MovieChat Forums > The Carpetbaggers (1964) Discussion > Ladd should've won an Oscar for this.......

Ladd should've won an Oscar for this.....


I watched this film for the first time last night. Can't say that this film blew me away but Alan Ladd's part did. I had always wanted tosee this because I had heard that it was Alan Ladd's final film before he died. I've seen a good number of this films and I do believe that he should have at least been won an Oscar for his supporting role. He was the best part of the film in my opinion and I wish he had more scenes in it. I loved the fight scene at the end between him and Peppard and watching him beat the holy hell out of Peppard was the highlight of the film. Peppard had it coming. If you've seen the film then you know what I mean. A great actor snubbed at the Oscars. Alan Ladd you were great in this.

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He was great. It's too bad he didn't live long enough to hear the kudos of the critics and audiences.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

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I agree with everything on this thread.

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First, was he even nominated?
Yes I like AL. But an Oscar? I don't see it.
As for the fight Ladd did pretty well in places where you could see that it was him although I'm sure parts were with a body double.

Kisskiss, Bangbang

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When Mad Magazine did a parody of this film, they had Ladd's character say to Peppard's character: "And now my stunt double will beat the tar out of your stunt double," and it showed the two actors watching the fight between the stuntmen. When I finally saw the film, long after reading the parody, I realized just how right Mad was. It was pretty funny and I couldn't stop chuckling during that scene.

Having said all that, I must admit I'm a huge fan of Alan Ladd and thought he was, indeed, the best thing about this movie. If only he'd embraced being a character actor and stopped lamenting the fading of his stardom (and stopped drinking!). He would have been great and would certainly have gotten a long-deserved Oscar down the road.

I'm sure you've all heard the story about how he turned down the role of Jett Rink in GIANT because it wasn't the starring role. James Dean got the role and gave director George Stevens a really hard time, so much so that Stevens lambasted Ladd the next time he saw him for turning down the role. I'm sure Ladd came to regret that decision, which, as I recall, was the result of his agent wife insisting he shouldn't be doing supporting roles. Sometimes the people closest to you can unwittingly be your worst enemies.

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