1943 – Charles Coburn
The More the Merrier
I have mixed feelings about Charles Coburn in this film. For one thing, I don’t particularly care for the film. I didn’t like the character Coburn played, Mr. Dingle. And yet, he played it the way the script demanded. He was a bully, a manipulative old con-artist, and yet, I think I was supposed to like him. Yes, I get that it was a silly romantic comedy, but the character of Mr. Dingle just raised my hackles, and it was partly the fault of the script, and partly the fault of the actor.
Mr. Dingle is a businessman who is in Washington for a short time. He lies to a crowd of strangers so that they won’t be competition for occupancy of the spare bedroom in Miss Milligan’s apartment. And we’re supposed to like how clever he is. Then when she tries to tell him no, that she wanted a female roommate, he brushes past her into the apartment and completely ignores her protestations. I keep trying to tell myself that it’s just supposed to be a silly comedy, but my modern sensibilities are offended by the very premise of the movie in the character of Mr. Dingle. She should have called the police and had him arrested, but against her better judgement, she agreed to let him stay, instead.
Then the very next day, he invites a complete stranger into her home as another tenant, because he thinks he will make Miss Milligan a good husband, as if he had any right to arrange her life in that way. And the rom-com nature of the film says that I’m supposed to like the match-making old meddler because he has good intentions and the attractive young couple are obviously meant to be together.
But here’s the thing. Coburn played it just like the script said he needed to. So was he a good actor, in that respect? Yes, he was. But I didn’t like the character that was created, and I think I was supposed to. So what does that say about the actor? Did he do a good job? On the one hand, yes, because he did what the script needed. But on the other hand, a good actor should have made me like Mr. Dingle, despite him being a bully and a charlatan, and in this, Coburn failed, and I really don’t know if any actor could have done it. But the Academy voters clearly didn’t agree with me. Coburn took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.