Friday
Jul242020
Comment Party: Best Actress, 1930s
Friday, July 24, 2020 at 4:30PM Who is your favourite from each year in the 1930s? My current votes go like so though there are always more films to see so one must always reserve the right to change one's mind.
- 1930 Norma Shearer, The Divorcee
- 1931 Marie Dressler, Min & Bill
- 1932 Marlene Dietrich, Blonde Venus
- 1933 Greta Garbo, Queen Christina
- 1934 Claudette Colbert, It Happened One Night
- 1935 Katharine Hepburn, Alice Adams
- 1936 Carole Lombard, My Man Godfrey
- 1937 Irene Dunne, The Awful Truth
- 1938 Bette Davis, Jezebel
- 1939 Vivien Leigh, Gone With the Wind (though I'll admit to being somewhat torn because Dark Victory is my favourite pre 1950s Bette Davis performance)
Reader Comments (26)
1930) Marie Dressler in MIN & BILL
1931) Barbara Stanwyck in THE MIRACLE WOMAN
1932) Marlene Dietrich in BLONDE VENUS
1933) Katharine Hepburn in LITTLE WOMEN
1934) Claudette Colbert in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
1935) Katharine Hepburn in ALICE ADAMS
1936) Greta Garbo in CAMILLE
1937) Jean Arthur in EASY LIVING
1938) Norma Shearer in MARIE ANTOINETTE
1939) Vivien Leigh in GONE WITH THE WIND
These are my choices at the moment, though they are subject to change. There are still a lot of movies from the 1930s I want to watch, including some very actress-y prospects.
Marie Dressler! Wow!
1930 MARLENE DIETRICH "Morocco"
1931 DOROTHY MacKAILL "Safe in Hell"
1932 CAROLE LOMBARD "No Man of Her Own"
1933 LORETTA YOUNG "She Had to Say Yes"
1934 MARGARET SULLAVAN "Little Man, What Now"
1935 KATHARINE HEPBURN "Alice Adams'
1936 RUTH CHATTERTON "Dodsworth"
1937 IRENE DUNNE "The Awful Truth"
1938 NORMA SHEARER "Marie Antoinette'
1939 VIVIEN LEIGH "Gone with the Wind"
1930's Oscar season: Louise Brooks, Pandora's Box
1931: Marie Dressler, Min and Bill (but Deitrich is close)
1932: Sally Eilers, Bad Girl
1933: Katharine Hepburn, Little Women (lots of options though)
1934: Myrna Loy, The Thin Man
1935: Katharine Hepburn, Alice Adams
1936: Carole Lombard, My Man Godfrey
1937: Irene Dunne, The Awful Truth
1938: Katharine Hepburn, Bringing Up Baby (bonus points for Holiday)
1939: TIE - Vivien Leigh, Gone With tthe Wind; Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz
Norma Shearer is so under discussed now,she was sublime in The Divorcee.
Oscar ballot choices:
1929/30: Greta Garbo "Anna Christie"
1930/31: Ann Harding "Holiday"
1931/32: Helen Hayes "The Sin of Madelon Claudet"
1932/33: May Robson "Lady for a Day"
1934: Claudette Colbert "It Happened One Night"
1935: Katharine Hepburn "Alice Adams"
1936: Carole Lombard "My Man Godfrey"
1937: Greta Garbo "Camille"
1938: Wendy Hiller "Pygmalion"
1939: Vivien Leigh "Gone with the Wind"
Since 1934 allowed write-ins, I'm torn between Carole Lombard "Twentieth Century" and Bette Davis "Of Human Bondage" but I love Colbert anyway. 1935 allowed write-ins, too, but no one comes close to Hepburn.
1930 Marie Dressler in Min and Bill
1931 Sylvia Sidney in Street Scene
1932 Marlene Dietrich in Shanghai Express
1933 Katharine Hepburn in Little Women
1934 Shirley Temple in Now and Forever
1935 Katharine Hepburn in Alice Adams
1936 Greta Garbo in Camille
1937 Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth
1938 Katharine Hepburn in Bringing Up Baby
1939 Vivien Leigh in Gone With the Wind
You forgot to include Kay Francis- she was a big star in the pre code era- but her career faded in the 1940s.
Can't really say who I'd have winning for 30-33, as i haven't seen that many from those years, but I'd probably give Dietrich the gold for Morocco.
As for the rest? It'd go like this:
1934: Claudette Colbert, IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (Runner-up: Bette Davis, OF HUMAN BONDAGE)
1935: Katharine Hepburn, ALICE ADAMS (Runner-up: Claudette Colbert, PRIVATE PLACES)
1936: Carole Lombard, MY MAN GODFREY (Runner-up: Luise Rainer, THE GREAT ZIEGFELD)
1937: Janet Gaynor, A STAR IS BORN (Runners-up: Greta Garbo, CAMILLE and Irene Dunne, THE AWFUL TRUTH)
1938: Jean Arthur, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (Runner-up: Norma Sheare, MARIE ANTOINETTE)
1939: Vivian Leigh, GONE WITH THE WIND (Runner-up: Greta Garbo, NINOTCHKA)
For me
1930: Greta Garbo (Anna Christie)
1931 Helen Hayes ( The sin of Madelon Claudet)
1932 Marlene Dietrich (Shanghai Express)
1933 Katharine Hepburn (Morning Glory)
1934 Claudette Colbert (It happened one night)
1935 Miriam Hopkins (Becky Sharp)
1936 Carole Lombard (My man godfrey)
1937 Irene Dunne (The awful truth)
1938 Bette Davis (Jezabel)
1939 Vivien Leigh (Gone with the wind)
1930 Marlene Dietrich (Morroco)
1931 Norma Shearer (Private Lives)
1932 Miriam Hopkins (Trouble In Paradise)
1933 Katharine Hepburn (Little Women)
1934 Claudette Colbert (It Happened One Night)
1935 Katharine Hepburn (Alice Adams)
1936 Carole Lombard (My Man Godfrey)
1937 Greta Garbo (Camille)
1938 Bette Davis (Jezabel)
1939 Vivien Leigh (Gone with the Wind)
LOVE this kind of list!!!
I widened mine to include my top five for each year in descending order.
Nathaniel I am equally torn between Vivien Leigh and Bette Davis in '39. Almost as much as I am between Vivien in Waterloo Bridge and Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday in '40. But while Bette's work is exquisite Vivien's is simply an undeniably titanic accomplishment.
1930
Marlene Dietrich-The Blue Angel-Winner
Louise Brooks-Prix de Beaute
Barbara Stanwyck-Ladies of Leisure
Mary Duncan-City Girl
Greta Garbo-Anna Christie
1931
Dorothy Mackaill-Safe in Hell-Winner
Sally Eilers-Bad Girl
Barbara Stanwyck-The Miracle Woman
Mae Clarke-Waterloo Bridge
Sylvia Sidney-Street Scene
1932
Jean Harlow-Red Dust-Winner
Clara Bow-Call Her Savage
Ann Dvorak-Three on a Match
Wynne Gibson-Lady and Gent
Kay Francis-One Way Passage
1933
Barbara Stanwyck-Baby Face-Winner
Miriam Hopkins-The Story of Temple Drake
Jean Harlow-Bombshell
Greta Garbo-Queen Christina
Wynne Gibson-Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men
1934
Myrna Loy-The Thin Man-Winner
Aline MacMahon-Heat Lightning
Bette Davis-Of Human Bondage
Carole Lombard-Twentieth Century
Claudette Colbert-Cleopatra
1935
Greta Garbo-Anna Karenina-Winner
Carole Lombard-Hands Across the Table
Alison Skipworth-Hitch-Hike Lady
Katharine Hepburn-Alice Adams
Barbara Stanwyck-Annie Oakley
1936
Carole Lombard-My Man Godfrey-Winner
Greta Garbo-Camille
Sylvia Sidney-Sabotage
Jean Harlow-Libeled Lady
Rosalind Russell-Craig's Wife
1937
Barbara Stanwyck-Stella Dallas-Winner
Beulah Bondi-Make Way for Tomorrow
Irene Dunne-The Awful Truth
Carole Lombard-Swing High, Swing Low
Sylvia Sidney-Dead End
1938
Katharine Hepburn-Holiday-Winner
Vivien Leigh-Sidewalks of London
Bette Davis-Jezebel
Norma Shearer-Marie Antionette
Wendy Hiller-Pygmalion
1939
Vivien Leigh-Gone With the Wind-Winner
Bette Davis-Dark Victory
Merle Oberon-Wuthering Heights
Myrna Loy-The Rains Came
Claudette Colbert-Midnight
I thank the global pandemic for making most of these answers possible:
1930 Marie Dressler - Min and Bill
1931 Only seen M, City Lights, and Frankenstein
1932 Bette Davis - Hell's House
1933 Bebe Daniels - 42nd Street
1934 Claudette Colbert - It Happened One Night
1935 Ginger Rogers - Top Hat
1936 Carole Lombard - My Man Godfrey
1937 Irene Dunn - The Awful Truth
1938 Katherine Hepburn - Bringing Up Baby
1939 Judy Garland - The Wizard of Oz
I love many of these performances but haven’t seen enough of the nominees to give my picks. Was Marlene nominated for Blonde Venus? I know write-ins were a thing but I don’t recall her having more than one nomination (though she should have at least many).
Oops, just realizing this isn’t restricted to nominees. In that case:
1930 Marie Dressler - Min and Bill
1931 Claudette Colbert - Honor Among Lovers
1932 Marlene Dietrich - Blonde Venus
1933 Barbara Stanwyck - The Bitter Tea of General Yen
1934 Claudette Colbert - It Happened One Night
1935 Katharine Hepburn - Alice Adams
1936 Greta Garbo - Camille
1937 Barbara Stanwyck - Stella Dallas
1938 Katharine Hepburn - Holiday
1939 Bette Davis - Dark Victory
1930: Marlene Dietrich (The Blue Angel)
1931: Greta Garbo (Mata Hari)
1932: Kay Francis (Jewel Robbery)
1933: Greta Garbo (Queen Christina)
1934: Marlene Dietrich (The Scarlet Empress)
1935: Marlene Dietrich (The Devil Is a Woman)
1936: Greta Garbo (Camille)
1937: Beulah Bondi (Make Way for Tonorrow)
1938: Wendy Hiller (Pygmalion)
1939: Vivien Leigh (Gone With the Wind), barely edging out Bette Davis (Dark Victory)
I need to start getting into watching all these older films!! I love movies and need to start diving deep again.
30 - Morocco - Marlene Dietrich
31 - Possessed - Joan Crawford
32 - Red-Headed Woman - Jean Harlow
33 - Baby Face - Barbara Stanwyck
34 - The Thin Man - Myrna Loy
35 - Anna Karenina - Greta Garbo
36 - My Man Godfrey - Carole Lombard
37 - Stella Dallas - Barbara Stanwyck
38 - Three Comrades - Margaret Sullavan
39 - Gone with the Wind - Vivien Leigh
What a funny game!
1930
Barbara Stanwyck - Ladies of Leisure *
Mary Duncan - City Girl
Norma Shearer - The Divorcee
Ann Harding - Holiday
Nancy Carroll - The Devil's Holiday
1931
Mae Clarke - Waterloo Bridge *
Norma Shearer - Private Lives
Claudette Colbert - The Smiling Lieutenant
Ruan Lingyu - The Peach Girl
Barbara Stanwyck - The Miracle Woman
1932
Joan Crawford - Grand Hotel *
Marlene Dietrich - Shanghai Express
Ruth Chatterton - Frisco Jenny
Pola Negri - A Woman Commands
Miriam Hopkins - Trouble in Paradise
1933
Greta Garbo - Queen Christina *
Miriam Hopkins - The Stranger's Return
Sumiko Kurishima - Every-Night's Dreams
Barbara Stanwyck - The Bitter Tea of General Yen
Mary Pickford - Secrets
1934
Myrna Loy - Evelyn Prentice *
Margaret Sullavan - Little Man, What Now?
Yumeko Aizome - Tonari no Yae-chan
Ruan Lingyu - The Goddess
Greta Garbo - The Painted Veil
1935
Ruan Lingyu - New Women *
Françoise Rosay - Carnival in Flanders
Katharine Hepburn - Alice Adams
Greta Garbo - Anna Karenina
Ann Harding - Peter Ibbetson
1936
Carole Lombard - My Man Godfrey *
Greta Garbo - Camille
Irene Dunne - Theodora Goes Wild
Rosalind Russell - Craig's Wife
Chōko Iida - The Only Son
1937
Irene Dunne - The Awful Truth *
Barbara Stanwyck - Stella Dallas
Janet Gaynor - A Star Is Born
Anna Neagle - Victoria the Great
Ginger Rogers - Stage Door
1938
Katharine Hepburn - Holiday *
Norma Shearer - Marie-Antoinette
Danielle Darrieux - Katia
Bette Davis - Jezebel
Myrna Loy - Test Pilot
1939
Vivien Leigh - Gone with the Wind *
Bette Davis - Dark Victory
Claudette Colbert - Midnight
Marianne Hoppe - The False Step
Irene Dunne - Love Affair
1930 Greta Garbo “Anna Christie”
1931 Marie Dressler “Min and Bill”
1932 Marie Dressler “Emma”
1933 Katharine Hepburn “Morning Glory”
1934 Bette Davis “Of Human Bondage”
1935 Miriam Hopkins “Becky Sharp”
1936 Gladys George “Valiant is the Word for Carrie”
1937 Greta Garbo “Camille”
1938 Wendy Hiller “Pygmalion”
1939 Vivien Leigh “Gone With The Wind”
Decade’s Best: Bette Davis “Of Human Bondage”
So pleased you mentioned Carole Lombard is My Man Godfrey. She's just hilarious in it.
Love seeing who everyone picks. Fascinating that some years there is a near consensus and other years vary widely.
Hope you are planning on doing the next couple (or all) decades soon!
I like Dressler, Fontaine, Robson, Shearer, Colbert, Lombard, Stanwyck, Bainter and Garbo.
Oscars Lineup:
29/30 - Norma Shearer, The Divorcee
30/31 - Marie Dressler, Min and Bill
31/32 - Marie Dressler, Emma
32/33 - Katharine Hepburn, Morning Glory
34 - Claudette Colbert, It Happened One Night
35 - Katharine Hepburn, Alice Adams
36 - Carole Lombard, My Man Godfrey
37 - Irene Dunne, The Awful Truth
38 - Fay Bainter, White Banners
39 - Vivien Leigh, Gone With the Wind
Personal Picks:
1929/30- Louise Brooks – Pandora’s Box
1930’s:
1930/31- Marie Dressler – Min and Bill
1931/32- Marlene Dietrich – Shanghai Express
1932/33- Greta Garbo – Queen Christina
1934- Bette Davis – Of Human Bondage
1935- Katharine Hepburn – Sylvia Scarlett
1936- Ruth Cattarthon – Dodsworth
1937- Irene Dunne – The Awful Truth
1938- Katharine Hepburn – Bringing Up Baby
1939- Vivien Leigh – Gone with the Wind
29/30: Shearer for The Divorcee
30/31: Dietrich for Morocco
31/32: Dressler for Emma
32/33: Robson for Lady for a Day
34: Colbert for It Happened One Night
35: Hepburn for Alice Adams
36: Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld
37: Lombard for Nothing Sacred
38: Hiller for Pygmalion
39: Leigh for Gone With the Wind
Too late to the party, so sorry.
I haven't seen many movies from the 1930s but this was AWESOME!!!!
Nathaniel, please let's do this for the 40's.