Best Actress in a Supporting Role 1939: Hattie McDaniel in Gone with the Wind

Hattie McDaniel won the Oscar from her only nomination for her performance as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.

Gone with the Wind is an amazing movie about the life and affairs of a charming but manipulative Southern belle during the American Civil War and its aftermath. It's a truly magnificent picture - I have to admit that the racist undertones can be a bit bothersome but to be honest, if you look at other movies from that era, its depiction of black characters is actually quite ahead of its time. The cast is great for the most part, the screenplay is wonderfully written and I actually don't mind at all the few changes from the novel, the cinematography is gorgeous and the score is an all-time best. It's a true masterpiece and one that I could watch a hundred of times and still not be bored by it.

As I mentioned before, there are elements regarding black characters in Gone with the Wind that can be a bit off-putting nowadays: as I mentioned above, they are still portrayed in a rather modern way considering it was 1939 but, still, a large chunk of the black characters in the movie are either violent or simple-minded and submissive (Pork, Prissy). The reason why I consider Gone with the Wind to be rather ahead of its time is the character of Mammy: she still is a slave and she seems actually quite content of being such but Hattie McDaniel brings so much life, honesty and depth to it that it becomes one of the movie's most memorable and admirable characters. 

One of Hattie McDaniel's tasks in the movie is to be a comic relief, and McDaniel is a truly terrific one. I loved each of her scenes with Vivien Leigh as the two actresses are just a delight to watch together and their comedic timing, as well as subtle facial expressions, couldn't be more perfect. Who can forget the scene in which Mammy tries to force Scarlett to eat before going to a party? It's a priceless moment made even more remarkable by the wonderful dynamic established by the two actresses. Past their funny exchanges, the chemistry between McDaniel and Leigh is absolutely amazing as they perfectly establish the relationship between Scarlett and Mammy: as much as they quarrel, Mammy is someone on whom Scarlett can always rely, knowing that she will always be there for her. Hattie McDaniel is excellent at portraying Mammy's nature which is both strong-willed and big-hearted, making her a truly comforting, wise and tender presence on screen. Mammy is also the only character, along with Rhett, who truly understands Scarlett and sees her for what she is: she respects her strength and determination but she also knows how manipulative and selfish she can be, and she is not afraid of calling her out on it. In doing this, McDaniel becomes both the conscience and emotional center of the movie as she is the witness of Scarlett's reckless actions and their consequences. I also really like her chemistry with Clark Gable and they both are playfully entertaining in their moments together: on her part, McDaniel is very good at showing Mammy's feelings towards Rhett go from disdain to respect and even friendship - and the moment in which Mammy finally acknowledges that she was wrong about him is a truly sweet one. 

Even in her dramatic moments, Hattie McDaniel is absolutely terrific: the scene when Scarlett comes back home to find out that her father has gone insane and her mother has died is made all the more heartbreaking thanks to McDaniel's devastated reactionary shots that are some of the movie's most haunting images. But her shining moment in the movie is her final scene which takes place after Bonnie's death and Mammy begs Melanie (co-nominee Olivia De Havilland) to convince Rhett to bury her: McDaniel is excellent as she describes to Melanie Scarlett's and Rhett's vicious accusations to one another - what she says is truly sad but it's how McDaniel says it that makes it truly devastating. Her tearful, desperate, exhausted, trembling delivery is simply incredible in its raw and honesty.

In the end, this is a fantastic performance by Hattie McDaniel who turns Mammy from a potentially paper-thin role into a three-dimensional, complex human being. She is such a warm, welcome presence throughout the whole movie and whenever she is asked to do more she delivers on all fronts. It's a richly deserving performance and one of the many great aspects of this amazing film. 

4.5/5