MovieChat Forums > Spellbound (1945) Discussion > Michael Chekhov's Oscar nod

Michael Chekhov's Oscar nod

posted 16 years ago by rudeboy_murray
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Ironically for such a divisive film, Spellbound was one of the more heavily nominated Hitchcock movies at the Oscars. Seems strange looking back that it did so well when so many of his better remembered movies were largely or completely shut out...

I like Spellbound quite a lot, although I don't consider it one of Hitchcock's greatest achievements. It's a bold, gripping and original film. But one thing has irked me ever since I first saw it. How could the Academy nominate Michael Chekhov's brief, efficient but pretty forgettable performance and overlook Leo G Carroll? I think Carroll - one of Hitchcock's most regularly recurring actors, here in perhaps his greatest role - should have been a shoo-in for a supporting actor nomination. A marvellous performance, one of my favourites by an actor in a Hitchcock movie.

Anyone agree with me?

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rudeboy_murray 15 years ago

I must confess I did not know that, and I don't recall having seen any of his other films. So I guess the nomination was along the lines of Lee Strasberg's for Godfather II... as much out of awe and respect as through the value of the performance. I do still feel that for Spellbound Carroll was the rightful nominee, but thanks so much for the info on Chekhov!