Thursday 24 March 2016

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1939: Ralph Richardson in The Four Feathers

Ralph Richardson did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Captain John Durrance in The Four Feathers.

The Four Feathers is an effective film that tells the story of one man Harry Faversham (John Clements) who attempts to redeem himself, through rather unorthodox means, after he is shamed by those around him for resigning his military commission just before they were to be sent out on an dangerous mission.

Ralph Richardson plays one of his military friends, though John and Harry already share a complicated relationship due to their attempts to court the same woman Ethne (Jane Duprez). Richardson's role is pivotal in the film, as several scenes focus squarely on him, though his character's purpose and actions are always in relation to Harry's journey, so I do feel he is supporting. Richardson, despite having a less notable film career, though not unremarkable, than his contemporaries of the British stage, John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier, actually started out with a greater comfort in regards to cinema than either of them. Richardson, as he also proved in The Citadel and even the Ghoul of all films, has a natural grace on screen which works quite well with the part. Richardson finds the right approach in the early scenes with Durrance by bringing an underlying understanding in Durrance's interactions with Harry, despite alluding to some understandable consternation due to his rejection by Ethne. Richardson finds the complexity of Durrance's attitude towards Harry well, never overplaying either side of the man's personal feelings. Richardson handles this within bringing the right strict manner fitting for a man who certainly believes in being a soldier.

After Harry resigns the film follows Durrance's time in the Middle East where he does not exactly get off all that well as a soldier. Richardson is terrific in portraying the physical degradation of Durrance as he slowly succumbs to heatstroke. He's equally good in portraying the mental breakdown in Durrance. Richardson takes a decidedly nontheatrical approach in realizing almost in a certain surprise in Durrance's view during this time as almost he can't believe how ill equipped he's found himself not only in terms of current predicament but as a soldier. Richardson importantly never shows this to be as though Durrance is some sort of goof, but rather finds the suffering Durrance goes through in a genuinely harsh fashion. This only worsens as a battle occurs while he is in this state which leaves only Durrance, and a disguised Harry living. Harry goes about attempting to save Durrance whose state which only worsens during this time. Again Richardson is very good in his depiction of the delirium that that inflicts upon Durrance due to his heat stroke. Richardson finds this confused state by showing bluntly just how much of a mess Durrance is bringing the right constant unease in terms of state along with a harried method of speaking.

Eventually Harry gets Durrance to safety without Durrance ever knowing it was his old "cowardly" friend, unfortunately Durrance has been left apparently permanently blind by the experience. Richardson is very moving in finding the new state of Durrance back at home, where he does find sympathy from Ethne who agrees to merry him. The blindness itself Richardson effectively portrays particularly since he does not attempt to draw too much attention to it. The most remarkable aspect of Richardson's work is his portrayal of the change in Durrance as a man bringing out the right earnest modesty in man who has had the soldier in him painfully ripped out. Now really the emotional climax of the film does not belong to our leading character Harry, as his success at proving his bravery is acknowledged largely off screen, that even includes his own reunion with Ethne. That climax is really all left to Richardson which is all the better I suppose due to John Clements's choice to give a rather cold performance as Harry. Richardson makes the most of this chance in the scene where Durrance comes to realize what Harry had done for him, and decides to give up Ethne. Richardson is heartbreaking as he internalizes the decision brilliantly throughout a single scene, and his brief reaction upon realizing Harry's deed is outstanding as Richardson effortlessly conveys the severity of this revelation in Durrance. This is a very strong performance by Ricahrdson as he anchors the film throughout rising above the call of duty, since he still really is not the lead.

14 comments:

Calvin Law said...

Phew.:)

Thoughts and ratings for the rest of the cast? Glad you liked him, he's brilliant and my #3 of the year.

Also glad you had a good performance to finish off the alternates. Well done Louis :D

Anonymous said...

Louis: MacKendrick originally wanted Hume Cronyn to play Hunsecker because he resembled Walter Winchell (who was the basis for Hunsecker). I think Cronyn would have been amazing.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Clements - 3.5(His is sort of a curious performance in that I believe he gave an intentionally off putting one. He does not make Harry inherently likable, and in fact allows one to easily sympathize with the others giving him the feathers. He wears the right intensity that alludes to his disgust with his treatment as a child. However when he switches course Clements is good in his largely silent performance reflecting the truly good nature of the man. He is overshadowed by Richardson, but his performance works in its own strange way)

Smith - 3(Offers the right one note bluster needed for such a role)

Duprez - 2.5(Does not really have much to work with but she's fine when anything is required of her)

Though I liked the film if there was a failing I'd say it was that Donald Gray and Jack Allen don't really get much time to develop their roles. They're both decent with what they have but again very much overshadowed by Richardson's side of things.

Anonymous:

That would have been interesting, and I yeah I'd agree he could have been great.

Calvin Law said...

Agree I think Richardson kinda overshadowed everyone. How would you rank Richardson's top 5 performances?

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

1. The Heiress
2. The Fallen Idol
3. The Four Feathers
4. Richard III
5. The Citadel

Michael Patison said...

Scoff. Wes Bentley was way better. ;)

Calvin Law said...

Michael: He sure was, excellent accent work and all. In all seriousness though he's not terrible compared to some of his other work. Heath Ledger was alright. Now Kate Hudson...I rate Duprez higher because of how much better she is.

Michael Patison said...

Calvin: Obviously I was kidding, but I do agree it's definitely some of Bentley's better work, if not his best. Ledger is fine. Hudson is a bore. But Kapur's direction is what really sinks any chance the movie had of being more than just somewhat watchable.

Calvin Law said...

Kate Hudson is a scourge on cinema. But yeah Kapur's direction is pretty drab, makes you appreciate Korda's fine work here.

I did wonder how Louis would have reacted to me requesting Bentley instead ;)

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

I actually saw one scene in of that version where it was a desert battle, with warriors popping out of the ground, and I absolutely hated the aesthetic.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What are your overall thoughts on Charlton Heston, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly as actors?

Calvin Law said...

Lol same, Technicolor is much more appealing eh.

Michael Patison said...

Calvin, Louis: I think agree more with Louis. The aesthetic and how Kapur uses everything is far more reminiscent of a teen drama on The CW than a serious drama. In other words, I didn't find it drab so much as actively annoying.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Heston - (Heston had a screen presence few could match and it was something only he could bring to a part. He also did have surprising emotional range when he did call upon it (that Hamlet speech deserves more recognition). Could be bland sometimes, sure, but still there are few who had that natural stature that Heston had.)

Astaire - (His standard dance routine I found always rather charming as I liked how he wouldn't be too cloying unlike someone else. Have not seen much of his dramatic work but he was good in the Towering Inferno so I'd be interested to see more of that side of him)

Kelly - (As dramatic works go I've only seen Inherit the Wind which he was good in, however I really don't like standard singer dancer persona)