Great video. One thing worth adding is the vindicated reputation of My Cousin Vinny itself. Why did film critics of the time underestimate this film? The most likely reason is "Familiarity breeds contempt". Film critics see practically every film that comes out, which leaves them jaded and desensitized. There're few things they are more inclined to despise than the familiar and predictable. And in its broadest strokes, MCV is predictable. A comedy about a "wacky unorthodox" lawyer representing innocent clients? Of course he's going to get them off. But by 2002, at the same time Tomei's second Oscar nomination proved her Oscar win was no fluke, MCV had been getting consistent high praise, not from film critics who'd finally seen the light, but from a most unlikely source: Lawyers. By 2002 lawyers had frequently singled out MCV as one of the best, most accurate film depictions of what an American courtroom trial is actually like. This combined with the facts that it was always popular, and that stupid Oscar "controversy" ensured it wasn't going to be forgotten anytime soon. And with the lawyers praising the film, many non-lawyers could look back on it and see what an exceptionally well-made, well-structured film this is. Nearly every early line in the movie is a setup for a later, fully satisfying payoff. And while it's supporting cast might not be the most famous, they are all well cast. There isn't a single bad performance or false note in this movie. Tomei might be the single best thing about this film. But she isn't the only good thing, or even the only great thing about it. Today, Tomei's win feels like the best possible Acting Oscar, honoring a great performance in a great film.

She turned down Rocky. Even though Stallone offered to give her his salary

The better supporting performance from Dodsworth is from Mary Astor. I actually can’t believe she wasn’t nominated.

I think the term "scene stealer" helped define what constituted a supporting role in film, though it's not too much different than the stage. Gale commanded your attention and was a lot more interesting than Frederic March and Olivia de Havilland in the film. It's amazing how the first few years of the category defined the category.

I agree that the conditions in 1936 Hollywood favored Ms. Sondergaard receiving the first ever supporting actress award. I recently saw ‘Anthony Adverse’ and feel her victory was justified, though I would feel the same way had Ms. Bondi or Ms. Ouspenskaya triumphed that year. Interestedly, Walter Brennan won the first supporting actor award that year and went on to win two more (1938 and 1940). Good job Fritz, as always.

I would have given the award to either Beulah Bondi or Bonita Granville. Gale Sondergaard was awful in this long, boring movie. She was basically all teeth in her scenes.

Amazing Video, thank you for taking the massive amount of time to create this great piece of work.

Fun video! Thanks.

Miss Sondergaard certainly had her priorities, didn't she? No ugly dresses. There are a few people in my life to whom I would like to give a Gale Prayer Card as a reminder that it takes as long to put on a nice pair of pants as ugly, unkempt ones. Good to hear your charming German accent once again. Hope you have been well!

I saw her in Philadelphia in The Royal Family. It was in Playhouse in the Park and she went up and down the ramps to the center stage with no problem. She received a standing ovation

Wunderschön!!!! Toll!!!!

2:07:15 >> I'm shocked by such rude questions rudely raised! 😡😡 With Gloria's #1 woe as she herself said, scripts received after Boulevard all same-same roles, how could she show range?

Thanks for this great video. I loved her in The Letter (1940).

Beautiful well researched tribute to this wonderful human being and actress . Thank you

It's good to see another video from you, Fritz. I never knew what Gale Sondergaard went through after "The Wizard of Oz." What do you think of her performance in "Anthony Adverse?"

1:08:10 Good heavens! I checked Gloria's lost $800,000 Queen Kelly investment against a 2025 equivalent: c.$14,000,000! 😵‍💫😬😢

I totally love Claudette Colbert; but Bette like Anne Baxter truly had bitch virtuosity! They play off each other terrifically.

So much to honour! Gale (like UK Maggie Smith, Diana Rigg and others) allowed age to advance without falling into Botox and plastic surgery hellholes. Sally Field today stands up for it.

Was Ronald Reagan ever not an asshole??

Oddly for the 1935 Best Actress nominations, there were six nominated performances.

And I’m finishing this and finding out she got a statue to replace her plaque.

I also wonder where her Oscar plaque is.

I’ve been a huge fan of Gale and adore my autograph of hers. It’s wonderful to see a documentary of someone largely forgotten. I live in Minnesota and it’s unfortunate that’s she’s not celebrated here.

I'm "gobsmacked!" Gale not seen as beautiful? I find her so stunning as to be almost hard to look at🤩💐. I knew nothing, though, of her titanium backbone. THANK YOU for this terrific post. 🙏👏

Remarkable profile on a fascinating actor and admirable activist. It's sad how times really haven't changed as much as we would have hoped. She and the rest of those that worked in the industry affected by McCarthyism deserved better. Thanks for this very eye opening portrait on Gale, Fritz ❤

You're outdoing yourself, Fritz! Such incredible research, detail, and effort...your passion for each subject is most evident. Congrats.

Many multi-faceted performances!

Excellent video! Now I am confident that Judith Anderson's stunning performance as Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca (1940) was surely created with Gale Sondergaard in mind.

Just so much to learn! I’ve watched that Dick Cavett interview a few times. Gale Sondergaard is absolutely fascinating. I love the one and only hint of comparison to… the one in Rebecca 😉

Fritz! where you been loca?

Another engrossing, impeccably researched video. Major respect to Ms. Sondergaard for defying the injustice she was dealt via the blacklist.

So, that was simply an Academy photo-op in 1937 where she's pictured with an Oscar rather than a plaque.

Another brilliant video, so well researched and thought-provoking. The times you have veered from dealing with the Best Actress competitions, as when you looked at the career of Marisa Tomei and the destructive lies which came from her win as Best Supporting Actress, have proven to be so astute and incisive. So glad that you did this impressive video and looking forward to what you will illuminate next! And thank you for remembering Gale Sondergaard.

Sondergaard was a great actress and a pretty woman

Love this! :)

Such a wonderful video essay Fritz! I don't know much about Gale Sondergaard and I've only seen her in The Letter, The Cat and the Canary and Savage Intruder (which was made in the 70s) but this was very enlightening. It's a shame she was blacklisted, she deserved better.

Fritz we’ve missed you 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

You are back ! Thank you so much for this video.Brilliant.❤❤❤

The reason why I wrote the comment below, was that I thought that you said Gale Sondergaard's character in Anthony Adverse was called "Face" not "Faith", so it took me a while to understand. Thank you again for the video and I hope my comment didn't bother you. 🙏

I write this post in the hopes of being useful and respectful. I love your German accent and it adds extra-charm to your videos. As an teacher of English in France, I tell my French students that if they cannot pronounce "TH" sounds as in "that" and "faith" as they should be in English, then then should pronounce "TH" in "that" as [D/V] and "TH" in "faith" as [F]. These changes make "TH" understandable to most English-speakers and avoids the "I'm thinking/I'm sinking" type of misunderstanding that both French and German speakers are exposed to. I hope you don't take offence, it's meant very kindly.

Thank you for bringing much needed attention and appreciation to Gale Sondergaard, Fritz. I always look forward to your videos and watch them several times. ☺☺☺🙏🙏

Brilliant tribute to such a gifted actress, thank you!

The Star is unwatchable. Sudden Fear is gripping.

Not exactly the point of this video, but I must say, I’m a bit more inclined to believe Joan’s side of things than Olivia’s. Both fine actresses.

Why did they cut off her speech?????

Extraordinary! Thank you for your work.

My guess is that JH was the only comic actress there so in order not to butt too many dramatic diva heads, they picked her to win.

I believe she was born in Brooklyn NY. My high school swim team practiced in Erasmus HS pool approx.1969. Her picture was framed and hung in the main hallway along with Kirk Douglas

She could never be anything but beautiful.

I think Genevieve was the perfect Anne Boleyn. The real Anne had dark hair, dark eyes and raised in France mostly, so she spoke fluent French. Hey, so does Genevieve (I think she is French Canadian) I think the casting for Catherine of Aragon sucks. We have authentic portraits and descriptions that portrays her as having strawberry blonde, reddish hair and blue eyes. Yet every single portrayal of Catherine of Aragon always portrays her as as dark hair and dark eyes. Believe it or not, not everyone in Spain has dark hair and dark eyes. The only one I have seen come close was the Starz series the Spanish Princess.