MovieChat Forums > Lawrence of Arabia (1962) Discussion > How on Earth Did Peter O'Toole NOT win B...

How on Earth Did Peter O'Toole NOT win Best Actor?

posted 7 years ago by TheFearmakers
12 replies | jump to latest

I realize at this point everyone hates Citizen Kaen since we're all told to love it. I love it for my own reasons, esp the acting of Orson Welles. Studio darling John Ford won for his landscape picture, beating Welle's creative direction that still isn't equalled, in particular aspects. But his performance was what stands out, and it's all his own.

As for this movie, which swept the Oscars, the fact another young man who the academy didn't know, and might have been jealous about like most newcomers: It's just incredible POT didn't win Best Actor for this movie, I mean it's just crazy.

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[–] heyuactor 7 years ago

It is indeed a mystery. We can only guess. I guess many voters felt compelled to reward Gregory Peck for an outstanding performance and dismiss O'Toole as a weirdo, no matter how great his portrayal was.

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[–] TheFearmakers 7 years ago

I think Mockingbird was good but nothing, NOTHING close to Arabia. It's political I think. And your take is good too.

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[–] Information-Police (4221) 7 months ago

Peck was great, he was a Hollywood giant and and his portrayal of Atticus Finch is looked back on one of the greatest scene heroes of the first 100 years of movies.
O'Toole was great but he was a newcomer. It's not a mystery why Peck would have gotten the nod there.
O also think O'Toole's Lawrence was very nuanced in a way that makes you appreciate more as you rewatch it. There was a lot to him and what happened to him that could only be hinted at because of production codes. I was only 2 when it came out but I wonder if audiences of the time knew what to make of it and just looked at the production.

[–] roreyking 7 years ago

You've never seen a veteran employee promoted over a talented newcomer?

O'Toole was new to film and had no established Hollywood constituency. Peck had been "paying his dues" since the 40s and was popular in the Hollywood community.

I agree that O'Toole gave the better performance. But Peck's low-key style and dignity perfectly suited Atticus Finch. It was a fine performance. Peck may not have given THE best perfornmance of 1962, but his award wasn't a travesty either.

[–] mariakelly-04164 7 years ago

It was a major crime that Peter O'Toole did not win an Oscar for this movie. His performance was astonishing.

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[–] old_tv_guy 7 years ago

I think it's because the film picked up 7 Oscars and they thought it was enough. But seriously, Gregory Peck-- an actor? A regular actor, not a Hollywood Actor, where they stick a camera in his face and he says what he always says, in the same way? I've seen a few films-- Mockingbird, Gentlemen's Agreement, On The Beach, Boys From Brazil, Moby Dick, Cape Fear, westerns I guess when I was a kid.

Could he not get his voice and face out of "conversational" mode? If the part called for some craggy, unreadable son of a gun, he could luck into that. But even as Ahab, you never got the sense that it was a committed portrayal-- his Ahab wasn't insane, just cranky. In Cape Fear, Mitchum is trying to kill him and his whole family, and he's about as upset as someone having trouble buying snow tires. Where's the involvement? What's compelling about his performances? O'Toole blew him off the screen, IMHO. It *wasn't* fair.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

The Oscars get it wrong too many times. Like when Jimmy Stewart won for Philadelphia story(1941) over his friend Henry Fonda in the grapes of wrath. Fonda deserved it more.

O'Toole's performance was epic and deserved that reward if anybody ever did.

[–] marktayloruk (2389) a year ago

I'd have voted for Charlie Chaplin.that year.

[–] marktayloruk (2389) a year ago

I'd have voted for Charlie Chaplin.that year.

[–] huwdj (4562) 3 years ago

You could argue it was impossible not to give Peck an Oscar for Mockingbird. Atticus Finch is one of America's favourite characters in one of America's favourite books - and he was very good in it and it was a very good film. It would be interesting to know how the votes added up but I'm guessing Peck had a massive head start.

[–] thbryn (226) a year ago

I assume O'Toole won the BFTAS? British were not likely to pass on the great performance. Somewhat the way Academy weren't not taking Peck. I think I would have voted for the newcomer's extremely flashy role on merit but there are other things involved and you can't deny that.

[–] marktayloruk (2389) 5 months ago

I wish they published voting figures.