1942 – Teresa Wright
Mrs. Miniver
So here is an Oscar win that was absolutely deserved. I am a huge fan of Teresa Wright. She was beautiful and could act with amazing skill. She had a brilliant smile and a charming presence on the screen. She handled the youthful starry-eyed love scenes just as easily as the more difficult emotional scene in which she talks about the potential death of her new husband in the Second World War. She played the part of Carol Beldon, the granddaughter of Lady Beldon, a snooty old aristocrat with a historical name and money.
But Wright created a charming girl with none of the haughty superiority of her grandmother. She was captivating to watch on the screen, which must not have been easy when playing opposite the likes of Greer Garson. She made Carol Beldon, and later the young Mrs. Miniver when she married Vin, likeable and easy to watch. There was a gentleness about her that was often in contrast with the threatening backdrop of the war behind her. And yet, there was also a practical bravery about that was attractive and noble.
Spoiler Alert, Wright provided the most powerful emotional punch in the film. As she and Mrs. Miniver are driving home after the flower festival is interrupted by a German air raid, their car is pelted with gunfire from a German airplane. We are shown the holes in the roof of the automobile, and after a few seconds, we find that Carol has been hit. Wright really sold this scene. She is in shock but not in pain, though you can tell she is having difficulty breathing. The scene was devastating and powerful because Wright did such a fantastic job making us fall in love with her throughout the whole movie. Kay gets her back to the house, and she is lying on the floor, slowly bleeding to death. And when she gently expires, she delivers the movie’s gut-punch. Wright was so good in this scene.
So she took home the Oscar for her wonderful performance, and I think she totally deserved it. She was youthful and beautiful, sweet and kind, and perfect for the role. Whenever I see her on a cast list, I know I’m in for a treat. Unfortunately, this was the last time she was nominated for an Oscar, so I’m glad she won.