Brilliant Jane Darwell

She was indeed amazing. Her final utterance of "Tommy" as he walked off was heartbreaking.

I have read that Beaulah Bondi really wanted this role (in fact, I think she said not getting this role was the only disappointment of her career).
Although Beaulah would have looked the part (thin, weathered face) I just don't think could have have done a better job than Jane (and I love Beaulah so am careful to say "better," am sure she could have matched it).
Someone could say she had a medical condition and was heavy all the time, possibly.
I agree though, someone who worked in the fields all day and then had very little to eat, just could not be overweight.
That one point aside, Jane is just brillian in this. Her scenes with Henry Fonda were riveting, so subtle and underplayed, but there was this spark.
I agree with the scenes others have commented on, and also when "Tom" is saying he will be everywhere, and you can tell she wants to understand, but just can't...the look on her face.
She is always great anytime I see her, but this is her highmark.

Hormones. You gotta be a woman to understand; I guess.

http://www.cgonzales.net & http://www.drxcreatures.com

Their peformances have stayed with me ever since I saw the movie about a week ago. I found both incredibly impressive.
Henry Fonda was a revelation for me. I have always known his work (he did lots of tv when I was little). I always found him wooden and completely cold. When his daughter's book came and and she told about him being emotionally absent as a father, I just though, "Like that wasn't obvious."
But in this film, the electric subtleness of his work! The scene dancing with Jane Darwell, and then his "Everyman Speech" (where he says no matter what, he will be there), it was just a jolt to the senses.
Jane Darwell I have always known also, via her apperance in two Shirley Tmeple movies I would watch when I was a kid. Her I expect to be excellent, but again, as "Ma" she just went a step above.
Again, the scene of her dancing, looking into the mirror with her ear rings and thinking of what was, or what could have been, and then again, during the "Everyman Sppech" where she wants so much to understand her son but she just can't. I found that heart breaking; to want so much to connect with someone on another but not being able to understand them.
Since the last poster mnetioned the Oscar win, I had to look up her competition. Have to say it was fierce:
Ruth Hussey for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY. Good but nothing special.
Gladys George for THE PRIMROSE PATH. Can't comment because I haven't seen the movie, but would be partial to her because I love her when I see her.
Barbara O'Neil for ALL THIS, AND HEAVEN TOO. Barbara is one of my top favorite actresses, but this performance has always been missing for me, possibly due to knowing she wanted to play it as a frump but the studio forced her to have the full Hollywood treatment: it robbed her of giving a full characterization.
Judith Anderson for REBECCA. This would be been tough. She is so great in this film, she MAKES the movie.
And then dear Jane. She would hae to be the sentimental favorite for me, for past roles always being so good, and so versatile.

Saltednut, I know this isn't 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' but, a lot of wins don't go to those whom deserve them.

http://www.cgonzales.net & http://www.drxcreatures.com

The BIRD lady,too (Mary Poppins, her final role, even if it was a cameop, it's a powerful scene..)