Ten Best Performances in English Films
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In any movie, the hardest job is probably that of the actor. He not only has to give his character an air of believability but also must bond with the viewer emotionally.
As always, a few things first,
In compiling this list I have tried to focus on what in my opinion should be the best performances in English films. However when speaking of performances, it is impossible to keep ones personal choices aloof. So you might very well call this the list of my favourite performances.
I am not including foreign actors in this list for the same reason I had not included foreign films. Other than Bengali (my mother tongue) I am not very well equipped with foreign actors.
In alphabetical order,
Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth
An outstanding portrayal of Englands first female monarch, Blanchetts performance has immortalized Elizabeth. Nowhere in film history have I seen a wider exploration of a womans emotions, and Blanchett comes through brilliantly. Her performance explores every dimension of her character, as Elizabeth transcends above a feminine vulnerability and assumes a mans role. Her eyes in the last scene have a haunting clarity that conveys the strength of her performance.
Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire
Brandos on-screen debut as boorish, chauvinistic and ruggedly handsome Stanley Kowalski is one of the finest performances I have ever seen. He is every bit as vulgar, hateful and brutal as his character demands and Brando pulls it off brilliantly. Marlon Brando would go on to become Hollywoods most legendary name. The actor delivered one excellent performance after the other (On The Waterfront, Sayonara, The Godfather). But to me nothing tops his Stanley in Streetcar.
Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday
Have you ever seen a real-life Cinderella, beautiful and charismatic, trapped and yearning? Audrey Hepburn in her debut role is all that and much more. William Wylers film about a princess day-off where she falls in love with a news reporter is perhaps one of those rare fairy-tale romances the beauty of which is established only with a return to reality. Innocent and naпve, Princess Ann learns what is it to experience love and understands that loving means letting go. And Audrey Hepburn is simply unforgettable as the girl who grows up, the girl whose life has been forever enriched by the love she found in Rome.
Katharine Hepburn in Long Days Journey Into Night
Hepburn gave perhaps the performance of her career as the drug addicted Mary Tyrone in Sidneys Lumet screen version of Eugene O Neills Long Days Journey Into Night. Delving into a drug-affected mind isnt easy and Hepburn disappears into her character. The mental turmoil of Mrs. Tyrone, her helplessness at her sons declining condition, her own illness and recluse in morphine-all these aspects are played to perfection by Hollywoods most esteemed actress.
Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind
Its hard to imagine anyone else as Scarlet O Hara- the selfish independent and obsessed Southern belle of Margaret Mitchells classic. Leigh, virtually unknown at the time, won the part over 30 other actresses (including Katharine Hepburn and Joan Crawford). Leigh gives Scarlet tenacity, determination and beauty in a performance that is nothing short of extraordinary. You hate her one moment, love her next. Back in those days, Leighs performance set a standard, a standard that has hardly, if ever, been topped even today.
Sir Ian Mckellen in Gods and Monsters
Not enough can be said in praise of this veteran, this stage bravado and Shakespeare genius. Acting is his cup of tea and Sir Ian breathes marvel into everything he does, be it a 300 year old wizard from Middle Earth or a “foolishly fond old man”. His performance as James Whale in Gods and Monsters is one of those rare portrayals that surpass all acclaim. Sir Ian undoubtedly holds a place here, not only for this one role, but for every character he has played, on stage and on screen.
Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird
This devastatingly handsome actor had been known to carry a role simply through his charm and personality. However all that was proved wrong when he played Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird. It is said that Harper Lee was so moved by Pecks portrayal that she gave him her late fathers cherished watch. And rightfully so! Gregory Peck exudes emotion in every scene as the lawyer-father defending a black man from a false charge of rape of a white woman. Atticus is a true hero in every sense, and Peck explores with perfection his morality, his devotion to humanity and his love for his two children. The role made Peck immemorable in film history.
Vanessa Redgrave in Mary, Queen of Scots
Passion and power collide in Charles Jarrotts epic drama. Vanessa Redgrave gives an outstanding performance as “the woman who ruled with her heart”. She follows her passions and submits to none. Redgrave shows a blend of strength and determination that translates into one of the most powerful on-screen presence ever.
Maggie Smith The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Maggie Smith is phenomenal as the powerful and individualistic Miss Jean Brodie, who seeks freedom from conventional sexual morality and the fetters of authority. She teaches her students to be like her, to be loyal to her and worship her. Smiths portrayal of a dominant woman bent upon shaping the mind and personalities of her students is superb. Her characters duality and hidden vulnerability is beautifully illustrated through Maggie Smiths multi-layered performance.
Emma Thompson in Howards End
Emma Thompsons name easily holds place in the cream of British actresses.