Claudette Colbert Defeats Bette Davis | Best Actress Oscar 1935

[@catlover34fl]

"I'll stop a car, and I won't use my thumb," as she raises her skirt to expose gorgeous legs. I loved that line from Claudette Colbert. She was not only a good actress, but absolutely beautiful as well. I have loved and enjoyed all of her performances. She was a natural, never overacting or tearing up the scenery to gain recognition. Bette Davis was great in Of Human Bondage, but in 1934 the best performance by an actress was clearly Claudette's to win.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, great point!

[@davidmuller9938]

Claudette was cute, but Bette Davis performance was a trailblazer there was no such thung like female acting the same after that performance. No. That was Davis year and she was snubbed.

[@catlover34fl]

Cute, classy and never boring. I must say as much as I admired Bette Davis' performance in Of Human Bondage, it was such a downer and depressing film I would never want to sit through it again. Claudette Colbert's performance was delightful to watch, and I mean every scene she convincingly came across as classy, funny, heartbreaking in the cabin scene expressing her love for Gable's character, and even expressing anger. I have watched and, yes, enjoyed It Happened One Night many many times. It was never boring and I never tired of it. I cannot say the same for Of Human Bondage. @@davidmuller9938

[@thetriplethreat3]

The fact that she made it just in time is astonishing

[@TheAwardsContender]

I know!! Thanks for watching!

[@jonathanvelazquezph.d.2719]

I'm astonished that you were able to get the actual vote count for the Best Actress award that year. If only today we could also know these numbers, life would be sooo good. Wonderful as always!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, I would love to know the counts for every year, would be amazing. Thanks for watching!

[@christofferdharma9535]

Omg I'm so excited for your coverage of the 1950 race, especially with the preview that your favourite is Gloria Swanson! Sunset Boulevard is one of my favourites of all time, and her performance is also definitely one of my favourites. If Glenn Close ever does her Sunset Boulevard musical and win, it'll be sad to see that the OG Gloria Swanson never won for it.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, I’m excited to make that video, it’s going to be epic. Thanks for watching!

[@emillion4470]

This is maddening. Officially, Davis's nominations still stands at 10 (when it should be 11). By the Academy changing the rules in 1935 to include write-ins AND acknowledging Davis's legitimacy by COUNTING her votes and releasing the results she was a de facto nominee. Right? Has the Academy amended their 1935 records to include Davis as such? Or is this greatest of actresses' soaring achievement and career defining performance continues to be regulated to a mere asterisk.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yeah, officially it’s ten nominations. But she certainly had a shot at winning for Of Human Bondage. Thanks for watching!

[@zachpajak7493]

Oooooh looking forward to the Swanson vs. Davis video! Two of the best performances in two of the best films ever made.

[@TheAwardsContender]

I’m excited to make it. Thanks for watching!

[@garymeise673]

One last thing, truly. I absolutely love Bette Davis. In her groundbreaking roll of human bondage.There

[@garymeise673]

Was nothing like it before she accepted that role. On the other hand mostly thanks to Frank Capra. Claudette Colbert's performance in the greatest movie essentially possibly of all time. It happened One night, is impossible to defeat or impress above because claudette's Colbert's performance is essentially the greatest performance that ever existed until that time

[@darylchin53]

People always forget that the process of nominations for the Motion Picture Academy was very different until the 1960s: the nominations had to come from either the studio (or the producer, if the producer was an "independent" like Selznick or Goldwyn). In the case of OF HUMAN BONDAGE, the nomination had to come from Warner Brothers (since that was where Bette Davis was under contract), and you have talked about the fact that Jack Warner was dead set against nominating Davis. So that's why Davis was not nominated, and the outcry wasn't just in Hollywood: the critics of all the New York City newspapers were so outraged that they decided to form an organization to counter the Oscars, and so the next year, the first New York Film Critics Circle awards were given.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, this is all so fascinating. Thanks for your insightful comment!

[@BoBo-ti6jh]

Warner's did not produce Of Human Bondage.

[@darylchin53]

@@BoBo-ti6jh Of course not, RKO did, but that was the point: the system was set up so that the final say had to be the studio under which the person had a contract, so RKO could not just nominate Bette Davis without Warner Brothers' approval, and Jack Warner would not give it. But the outcry was so great that when the actual time to vote came, that was the year when "write-in" votes were allowed, but Claudette Colbert did get more votes (though she thought she would lose, so she was at the train station, ready to go on vacation; people were sent to the station to bring her back to the Oscar ceremony to pick up her award). And the Academy issued a statement to the effect that, though Davis did receive a fair share of the votes, Colbert did garner the most votes to win.

[@malmck1758]

Bette Davis didn't get nominated for Of Human Bondage mainly because studios put forward nominations. As Davis was a Warner Bros contract player then WB weren't going to nominate her for an RKO film and similarly RKO didn't nominate Davis for the same reason. Also I read that by the time the Academy allowed the write in many Academy members had already voted

[@TheAwardsContender]

Interesting, thanks for watching!

[@cooperwesley1536]

Davis should have four Oscars: Of Human Bondage, Jezebel, The Little Foxes, and All About Eve. Ironically, her three best performances were the three that she lost. Full disclosure: Davis as Margo Channing is 3rd on my list of best performances ever (by an actress), right behind Vivien Leigh in GWTW and Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, I agree she should have four, too. One of the best there ever was! Thanks for watching.

[@poetcomic1]

What performance? She was playing Bette Davis. (I love the movie by the way) but Gloria Swanson created a Gothic monster (totally unlike herself) from whole cloth. Amazing.

[@Starkardur]

Davis as Margo Channing isn't even one of Davis' best performance. A great performance sure but the movie itself is what makes it a classic with Davis' out of the world screen presence but performance wise, she really didn't do anything she hadn't done before.

[@Ellerich3]

@@Starkardur I agree with 💯💯 What AAE sooo iconic was not only the top tier acting, but it was the Deliciously cutting dialogue and the simple but intricate directing BD was a force sure, and I do believe had Anne Baxter not submitted herself in the Lead Actress Category, BD might had been triumphant that night

[@cvill03]

Definitely wanna see video on how Clark Gable lost Best Actor for his performance as Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind to Robert Donat in Goodbye Mr Chips

[@TheAwardsContender]

Would love to make that video down the road. Thanks for watching!

[@iamjetl]

There was no way Judy was going to lose for her Billie Dawn in Born Yesterday.. She knew that part inside and out since she played the role for more than a year on Broadway before playing the part in the film version.. She is exquisite, hilarious, and poignant in this film... Besides, Judy had Kate Hepburn and Spencer Tracy on her side and their influence pushed her all the way to her deserved win...

[@fkd1963]

Davis and Baxter prob split the vote. Judy gives a fine performance in a lightweight comedy. Davis deserved the Oscar, in SPADES, for her bravura Margo Channing.

[@cooperwesley1536]

@@fkd1963 True! I've always blamed Ms Baxter for Davis' loss. Baxter insisted on being in that category (instead of supporting). She legitimately thought that she would win it. Alas... she ruined it for both of them.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Very interesting! Excited to dig into this race down the road.

[@rosemaryfranzese317]

This is a tough one. I think “It happened one night” thoroughly deserved the best picture award and the film is still a joy to watch. I haven’t seen Grace Moore on film so I can’t fairly comment on that. I have seen “The Barrett’s of Wimpole Street”. I read that Norma Shearer really didn’t want this role because she didn’t want to play an invalid but Irving Thalberg mounted a very expensive production and she made it to please him. I don’t think it’s an Oscar worthy performance and it’s clear that Norma was much happier in her precode roles. I would say that Capra’s film has worn the test of time best, it’s still a joy to watch but Bette Davies and Leslie Howard were terrific in “Of human bondage. Bette’s performance is still one of the best ever. Overall, I believe Bette should have won best actress but what difference does it really make

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks for your interest!

[@fab0392]

i just love this channel. only channel i have notifications alert on for.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Your comment made my day! Thank you so much!!

[@lynnefeuerstein1747]

Thanks for this interesting video. I must say I really think Claudette Colbert deserved her Oscar win. Not only was it a great performance then,but a wonderful performance now that doesn't age or date a bit! Unfortunately I can't say the same for Bette Davis in Of Human Bondage. Not that I don't like any of Bette's performances . (Movies like Now Voyager, The Letter, and Jezebel are still great.),but her Mildred just doesn't stand the test of time. Especially in the famous scene where Leslie Howard has rejected her and she calls him a swine she is way over the top. While maybe a good performance in the thirties I think it hasn't aged well and frankly (in my opinion) even in 1934 I think Claudette as Ellie Andrews had more range and style.

[@TheAwardsContender]

I agree that Colbert's performance has aged a little better. Thank you so much for watching!

[@andreiiliepopescu6393]

Thank you for bringing attention to the wonderfully charming and urbane Claudette Colbert. She is a queer star that I love. I am very curious how she would have played Margo Channing! But , at least, we sort of see a side of her in Anne Baxter, who was supposedly initially cast in the role of Eve Harrington becase she ressembled Claudette.

[@TheAwardsContender]

You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed the video!

[@benroberts6818]

Such a good series. Would love to see something about Montgomery Clift, particularly the year him and Burt Lancaster were beaten by William Holden. All great content though, keep up the good work 😁👍

[@TheAwardsContender]

Would love to dive into that race down the road. Thanks for watching!

[@user-yk7dv4yp4k]

I really enjoyed this video!! I hope in the future there'll be a video about the 1937 Best Actress Oscar Race. I particularly want to know more info and your thoughts on who Luise Rainer's foremost competitor would've been. I'm thinking Irene Dunne for The Awful Truth. Hehe :)

[@TheAwardsContender]

Oh, great idea!! Stay tuned!

[@alfredbonnabel7022]

IHON was terrific! The cast was awesome. I thought BD in HB was overplayed. Her cockney accent was off and on. CC was peerless in IHON.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, It Happened One Night is a wonderful film. Thanks for watching!

[@elizabethmeaney7284]

The older Oscars videos are my favorites! Great work:) I'm watching some Pre-Code films right now and would love a video about Pre vs. Post Code, or something about William Powell even though he never won!

[@sharonalbanese8084]

What a fantastic story- I had no idea about this. I'm officially obsessed with this channel. Loving it ❤❤❤❤

[@MyDarkmarc]

Provided you're taking the retrospective view of that old tag, "The First Lady of the Screen"-- after examining all the contenders -- belongs decisively and firmly to Bette Davis. Speaking of her great years, when she was not only gilt-edged box-office but in a variety of roles a wonder to the critics, that her films comprise an admirable record, one that may never be equaled by another film actress. When everything has been said against her -- and much has been said -- she remains unrivaled as a screen actress. She broke the old mold for female stars: she didn't want to get up on that screen and be decorative, to be glamorous like Garbo, to be sympathetic like Janet Gaynor, to pose as an actress like Norma Shearer: she want to "act," to illuminate for audiences all the women she found within her --- waitresses, dowagers, spinsters, harridans, drunks. She fought to play them. All subsequent screen stars owe her a debt, in that she proved that an actress could be an excellent judge of material, and her dedication destroyed a lingering belief that stage acting was 'superior' to film acting. She once told a reporter that one of the reasons she worked so hard was because there were so few real actresses in films. Davis never disappeared inside a part: she was too intense, too electric, too mannered (increasingly, as time went on), but she shaped her roles to herself, burying as much of herself she could. The end result then -- this 'admirable record' -- is a bewildering gallery of screen portraits, a total of 10 Academy Award nominations (beaten only by Katharine Hepburn), a reputation that a mostly latent tendency to ham cannot tarnish, and an undiminished army of admirers. It was a long career, and Davis wrote a ferociously intelligent autobiography called "The Lonely Life, 1962." In every sense of the word, Bette Davis is a rugged individualist. Before Bette Davis she passed away in 1989, she designed her grave-site and the only epitaph that she wanted was this, "She Did It The Hard Way" and Bette again was right all along. In my opinion Bette Davis not only did it the hard way but she was a "Force Of Nature".

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you for this informative and fascinating comment! It’s fantastic!!

[@MyDarkmarc]

@@TheAwardsContender Hi Brian, You're welcome. Since I was first introduced to Classic Films when I was about 15 years old Bette Davis has always been my favorite actress with Barbara Stanwyck running close behind. To this day I have seen every film that Davis started in and almost all her television shows too. Plus when I visit Los Angeles I always pay my respects at Davis’ grave-site.

[@garymeise673]

This was in truth a year in which every single female nominee which was so much more outstanding than the male nominees that year. Claudette Colbert was the correct winner from all the nominees and yet every single nominee in the female category was truly better than any of the male nominees that year

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, great point. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesa.romano8500]

I suspect the award snubs for Of Human Bondage and Imitation of Life (which also starred Colbert) - in which there was talk that Fredi Washington and Louise Beavers should have been nominated as well - were catalysts that led to the creation of the Supporting Acting categories, although Mutiny on the Bounty is arguably what finally "did it." I think the reason why Bette fell short behind Norma Shearer even with the write-in support is that Mildred is indeed more of a "supporting" role rather than an outright lead. Had there been a Supporting Actress category at the time, she undoubtedly would have won.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Such a great point! Thanks for watching!

[@fkd1963]

Racism and the limited number in the category of supporting prevented Fredi and Louise.

[@tomgabbutt3066]

Brilliantly researched and engaging video, as always. :)

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you so much, Tom!!

[@carolelliott8780]

Thank-you, Brian, for your detailed, insightful and incisive commentary. Your command of the material is extraordinary. Absolutely fascinating - and riveting - viewing. Again, thank-you. 🙏🏾

[@TheAwardsContender]

Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Carol! Your comment made my morning!! You’re the best, and I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@jeffersonrodrigues9141]

Love Miss Davis with all my heart. An Actress!--♡ Miss Colbert such a legend~ we miss them.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching!

[@garymeise673]

Thank you George Arliss. If it weren't for you there would be no Bette Davis

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes!!! Thank you, George!

[@monicamerle1417]

Great video! An Oscars story I didn't know, they were lucky to find her at the train station but she was right to not attend, rules did not apply for Bette Davis? 😲

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks so much!

[@georginavargas6793]

Absolutely awesome claudette colbert miss her .R I P Beautiful Soul ..

[@TheAwardsContender]

Fantastic actress!

[@brendadrew834]

Looks and sounds like you're a fellow classic movies from the Golden Age of Hollywood junkie like I am and thankfully, so many others as well! I was born in 1948 and grew up on those great movies, some real masterpieces like The Hunchback of Notre Dame with the late great Charles Laughton and a young 18 year old beauty red headed Irish Maureen O'Hara! It was also my parent's era, the 1930s when they met and married in 1939 which was an iconic year for Hollywood movies! We Baby Boomers ended up watching many of these great movies on TV in the 1950s and 60s, the Late show, the Late Late show and Million Dollar movie! It all influenced my career as a NYC fashion illustrator and I have many fabulous books with the wonderful black and white publicity photos of the stars and all the fashions back then, one of my favorite eras! May they all rest in peace, and may they not be forgotten ever!♥♥ Thanks for the memories~

[@wadedavid4375]

Had she won for Baby Jane, I think that Oscar would have MEANT more to her,than ANY of the OTHERS.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Good point!

[@andrewachsen9844]

Definitely Claudette Colbert should have won and did win. Colbert was a very versatile actress, who was as adept at comedy as she was at high drama. And she was a classic beauty. Selznick could have cast any actress in Hollywood as Cleopatra, but he chose Colbert. Regarding All About Eve, even Mankiewicz admitted in his book that he still stood by his original casting of Colbert, who could have given a very multidimensional depiction of Margo Channing. And, the reason Anne Baxter was cast was because you could believe that she was a Colbert wannabe. She even looked like her and had that deep throaty voice as Colbert did. Claudette Colbert was one of a kind - versatile actress, beautiful, classy, elegant and very funny and intelligent.

[@larrydirtybird]

Great video, but I think you made a mistake about the voting results. Irvin Cobb, the host that year, revealed the order after the ceremony. Claudette Colbert won by a wide margin, followed by Norma Shearer in second place and Grace Moore in third. Bette Davis came in fourth. So all of the nominees beat her.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Ok, maybe I read the wrong results, weird. Thanks for watching!

[@ralphstorrier6591]

Bette Davis gave a marvelous performance in Of human bondage and certainly should’ve been nominated. Myrna Loy also should have been nominated for the thin man. But Colbert still thoroughly deserved her Oscar for it happened one night.

[@kridgeway8491]

Great video! But don't forget that this race's drama is what led to next year's introduction of the accounting firm Price Waterhouse (Coopers) to protect the integrity of votes going forward.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching!

[@jeffreytaddeo6245]

Kramer vs Kramer was so close to winning in the 5 major categories....but Meryl did win Supporting!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, great point!

[@luisvaldes1568]

At 6:25 the way that lady walks across the room freaks me out.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Oh wow, I didn’t notice until you pointed it out, it looks like she’s floating, weird!

[@daryl1054]

while we're on the topic of claudette colbert, you guys should definitely check out one of her screwball comedies called "the palm beach story", it is incredibly funny ☺️!!

[@TheAwardsContender]

I’ll have to check that one out, thank you!

[@arnepianocanada]

If there'd been real justice, Colbert and Davis would have tied. Equivalently exemplary performances, setting new dramatic territory versus propelling comedy to new heights.

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thanks for watching!

[@malmck1758]

Bette Davis fully deserved her win

[@TheAwardsContender]

Love Bette!

[@stepawayful]

Maybe Shearer's career was helped just a teeny bit because she was married to Irving Thalberg? Maybe? 😂

[@TheAwardsContender]

Haha, yup! I talk about that in my video about the 3rd Academy Awards.

[@stepawayful]

@@TheAwardsContender new to your channel so looking forward to watching. I used to work on Microsoft's Cinemania product. Familiar with it?

[@Daniel-vb9oj]

Angelina Jolie vs Kate Winslet is still on your list?

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, will get to Best Actress 2009 down the road!

[@ChrolliForever]

Love to see this, but no one could beat kate winslet that year. But it was winslet vs. Streep (after hathaway lose at the globes). Jolies second Oscar befire kates first was never gonna happen.

[@JuanGomez-oc5eo]

This is awesome!!!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Thank you so much!!

[@poetcomic1]

It Happened One Night was the beginning of a phenomena Hollywood moguls couldn't quite believe..... people going back three, four times to see the same movie.

[@timgordon3458]

Colbert thought bette Davis would win

[@patrickhicks9880]

Some actors have never been nominated I'm not sure Natalie Wood ever was

[@TheAwardsContender]

She was a couple times. Thanks for watching!

[@kenlucena18]

If there are 5 nominees that year, I think Bette Davis will be a real nominee and eventually I really think will win. Colbert is good in the movie but Davis is more superior. Though, I may be a bit bias because Of Human Bandage is my favorite Davis performance. Lols.

[@gauravw6947]

I doubt Bette would have won, her character was more of a supporting one… Plus, Colbert’s performance was lead and much loved all over…

[@BoBo-ti6jh]

Colbert deserved it.

[@janinearvayo6963]

Hopefully Warren brothers and paramount studios Gets Cut from all the pictures

[@louisaeggleton3426]

My best qctress for 1935 would have been Louise Beavers from imitation of life. Not even nominated!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, a great performance! Thanks for watching!

[@Katorri]

Davis

[@bojack40]

Grace Moore looks like Helen Mirren!

[@TheAwardsContender]

Yes, absolutely!

[@MrToryhere]

I always thought that Davis’s cockney accent ranked up there with Dick van Dyke’s in Marry Poppins as one of the most grating. For me this makes her performance an exercise of scene chewing so OTT that it is almost unwatchable. Claudette Colbert was a worthy winner.

[@timgordon3458]

Colbert felt this was a terrible film