1941- – Margaret Wycherly
Sergeant York
OK, so I know I’ve been less than positive about the other two acting nominations for Sergeant York. I’m not convinced that Gary Cooper or Walter Brennan should have been nominated. But I believe this nomination for Best Supporting Actress was deserved. The character of Mother York had an emotional range, had depth, and as a result, was interesting to watch. From her first appearance on the screen, she did more to establish the general feel in the rural Tennessee community where the story took place than any other character. From her, we learn that the people were stoic, strong, gentle, and religious.
Wycherly was able to show all those things in the way she moved and the way she spoke. She moved slowly and deliberately. She never raised her voice. She saw sad about her son’s disruptive behavior, and though she never shed a tear, you could see that they were being held back by strength of will. She showed obvious love for her errant son, Alvin, but also didn’t make any excuses for his drunken tirades. She even tried to defend him before asking the local preacher to have words with him. That scene alone was enough to catch my attention.
But then, later on in the movie, her love for her son grows even deeper as she sees him turn his life around. Her prayers for him to achieve his goal of buying the fertile bottomland he is after were heartfelt and passionate. Wycherly really stood out in that scene. And it didn’t hurt that she really looked the part. She wasn’t pretty or glamorous. She was just a mother who cared deeply for the welfare of her son, who was working so hard to improve his life.
And then, of course, there were the two scenes of parting and reuniting. When Alvin left her to go to war, and her daughter asks “Maw, what are they a-fightn’ fer?” her response of, “I don’t rightly know child. I don’t rightly know.” was perfectly delivered, as she knew that she might never see her son again. And when he returns, the look of unvarnished relief and joy was brief, only taking a few seconds, but wonderfully portrayed. Wycherly really did a fine job in her performance and I’m glad she was nominated for an Oscar.