I can't imagine Lillian Gish in this role; mostly because it called for a very strong-willed, stubborn woman. I never saw Ms. Gish that way; even as she grew older. I also can't recall any roles, throughout her career, in which she played such a character.
She always seemed physically and emotionally frail or vulnerable; a slight woman who wouldn't have taken such a strong stand. I don't mean this as an insult or put-down and I'm not questioning her acting abilities. She was great in the roles she played but I think she would have played that same role as a more traditional grandmotherly type. It may have worked but it would have been a different movie.
As I said in my previous post, Ms. Van Fleet seemed indistinguishable from the character she played. I believe that's why she did NOT win an Oscar. She made it look too easy.
the OP said > To think that Shirley Jones won the Oscar simply for shedding her good girl image and playing a prostitute in "Elmer Gantry"...another instance among many of Oscar getting things all wrong!
Actors who shed, what everyone knows to be, their natural personas and are able to play against type get noticed. If they're able to pull it off and are good in the role they also get a lot of credit. I believe that's why Shirley Jones won the Oscar.
Some of our best actors never get the acknowledgement they deserve because their performances are seamless. If, for instance, they play a much older person and we believe they're really that age, we assume it's an older actor playing a role. If they use an accent and we don't know that's no their natural way of speaking we don't notice. The same thing can apply to people in a variety of other professions as well. Their natural abilities or ease at what they do can be deceiving.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
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