeIllawarra it's a longer list than that, to be concise. But getting nominated several times, makes for a consistently good actor, as opposed to someone who does well once, wins, then does only crap.
I'd take an Oscar. Just feels so good.
From Here to Eternity was magic in a bottle - it revitalized the careers of Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Monty Clift, and Frank Sinatra! I love well-written & successful films that give talented actors another push towards success. We need another one like this in Hollywood!
Would love a video on Maureen O’Hara, who was tragically never even nominated in spite of her powerful work in many wonderful films.
Recent examples: Amy Adams, Michelle Williams, Annette Bening 😭 😭 😭 all iconic epically good actors. Also Saoirse…though still relatively young/early in her career.
Julianne Moore misses being on this list by finally winning for Still Alice but before that she was constantly being nominated and losing year after year.
@@langleymneely That felt more like a Premptive Lifetime Achievement Award to me.
Rosamund Pike was Robbed in my Eyes.
nah… Saoirse is WAY too young to be an example of this.
Well, Julianne Moore finally won her first Academy Award in 2015 for best actress in "Still Alice" after nominated four times.
But at least, she's got out of this mess for good.
Rosamund Pike has received an 2014 Oscar nomination for best actress in "Gone Girl" - this was her only recognition to date.
About this video and your projected series of "Second Best Actress" videos, let me quote Miss Kerr:
"There should be more words for 'Thank you.'"
I watched Black Narcissus for the first time last year, easily became one of my favourite films of all time. ❤️
It’s wonderful isn’t it? I think she deserved an Oscar for it.
@@kellie8468 Black Narcissus is one of the great Powell/Pressburger films, but it had too many characteristics going against it for it to do well in Hollywood:
- It was made entirely outside the Hollywood system
- It has a very British vibe
- It expects the audience to think about the subject and become deeply involved
- It's about sexuality when such things were a bit taboo in 'Murica
- It questions religion at a time when that was taboo in "Murica.
Your writing is always top notch. Like genuinely thank you for your content, thank you for giving me something new to be giddy and excited about mmmm to research for myself!! Like last month I reread Breakfast at Tiffany’s because of your video and had such a great time lol…I’m so excited to dig into Deborah’s filmography!!
Love, love, love you for doing this as part of an inspired series. Can't wait for the next instalment! My favourite Kerr films are Love on the Dole, Black Narcissus and The Innocents. The latter truly a forgotten masterpiece, way ahead of its time. Bravo BKRW 💋
"The Innocents" is fantastic, with one of Kerr's most dedicated and daring performances. One of those movies wherein everyone seemed to know what they were doing, and executed to perfection.
Love this! Deborah is marvelous in everything. I rewatched Tea and Sympathy for the 5th or 6th time and I was astounded at the dozens of layers and complexities I hadn't noticed in the previous viewings. That is my favorite of her work - so subtly meaty. What a lovely tribute to her, thank you!
A part of me wonders if instead of waiting out for Sunset Boulevard's Musical Movie release, The Academy will just award Glenn Close an Honorary Oscar, much like they did Deborah Kerr and Peter O'Toole
I would love for Betty Buckley to play the Sunset Boulevard Musical Movie...she's under-appreciated IMO. I always wish she had gotten more film roles, because she was amazing in all of her roles. Hell, I'd love a Tender Mercies spin-off that focuses on her character, Dixie (patent pendingggg).
I saw Glenn on Broadway, and she was excellent!
In a recent interview, Andrew Lloyd Webber said that the talks for Sunset Boulevard remained too long in development hell, and they just scrapped it. It’s just so sad really. It would take another while before we can get Glenn her proper competitve Oscar…
I always thought that Sunset has easier chances for a film revival with Glenn and other A-list cast. I guess ALW was traumatized how Cats turned out (despite an A-list cast, it flopped), and right now he’s focusing on Cinderella and preparing it for a Broadway transfer (there’s lots of drama regarding the West End version of the musical, dicussions on Theatreboard forum amounts to that. There’s also skepticism whether Cinderella can pull off on Broadway, as its pantomime-type of performance is not an American’s cup of tea).
Oh! This was absolutely wonderful. Thank you for such a refreshing 43 minutes in Deborah Kerr's company.
I watched her in "heavens mr.allison" and i loved her. She had that calmness aboout her. Just like audery, she was classly.
I wish
This essay is so well written.
Whenever I see a new 'Be Kind Rewind', I know my day suddenly has gotten better and I'll be learning about some new, great cinematic gems to watch!
I always was a huge Deborah Kerr fan when I was a kid (started when I was 10 and into 'The King and I', but even I haven't seen all these gems you mentioned, so I'm gonna go looking for them now :)
Just a superb video essay - well written, exquisitely composed, with crisp, spirited narration. Yours is a must-watch channel for me henceforth!
Oddly enough I think Deborah Kerr is one of the "classic Hollywood" actresses which I watched the most partly because my parents loved her (they showed me The King and I when I was young) and her films are actually quite good. I mean, The Innocents is well written and superbly acted, but I remember that I was actually scared by it - a black and white movie that's made 60 years ago.
The Innocents freaked me out!
It's always fascinating to me that people consider her to be stuffy and old fashioned. Her movies hold up, really, really well.
Deborah Kerr was a class act. Because of her amazing range and depth she raised the bar in whatever film she was in. As a teen I remember that we saw “An Affair to Remember” every summer at camp in the dining hall. When I saw “Sleepless in Seattle” I totally understood Rita Wilson’s explanation to Tom Hanks about why that film was the perfect chick flick tearjerker. Of course I saw many of her other films later on when became interested in Hollywood classic films. It’s too bad that she wasn’t as appreciated as she deserved to be during her lifetime.
Although the "Welcome back, Ingrid" storyline didn't hurt, Bergman is impressive in "Anastasia" and performance-wise merited Oscar consideration, regardless of the movie's other assets; did she steal the prize from Kerr or anyone else that year? Hard to say yes to that notion, after watching Bergman's work. As for 1960, I think Elizabeth Taylor does give one of her best performances in the otherwise-underwhelming "BUtterfield 8," but might have to go along with Kerr's assessment and give her the Oscar on merit for her warm, moving and down-to-earth performance in "The Sundowners"- Kerr did win the NYFC prize and could have been rated a dark horse at least, with Shirley the front-runner before Taylor's illness hurled all her competitors down the elevator shaft MacLaine's Fran Kubelik presided over.
Elizabeth Taylor had one of the least deserving Oscar victories in history with Butterfield 8.
@@DAN-lo7fz I would go with Kerr or MacLaine for 1960, but based on performance alone I place Taylor above quite a few other winners, even if they had the advantage of appearing in better films. There's a reason Taylor did get nominated for a subpar film before any illness factored in to gain her the win, and I think scenes such as the one wherein Gloria recounts her childhood seduction, with Taylor providing a depth and emotional clarity that is riveting to watch, provide the answer as to why Taylor was deemed worthy of placement among the top five that year.
@@wrinklykongputhy It's an interesting topic- quality of performance versus quality of role and/or film. I wonder how many great performances are out there that don't get much (or any) recognition due to the other two factors.
Ingrid is my favorite actress of all time, so it's obvious where I fall on that side of the equation, even though Anastasia isn't quite Ingrid's very best work (to me, Gaslight is).
Thanks for emphasizing the work in the wrap up of this video. While awards are nice, the work is what captures our imagination. Deborah Kerr is one of my favorite actresses and I continue to watch her films, some I've seem many times. I had the good fortune to meet her when I was a teenager and she was very kind and gracious - I think this part of her characters is not acting, just bringing herself to the role.
As emotional as Rita Wilson was when she was talking about An Affair to Remember, I get misty eyed when Tom Hanks and Alexander Gould weep over The Dirty Dozen.
Victor Garber?
Hello. Your channel has become rather an obsession for me. I have gone from one vid, to the next, to the next and I just want to pause long enough to say thank you for these incredible showcases.
I grew up watching and being inspired by these actors and I often feel so sad that so few people today have any knowledge of their greatness.
You're changing all that!
I love your writing. Your delivery. Your attention to detail and your passion for great performances. You've already taught me so much. I cannot say thank you enough.
With love from one more aspiring actor learning from the greats,
Dave 😘
Tea and Sympathy alone makes her a gay icon for the ages
Great homage! I didn't realize how many of her films I was familiar with! She was enjoyable in each role! But it's exactly what you said; I didn't hear much about her off screen. I never realized how important that is for a movie star.
Regarding the supporting "Eternity" aspect you mention, today Kerr could go for Supporting Actress as part of the ensemble cast, and probably win. Her screen time is about the same as co-star and winner Donna Reed's, and there's not a problem with a top star (sometimes with a lot more screen time) going for the supporting prize now, even when they should be placed in the lead category; in Deborah's "Eternity" case, I don't think supporting would be wrong though, as Lancaster and Clift are the two main characters, while Kerr and Reed are the main female stars, but in smaller roles.
Nowadays stars would do anything to go into supporting categories to get an easy win or nomination. Not to disparage the category, but it belongs to the real supporting turns!
According to expert screentimer Matthew A. Stewart, Kerr is only in 17.42% of _From Here to Eternity’s_ runtime.
I love her in the Innocents! I'll admit, the first time I heard of her was in sleepless in Seattle! And I watched An Affair to Remember because of it. I didn't really like it much, but I wasn't used to old movies then, maybe I should give it another try. Thanks for the great video as always! Now I've got a lot more movies to add to my watch list!
With each and every video, you confirm you have the best film essays on RUclips. I love that you shed light on actresses who were previously in the shadows of big stars. Mostly, I appreciate how you pull back the curtain on stardom and shine a spotlight on talent versus star power. Well done, once again! 👏 👏 👏
I first remember her as the older Emma Harte in A Woman of Substance/Hold The Dream, she’s how I picture the character when reading the books, even the younger version that she doesn’t play.
I love the way she gave credit to Marni Nixon, a touch of class.
Really looking forward to the upcoming parts of this series. I hope Debbie Reynolds gets an episode!
Fantastic insight into a great artist! I like that you champion "The King and I", not only because it showcases her acting range in a musical, which she never did and was therefore a challenge, but because it's an unconventional choice in light of "Black Narcissus" and "The Innocents". I admit, I think those last two are two of my favorites of hers, but she really does have a wonderful body of work, and "The King and I", and her performance, are MUCH better than Ingrid and "Anastasia" are.
I'm looking forward to when you get to Barbara Stanwyck, Thelma Ritter (even though only Best Supporting nominees?), Glenn Close, Garbo, Irene Dunne, and/or Myrna Loy (although, I don't think she was ever nominated...). And what about someone more "current", like Marsha Mason or Michelle Pfieffer or Annette Benning. The sad thing is, there isn't even enough Best Actresses of color to warrant one of these videos =(
that Fleabag edit is everything!
I love Deborah Kerr. A consistently great actress giving great performances. I think she could have and should have won several Oscars. As an Australian, I particularly liked her and Robert Mitchum performance in the Sun Downers. They really captured the accent, the mannerisms, and the feel of Australians, particularly in that era. I know its very hard for anyone who isn't Australian to get our accent right, and they nailed it. All hail Ms Deborah Kerr is an actress among actresses.
When you talked about how personal lives of actresses having an effect on the awards... just goes to show they really aren't everything
I don't know who you are and stumbled on this video, but this documentary was FANTASTIC. Beautifully produced and written, great research and quoting and really thoughtful analysis. Thank you so much. Kerr was an EXCELLENT actress, of depth and subtlety, had great films, and definitely not awarded as she should have been. Was very happy that she was given a career academy award. Thank you again for this beautiful analysis and study of Deborah Kerr.