This win had a snowball effect, or butterfly or domino effect, if you like. Art won when Pacino should've, then Pacino won when Denzel should've, then Denzel won when Russel Crowe should've, all because the Academy felt like being sentimental in '75.
I have had this same thought, although I don't think it's due to sentimentality. It was due to Carney actually giving a worthy performance in a film that featured several Oscar-worthy performances (Ellen Burstyn, et al.) and the Academy likes to set up a bit of controversy or surprise (a la Glenda Jackson's second win the previous year.)
@@elijahalbiston Russell Crowe won every single precursor but lost the Oscar. It’s a better more challenging performance. Denzel in Training Day is overrated in my opinion. He played versions of that character before and since.
I have seen Chinatown and I have seen the Godfather part two, and to me there’s no comparison. Al Pacino should’ve won the Oscar that year. He became that character and he was terrifying.
The Academy skewed older during the New Hollywood era. When Old Hollywood transitioned to the New Hollywood era in the late 1960s, the change wasn't gradual. It happened very very quickly. Old fashioned musicals and period/costume dramas dominated Hollywood throughout the '50s and into the later '60s. But when those films started flopping hard, Hollywood had to shift its focus rapidly on these American New Wave films (that audiences were flocking to in droves) in order to prevent the studio system from collapsing. There were still some costume dramas and musicals that were made during the early years of New Hollywood but they fizzled out quickly. Audiences didn't want those movies anymore. But, the older members of the Academy (most of the membership at the time were old men from Old Hollywood) still had affinity and nostalgia for the old days, so they did tend to skew to awarding older Hollywood stars over the younger new stars (especially with male actors). Just look at the Oscar acting wins during New Hollywood at that point: 1967 - Old Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. George Kennedy wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Rod Steiger wins Best Actor for a more old fashioned movie like _In the Heat of the Night_ over 2 younger stars Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty in _The Graduate_ and _Bonnie and Clyde,_ the two most talked about movies of the year that ushered in the New Hollywood Era. Paul Newman was a few months older than Steiger but Steiger started his career first. And of the two men, who looks way older? Steiger by a mile. And Steiger won over oldest nominee Spencer Tracy who had just passed away but Tracy had two Oscars already. 1968 - All four acting awards went to the oldest nominee who were all Hollywood veterans. ALL FOUR. Oldest nominee and Hollywood veteran Cliff Robertson wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress again and the only reason newcomer Barbra Streisand tied with her is because she just became a member of the Academy that year and thus was able to vote for herself. Oldest nominee Jack Albertson wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Ruth Gordon wins Supporting Actress. 1969 - Oldest nominee John Wayne wins Best Actor. Old Hollywood veteran Gig Young wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger newcomers. Maggie Smith wins Best Actress for an old fashioned drama like _The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie_ over 3 younger nominees. 1970 - Almost all four acting winners were the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee John Mills wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Helen Hayes wins Supporting Actress. Old Hollywood star George C. Scott wins over 3 younger newcomers Ryan O'Neal, Jack Nicholson and James Earl Jones. Scott won over oldest Best Actor nominee Melvyn Douglas who already had won. 1971 - Oldest nominee Ben Johnson wins Supporting Actor. Hollywood veteran Cloris Leachman wins Supporting Actress over 3 younger newcomers Ann-Margret, Ellen Burstyn and Barbara Harris. Jane Fonda wins Best Actress for 2 younger actresses Janet Suzman and Julie Christie and over newcomer Vanessa Redgrave who's only months older than Fonda (Glenda Jackson was a year older than Fonda but had won the year prior, but also Glenda's career started after Fonda's). 1972 - Old Hollywood legend Marlon Brando wins Best Actor over 3 younger nominees. Oldest nominee Eileen Heckart wins Supporting Actress. Joel Grey wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger nominees, and over older nominee Robert Duvall but Joel Grey started his film career a decade before Duvall. 1973 - Old Hollywood veteran Jack Lemmon wins Best Actor over 3 younger newcomers Redford, Pacino and Nicholson (oldest Best Actor nominee Brando won the year prior). Oldest nominee John Houseman wins Supporting Actor. Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress again over 2 younger nominees Marsha Mason and Barbra Streisand and over newcomer Ellen Burstyn (oldest Best Actress nominee Joanne Woodward had already won). 1974 - Oldest nominee Art Carney wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee and Hollywood legend Ingrid Bergman wins Supporting Actress. Ellen Burstyn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. 1975 - 3 of the 4 acting wins went to the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Louise Fletcher wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee George Burns wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Lee Grant wins Supporting Actress. 1976 - Oldest nominee Peter Finch wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Beatrice Straight wins Supporting Actress. Faye Dunaway wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Jason Robards wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger newcomers and over oldest nominee Laurence Olivier cuz he already won.
Being old enough to have seen Harry and Tonto in the theater, I remember how surprised and delighted theater goers were with this performance. After being associated for over 2 decades with his role as Ed Norton, the weird and funny sidekick to Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden on the Honeymooners on TV, we were honestly astonished that he could be so earnest and endearing in a natural and subdued performance...as compared to his over the top lunacy on TV. The Honeymooners was remembered, with I Love Lucy, as the best comedy of classic tv at that time. To give a performance as subdued and touching as this was seen as so against type that it magnified the actual performance that modern viewers see today. The other nominees were expected to give great performances with their already impressive track record, while this one came out of left field from a beloved second banana of comedy. It's the kind of performance that other great comedic actors like Lucille Ball and Jerry Lewis tried to give later in their careers that they failed to give...only Jackie Gleason in The Hustler came close (maybe this was an atonement for Gleason's supporting actor loss in 1962). This is definitely a nostalgic win from older fans thoroughly delighted to see a 1950's tv actor giving his best dramatic performance. It was definitely seen in a better light when it came out than it is seen today in retrospect. It was of it's time, but shouldn't be seen as a mistake, because it is an endearing performance from a beloved actor, no different than the Oscars given to George Burns, Jack Palance, or Lee Marvin.
Art Carney was able to show more of his acting skills in an episode of The Twilight Zone called The Night of the Meek (2nd season, 1959). Carney plays a drunken, unhappy department store Santa Claus. He wishes he could really make other people happy like Santa does. He comes across an old bag in an alley and finds that it is a magical bag that can help make his wish come true. I think Art Carney received an Emmy nomination for his performance.
"The other nominees were expected to give great performances with their already impressive track record, while this one came out of left field from a beloved second banana of comedy. " This is such a ridiculous reason to vote for someone. It's supposed to be for the best performance, and they should be giving to the best actors, not for actors who pleasantly surprised them with their performance because they didn't expect them to be so good. It is also not supposed to be given for the most likable character. Academy voters can be really dumb.
Agree Cody. That image of Jack Nicholson's shock in the final moments of Chinatown are tender, revelatory and chilling. and that final line. all timer.
Art Carney's performance in "Harry and Tonto" was not a showy performance it was more subtle and low key. Sometimes less is more.I think that he got award more as an honor for his tv and stage work than for anything else. He was not known for his film performances so I think that the Academy wanted to encourage him to do more film work because he stepped outside his comfort zone which is stage and tv to do this film. He also turned in another great performance in "The Late Show"(1977) with Lily Tomlin.
Academy membership still skewed older in the early 1970s, and I believe that many voters saw themselves in Carney's character. Younger members may also have empathized with their elderly parents as well, which I think might explain the surprise win. And let's not forget..."cat people" are a loyal contingent (myself being among them). So, despite the strong competition, looking back at the year now, I can understand why Art Carney won the Oscar.
@@PhilMoskowitz No, the Academy DID skew older during the New Hollywood era. You're not looking at it in context. When Old Hollywood transitioned to the New Hollywood era in the late 1960s, the change wasn't gradual. It happened very very quickly. Old fashioned musicals and period/costume dramas dominated Hollywood throughout the '50s and into the later '60s. But when those films started flopping hard and audiences started gravitating to the New Hollywood counterculture films, Hollywood had to shift its focus rapidly on these American New Wave films to prevent the studio system from collapsing. There were still some costume dramas and musicals that made it in during the early years of New Hollywood but they fizzled out quickly. Audiences didn't want those movies anymore. But, the older members of the Academy (which most of the membership was at the time, old white men from Old Hollywood) still had affinity and nostalgia for the old days, so they DID tend to skew to older Hollywood veterans over the younger new stars (especially with the men). Just look at the Oscar acting wins during New Hollywood to that point: 1967 - Old Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. George Kennedy wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Rod Steiger wins Best Actor for a more old fashioned movie like _In the Heat of the Night_ over 2 younger stars Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty in _The Graduate_ and _Bonnie and Clyde,_ the two most talked about movies of the year that ushered in the New Hollywood Era. Paul Newman was a few months older than Steiger but Steiger started his career first. And of the two men, who looks way older? Steiger by a mile. 1968 - All four acting awards went to the oldest nominee who were all Hollywood veterans. All four. Oldest nominee and Hollywood veteran Cliff Robertson wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress again and the only reason newcomer Barbra Streisand tied with her is because she just became a member of the Academy that year and thus was able to vote for herself. Oldest nominee Jack Albertson wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Ruth Gordon wins Supporting Actress. 1969 - Oldest nominee John Wayne wins Best Actor. Old Hollywood veteran Gig Young wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger newcomers. Maggie Smith wins Best Actress for an old fashioned drama like _The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie_ over 3 younger nominees. 1970 - Almost all four acting winners were the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee John Mills wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Helen Hayes wins Supporting Actress. Veteran George C. Scott wins over 3 younger newcomers Ryan O'Neal, Jack Nicholson and James Earl Jones. 1971 - Oldest nominee Ben Johnson wins Supporting Actor. Hollywood veteran Cloris Leachman over 3 younger newcomers Ann-Margret, Ellen Burstyn and Barbara Harris. Jane Fonda wins Best Actress for 2 younger actresses Janet Suzman and Julie Christie and over newcomer Vanessa Redgrave who's only months older than Fonda (Glenda Jackson was a year older than Fonda but had won the year prior, but also Glenda's career started after Fonda's). 1972 - Old Hollywood legend Marlon Brando wins Best Actor over 3 younger nominees. Oldest nominee Eileen Heckart wins Supporting Actress. Joel Grey wins Supporting Actor over two younger nominees, and over older nominee Robert Duvall but Joel Grey started his film career a decade before Duvall. 1973 - Old Hollywood veteran Jack Lemmon wins Best Actor over three younger newcomers Redford, Pacino and Nicholson. Oldest nominee John Houseman wins Supporting Actor. Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress again over 2 younger nominees Marsha Mason and Barbra Streisand and over newcomer Ellen Burstyn. 1974 - Oldest nominee Art Carney wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee and Hollywood legend Ingrid Bergman wins Supporting Actress. Ellen Burstyn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. 1975 - Three of the four acting wins went to the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Louise Fletcher wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee George Burns wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Lee Grant wins Supporting Actress. 1976 - Oldest nominee Peter Finch wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Beatrice Straight wins Supporting Actress. Faye Dunaway wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Jason Robards wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger newcomers and over oldest nominee Laurence Olivier cuz he already won. So, yes, the Academy (made up of mostly old men at that time) DID tend to skew to older Hollywood veterans over the younger new stars, especially with the male stars. Art Carney did NOT win because younger newcomers Pacino, Nicholson and Hoffman cancelled each other out.
@@rustincohle2135 Thanks for this thoughtful insight, It seems however that most of the change happened in 1969. The MPAA had brought in their ratings system (GMRX) the previous November so now young filmmakers were able to make the movies they wanted. 1969 was like the perfect storm. The supreme example of this was in the Best Picture category. The '68 winner was the big-budget G rated musical Oliver! while the very next year was the mid budget X rated Midnight Cowboy over the mega-budget G-rated Hello, Dolly
One other factor helped Art Carney. 'Road' movies were popular in the late 60s and early 70s. Discontented individuals taking off across America to find themselves was the subject of movies and books: Midnight Cowboy, Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces . Harry & Tonto (and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore) were quieter and less defiant character studies, but spoke to the times. They were also among the last. But also among the best.
Whatever this looks like in hindsight, I can tell you at the time it was a very popular win with viewers. This was the first Oscars broadcast I remember watching, I think I was 7 years old. This was still in that transition from old Hollywood to "easy rider" Hollywood, probably the tail end of it. A period that assured wins for John Wayne AND Midnight Cowboy, and that old Hollywood/new Hollywood sweet spot of Liza Minnelli, who embodied both the present and the familiarity of the past. The Honeymooners was still very heavily in syndication - back when we had 3 channels and 1 UHF channel (from Canada) - and you could watch it in the afternoon or, preferably, late at night after the news. I didn't know who Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice were but I knew who Ralph & Alice & Ed & Trixie were - which is a good time to mention, this is also Mazursky, a young gun, new voice. What Mazursky did for Art Carney is sort of similar to what Tarantino did for Travolta - made him relevant again. Or like Ruth Gordon in a Hal Ashby film (though she'd obviously won for Rosemary's Baby prior to that). But this win has the flavour of all of that PLUS a bit of John Wayne (just a bit) and I think, even in terms of sentimental Honeymooners value - this was Carney, one of TV's greatest second bananas, stepping up to lead, out on his own. And I think there was some pleasure and satisfaction in seeing Ed Norton step up to the podium for what was a very well received film. Perhaps more than any of the above, it is certainly a measure of how well liked Art Carney was in Hollywood. And I think as you nearly concluded, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Harry and Tonto director and screenwriter Paul Mazursky was very highly regarded back then, and his films were very highly anticipated. Rewarding a director by giving an Oscar to a worthy cast member was not unheard of, and still happens to this day (see Quentin Tarantino). An even bigger reason for Mr. Carney's win could be the split between the Old Hollywood and the New Hollywood. Roger Ebert described the very late 60s and early 70s as the time when the inmates (younger experimental artists) were given the keys to the asylum (the moviemaking business). From this perspective, Nicholson and Pacino split the New Hollywood vote, but there were still enough Academy voters from Old Hollywood for Mr. Carney to rise to the top. Regardless of their merits, just the prior year The Sting and Jack Lemmon (Save the Tiger) were the big winners. How Old Hollywood can you get, when Nicholson (who was absolutely jaw-dropping in The Last Detail with his emotional range) and Pacino (Serpico) were both nominated? Many categories featuring much finer efforts were overlooked during those years. Old Hollywood still ruled the Academy, and can account for any number of weird and unlikely wins during that era. (BTW, I just happened to screen The Last Detail yesterday (after not having seen it for 50 years)! Nicholson was asked to exhibit a range of completely different emotions during each vignette, while still remaining true to his character. His breadth is breathtaking, and if you're not familiar with this film it has to go to the top of your must-see 70s-era list of films. This film, more than any other, cemented his place as a star of the first magnitude.)
The Oscars were seen as so painfully uncool in the early-mid 70s--I mean, can you imagine 3 of the 5 nominees for Best effing Actor not even showing up nowadays...?
I remember seeing Harry & Tonto at the movies. It was a sweet trip all the way. Especially enjoyed the scene with Chief Dan George and Carney in jail cell. It seemed improvised and funny.
Darn good question, but I would guess it was because The Conversation was a box office dud and Oscar nominations and awards so often have to due with a film's popularity as opposed to it's quality. Check out Dustin Hoffman's performances in "Straight Time" or "American Buffalo".Hoffman has never been better but l don't think either film made a dime at the box office so no nominations for Dusty. Rain Man on the other hand was a whopping big hit so Hoffman takes the little gold statue home to put on his mantle( or maybe stick in his trophy case).
I’m glad you mentioned that! Imho, Hackman in “The Conversation” was superlative, as was the film itself. Nicholson in “Chinatown” was excellent, but I’d still give it to Hackman. (A minority opinion, I know, but I’ve never been impressed with Pacino. In everything I’ve ever seen him in, he always seems to confuse acting with shouting.)
@@biakabutooka yeah, probably. Though recently they really have a tendency to give it to actors who play real people even if the movie wasn't the most popular (Gary Oldman, Will Smith, etc.) Great recommendations! I love dustin Hoffman but I've only seen his most basic films (rain man, midnight cowboy and the graduate), so I would love to see more from him.
@@Kjt853 I would give it to Hackman as well. The conversation is a top 10 film of all time for me and Hackman's performance is up there in my top 3 probably. Personally I love al Pacino in most things, but sometimes he does shouts and runs around too much (I think he was pretty bad in heat, for example)
Bottom line is Art Carney headlined a movie when many thought his career was over. Nothing in his previous performances prepared the audience for this role. It was absolutely a surprise and delight....which is what award winning performances are about.
Thank you at The Awards Contender for doing this, I put in this request after the Ellen Burstyn win video. Great assessment of each of the nominees. I think Arts win was about less is more, it wasnt a showy performance like the other nominees, it was a nice, sentimental performance that tugged at your heartstrings. Thats why the other nominees cancelled each other out and Art won.
If I understand the process at the time, Art Carney won because Pacino and Nicholson split the votes and as such each got less than they should have and Art Carney squeezed through.
Carney’s win is crazy, considering the competition. Having said that, for me, his performance reminds me of Jim Broadbent in Iris. They’re much quieter (for lack of a better word) than the others in their respective lineups, and I kind of like that.
Carney deserved an Oscar, but not for HARRY AND TONTO. He should have won for THE LATE SHOW in 1977, the wonderful film noir/comedy he did with Lily Tomlin.
One big factor that wasn’t mentioned. Art Carney played the role of Odd Couple on Broadway. When they made the movie version, Carney lost the role to Jack Lemmon. Similar to Julie Andrew’s winning for Mary Poppins because she wasn’t cast in My Fair Lady. I think Carney won because he’s a veteran actor and this was a chance to recognize him. Nicholson, Hoffman, and Pacino were still early in their careers, so they could be awarded later.
@@gittes98 The point being Walter Matthau got to keep his role in the film, while Carney did not cuz he wasn't a big enough star like Julie Andrews with _My Fair Lady._
I have to admit I have only seen Al Pacino's performance and it was fantastic but I do believe that sentimentality played a role. I do have to day I love Art Carney and his role as Ed Norton on the Honeymooner's is one of the best in the history of televison.
1974 and 1975 are probably the best years in history for film and, as you say, Al Pacino should really have won best actor in 1974. It's a good shout that Art Carney was popular on television as to why he won but, we have to remember, in those days, sentimental wins were quite common (John Wayne in 1969) or the older actor who paid his dues (Jack Lemmon, 1973). 1974 was also the year when all the greats of the Golden Age were hitting their peak - Hackman, Pacino, Hoffman, Nicholson, De Niro. I would have been happy for either Hoffman or Nicholson to win if Pacino didn't (Hoffman is probably my favourite) because they're all so damn good. But for none of them to win and Carney to take it was a bit much, as you say. One final point is that all the movies represented that year were on the bleak side and maybe, the Academy wanted to find a way to reward something sweeter rather than reward the best. It's a familiar story that a more populist or mainstream pick has to make the headlines and maintain Hollywood's image.
I feel there’s definitely a topic of discussion to be made with the lasting impact of films and performances that make it into Oscar history. Like, there’s a reason we still talk about Chinatown and The Godfather Part 2, but there are a lot of films (both winning and nominated) that shine brightly for the time but then fade into obscurity. Even films from last 5 years that did well at the Oscars already seem to be fading.
Art Carney’s scene with Larry Hagman Who plays his son was quite touching. Hagman’s character is divorced and living in a small apartment and lost in life. He breaks down and Carney comforts him in a true life way. I feel like that scene reflects a reality more people have experienced with their family members. It is a quality road movie full of epiphanies. Also, acting 75 when you are only 55 is not that easy.
It would be interesting to go back and experience the zeitgeist of the year and what kind of popularity the film had at the time. I find that carries a film more than any artistic merit. We still see that nowadays.
I was only 10 when I stumbled on “Harry & Tonto” on TV. It mesmerized me. One of the best “Road” flicks ever IMHO. Barbara Rhoades and the rest of the cast were awesome, and Art was a legendary talent.
Tbh in a situation like this, multiple truly great performances in one category can be the very thing that makes the dark horse win. Votes get split amongst the heavy hitters well enough that the least likely win gets the highest percentage by a nose
The scene at the end of Chinatown where Jack is stunned, hurt & realizes he's failed another woman in Chinatown mumbles barely audible "As little as possible" which he told Faye Dunaway earlier that was what the District Attorney told them to do when he was a cop there. That scene was incredible. Pacino and Nicholson could've tied for Best Actor every year from 1973-1975 and it wouldn't be a controversy. Gene Hackman not being nominated was an abomination right up there with no nomination for Humphrey Bogart in The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre, Robert Mitchum in Out Of The Past, Anthony Perkins in Psycho among others. For an underappreciated Dustin Hoffman performance checkout Straight Time from 1978.
Al Pacino should have won and he also should have won 2 years prior for The Godfather. Nicholson was great, but he’d win the following year for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and he gave his best performance in Cuckoo’s Nest in my opinion. Art Carney wasn’t at all bad in Harry and Tonto, he was very good, but compared to Pacino and Nicholson, he should not have beaten either of those two. Thank you for the video Rob, I hope you’re doing well. Keep up the great work and take care!
@@samuelzins5089Nicholson and Pacino in the 70's were on another level; Five Easy Pieces, The Godfather parts one and two, Chinatown, Serpico, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Dog Day Afternoon. Those are god tier level examples of great acting, hardly surpassed by anyone.
@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747 completely agree. I was just thinking after commenting about how crazy even just the 2 year span having GF2 and Dog Day Afternoon for Pacino and Chinatown and One flew over the cuckoo's nest
A case could be made for Pacino deserving a three-peat. I mean him losing Best Actor for 1973’s “Serpico” to Jack Lemmon for “Save the Tiger”? 🤦🏽♂️ Lemmon had only won up to that point for 1955’s “Mister Roberts” in the supporting category on his first nomination. Apparently most voters felt he was long overdue for a lead win. 🤷🏽♂️ The “Tiger” nomination was his fifth overall, and all of for ones after his first were lead. He’d have three more nominations after that, and all lead. He really delivered in “Save the Tiger,” as he normally did, but Pacino was on another level in “Serpico.” So Art Carney’s win marked back-to-back controversial Best Actor victories - and both involved a man and cat. 🐅🙀😄 I still haven’t seen 1972’s “Cabaret,” so I can’t comment on Joel Grey’s win, but I know that many Pacino fans and others feel the latter deserved to win. As for Pacino vs. Carney, I’ve seen both performances, and I’m Team Pacino, thought I feel Carney did a great job.
@JeffTheGent Pacino should have been in Lead for the first Godfather movie, and he thought so too which is why he didn't attend the event. He should have been in Lead together with Brando.
In 1974, we had just pulled out of Vietnam and the civil unrest was fading. We were ready for a sweet and quiet movie. I was 19 and remember it well. The cat helped too.
I was always enthusiastic regarding Pacino's nominations (especially Dog Day Afternoon), yet by the time he was long overdue and nominated for Dick Tracy, I thought, "Please don't let him win his first for this one".
Finney was just never the favorite to win for any of his 5 nominations: 1.) _Tom Jones_ - Finney was a brand newcomer and male newcomers almost never win Lead Actor. He didn't even win the BAFTA for it and he's British. He even lost the Golden Globe for Best Comedy Actor even though the film won Best Motion Picture (Comedy). He just wasn't the favorite that year. Plus, Sidney Poitier was the favorite and had to win for _Lilies of the Field_ cuz his win was historic. 2.) _Murder on the Orient Express_ - It was Finney's "just happy to be there" nomination. He was never in contention against Carney, Pacino, Nicholson and Hoffman. 3.) _The Dresser_ - The film had two Best Actor nominations that year for both Finney and his fellow co-star Tom Courtenay, which rarely results in a win for either. Also, Courtenay actually ended up winning the Golden Globe over Finney, but Courtenay tied with Robert Duvall for _Tender Mercies._ And Duvall was the clear favorite that year. It was just Duvall's time to win. 4.) _Under the Volcano_ - Nothing was stopping F. Murray Abraham in _Amadeus._ That performance was legendary. 5.) _Erin Brockovich_ - By this point, Finney had been acting for 40 years, so, his star power had declined greatly. Plus, his filmography in the decade before _Erin Brockovich_ was just one forgettable movie after the other, so he was not this prestige actor anymore. But his role in _Erin Brockovich_ gave him a boost in the final stage of his career. But Benicio del Toro was the clear favorite that year for _Traffic._ He won the Globe and BAFTA over Finney. And the only reason Finney won the SAG for Supporting Actor that year was cuz del Toro was nominated for Lead Actor instead. And del Toro even managed to still win the SAG for Lead Actor for a supporting performance. So, del Toro was the favorite for Supporting Actor over Finney all the way. Finney was just never the front-runner to win at any point.
@@lexkanyima2195 With _Murder on the Orient Express, The Dresser,_ and _Under the Volcano,_ he had no shot. I think his best chances were _Tom Jones_ but he didn't even win the Globe for Best Actor (Comedy/Musical) and the film won Best Picture (Comedy/Musical) nor did he win the BAFTA and he's British. But also, newcomers rarely win the Oscar for Best Lead Actor. Newcomers many times have won Best Lead Actress, but very rarely Best Actor. Plus, the Academy probably wanted to be "historic" with Sidney Poitier's win. And his other best shot was Supporting Actor for _Erin Brockovich_ since he won SAG but that's cuz Del Toro competed in Lead Actor there, not Supporting. And Del Toro still won Best Actor at SAG. So, it totally was Del Toro's year. So, no, Finney never seemed to be the frontrunner (or even close).
Al Pacino as Michael Corleone is one of the best performances in the film history. or two best performances since it's in two movies. It's mind-boggling that the Academy had two chances to give him an Oscar for it, and they blew it both times!
I definitely get the feelings that he shouldn't have won, but I absolutely loved Harry and Tonto, and really felt how tender and genuine that performance was. Plus I love the career resurgence it gave him, as well as many older actors, with the trend of twilight years coming of age movies. The Late Show and Going in Style also being great examples.
Same. I love _Harry and Tonto_ and loved Carney's win. And the end-of-career boost _The Sunshine Boys_ gave to George Burns. And _Save the Tiger_ was Jack Lemmon's meatiest dramatic role in over a decade since _Days of Wine and Roses,_ leading to 3 more Oscar nominations for him. And the career resurgence Brando got from _The Godfather._
Should do George Burns for winning Best Supporting Actor. Kind of in a similar vein to this win when there were far better performances in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Dog Day Afternoon.
I saw ‘Harry and Tonto’ as a child and I found it deeply affecting so much so I still remember it to this day. I have to say though that the late ‘60 to the early ‘80s had some really good films (loved the music of that era too). And not just American cinema either. ‘The Conversation’ is one of my favorite films and it was just one of those mentioned here. What an era.
It's odd to think that these absolute legends would have been considered the young upstarts back then. A lot of the voters would have been from the old studio system era. For Hackman not to be nominated shows what a stacked year this was
I actually think Pacino deserved it that year for "Godfather II" and also the next year for "Dog Day Afternoon. " Art Carney should have been nominated and perhaps even deserved to win in 1977 for "The Late Show." Gene Hackman easily should have been nominated for "The Conversation." Another neglected performance that year: William Atherton in "The Sugarland Express."
How about his acting in the nursing home with the old girlfriend when she comes in and out of clarity and then they dance. His acting was great in that scene.
Really loved this episode of the awards contender! As you mentioned in the video, it's a widely discussed year in Oscar history. In my opinion the nominees for actor should go (1-5) Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, Art Carney, This is the only year that the top three actors of their generation (Hoffman, Nicholson, Pacino) nominated in the same year! Soon to be joined by best supporting actor of that year Robert DeNiro. Another reason for Carney's win could of been the votes being split among those three or at least the top two. I feel if Carney hadn't been nominated, it would of gone to Pacino, the Academy was clearly favoring Godfather II that year with Chinatown only winning for original screenplay for the late great Robert Towne. I once read that Paul Mazursky wrote the part with James Cagney in mind, but Cagney wouldn't come out of retirement. Pity, he would've great and definately would've won.
The Academy wasn’t old it was ancient in the early 70 s. Al was nominated for supporting actor in The Godfather despite being in many more scenes than Brando. Albert Finney should have won for The Dresser released in 1983 but his co- star Tom Courtenay was also nominated for The Dresser,Michael Caine for Educating Rita Tom Conti for Reuben,Reuben. Robert Duvall won for Tender Mercies.It’s a freaking joke Art Carney won. The other four actors were all superb. Art Carney was Art Carney.
Love your videos. But will disagree on one thing. You both said you didn't see anything special on Carney's acting in Harry and Tonto. But the scene where Harry says goodbye to Tonto is quite touching. You can see the sadness on his face, although he tries to hide it. But I still think Pacino should have won. Looking forward to watch your "why Gwyneth Paltrow won " video.
Frankly, Al Pacino’s performance in Scent Of A Woman is better than The Godfather Part 2. I really don’t care for The Godfather movies. I would actually put Art Carney as personal favorite to win that year even if Chinatown is the better movie.
Here’s an idea- talk about the least seen acting nominations of each decade 1930s- Gladys George Valiant is the word for Carrie 1940s- Dan Dailey when my baby smiles at me 1950s- Mickey Rooney the bold and the brave 1960s- Nick adams twilight of honor 1970s- Glenda Jackson Hedda 1980s- Norma Aleandro Gaby a true story 1990s- Miranda Richardson and rosemary Harris Tom and viv 2000s- Annette benning being julia 2010s- Demian bichir a better life 17k
Thanks for clearing up this Oscar topic. I used to think this had to be the worst Oscar decision in history but after seeing the video I realize it kind of made sense and wasn’t that awful
My top 5 lead actor of 1974 1 Art carney Harry e tonto 2 gene hackman the conversation 3 al Pacino the godfather part 2 4 Walter Matthau the taking of penhalm 123 5 jack Nicholson Chinatown
Love this topic. I don’t know if it helps, but my 30-something parents really loved Harry and Tonto, and I think Art Carney’s win had a lot to do with wanting to see a story about a Greatest Generation character not hating on THEIR generation. A lot of the people voting would have been this sea change of a younger generation who shared this sentiment. In other words, the premise of the movie was chicken soup for the soul of late silent generation adults. Having a cat as a character did not hurt in this regard. In short, people found it healing.
Ok.... so I do wonder if you read the comments, maybe because you have not interacted with any comment of mine (and I make a point of leaving one because I truly enjoy your channel.) One particular comment that was on the negative side was regarding your episode on Eyes Wide Shut. Knowing you are specifically addressing the matter from an Oscar standpoint I still thought the approach was uncharacteristically weak regarding a film that had garnered tons of attention (and one that I periodically watch to new joy every time.) I also share your admiration of Meryl Streep.... and I truly enjoy watching your series on her unparalleled relationship with the Oscars (I disagree with a minor point and that is that I really love the film Plenty, a production by Joseph Papp, a complex role that she plays effortlessly and without exaggeration (unlike her effort on Julia Child which is probably my least favorite of hers.).....So, there you have it...:) Fantastic work and always enjoyable through and through.....
I have another theory for the Carney win - Hoffman / Pacino / Nicholson all split the vote, allowing for Carney to swoop in for the win. Had there been “ranked choice” voting, I don’t think he would have taken the prize. I think Hoffman / Pacino / Nicholson were all very close together in vote totals, and that Carney was also very close, and eeked out a razor-thin win.
I really really doubt Carney won cuz the votes were split. If you look back at the Oscar acting wins in that time, you'll see a trend. The Academy skewed towards older stars during the New Hollywood era. When Old Hollywood transitioned to the New Hollywood phase in the late 1960s, the change wasn't gradual. It happened very very quickly. Old fashioned musicals and period/costume dramas dominated Hollywood throughout the '50s and into the later '60s. But when those films started flopping hard, Hollywood had to shift its focus rapidly on these American New Wave films (that audiences were flocking to in droves) in order to prevent the studio system from collapsing. There were still some costume dramas and musicals that were made during the early years of New Hollywood but they fizzled out quickly. Audiences just didn't want those movies anymore. But, the older members of the Academy (most of the membership at the time were old men from Old Hollywood) still had affinity and nostalgia for the old days, so they did tend to skew towards awarding older Hollywood stars over the younger new stars (especially with the male actors). Just look at the Oscar acting wins during New Hollywood at that point: 1967 - Old Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. George Kennedy wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Rod Steiger wins Best Actor for a more old fashioned movie like _In the Heat of the Night_ over 2 younger stars Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty in _The Graduate_ and _Bonnie and Clyde,_ the two most talked about movies of the year that ushered in the New Hollywood Era. Paul Newman was a few months older than Steiger but Steiger started his career first. And of the two men, who looks way older? Steiger by a mile. And Steiger won over oldest nominee Spencer Tracy who had just passed away but Tracy had two Oscars already. 1968 - All four acting awards went to the oldest nominee who were all Hollywood veterans. ALL FOUR. Oldest nominee and Hollywood veteran Cliff Robertson wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress again and the only reason newcomer Barbra Streisand tied with her is because she just became a member of the Academy that year and thus was able to vote for herself. Oldest nominee Jack Albertson wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Ruth Gordon wins Supporting Actress. 1969 - Oldest nominee John Wayne wins Best Actor. Old Hollywood veteran Gig Young wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger newcomers. Maggie Smith wins Best Actress for an old fashioned drama like _The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie_ over 3 younger nominees. 1970 - Almost all four acting winners were the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee John Mills wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Helen Hayes wins Supporting Actress. Old Hollywood star George C. Scott wins over 3 younger newcomers Ryan O'Neal, Jack Nicholson and James Earl Jones. Scott won over oldest Best Actor nominee Melvyn Douglas who already had won. 1971 - Oldest nominee Ben Johnson wins Supporting Actor. Hollywood veteran Cloris Leachman wins Supporting Actress over 3 younger newcomers Ann-Margret, Ellen Burstyn and Barbara Harris. Jane Fonda wins Best Actress for 2 younger actresses Janet Suzman and Julie Christie and over newcomer Vanessa Redgrave who's only months older than Fonda (Glenda Jackson was a year older than Fonda but had won the year prior, but also Glenda's career started after Fonda's). 1972 - Old Hollywood legend Marlon Brando wins Best Actor over 3 younger nominees. Oldest nominee Eileen Heckart wins Supporting Actress. Joel Grey wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger nominees, and over older nominee Robert Duvall but Joel Grey started his film career a decade before Duvall. 1973 - Old Hollywood veteran Jack Lemmon wins Best Actor over 3 younger newcomers Redford, Pacino and Nicholson (oldest Best Actor nominee Brando won the year prior). Oldest nominee John Houseman wins Supporting Actor. Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress again over 2 younger nominees Marsha Mason and Barbra Streisand and over newcomer Ellen Burstyn (oldest Best Actress nominee Joanne Woodward had already won). 1974 - Oldest nominee Art Carney wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee and Hollywood legend Ingrid Bergman wins Supporting Actress. Ellen Burstyn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. 1975 - 3 of the 4 acting wins went to the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Louise Fletcher wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee George Burns wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Lee Grant wins Supporting Actress. 1976 - Oldest nominee Peter Finch wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Beatrice Straight wins Supporting Actress. Faye Dunaway wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Jason Robards wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger newcomers and over oldest nominee Laurence Olivier cuz he already won.
I think the Best Actor nomination for 1974 should have been: 1.Al Pacino-The Godfather 2.Dirk Bogarde-The Night Porter 3.Jack Nicholson-Chinatown 4.Gene Hackman-The Conversation 5.James Caan-The Gambler I don't think Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express is worthy of an Oscar nomination.
Apparently there was talk of a making a TV Series based on Harry and Tonto to star Art Carney. When asked if he'd be interested in playing a supporting role in the series Jackie Gleason's response was said to be 'unprintable;.
Art Carney was a well respected actor among his peers. In fact, in his Playboy interview, Marlon Brando called Carney one of America's best actors. I believe that reputation helped him in his win. I agree, though, I've seen Harry and Tonto, and liked it very much, but wasn't blown away. In fact, I still think Gene Hackman gave the best performance of 1974, with Pacino, Hoffman and Nicholson, a 1/2 step behind, but I didn't scream at the screen when I watched Carney win in real time at the 1975 Oscars.
I was 24 years old in 1974 and appreciated Art Carney from original run and years of TV reruns of The Honeymooners and was glad Carney won-Carney in The Honeymooners is likely the inspiration for Kramer in Seinfield by Michael Richards; I hoped Hoffman would win for his virtuosic performance as Lenny Bruce. I predict that Carney's performance will slowly rise in your estimation as you age-Carney's unexpected and welcome understatement. Thanks for your passion for film.
I think this win is similar to Frances McDormand’s in Nomadland. I was completely shocked that she won an Oscar for that movie, considering the other, really fierce performances from the younger actresses in that category who could have won their first Oscar. And what is even more inexplicable is that McDormand won for a third time. At least in 1975, they were giving Carney his first Oscar. McDormand’s performance in Nomadland is similar to Carney’s here. As you mentioned in the video, the protagonist is in every single frame of the movie, as the camera follows him on an endless road trip, like in Nomadland. And what you said about there being no highs or lows inArt Carney’s performance, no intense moments of great emotion or crying or anger, or whatever… Same thing with Frances McDormand in Nomadland. She gave a very steady, one key performance for the entire length of the movie, just like Art Carney.
Hackman and Earl Jones were definitely 6th and 7th place I definitely wish they got in this year. It still annoys me the James Earl Jones only has one nomination
Suggestion for a video: Best Editing at the Oscars, with special focus on the fact that this is the technical category where most women have been nominated (in fact one woman was among the first ever nominees in the category) and have won, and the lifelong collaborations between directors and editors (like Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker or Quentin Tarantino and Sally Menke).
I remember when Art Carney won and honestly, I didn't even realize that he had made a movie in 1974. Maybe Ellen Burstyn playing his daughter helped with the win.
As a youthful 'Oscars obsessive; I tape recorded the show for a couple of years, including this one. And at the announcement you hear me exclaim "Oh my God" and "I can't believe it" and more to the point, "He was the first one I eliminated!!" ... And I'd seen every one of the performances at the movie theater, at age 16 or so. Wasn't much else to do, actually!
I don't think it has been mentioned but his performance in Harry and Tonto is completely different than the Norton in the Honeymooners. Most people knew him from the Honeymooners and to see him do something different and do it well help with the overall win. It is similar to why Helen Hunt won for As Good As It Gets. People were used to seeing someone play the same role over and over each week in their living rooms and then you see an actor play a different role and you don't think of them as Ed Norton or Jamie Buckman. If Mary Tyler Moore would have one for Ordinary People then this theory would apply to her as well but it does support her nomination. As for Nicholson and Pacino, they are both fantastic but they are both overshadowed by others in their film. Dunaway in Chinatown and DeNiro in The Godfather Part II.
My choice that year would have been Jack Nicholson for Chinatown My rankings 1. Jack Nicholson (Chinatown) 2. Al Pacino (The Godfather Part II) 3. Dustin Hoffman (Lenny) 4. Art Carney (Harry and Tonto) *Winner 5. Albert Finney (Murder on the Orient Express) In Chinatown, Jack Nicholson's nose was bandaged for 39 minutes.
Also, no one mentions Gene Wilder not being nominated for _Young Frankenstein,_ whose performance I've seen on some lists of the best acting performances of all time.
I'm a huge fan of Nicholson . Watched Chinatown an untold number of times. This is the best performance of his career. Unfortunately it's also the best performance of Pacino's career, as well. Jack IS Jake Gittes. From then on Jack will always be mostly Jack. What a time to be young! (Also, isn't it interesting that both actors would return to play those rolls again- however, unsucessfully. You could argue that Jack in "The Two Jakes" shows you how great he was in "Chinatown"- and that you can never go home.)
My Take: (in order) (1) Jack Nicholson, Chinatown (2) Al Pacino, The Godfather Part ll (3) Gene Hackman, The Conversation (4) Dustin Hoffman, Lenny (5) Art Carney, Harry And Tonto (6) Albert Finney, The Murder On The Orient Express (7) James Caan, The Gambler (8) Alan Bates, Butley (UK) (9) Gene Wilder, Young Frankenstein (10) Richard Dreyfuss, The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz (Canada) (11) Elliott Gould, California Split (12) David Essex, That'll Be The Day (UK) (13) James Earl Jones, Claudine (14) Warren Beatty, The Parallax View (15) Yves Montand, Vincent, Francois, Paul And The Others (France) (16) Divine, Female Trouble (17) Keith Carradine, Thieves Like Us (18) Peter Falk, A Woman Under The Influence (19) George Segal, California Split (20) Udo Kier, Andy Warhol's Dracula (Italy - France) (21) James Caan Freebie And The Bean (22) Vittorio Gassman, Scent Of A Woman (Italy) (23) Martin Sheen. Badlands (24) Alan Arkin, Freebie And The Bean
Hackman should have been here. Add him and Gene Wilder for Young Frankenstein to move out Finney and Carney (who are both good, btw) and you have an unbelievable lineup.
I think you superficially touched on the reasons on why he won, but I also think you are going on legacy more than actual time of recognition. Also, popularity too. Art Carney was known for comedy. Harry and Tonto wasn't exactly a comedy, even if it had its elements. I think being known for comedy mostly in his career at that point, and working after The Honeymooners but not really making that much of an impact, to be in a sentimental drama was a career changing move for him, and it clearly paid off. He was a veteran of the industry, and the Academy Awards are prone to pick veterans in the face of newcomers a good chunk of the time. His Oscar win was the industry recognizing his body of work and saying "yes" to the direction this movie brought him to keep working. I checked out his filmography, and he worked until 1993. For someone born in 1918, that's quite a feat. I know I've written this before, but I think it bares repeating that a little histography might do your channel some good. Not saying you have to copy another else's style, because there are smarter RUclips pop culture analysts who have their own that are trademarked, but you seem to go by your tastes as Gospel and the modern path to the Academy Award without really looking at previous ceremonies' impacts. In the 1970s, the Golden Globes weren't as much as a precursor to the Oscars that the 80s to present makes evident. They were separate ceremonies with separate voting bodies where Academy membership consisting of them weren't pronounced. This is where knowing a little award show history would do you some good, instead of questioning past recognitions with the modern pattern of path. Also, not every Oscar win needs to be a showboaty display of acting either. Subtle performances that touch the heart can be just as commanding as a well-executed monologue displaying depth and versatility. The actors branch which informs the rest of the Academy's membership voting on the Oscars know this. As fans of the award show, we are stunned at some of their choices, but we also, aren't Academy voters. That isn't to say we can't have opinions on the matter, but I think your video shows that as much as the Academy Awards seem like a popular contest, who the Academy choses occasionally doesn't often reflect the popularity.
I 100% agree with you! When I was looking at Art Carney's career, it was stunning to see how much a versatile performer he was (in comedy and drama) and after I read this I thought of Cloris Leachman and how much similar their careers were, both widely known for their comedic roles, but it overshadowed their dramatic roles and stage work! Cloris Leachman once said she never saw herself as a comedian, she always saw herself as an actress (if the role was comedic, she'll play it that way). I bet Art Carney felt that way too! - He had work to prove to everyone he was much more than Ed Norton from "The Honeymooners" (in film, tv & stage) and build a lot of good will and respect in the industry, and some of the people he'd worked with (in front and behind the camera) were Academy voters!
@SVHAW87 Ellen Burstyn, who was in Harry and Tonto too, had Academy favor, and her winning that year for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore also is one of a few times two actors who appeared in the same film won year won separate Oscars.
@@outinsider I didn't realize that! The reason Ellen Burstyn wasn't at the Oscars is because she was doing a play "Same Time, Next Year" on Broadway (which opened a month before the Oscars) and she couldn't get time off to attend. Then two weeks later, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play!
Now that I see the video clips of that year shows, with the exception of Ja Nicholson besides Art Carney, the other performances seems a bit card. It does not touch on the humdrum living of the 70s where social classes of various kinds were starting slowly t evolve. The 70s can be considered a laboratory setting for the sociology student and only Jack Nicholson but especially Art Carney role explores the class concept of society in depth. It is not so much about the cat Tonto.😢
I think its just math. Pacino, Nicholson, & Hoffman are competing for the same pool of voters championing their generation. Carney had won many Emmys and had worked in live TV dramas with some of the same writers/directors who were now making their name in movies giving him the edge, and as you said it was a very respectable performance.
Other great performances that year such as Gene Hackman in The Conversation and Peter Falk for A Woman Under the Influence didn’t even get a nomination. Pacino should have won. Best performance of his career.
Art Carney won for a number of reasons. Most importantly, people loved him and knew he'd probably never get another chance. Pacino and Nicholson split the vote for "serious" actors. Or maybe the Academy just wanted to see the look on Nicholson's face when he list.
This win had a snowball effect, or butterfly or domino effect, if you like. Art won when Pacino should've, then Pacino won when Denzel should've, then Denzel won when Russel Crowe should've, all because the Academy felt like being sentimental in '75.
Hmm, interesting.
I have had this same thought, although I don't think it's due to sentimentality. It was due to Carney actually giving a worthy performance in a film that featured several Oscar-worthy performances (Ellen Burstyn, et al.) and the Academy likes to set up a bit of controversy or surprise (a la Glenda Jackson's second win the previous year.)
I've been saying this for the longest time.
I'd argue Denzel deserved to win regardless with Russell Crowe right on his heels
@@elijahalbiston Russell Crowe won every single precursor but lost the Oscar. It’s a better more challenging performance. Denzel in Training Day is overrated in my opinion. He played versions of that character before and since.
An interesting note, this was Glenda Jackson's only appearance at the Oscars, even though she had won twice.
The enthusiastic reaccion of the audience when he was announced as a winner gives us a clue of why he won. People wanted him to have an Oscar
He was well respected in the industry!
I'm mad that Al Pacino being one of the greatest actors of all time only have 1 oscar and for the wrong film
I have seen Chinatown and I have seen the Godfather part two, and to me there’s no comparison. Al Pacino should’ve won the Oscar that year. He became that character and he was terrifying.
I think the cat played a role in his win. A vote for Harry was a vote for Tonto 😸
You beat me to this. I haven't seen this film yet, but the cat is a big reason for this win.
Also, a vote for Carney was a vote for writer/director Paul Mazursky, who had been routinely overlooked.
The Academy skewed older during the New Hollywood era. When Old Hollywood transitioned to the New Hollywood era in the late 1960s, the change wasn't gradual. It happened very very quickly. Old fashioned musicals and period/costume dramas dominated Hollywood throughout the '50s and into the later '60s. But when those films started flopping hard, Hollywood had to shift its focus rapidly on these American New Wave films (that audiences were flocking to in droves) in order to prevent the studio system from collapsing. There were still some costume dramas and musicals that were made during the early years of New Hollywood but they fizzled out quickly. Audiences didn't want those movies anymore. But, the older members of the Academy (most of the membership at the time were old men from Old Hollywood) still had affinity and nostalgia for the old days, so they did tend to skew to awarding older Hollywood stars over the younger new stars (especially with male actors). Just look at the Oscar acting wins during New Hollywood at that point:
1967 - Old Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. George Kennedy wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Rod Steiger wins Best Actor for a more old fashioned movie like _In the Heat of the Night_ over 2 younger stars Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty in _The Graduate_ and _Bonnie and Clyde,_ the two most talked about movies of the year that ushered in the New Hollywood Era. Paul Newman was a few months older than Steiger but Steiger started his career first. And of the two men, who looks way older? Steiger by a mile. And Steiger won over oldest nominee Spencer Tracy who had just passed away but Tracy had two Oscars already.
1968 - All four acting awards went to the oldest nominee who were all Hollywood veterans. ALL FOUR. Oldest nominee and Hollywood veteran Cliff Robertson wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress again and the only reason newcomer Barbra Streisand tied with her is because she just became a member of the Academy that year and thus was able to vote for herself. Oldest nominee Jack Albertson wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Ruth Gordon wins Supporting Actress.
1969 - Oldest nominee John Wayne wins Best Actor. Old Hollywood veteran Gig Young wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger newcomers. Maggie Smith wins Best Actress for an old fashioned drama like _The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie_ over 3 younger nominees.
1970 - Almost all four acting winners were the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee John Mills wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Helen Hayes wins Supporting Actress. Old Hollywood star George C. Scott wins over 3 younger newcomers Ryan O'Neal, Jack Nicholson and James Earl Jones. Scott won over oldest Best Actor nominee Melvyn Douglas who already had won.
1971 - Oldest nominee Ben Johnson wins Supporting Actor. Hollywood veteran Cloris Leachman wins Supporting Actress over 3 younger newcomers Ann-Margret, Ellen Burstyn and Barbara Harris. Jane Fonda wins Best Actress for 2 younger actresses Janet Suzman and Julie Christie and over newcomer Vanessa Redgrave who's only months older than Fonda (Glenda Jackson was a year older than Fonda but had won the year prior, but also Glenda's career started after Fonda's).
1972 - Old Hollywood legend Marlon Brando wins Best Actor over 3 younger nominees. Oldest nominee Eileen Heckart wins Supporting Actress. Joel Grey wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger nominees, and over older nominee Robert Duvall but Joel Grey started his film career a decade before Duvall.
1973 - Old Hollywood veteran Jack Lemmon wins Best Actor over 3 younger newcomers Redford, Pacino and Nicholson (oldest Best Actor nominee Brando won the year prior). Oldest nominee John Houseman wins Supporting Actor. Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress again over 2 younger nominees Marsha Mason and Barbra Streisand and over newcomer Ellen Burstyn (oldest Best Actress nominee Joanne Woodward had already won).
1974 - Oldest nominee Art Carney wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee and Hollywood legend Ingrid Bergman wins Supporting Actress. Ellen Burstyn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees.
1975 - 3 of the 4 acting wins went to the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Louise Fletcher wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee George Burns wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Lee Grant wins Supporting Actress.
1976 - Oldest nominee Peter Finch wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Beatrice Straight wins Supporting Actress. Faye Dunaway wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Jason Robards wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger newcomers and over oldest nominee Laurence Olivier cuz he already won.
I think it was a message for the New generation to showcase more
Being old enough to have seen Harry and Tonto in the theater, I remember how surprised and delighted theater goers were with this performance. After being associated for over 2 decades with his role as Ed Norton, the weird and funny sidekick to Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden on the Honeymooners on TV, we were honestly astonished that he could be so earnest and endearing in a natural and subdued performance...as compared to his over the top lunacy on TV. The Honeymooners was remembered, with I Love Lucy, as the best comedy of classic tv at that time. To give a performance as subdued and touching as this was seen as so against type that it magnified the actual performance that modern viewers see today. The other nominees were expected to give great performances with their already impressive track record, while this one came out of left field from a beloved second banana of comedy. It's the kind of performance that other great comedic actors like Lucille Ball and Jerry Lewis tried to give later in their careers that they failed to give...only Jackie Gleason in The Hustler came close (maybe this was an atonement for Gleason's supporting actor loss in 1962). This is definitely a nostalgic win from older fans thoroughly delighted to see a 1950's tv actor giving his best dramatic performance. It was definitely seen in a better light when it came out than it is seen today in retrospect. It was of it's time, but shouldn't be seen as a mistake, because it is an endearing performance from a beloved actor, no different than the Oscars given to George Burns, Jack Palance, or Lee Marvin.
Well said.
Art Carney was able to show more of his acting skills in an episode of The Twilight Zone called The Night of the Meek (2nd season, 1959). Carney plays a drunken, unhappy department store Santa Claus. He wishes he could really
make other people happy like Santa does. He comes across an old bag in an alley and finds that it is a magical bag that can help make his wish come true. I think Art Carney received an Emmy nomination for his performance.
"The other nominees were expected to give great performances with their already impressive track record, while this one came out of left field from a beloved second banana of comedy. "
This is such a ridiculous reason to vote for someone. It's supposed to be for the best performance, and they should be giving to the best actors, not for actors who pleasantly surprised them with their performance because they didn't expect them to be so good.
It is also not supposed to be given for the most likable character.
Academy voters can be really dumb.
@@suebob16
Bravo for calling out that performance, one of the best in a classic series that’s still well regarded.
was going to basically say what you have but your comment is perfect Thank you
Agree Cody. That image of Jack Nicholson's shock in the final moments of Chinatown are tender, revelatory and chilling. and that final line. all timer.
Art Carney's performance in "Harry and Tonto" was not a showy performance it was more subtle and low key. Sometimes less is more.I think that he got award more as an honor for his tv and stage work than for anything else. He was not known for his film performances so I think that the Academy wanted to encourage him to do more film work because he stepped outside his comfort zone which is stage and tv to do this film. He also turned in another great performance in "The Late Show"(1977) with Lily Tomlin.
Academy membership still skewed older in the early 1970s, and I believe that many voters saw themselves in Carney's character. Younger members may also have empathized with their elderly parents as well, which I think might explain the surprise win. And let's not forget..."cat people" are a loyal contingent (myself being among them). So, despite the strong competition, looking back at the year now, I can understand why Art Carney won the Oscar.
Yes, we get to vote for our friendly feline 🐈 😸
I disagree. I think it's more of Hoffman, Pacino and Nicholson cancelling each other out.
@@PhilMoskowitz
It’s possible that you and the OP are right.
@@PhilMoskowitz No, the Academy DID skew older during the New Hollywood era. You're not looking at it in context. When Old Hollywood transitioned to the New Hollywood era in the late 1960s, the change wasn't gradual. It happened very very quickly. Old fashioned musicals and period/costume dramas dominated Hollywood throughout the '50s and into the later '60s. But when those films started flopping hard and audiences started gravitating to the New Hollywood counterculture films, Hollywood had to shift its focus rapidly on these American New Wave films to prevent the studio system from collapsing. There were still some costume dramas and musicals that made it in during the early years of New Hollywood but they fizzled out quickly. Audiences didn't want those movies anymore. But, the older members of the Academy (which most of the membership was at the time, old white men from Old Hollywood) still had affinity and nostalgia for the old days, so they DID tend to skew to older Hollywood veterans over the younger new stars (especially with the men). Just look at the Oscar acting wins during New Hollywood to that point:
1967 - Old Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. George Kennedy wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Rod Steiger wins Best Actor for a more old fashioned movie like _In the Heat of the Night_ over 2 younger stars Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty in _The Graduate_ and _Bonnie and Clyde,_ the two most talked about movies of the year that ushered in the New Hollywood Era. Paul Newman was a few months older than Steiger but Steiger started his career first. And of the two men, who looks way older? Steiger by a mile.
1968 - All four acting awards went to the oldest nominee who were all Hollywood veterans. All four. Oldest nominee and Hollywood veteran Cliff Robertson wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress again and the only reason newcomer Barbra Streisand tied with her is because she just became a member of the Academy that year and thus was able to vote for herself. Oldest nominee Jack Albertson wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Ruth Gordon wins Supporting Actress.
1969 - Oldest nominee John Wayne wins Best Actor. Old Hollywood veteran Gig Young wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger newcomers. Maggie Smith wins Best Actress for an old fashioned drama like _The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie_ over 3 younger nominees.
1970 - Almost all four acting winners were the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee John Mills wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Helen Hayes wins Supporting Actress. Veteran George C. Scott wins over 3 younger newcomers Ryan O'Neal, Jack Nicholson and James Earl Jones.
1971 - Oldest nominee Ben Johnson wins Supporting Actor. Hollywood veteran Cloris Leachman over 3 younger newcomers Ann-Margret, Ellen Burstyn and Barbara Harris. Jane Fonda wins Best Actress for 2 younger actresses Janet Suzman and Julie Christie and over newcomer Vanessa Redgrave who's only months older than Fonda (Glenda Jackson was a year older than Fonda but had won the year prior, but also Glenda's career started after Fonda's).
1972 - Old Hollywood legend Marlon Brando wins Best Actor over 3 younger nominees. Oldest nominee Eileen Heckart wins Supporting Actress. Joel Grey wins Supporting Actor over two younger nominees, and over older nominee Robert Duvall but Joel Grey started his film career a decade before Duvall.
1973 - Old Hollywood veteran Jack Lemmon wins Best Actor over three younger newcomers Redford, Pacino and Nicholson. Oldest nominee John Houseman wins Supporting Actor. Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress again over 2 younger nominees Marsha Mason and Barbra Streisand and over newcomer Ellen Burstyn.
1974 - Oldest nominee Art Carney wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee and Hollywood legend Ingrid Bergman wins Supporting Actress. Ellen Burstyn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees.
1975 - Three of the four acting wins went to the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Louise Fletcher wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee George Burns wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Lee Grant wins Supporting Actress.
1976 - Oldest nominee Peter Finch wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Beatrice Straight wins Supporting Actress. Faye Dunaway wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Jason Robards wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger newcomers and over oldest nominee Laurence Olivier cuz he already won.
So, yes, the Academy (made up of mostly old men at that time) DID tend to skew to older Hollywood veterans over the younger new stars, especially with the male stars. Art Carney did NOT win because younger newcomers Pacino, Nicholson and Hoffman cancelled each other out.
@@rustincohle2135 Thanks for this thoughtful insight, It seems however that most of the change happened in 1969. The MPAA had brought in their ratings system (GMRX) the previous November so now young filmmakers were able to make the movies they wanted. 1969 was like the perfect storm. The supreme example of this was in the Best Picture category. The '68 winner was the big-budget G rated musical Oliver! while the very next year was the mid budget X rated Midnight Cowboy over the mega-budget G-rated Hello, Dolly
One other factor helped Art Carney. 'Road' movies were popular in the late 60s and early 70s. Discontented individuals taking off across America to find themselves was the subject of movies and books: Midnight Cowboy, Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces . Harry & Tonto (and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore) were quieter and less defiant character studies, but spoke to the times. They were also among the last. But also among the best.
Whatever this looks like in hindsight, I can tell you at the time it was a very popular win with viewers. This was the first Oscars broadcast I remember watching, I think I was 7 years old. This was still in that transition from old Hollywood to "easy rider" Hollywood, probably the tail end of it. A period that assured wins for John Wayne AND Midnight Cowboy, and that old Hollywood/new Hollywood sweet spot of Liza Minnelli, who embodied both the present and the familiarity of the past. The Honeymooners was still very heavily in syndication - back when we had 3 channels and 1 UHF channel (from Canada) - and you could watch it in the afternoon or, preferably, late at night after the news. I didn't know who Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice were but I knew who Ralph & Alice & Ed & Trixie were - which is a good time to mention, this is also Mazursky, a young gun, new voice. What Mazursky did for Art Carney is sort of similar to what Tarantino did for Travolta - made him relevant again. Or like Ruth Gordon in a Hal Ashby film (though she'd obviously won for Rosemary's Baby prior to that). But this win has the flavour of all of that PLUS a bit of John Wayne (just a bit) and I think, even in terms of sentimental Honeymooners value - this was Carney, one of TV's greatest second bananas, stepping up to lead, out on his own. And I think there was some pleasure and satisfaction in seeing Ed Norton step up to the podium for what was a very well received film. Perhaps more than any of the above, it is certainly a measure of how well liked Art Carney was in Hollywood. And I think as you nearly concluded, it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Harry and Tonto director and screenwriter Paul Mazursky was very highly regarded back then, and his films were very highly anticipated. Rewarding a director by giving an Oscar to a worthy cast member was not unheard of, and still happens to this day (see Quentin Tarantino). An even bigger reason for Mr. Carney's win could be the split between the Old Hollywood and the New Hollywood. Roger Ebert described the very late 60s and early 70s as the time when the inmates (younger experimental artists) were given the keys to the asylum (the moviemaking business). From this perspective, Nicholson and Pacino split the New Hollywood vote, but there were still enough Academy voters from Old Hollywood for Mr. Carney to rise to the top. Regardless of their merits, just the prior year The Sting and Jack Lemmon (Save the Tiger) were the big winners. How Old Hollywood can you get, when Nicholson (who was absolutely jaw-dropping in The Last Detail with his emotional range) and Pacino (Serpico) were both nominated? Many categories featuring much finer efforts were overlooked during those years. Old Hollywood still ruled the Academy, and can account for any number of weird and unlikely wins during that era. (BTW, I just happened to screen The Last Detail yesterday (after not having seen it for 50 years)! Nicholson was asked to exhibit a range of completely different emotions during each vignette, while still remaining true to his character. His breadth is breathtaking, and if you're not familiar with this film it has to go to the top of your must-see 70s-era list of films. This film, more than any other, cemented his place as a star of the first magnitude.)
This is a _perfect_ Oscar win for one of these posts. Thanks so much for the analysis.
Tonto crossing the Rainbow Bridge scene: Carney's underplayed delivery and crooned Roamin' in the Gloamin' certainly helped secure the win
The Oscars were seen as so painfully uncool in the early-mid 70s--I mean, can you imagine 3 of the 5 nominees for Best effing Actor not even showing up nowadays...?
Back when they showed empty seats in the auditorium! :)
I remember seeing Harry & Tonto at the movies. It was a sweet trip all the way. Especially enjoyed the scene with Chief Dan George and Carney in jail cell. It seemed improvised and funny.
How was Gene Hackman not nominated is the real question
Darn good question, but I would guess it was because The Conversation was a box office dud and Oscar nominations and awards so often have to due with a film's popularity as opposed to it's quality. Check out Dustin Hoffman's performances in "Straight Time" or "American Buffalo".Hoffman has never been better but l don't think either film made a dime at the box office so no nominations for Dusty. Rain Man on the other hand was a whopping big hit so Hoffman takes the little gold statue home to put on his mantle( or maybe stick in his trophy case).
I’m glad you mentioned that! Imho, Hackman in “The Conversation” was superlative, as was the film itself. Nicholson in “Chinatown” was excellent, but I’d still give it to Hackman. (A minority opinion, I know, but I’ve never been impressed with Pacino. In everything I’ve ever seen him in, he always seems to confuse acting with shouting.)
@@biakabutooka yeah, probably. Though recently they really have a tendency to give it to actors who play real people even if the movie wasn't the most popular (Gary Oldman, Will Smith, etc.)
Great recommendations! I love dustin Hoffman but I've only seen his most basic films (rain man, midnight cowboy and the graduate), so I would love to see more from him.
@@Kjt853 I would give it to Hackman as well. The conversation is a top 10 film of all time for me and Hackman's performance is up there in my top 3 probably. Personally I love al Pacino in most things, but sometimes he does shouts and runs around too much (I think he was pretty bad in heat, for example)
@@Kjt853 Have you even seen Godfather and Godfather, part 2??
I can't even think of more than maybe one scene in each movie where he's shouting.
Bottom line is Art Carney headlined a movie when many thought his career was over. Nothing in his previous performances prepared the audience for this role. It was absolutely a surprise and delight....which is what award winning performances are about.
That's a shocking win
Thank you at The Awards Contender for doing this, I put in this request after the Ellen Burstyn win video. Great assessment of each of the nominees. I think Arts win was about less is more, it wasnt a showy performance like the other nominees, it was a nice, sentimental performance that tugged at your heartstrings. Thats why the other nominees cancelled each other out and Art won.
If I understand the process at the time, Art Carney won because Pacino and Nicholson split the votes and as such each got less than they should have and Art Carney squeezed through.
Yeah, ranked choice voting would make a lot more sense.
THIS!
Carney’s win is crazy, considering the competition. Having said that, for me, his performance reminds me of Jim Broadbent in Iris. They’re much quieter (for lack of a better word) than the others in their respective lineups, and I kind of like that.
When I first learned about this Oscar controversy, I bought the Harry and Tonto DVD. I actually loved the movie. It’s not a completely wrong choice.
Carney deserved an Oscar, but not for HARRY AND TONTO. He should have won for THE LATE SHOW in 1977, the wonderful film noir/comedy he did with Lily Tomlin.
One big factor that wasn’t mentioned. Art Carney played the role of Odd Couple on Broadway. When they made the movie version, Carney lost the role to Jack Lemmon. Similar to Julie Andrew’s winning for Mary Poppins because she wasn’t cast in My Fair Lady. I think Carney won because he’s a veteran actor and this was a chance to recognize him. Nicholson, Hoffman, and Pacino were still early in their careers, so they could be awarded later.
@@gittes98 The point being Walter Matthau got to keep his role in the film, while Carney did not cuz he wasn't a big enough star like Julie Andrews with _My Fair Lady._
I have to admit I have only seen Al Pacino's performance and it was fantastic but I do believe that sentimentality played a role. I do have to day I love Art Carney and his role as Ed Norton on the Honeymooner's is one of the best in the history of televison.
1974 and 1975 are probably the best years in history for film and, as you say, Al Pacino should really have won best actor in 1974. It's a good shout that Art Carney was popular on television as to why he won but, we have to remember, in those days, sentimental wins were quite common (John Wayne in 1969) or the older actor who paid his dues (Jack Lemmon, 1973).
1974 was also the year when all the greats of the Golden Age were hitting their peak - Hackman, Pacino, Hoffman, Nicholson, De Niro. I would have been happy for either Hoffman or Nicholson to win if Pacino didn't (Hoffman is probably my favourite) because they're all so damn good. But for none of them to win and Carney to take it was a bit much, as you say.
One final point is that all the movies represented that year were on the bleak side and maybe, the Academy wanted to find a way to reward something sweeter rather than reward the best. It's a familiar story that a more populist or mainstream pick has to make the headlines and maintain Hollywood's image.
Pacino in godfather 2 is the greatest performance of all time. This was the greatest Oscar travesty.
I feel there’s definitely a topic of discussion to be made with the lasting impact of films and performances that make it into Oscar history. Like, there’s a reason we still talk about Chinatown and The Godfather Part 2, but there are a lot of films (both winning and nominated) that shine brightly for the time but then fade into obscurity. Even films from last 5 years that did well at the Oscars already seem to be fading.
Art Carney’s scene with Larry Hagman Who plays his son was quite touching. Hagman’s character is divorced and living in a small apartment and lost in life. He breaks down and Carney comforts him in a true life way. I feel like that scene reflects a reality more people have experienced with their family members. It is a quality road movie full of epiphanies. Also, acting 75 when you are only 55 is not that easy.
20 years difference is hard
Best Supporting or Leading Cat?
This was a win for the cat Tonto. The first dual win at the Academy. 😼😸😻
Maybe the second? Don't forget Lee Marvin and his horse.
Even in real life, Art Carney looked so much older than he really was.
It would be interesting to go back and experience the zeitgeist of the year and what kind of popularity the film had at the time. I find that carries a film more than any artistic merit. We still see that nowadays.
I was only 10 when I stumbled on “Harry & Tonto” on TV. It mesmerized me. One of the best “Road” flicks ever IMHO. Barbara Rhoades and the rest of the cast were awesome, and Art was a legendary talent.
It would be great if the right actor won for the right role, but frankly, the silly politics of the Academy are almost as fun to discuss.
Tbh in a situation like this, multiple truly great performances in one category can be the very thing that makes the dark horse win. Votes get split amongst the heavy hitters well enough that the least likely win gets the highest percentage by a nose
Exactly. It keeps the conversation going which is the whole point.
The scene at the end of Chinatown where Jack is stunned, hurt & realizes he's failed another woman in Chinatown mumbles barely audible "As little as possible" which he told Faye Dunaway earlier that was what the District Attorney told them to do when he was a cop there. That scene was incredible. Pacino and Nicholson could've tied for Best Actor every year from 1973-1975 and it wouldn't be a controversy. Gene Hackman not being nominated was an abomination right up there with no nomination for Humphrey Bogart in The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre, Robert Mitchum in Out Of The Past, Anthony Perkins in Psycho among others. For an underappreciated Dustin Hoffman performance checkout Straight Time from 1978.
Al Pacino should have won and he also should have won 2 years prior for The Godfather. Nicholson was great, but he’d win the following year for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and he gave his best performance in Cuckoo’s Nest in my opinion. Art Carney wasn’t at all bad in Harry and Tonto, he was very good, but compared to Pacino and Nicholson, he should not have beaten either of those two. Thank you for the video Rob, I hope you’re doing well. Keep up the great work and take care!
Agree with everything you said. For me Pacino in 2 is one of the absolute greatest performances. Firmly believe he should've won
@@samuelzins5089Nicholson and Pacino in the 70's were on another level; Five Easy Pieces, The Godfather parts one and two, Chinatown, Serpico, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Dog Day Afternoon. Those are god tier level examples of great acting, hardly surpassed by anyone.
@luismarioguerrerosanchez4747 completely agree. I was just thinking after commenting about how crazy even just the 2 year span having GF2 and Dog Day Afternoon for Pacino and Chinatown and One flew over the cuckoo's nest
A case could be made for Pacino deserving a three-peat. I mean him losing Best Actor for 1973’s “Serpico” to Jack Lemmon for “Save the Tiger”? 🤦🏽♂️
Lemmon had only won up to that point for 1955’s “Mister Roberts” in the supporting category on his first nomination. Apparently most voters felt he was long overdue for a lead win. 🤷🏽♂️
The “Tiger” nomination was his fifth overall, and all of for ones after his first were lead. He’d have three more nominations after that, and all lead.
He really delivered in “Save the Tiger,” as he normally did, but Pacino was on another level in “Serpico.” So Art Carney’s win marked back-to-back controversial Best Actor victories - and both involved a man and cat. 🐅🙀😄
I still haven’t seen 1972’s “Cabaret,” so I can’t comment on Joel Grey’s win, but I know that many Pacino fans and others feel the latter deserved to win. As for Pacino vs. Carney, I’ve seen both performances, and I’m Team Pacino, thought I feel Carney did a great job.
@JeffTheGent Pacino should have been in Lead for the first Godfather movie, and he thought so too which is why he didn't attend the event. He should have been in Lead together with Brando.
In 1974, we had just pulled out of Vietnam and the civil unrest was fading. We were ready for a sweet and quiet movie. I was 19 and remember it well. The cat helped too.
What ?
Art Carney's performance was my favorite of the five. I was not an Academy voter.
Ellen Burstyn, 1974 Best Actress, is also in H&T. Sweet! And the cat (Morris) was a big star in commercials. I own his autobiography…
I was always enthusiastic regarding Pacino's nominations (especially Dog Day Afternoon), yet by the time he was long overdue and nominated for Dick Tracy, I thought, "Please don't let him win his first for this one".
Finney was just never the favorite to win for any of his 5 nominations:
1.) _Tom Jones_ - Finney was a brand newcomer and male newcomers almost never win Lead Actor. He didn't even win the BAFTA for it and he's British. He even lost the Golden Globe for Best Comedy Actor even though the film won Best Motion Picture (Comedy). He just wasn't the favorite that year. Plus, Sidney Poitier was the favorite and had to win for _Lilies of the Field_ cuz his win was historic.
2.) _Murder on the Orient Express_ - It was Finney's "just happy to be there" nomination. He was never in contention against Carney, Pacino, Nicholson and Hoffman.
3.) _The Dresser_ - The film had two Best Actor nominations that year for both Finney and his fellow co-star Tom Courtenay, which rarely results in a win for either. Also, Courtenay actually ended up winning the Golden Globe over Finney, but Courtenay tied with Robert Duvall for _Tender Mercies._ And Duvall was the clear favorite that year. It was just Duvall's time to win.
4.) _Under the Volcano_ - Nothing was stopping F. Murray Abraham in _Amadeus._ That performance was legendary.
5.) _Erin Brockovich_ - By this point, Finney had been acting for 40 years, so, his star power had declined greatly. Plus, his filmography in the decade before _Erin Brockovich_ was just one forgettable movie after the other, so he was not this prestige actor anymore. But his role in _Erin Brockovich_ gave him a boost in the final stage of his career. But Benicio del Toro was the clear favorite that year for _Traffic._ He won the Globe and BAFTA over Finney. And the only reason Finney won the SAG for Supporting Actor that year was cuz del Toro was nominated for Lead Actor instead. And del Toro even managed to still win the SAG for Lead Actor for a supporting performance. So, del Toro was the favorite for Supporting Actor over Finney all the way.
Finney was just never the front-runner to win at any point.
Do you think he had a chance to win ?
@@lexkanyima2195 With _Murder on the Orient Express, The Dresser,_ and _Under the Volcano,_ he had no shot. I think his best chances were _Tom Jones_ but he didn't even win the Globe for Best Actor (Comedy/Musical) and the film won Best Picture (Comedy/Musical) nor did he win the BAFTA and he's British. But also, newcomers rarely win the Oscar for Best Lead Actor. Newcomers many times have won Best Lead Actress, but very rarely Best Actor. Plus, the Academy probably wanted to be "historic" with Sidney Poitier's win. And his other best shot was Supporting Actor for _Erin Brockovich_ since he won SAG but that's cuz Del Toro competed in Lead Actor there, not Supporting. And Del Toro still won Best Actor at SAG. So, it totally was Del Toro's year. So, no, Finney never seemed to be the frontrunner (or even close).
@@rustincohle2135 I see
Al Pacino as Michael Corleone is one of the best performances in the film history. or two best performances since it's in two movies. It's mind-boggling that the Academy had two chances to give him an Oscar for it, and they blew it both times!
I definitely get the feelings that he shouldn't have won, but I absolutely loved Harry and Tonto, and really felt how tender and genuine that performance was.
Plus I love the career resurgence it gave him, as well as many older actors, with the trend of twilight years coming of age movies. The Late Show and Going in Style also being great examples.
Same. I love _Harry and Tonto_ and loved Carney's win. And the end-of-career boost _The Sunshine Boys_ gave to George Burns. And _Save the Tiger_ was Jack Lemmon's meatiest dramatic role in over a decade since _Days of Wine and Roses,_ leading to 3 more Oscar nominations for him. And the career resurgence Brando got from _The Godfather._
Should do George Burns for winning Best Supporting Actor. Kind of in a similar vein to this win when there were far better performances in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Dog Day Afternoon.
Don't get me started on that one...
Bro I just made a comment about this on the De Niro video
It was legit an hour before this upload
I saw ‘Harry and Tonto’ as a child and I found it deeply affecting so much so I still remember it to this day.
I have to say though that the late ‘60 to the early ‘80s had some really good films (loved the music of that era too). And not just American cinema either. ‘The Conversation’ is one of my favorite films and it was just one of those mentioned here. What an era.
It's odd to think that these absolute legends would have been considered the young upstarts back then. A lot of the voters would have been from the old studio system era. For Hackman not to be nominated shows what a stacked year this was
Art Carney was deserving, but Jack Nicolson and Al Pacino were more deserving. I would say Nicolson should have won Best Actor for Chinatown.
I actually think Pacino deserved it that year for "Godfather II" and also the next year for "Dog Day Afternoon. " Art Carney should have been nominated and perhaps even deserved to win in 1977 for "The Late Show." Gene Hackman easily should have been nominated for "The Conversation." Another neglected performance that year: William Atherton in "The Sugarland Express."
I have the abortion scene between Al and Diane from Godfather part 2 downloaded. I know it word for word.
Al should have taken it
How about his acting in the nursing home with the old girlfriend when she comes in and out of clarity and then they dance. His acting was great in that scene.
You guys totally nailed why Carney won, why Nicholson probably came in second, and why Pacino’s performance is an all-timer.
But they missed 2 details
Really loved this episode of the awards contender! As you mentioned in the video, it's a widely discussed year in Oscar history. In my opinion the nominees for actor should go (1-5) Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, Art Carney, This is the only year that the top three actors of their generation (Hoffman, Nicholson, Pacino) nominated in the same year! Soon to be joined by best supporting actor of that year Robert DeNiro. Another reason for Carney's win could of been the votes being split among those three or at least the top two. I feel if Carney hadn't been nominated, it would of gone to Pacino, the Academy was clearly favoring Godfather II that year with Chinatown only winning for original screenplay for the late great Robert Towne. I once read that Paul Mazursky wrote the part with James Cagney in mind, but Cagney wouldn't come out of retirement. Pity, he would've great and definately would've won.
Nicholson and Pacino might have canceled each other out, allowing Carney to sqeeze out a win.
The Academy wasn’t old it was ancient in the early 70 s. Al was nominated for supporting actor in The Godfather despite being in many more scenes than Brando. Albert Finney should have won for The Dresser released in 1983 but his co- star Tom Courtenay was also nominated for The Dresser,Michael Caine for Educating Rita Tom Conti for Reuben,Reuben. Robert Duvall won for Tender Mercies.It’s a freaking joke Art Carney won. The other four actors were all superb. Art Carney was Art Carney.
Love your videos. But will disagree on one thing. You both said you didn't see anything special on Carney's acting in Harry and Tonto. But the scene where Harry says goodbye to Tonto is quite touching. You can see the sadness on his face, although he tries to hide it.
But I still think Pacino should have won.
Looking forward to watch your "why Gwyneth Paltrow won " video.
Frankly, Al Pacino’s performance in Scent Of A Woman is better than The Godfather Part 2. I really don’t care for The Godfather movies. I would actually put Art Carney as personal favorite to win that year even if Chinatown is the better movie.
Love Art Carney ❤
Here’s an idea- talk about the least seen acting nominations of each decade
1930s- Gladys George Valiant is the word for Carrie
1940s- Dan Dailey when my baby smiles at me
1950s- Mickey Rooney the bold and the brave
1960s- Nick adams twilight of honor
1970s- Glenda Jackson Hedda
1980s- Norma Aleandro Gaby a true story
1990s- Miranda Richardson and rosemary Harris Tom and viv
2000s- Annette benning being julia
2010s- Demian bichir a better life 17k
Art Carney won because he deserved to win. Jack and Al were great but Carney won that the way it goes.
Thanks for clearing up this Oscar topic. I used to think this had to be the worst Oscar decision in history but after seeing the video I realize it kind of made sense and wasn’t that awful
Jack Nicholson was expected to win that year since he won Golden Globe, BAFTA, New York Film Critics Award... all the important awards.
Jack literally won every award he was up for, for _Chinatown_ except for the Oscar.
@@rustincohle2135did he ?
Here to defend Art carney . 1 of the best performance ever e 1 of the most deserving oscar win
My top 5 lead actor of 1974
1 Art carney Harry e tonto
2 gene hackman the conversation
3 al Pacino the godfather part 2
4 Walter Matthau the taking of penhalm 123
5 jack Nicholson Chinatown
Love this topic. I don’t know if it helps, but my 30-something parents really loved Harry and Tonto, and I think Art Carney’s win had a lot to do with wanting to see a story about a Greatest Generation character not hating on THEIR generation.
A lot of the people voting would have been this sea change of a younger generation who shared this sentiment.
In other words, the premise of the movie was chicken soup for the soul of late silent generation adults. Having a cat as a character did not hurt in this regard.
In short, people found it healing.
I loved it and I was 22.
Ok.... so I do wonder if you read the comments, maybe because you have not interacted with any comment of mine (and I make a point of leaving one because I truly enjoy your channel.) One particular comment that was on the negative side was regarding your episode on Eyes Wide Shut. Knowing you are specifically addressing the matter from an Oscar standpoint I still thought the approach was uncharacteristically weak regarding a film that had garnered tons of attention (and one that I periodically watch to new joy every time.) I also share your admiration of Meryl Streep.... and I truly enjoy watching your series on her unparalleled relationship with the Oscars (I disagree with a minor point and that is that I really love the film Plenty, a production by Joseph Papp, a complex role that she plays effortlessly and without exaggeration (unlike her effort on Julia Child which is probably my least favorite of hers.).....So, there you have it...:) Fantastic work and always enjoyable through and through.....
I have another theory for the Carney win - Hoffman / Pacino / Nicholson all split the vote, allowing for Carney to swoop in for the win. Had there been “ranked choice” voting, I don’t think he would have taken the prize. I think Hoffman / Pacino / Nicholson were all very close together in vote totals, and that Carney was also very close, and eeked out a razor-thin win.
I really really doubt Carney won cuz the votes were split. If you look back at the Oscar acting wins in that time, you'll see a trend. The Academy skewed towards older stars during the New Hollywood era. When Old Hollywood transitioned to the New Hollywood phase in the late 1960s, the change wasn't gradual. It happened very very quickly. Old fashioned musicals and period/costume dramas dominated Hollywood throughout the '50s and into the later '60s. But when those films started flopping hard, Hollywood had to shift its focus rapidly on these American New Wave films (that audiences were flocking to in droves) in order to prevent the studio system from collapsing. There were still some costume dramas and musicals that were made during the early years of New Hollywood but they fizzled out quickly. Audiences just didn't want those movies anymore. But, the older members of the Academy (most of the membership at the time were old men from Old Hollywood) still had affinity and nostalgia for the old days, so they did tend to skew towards awarding older Hollywood stars over the younger new stars (especially with the male actors). Just look at the Oscar acting wins during New Hollywood at that point:
1967 - Old Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. George Kennedy wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Rod Steiger wins Best Actor for a more old fashioned movie like _In the Heat of the Night_ over 2 younger stars Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty in _The Graduate_ and _Bonnie and Clyde,_ the two most talked about movies of the year that ushered in the New Hollywood Era. Paul Newman was a few months older than Steiger but Steiger started his career first. And of the two men, who looks way older? Steiger by a mile. And Steiger won over oldest nominee Spencer Tracy who had just passed away but Tracy had two Oscars already.
1968 - All four acting awards went to the oldest nominee who were all Hollywood veterans. ALL FOUR. Oldest nominee and Hollywood veteran Cliff Robertson wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Katharine Hepburn wins Best Actress again and the only reason newcomer Barbra Streisand tied with her is because she just became a member of the Academy that year and thus was able to vote for herself. Oldest nominee Jack Albertson wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Ruth Gordon wins Supporting Actress.
1969 - Oldest nominee John Wayne wins Best Actor. Old Hollywood veteran Gig Young wins Supporting Actor over 3 younger newcomers. Maggie Smith wins Best Actress for an old fashioned drama like _The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie_ over 3 younger nominees.
1970 - Almost all four acting winners were the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee John Mills wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Helen Hayes wins Supporting Actress. Old Hollywood star George C. Scott wins over 3 younger newcomers Ryan O'Neal, Jack Nicholson and James Earl Jones. Scott won over oldest Best Actor nominee Melvyn Douglas who already had won.
1971 - Oldest nominee Ben Johnson wins Supporting Actor. Hollywood veteran Cloris Leachman wins Supporting Actress over 3 younger newcomers Ann-Margret, Ellen Burstyn and Barbara Harris. Jane Fonda wins Best Actress for 2 younger actresses Janet Suzman and Julie Christie and over newcomer Vanessa Redgrave who's only months older than Fonda (Glenda Jackson was a year older than Fonda but had won the year prior, but also Glenda's career started after Fonda's).
1972 - Old Hollywood legend Marlon Brando wins Best Actor over 3 younger nominees. Oldest nominee Eileen Heckart wins Supporting Actress. Joel Grey wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger nominees, and over older nominee Robert Duvall but Joel Grey started his film career a decade before Duvall.
1973 - Old Hollywood veteran Jack Lemmon wins Best Actor over 3 younger newcomers Redford, Pacino and Nicholson (oldest Best Actor nominee Brando won the year prior). Oldest nominee John Houseman wins Supporting Actor. Glenda Jackson wins Best Actress again over 2 younger nominees Marsha Mason and Barbra Streisand and over newcomer Ellen Burstyn (oldest Best Actress nominee Joanne Woodward had already won).
1974 - Oldest nominee Art Carney wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee and Hollywood legend Ingrid Bergman wins Supporting Actress. Ellen Burstyn wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees.
1975 - 3 of the 4 acting wins went to the oldest nominee. Oldest nominee Louise Fletcher wins Best Actress. Oldest nominee George Burns wins Supporting Actor. Oldest nominee Lee Grant wins Supporting Actress.
1976 - Oldest nominee Peter Finch wins Best Actor. Oldest nominee Beatrice Straight wins Supporting Actress. Faye Dunaway wins Best Actress over 3 younger nominees. Old Hollywood star Jason Robards wins Supporting Actor over 2 younger newcomers and over oldest nominee Laurence Olivier cuz he already won.
I think the Best Actor nomination for 1974 should have been:
1.Al Pacino-The Godfather
2.Dirk Bogarde-The Night Porter
3.Jack Nicholson-Chinatown
4.Gene Hackman-The Conversation
5.James Caan-The Gambler
I don't think Albert Finney in Murder on the Orient Express is worthy of an Oscar nomination.
🙄 Art Carney won for The Honeymooners.
😝 I bet Gleason was pissed. "Sumbitch".
Apparently there was talk of a making a TV Series based on Harry and Tonto to star Art Carney. When asked if he'd be interested in playing a supporting role in the series Jackie Gleason's response was said to be 'unprintable;.
Al Pacino was robbed ... FACT
in the 70's he should've won at least 3 & 1 for best supporting actor
Art Carney was a well respected actor among his peers. In fact, in his Playboy interview, Marlon Brando called Carney one of America's best actors. I believe that reputation helped him in his win. I agree, though, I've seen Harry and Tonto, and liked it very much, but wasn't blown away. In fact, I still think Gene Hackman gave the best performance of 1974, with Pacino, Hoffman and Nicholson, a 1/2 step behind, but I didn't scream at the screen when I watched Carney win in real time at the 1975 Oscars.
I was 24 years old in 1974 and appreciated Art Carney from original run and years of TV reruns of The Honeymooners and was glad Carney won-Carney in The Honeymooners is likely the inspiration for Kramer in Seinfield by Michael Richards; I hoped Hoffman would win for his virtuosic performance as Lenny Bruce. I predict that Carney's performance will slowly rise in your estimation as you age-Carney's unexpected and welcome understatement. Thanks for your passion for film.
I think this win is similar to Frances McDormand’s in Nomadland. I was completely shocked that she won an Oscar for that movie, considering the other, really fierce performances from the younger actresses in that category who could have won their first Oscar. And what is even more inexplicable is that McDormand won for a third time. At least in 1975, they were giving Carney his first Oscar. McDormand’s performance in Nomadland is similar to Carney’s here. As you mentioned in the video, the protagonist is in every single frame of the movie, as the camera follows him on an endless road trip, like in Nomadland. And what you said about there being no highs or lows inArt Carney’s performance, no intense moments of great emotion or crying or anger, or whatever… Same thing with Frances McDormand in Nomadland. She gave a very steady, one key performance for the entire length of the movie, just like Art Carney.
He won because they knew he would rock the Star Wars Holiday Special
Hackman and Earl Jones were definitely 6th and 7th place I definitely wish they got in this year. It still annoys me the James Earl Jones only has one nomination
The greatest performance of Al Pacino. Hands down it should have been him
The cat helped Art win the Oscar
Suggestion for a video: Best Editing at the Oscars, with special focus on the fact that this is the technical category where most women have been nominated (in fact one woman was among the first ever nominees in the category) and have won, and the lifelong collaborations between directors and editors (like Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker or Quentin Tarantino and Sally Menke).
I remember when Art Carney won and honestly, I didn't even realize that he had made a movie in 1974. Maybe Ellen Burstyn playing his daughter helped with the win.
As a youthful 'Oscars obsessive; I tape recorded the show for a couple of years, including this one. And at the announcement you hear me exclaim "Oh my God" and "I can't believe it" and more to the point, "He was the first one I eliminated!!" ... And I'd seen every one of the performances at the movie theater, at age 16 or so. Wasn't much else to do, actually!
I don't think it has been mentioned but his performance in Harry and Tonto is completely different than the Norton in the Honeymooners. Most people knew him from the Honeymooners and to see him do something different and do it well help with the overall win. It is similar to why Helen Hunt won for As Good As It Gets. People were used to seeing someone play the same role over and over each week in their living rooms and then you see an actor play a different role and you don't think of them as Ed Norton or Jamie Buckman. If Mary Tyler Moore would have one for Ordinary People then this theory would apply to her as well but it does support her nomination.
As for Nicholson and Pacino, they are both fantastic but they are both overshadowed by others in their film. Dunaway in Chinatown and DeNiro in The Godfather Part II.
My choice that year would have been Jack Nicholson for Chinatown
My rankings
1. Jack Nicholson (Chinatown)
2. Al Pacino (The Godfather Part II)
3. Dustin Hoffman (Lenny)
4. Art Carney (Harry and Tonto) *Winner
5. Albert Finney (Murder on the Orient Express)
In Chinatown, Jack Nicholson's nose was bandaged for 39 minutes.
Also Brian, where were you able to watch Harry and Tonto?
Because He was Awesome!! 👊😎✊🍁🍁
RIP Art Carney.
Also, no one mentions Gene Wilder not being nominated for _Young Frankenstein,_ whose performance I've seen on some lists of the best acting performances of all time.
I'm a huge fan of Nicholson . Watched Chinatown an untold number of times. This is the best performance of his career. Unfortunately it's also the best performance of Pacino's career, as well.
Jack IS Jake Gittes. From then on Jack will always be mostly Jack. What a time to be young! (Also, isn't it interesting that both actors would return to play those rolls again- however, unsucessfully. You could argue that Jack in "The Two Jakes" shows you how great he was in "Chinatown"- and that you can never go home.)
My Take: (in order)
(1) Jack Nicholson, Chinatown
(2) Al Pacino, The Godfather Part ll
(3) Gene Hackman, The Conversation
(4) Dustin Hoffman, Lenny
(5) Art Carney, Harry And Tonto
(6) Albert Finney, The Murder On The Orient Express
(7) James Caan, The Gambler
(8) Alan Bates, Butley (UK)
(9) Gene Wilder, Young Frankenstein
(10) Richard Dreyfuss, The Apprenticeship Of Duddy Kravitz (Canada)
(11) Elliott Gould, California Split
(12) David Essex, That'll Be The Day (UK)
(13) James Earl Jones, Claudine
(14) Warren Beatty, The Parallax View
(15) Yves Montand, Vincent, Francois, Paul And The Others (France)
(16) Divine, Female Trouble
(17) Keith Carradine, Thieves Like Us
(18) Peter Falk, A Woman Under The Influence
(19) George Segal, California Split
(20) Udo Kier, Andy Warhol's Dracula (Italy - France)
(21) James Caan Freebie And The Bean
(22) Vittorio Gassman, Scent Of A Woman (Italy)
(23) Martin Sheen. Badlands
(24) Alan Arkin, Freebie And The Bean
I made a mistake. Martin Sheen for Badlands came out in 1973
Hackman should have been here. Add him and Gene Wilder for Young Frankenstein to move out Finney and Carney (who are both good, btw) and you have an unbelievable lineup.
I think you superficially touched on the reasons on why he won, but I also think you are going on legacy more than actual time of recognition. Also, popularity too.
Art Carney was known for comedy. Harry and Tonto wasn't exactly a comedy, even if it had its elements. I think being known for comedy mostly in his career at that point, and working after The Honeymooners but not really making that much of an impact, to be in a sentimental drama was a career changing move for him, and it clearly paid off. He was a veteran of the industry, and the Academy Awards are prone to pick veterans in the face of newcomers a good chunk of the time. His Oscar win was the industry recognizing his body of work and saying "yes" to the direction this movie brought him to keep working. I checked out his filmography, and he worked until 1993. For someone born in 1918, that's quite a feat.
I know I've written this before, but I think it bares repeating that a little histography might do your channel some good. Not saying you have to copy another else's style, because there are smarter RUclips pop culture analysts who have their own that are trademarked, but you seem to go by your tastes as Gospel and the modern path to the Academy Award without really looking at previous ceremonies' impacts. In the 1970s, the Golden Globes weren't as much as a precursor to the Oscars that the 80s to present makes evident. They were separate ceremonies with separate voting bodies where Academy membership consisting of them weren't pronounced. This is where knowing a little award show history would do you some good, instead of questioning past recognitions with the modern pattern of path.
Also, not every Oscar win needs to be a showboaty display of acting either. Subtle performances that touch the heart can be just as commanding as a well-executed monologue displaying depth and versatility. The actors branch which informs the rest of the Academy's membership voting on the Oscars know this. As fans of the award show, we are stunned at some of their choices, but we also, aren't Academy voters. That isn't to say we can't have opinions on the matter, but I think your video shows that as much as the Academy Awards seem like a popular contest, who the Academy choses occasionally doesn't often reflect the popularity.
I 100% agree with you!
When I was looking at Art Carney's career, it was stunning to see how much a versatile performer he was (in comedy and drama) and after I read this I thought of Cloris Leachman and how much similar their careers were, both widely known for their comedic roles, but it overshadowed their dramatic roles and stage work! Cloris Leachman once said she never saw herself as a comedian, she always saw herself as an actress (if the role was comedic, she'll play it that way). I bet Art Carney felt that way too! - He had work to prove to everyone he was much more than Ed Norton from "The Honeymooners" (in film, tv & stage) and build a lot of good will and respect in the industry, and some of the people he'd worked with (in front and behind the camera) were Academy voters!
@SVHAW87 Ellen Burstyn, who was in Harry and Tonto too, had Academy favor, and her winning that year for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore also is one of a few times two actors who appeared in the same film won year won separate Oscars.
@@outinsider I didn't realize that!
The reason Ellen Burstyn wasn't at the Oscars is because she was doing a play "Same Time, Next Year" on Broadway (which opened a month before the Oscars) and she couldn't get time off to attend. Then two weeks later, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Play!
That sence was the best ever looked..He looks great
Saw all those films as a 14 year old, and Carney deserved it. That movie stayed with me a long, long time.
Now that I see the video clips of that year shows, with the exception of Ja Nicholson besides Art Carney, the other performances seems a bit card. It does not touch on the humdrum living of the 70s where social classes of various kinds were starting slowly t evolve.
The 70s can be considered a laboratory setting for the sociology student and only Jack Nicholson but especially Art Carney role explores the class concept of society in depth.
It is not so much about the cat Tonto.😢
Make a special video about GENA ROWLANDS, please...
I think its just math. Pacino, Nicholson, & Hoffman are competing for the same pool of voters championing their generation. Carney had won many Emmys and had worked in live TV dramas with some of the same writers/directors who were now making their name in movies giving him the edge, and as you said it was a very respectable performance.
Other great performances that year such as Gene Hackman in The Conversation and Peter Falk for A Woman Under the Influence didn’t even get a nomination. Pacino should have won. Best performance of his career.
Art Carney won for a number of reasons. Most importantly, people loved him and knew he'd probably never get another chance. Pacino and Nicholson split the vote for "serious" actors. Or maybe the Academy just wanted to see the look on Nicholson's face when he list.
Art Carney shouldn’t have won. Everyone else in that category should have been nominated . Al Pacino’s performance deserved the Oscar.