Pretty Boys and Oscar: Where Have all the Hot Men Gone?

Throughout the many years I have followed the Oscars and become an award show junky, there has been one fact that was evident, Oscar is not a huge fan of the "pretty boys."  Who are the pretty boys you ask?  Well you could also define these "pretty boys" as the attractive leading men of their time.  Throughout the year men like Cary Grant, Robert Redford,  Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt,  (and many more) would fit into this category.

Throughout the years award show expert Tom O'Neil (from goldderby.com) has cited this to be a fact, that for some reason the Oscar voters do not crown the heart throbs.  Tom has a point, and while I have never been in 100 percent agreement with the theory, the proof is in the pudding.  I am going to use the men listed  above to talk about their history with Oscar.

Cary Grant was seen as a heart throb, the leading man of his time; he not only did films like Philadelphia Story, but did some other great dramatic films like Charade, Notorious, and North by Northwest.  Grant was nominated for two Academy Awards in the Lead Actor Category, and the films were Penny Serenade (1942) and None but the Lonely Heart (1945).  Grant did not win for either film, but he did an Honorary Oscar in 1970 four years after his last credited role.

Perhaps Grant is the first example of some of the reasons the "heart throb" is never taken seriously.  Cary Grant reminds me of a modern day George Clooney he is charming and suave, and a lot of his work takes on blended comedic/dramatic elements.  Comedy is rarely honored at the Oscars.  Grant is the only one on this specific list who would fit that mold.  The other reason Grant missed out on nominations for some of his most famous works like North by Northwest, Notorious, and Charade, was because throughout the years there has been a bias against genre films.  The Academy has gotten better with this but grant could or should have been nominated for one of these films, if not them then Philadelphia Story where two of his co-stars were nominated and one of them one.

The perfect modern example of the "pretty boy" is Brad Pitt.  Pitt hit the silver screen in 1991 with a small role in Thelma and Louise, the role focused on his good looks, and focused on Pitt as a sex symbol.  This status continued, and Pitt was known as the celebrity straight men would consider s

Let's look at Grant's co-star Jimmy Stewart who wont the Oscar for Philadelphia Story.  Stewart never was seen as a "looker" he was tall skinny bean pole who was a great leading man, but was never considered to the ladies or man's choice in regards to looks.  While many may look at Grant today and think the same thing; he was in fact one of the "studs" of his time.

Let's transition from the end of Cary Grant's career when he was older and won his Honorary Academy Award to one of the major "heart throbs" of the late 60s, 70s, and early 80s. Robert Redford.  Redford was in numerous films popular and well received films during this time Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Way We Were (1973), The Sting (1973), Three Days at the Condor (1975), All the President's Men (1976), The Natural (1984), and Out of Africa (1985).

Throughout his years as an Actor Redford was only nominated once for acting Oscar for The Sting.  Of the films that received Oscar nominations (beyond The Sting) most of his female co-stars received nominations while Redford did not, Barbara Streisand (The Way We Were), Jane Alexander (All the President's Men), Glenn Close (The Natural), and Meryl Streep (Out of Africa).  You have to think that as the lead in these films Redford deserved some recognition for his acting, but he was never honored in this field.

I can already hear the dissension from folk saying "But wait didn't Robert Redford win an Oscar in 1980  Directing Ordinary People?  The answer is yes, but this started a trend where the Academy Awards loved to honor those actors who stepped behind the camera rather than showing off their pretty face on screen all the time.  Warren Beatty (who was also another heart throb) fit this model just won year later winning Best Director for Reds (1981).  Redford's leading man looks proved that he could never be taken seriously in front of the camera, but only behind the scenes.

After Redford the next example of a "pretty boy" was the young, and talented Tom Cruise.  Cruise not only made great quality films, but set the example of a box office super star.  Cruise has not only had major box office success with films like Top Gun, and the Mission Impossible series, but has been nominated for three acting Oscars.  Cruises has two Best Actor nominations for Born on the Fourth of July (1989), and Jerry Maguire (1996), and Supporting Actor nomination for Magnolia (1999).  While Cruise never had a shot for his first two nominations; he lost to two of the best working actors today Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot (1989), and Geoffrey Rush in Shine (1996). Cruise had his best shot to win for Magnolia; he was the favorite with many critics wins, and a win at the Golden Globes, but eventually lost to Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules.

Cruise is started the de-glam of the pretty boy, which helped nab more acting trophies.  Born on the Fourth of July is a great example, where he transforms himself from an optimistic youth to an angry Vietnam War veteran in a wheel chair.  Magnolia also showed a different side to Cruise proving he has the chops to pull off darker material.  Throughout the years Cruise has gained attention from these "de-glam" roles, like his role as the fat movie producer in Tropic Thunder.  Cruise is a solid modern day example of the Academy still never taking the pretty boy seriously, especially with his loss for Magnolia, Cruise may have to wait until much later in his career, the way his co-star Paul Newman (another good example of his looks preventing him from a win) won for Color of Money.

Brad Pitt is the best example of the modern day heart throb.  Pitt's first major role on the silver screen was in 1991's Thelma and Louise.  While Pitt's role was small, the film focused on his ripped body, getting women and men to consider him as an object of affection.  Pitt would forever be known as sex symbol, getting even straight men to consider going to bed with him.  While over the years Pitt has proven himself more than a pretty face getting some great dramatic and comedic roles, and proving he has true talent.

Like Cruise Pitt has only been nominated for three acting trophies at the Oscars, one Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, and two Lead Actor Oscar nominations.  Pitt's first nomination came in 1995 for the film 12 Monkeys (Best Supporting Actor); he took away all the frills of his looks and "de-glammed" for this role.  Like with Cruise Pitt won the Golden Globe for this film but lost the Oscar to Kevin Spacey. Pitt's Lead Actor Oscar nominations came much later in his acting career, first in 2009 for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and then in 2012 for Moneyball.  The majority of his award show attention from the Oscars has come as he has aged and reached his late 40s.

These four examples are just the icing on the cake, there is Leonardo DiCaprio who was snubbed for Titanic (1997) while co-star Kate Winslet was nominated, Ryan Gosling snubbed for both Driver and The Ides of March (2012), and many more.  These are two current working actors who have recieved Oscar nominations, but have never been honored.  Are their looks to blame?  Ar Oscar voters jealous?  These men have turned in some great performances, but none have them have made it to the Oscar podium for an acting win.

George Clooney is one of the rare cases of "heart throbs" who have won Oscars for an acting performance.  Clooney did not however win in the Lead Actor Category he won for his "supporting "de-glammed" performance in Syriana.  Clooney was also nominated in two other categories this year Best Director (he was up against Ang Lee), and Best Original Screenplay (he was up against Crash-the eventual Best Picture winner).  Academy voters knew they needed to honor him so they picked the least competitive category.

This year's Best Actor race will provide the opportunity for two men who fit within this category to be nominated Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables), and Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook).  At the moment neither stands a chance of beating the method acting of Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln.  Maybe being a "pretty boy" is enough, but these men deserve their due, and should not have to wait until their looks fade, the way many actors have to wait.

A Tribute to Great Films: The Philadelphia Story (1940)

In a time when comedy is cheap and laughs come at the expense of the audience few films resemble the classic romantic comedy, The Philadelphia Story.  The film, directed by George Cukor (My Fair Lady, Adam’s Rib, A Star is Born, and Born Yesterday) follows socialite Tracy Lord (Katherine Hepburn) whose wedding plans are complicated by her husband C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) involving himself and tabloid writer Macaulay Connor (Jimmy Stewart) and tabloid photographer Elizabeth Imbrie (Ruth Hussey).  The combination of these plot elements make for one of the funniest/sweetest films of all time.  The film was nominated for 6 Academy Award including Best Picture and Best Director.

The plot of this film centers around gossip within high society, and the way it impacts people being themselves.  In this film (based on the play) Tracy’s father has taken up with a dancer in New York City, and has walked away from the family for the time being.  As the wedding draws near he finally returns, but Tracy hopes to keep her families name out of the tabloids, and move forward with class and dignity, even though she herself had a messy divorce.

The film has a modern sensibility, and proves that throughout time motifs are transient.  I have not seen 1956 film, High Society, that retools this story, but I doubt the film can measure up (I am hesitatingly adding it to my watch list). The film The Women (1939), was directed by the same director, and was given a more modern retelling in 2008 with the likes of Meg Ryan, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett-Smith and audiences did not turn out in droves.  Films are often remade because modern day audiences say things like “I don’t like old movies” or “Why should I watch a movie about something I can’t relate to, or that’s black and white?”  When I hear people say this about film, or specifically old movies I refer them to this film, and many of the other Hepburn comedies.  The spirit of this film shines with an eternal brightness, thanks in large part to the direction of the wonderful George Cukor. 

Cukor has had two distinguished monographs placed upon him.  During his time he was known as a “woman’s director.”  Cukor directed many great performances from Katherine Hepburn in films like this one, and Adam’s Rib; he also directed Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (the performance gained no Oscar nomination), Judy Garland in a Star is Born, the film The Women, and greats like Greta Garbo.  This is only a brief list of the women he worked with, but this man knew how to get the best out of these talented women.  Cukor abhorred this label, and was more proud of another accomplishment. Cukor is the director who has had the most actors go on to win in Lead Actor category: Jimmy Stewart-The Philadelphia Story, Ronald Coleman-A Double Life, and Rex Harrison-My Fair Lady.

Cukor’s career is one of the most fascinating careers, mainly because he had a role in the future direction of the classic films The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind, but is not credited as directing either film.  Cukor never shot a single scene for Oz, but he did make a few creative changes that would be instrumental to future of the film’s production.  Dorothy originally had a blonde wig, and wore fare more make-up, but Cukor told them to lose the wig, and had Garland stick with acting more youthful, and innocent.  Cukor also changed the make-up on the scarecrow, the wicked witch’s make-up, and her wig.  With Gone with the Wind Cukor was a perfectionist aiming to create the perfect world that was envisioned my author Margaret Mitchell.  Cukor spent numerous hours working with both Olvia de Haviland and Vivien Leigh to coach them; he also worked to get a southern accent out of Clark Gable, which is notably missing from the final production..  Cukor’s perfectionist style, created conflict with studio head David O. Selznick, thus allowing him to direct The Women, and start his career on a different path that lead to him working on this film with an incredibly talented cast.  These two stories are just a snapshot of what makes Cukor one of the most fascinating directors during his time, and fueled some of the great performances specifically within this film.

This film had an incredible ensemble and singling out any one of the performances is almost impossible the four main leads were all incredible.  The standout to me is the brilliant Katherine Hepburn; she is the rock of the film, and her comedic timing is something she is not given enough credit for.  Watching Hepburn deal with realizing that she has never been honest with her true self is one of the greatest evolutions to watch.  Hepburn received a Best Actress Oscar nomination (one of her 12) for this film, but did not win.  Tracy becomes well rounded, and her closing speech at the end to her party guests through the words of Dexter is so beautiful.

The only main character of the four main characters not to be nominated for and Oscar is the charismatic Cary Grant.  Grant plays a great foil to Tracy; he is witty to a fault and does a great job playing puppet master to at first cause trouble for Tracy, but down deep he involves himself with her because he still loves her.  Grant was only nominated twice for an Academy Award, but would only win an Honorary Oscar in 1970.   His snub for this film is a travesty.

While Cary Grant was not nominated for this film Jimmy Stewart was, and he won the Academy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.  Stewart’s Macaulay or Mike is the compass of the film; he is the writer in the film, and even though he is an outsider to the family you see most of the film through his lense.  Stewart’s always been a wonderfully capable actor, and plays the everyman better than anyone I have ever seen.  In this film he carries much of the working class observation on his shoulders, and allows for viewers to understand and really know the Lord family.

Most of this brilliance can be attributed to Academy Award winning screenplay,  This is one of my favorite screenplays of all time,   Screenwriter Donald Ogden Stewart knows how to weave to witty repartee, and the beautiful love story so well that you almost feel as though you are an intruder on this families hilarious yet beautiful experience.  I am beyond grateful Hollywood has not remade this film for the modern audience, and I hope some butcher never tries to have someone like Jennifer Anniston take on the Tracy Lord part, God help us all if this ever happens.