MovieChat Forums > Casablanca (1943) Discussion > Bogart's Oscar Snub

Bogart's Oscar Snub

posted 9 years ago by samspade1941
16 replies | jump to latest

Every time I watch Casablanca I find it harder to believe and accept that Humphrey Bogart did not win an Oscar for best actor. The mere mention of Ilsa's name drives him insane. He is so powerful in the scene with Sam when he goes into the 'gin joints of the world' speech. The chemistry between Bogie and Claude Rains is outstanding in the manner in which they deal with each other and the dialogue between them. I've always thought that this was Bogie's best performance, much more complete than African Queen which finally earned him an Oscar....

[–] DanMetsFan 9 years ago

From what I've read, it seems that Bogart's Oscar for The African Queen was to make up for his numerous snubs (no nomination for The Maltese Falcon; not winning for Casablanca; somehow no nomination for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre; he may have deserved a nod for In a Lonely Place [which I haven't seen yet], although the '51 Oscars were extremely strong, with Joseph Cotten already getting snubbed for The Third Man).
Anyway, it seems that the Academy gave him the Oscar for The African Queen since he was getting older, even if a younger actor like Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire was more deserving (or maybe Montgomery Clift for A Place in the Sun, which I still need to see).
Either way, I agree. Rick Blaine should have been his Oscar-winning role.

[–] bhoover247 9 years ago

While I thought Bogart did a good job in this film, thanks for mentioning In A Lonely Place. I think is such a downbeat movie that it cost Bogart an Oscar, even though he gave a great performance.

[–] DanMetsFan 9 years ago

I still haven't seen it; I hear it's great.

[–] Seto012 9 years ago

Well to be fair, have you guys seen 'Watch on the Rhine' with Paul Lukas, the guy who won that year??
I know I haven't.
The only other nominated Best actor from those oscars I've seen is Gary Cooper in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls.' Bogart definitely beats him in my eyes at least.

[–] DanMetsFan 9 years ago

Fair point. I haven't yet seen Watch on the Rhine, but I guess I am just going by the assumption that that performance was no match for Bogart's.

[–] huwdj 9 years ago

I think Hollywood rarely gives Oscars for outstanding performances when actors perform exceptionally well in thier expected genre(s). It's when actors can be seen to be ACTING that the awards are forthcoming. There are many exceptions to this but it's not a bad rule of thumb.

[–] hachmom-1 8 years ago

I don't think the snub to Bogart was as great as the one to Claude Rains (who lost for best supporting actor). Bogart is fantastic of course, expanding on the heroic loner part he established in Maltese Falcon, but he gave many arguably better performances, and he would get one eventually. Claude Rains on the other hand is giving what many would recognize as the performance of his career, and although he would be nominated twice more, he was fantastic here. The problem with Rains, of course, is that he always made it look so darn easy. But if there were to be an acting oscar for CAsablanca, I think it should have been Best Supporting Actor.

It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices

[–] marktayloruk (2590) 3 years ago

Both should have got it- especially Rains.

[–] CarissaDV 8 years ago

Bogart gave the performance of a lifetime and was most deserving of the Oscar. He truly carries the film, so it's no surprise that the screenwriters gave him the lion's share of timeless lines of dialogue.

Bergman, on the other hand, was not as good an actor and got stuck with "I love you so much" and other trite lines. She was lit/photographed to look angelic even though her character was a coward, as evidenced by the lousy way she broke up with Rick. (I've broken up with men who were liars and cheaters, but I never handled a break-up as poorly as Ilsa did.)

Still, as Roger Ebert has pointed out, Bogart and Bergman had great chemistry on screen—while the unfortunate casting of Paul Henreid gave Ilsa a cold fish for a husband.

Given a choice, I would have taken the smoldering, sizzling Bogart any time!

[–] pontevedro 8 years ago

Paul Lukas gives a very strong performance in Watch on the Rhine. It's available on DVD and worth checking out. He had previously played the role on stage. Lukas was undoubtedly seen as the more serious actor. So it's not surprising to me that the Academy gave him the Oscar at the time. In hindsight, however, it seems like a serious error. (One of many over the years).

[–] sstavsky 8 years ago

Paul Lukas, who won the Oscar for 1943 (the same year that "Casablanca" opened in Hollywood), also won the New York Film Critics award for Best Actor that year. "Casablanca" actually opened in New York in late '42, so Bogart actually lost that award to James Cagney for "Yankee Doodle Dandy." I thought that Bogart was terrific, but people should see those other performances, as well.

[–] Seto012 8 years ago

Actually Casablanca competed at the 1943 Academy Awards. A small quirk in the oscar rules where the year the film played in Los Angeles for a certain period of time was the year it qualified. Or something along those lines.

So Bogart was indeed up against Paul Lukas.

[–] pontevedro 8 years ago

I think Stavsky is talking about the NY Film Critics Award - because Casablanca opened in NY in 1942, Bogart was under consideration for the 1942 NY Film Critics award and lost that to Jimmy Cagney. Then he lost the 1943 Oscar to Lukas.

[–] Seto012 8 years ago

Ah yes, you're right. I should have read his post more carefully.

[–] gregmays 8 years ago

Here's my theory:

Casablanca was talking about Vichy France, and occupied Eastern Europe.

The person that won that year, Paul Lukas, was from Hungary. Which was under Nazi Occupation. I think it was just a case that Lukas had a more politically compelling personal narrative, than Bogart. Not fair, but the Academy has done this sort of thing all the time. Still does.
Prediction:
The Iranian director will win an award this year, because he's in a perceived forced Absentia.

Claude Raines, also nominated, was not big yet in Hollywood. I'd argue that Casablanca made Raines' career.

CPT Renault and Sam, are certainly the most indelible characters in the movie. At least IMHO.

[–] benth04 8 years ago

1944 Academy Awards - Best Actor

Paul Lukas/Watch on the Rhine

Humphrey Bogart/Casablanca
Gary Cooper/For Whom the Bell Tolls
Walter Pidgeon/Madame Curie
Mickey Rooney/The Human Comedy

I have not seen Paul Lukas/Watch on the Rhine, but many years ago I saw Walter Pidgeon/Madame Curie and recently Gary Cooper/For Whom the Bell Tolls.
And I can only say that it was keen competition. And difficult to understand what affected the jury seventy plus years ago. Very different times, and first and last - the World was in the middle of a cut-throat war.