Best Actress 1947 - The resolution!

After having watched and reviewed all five nominated performances, it's time to pick the winner!

5. Dorothy McGuire in Gentleman's Agreement

Dorothy McGuire gives the most uninteresting performance of the most uninteresting character in the most uninteresting part of the movie. She obviously tries to make Cathy an open and relaxed character but her performance always remains a bit too stiff to ever become really memorable.

4. Loretta Young in The Farmer's Daughter

                     

Loretta Young obviously tries to add some depth and complexity to the character with several unexpectedly serious line-deliveries or other small gestures but a lot of times she decided to be serious even when a scene could have used some comedy. But even though her performance may not be very humorous, the characterization of Katrin as a dependable, intelligent, good-hearted and loyal woman is consistent and played well.

3. Joan Crawford in Possessed

Joan Crawford’s performance is a constant up and down of nice underplaying and mad overacting, mixed with her obligatory melodramatic acting that becomes dominant whenever any emotional scenes are involved. It’s obvious from the first moment that Joan Crawford doesn’t intend to show realism but she is able to use her theatrical acting style to give a compelling performance that carries an equally theatrical movie.

2. Rosalind Russell in Mourning Becomes Electra

Rosalind Russell’s acting choices more than once seem rather unnatural and dated but the way she slipped into the character always impresses. Her arrogant, domineering, manipulative and slightly insane Lavinia never feels forced or calculated. Instead, Rosalind Russell slides through the movie in a way that makes it look easy but at the same she constantly tries to make sure that every viewer is aware that it’s in fact very difficult. She impressively towers above the entire cast and helps to make Mourning Becomes Electra worth seeing despite its length and dark subject.                       

1. Susan Hayward in Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman

Susan Hayward plays all the parts of her role with beautiful subtlety and even in her most desperate or drunken situations she never overdoes it. She believably demonstrates what effect alcohol has on her life and her behavior and she is also able to make this behavior understandable. She clearly shows what causes her irrational actions and how Angelica is always torn between knowing that she is destroying everything she loves and not being able to stop it.