Oscars rewind: 5 reasons why Jack Lemmon won Best Actor for ‘Save the Tiger’

“In recent years especially there has been a great deal of criticism about this award. And probably a great deal of that criticism is very justified. I would just like to say that whether it is justified or not, I think that it is one hell of an honor and I am thrilled. And I thank you all very, very much.”

Those were the heartfelt words of the late Jack Lemmon as he closed his Oscar acceptance speech for Best Actor of 1973 for “Save the Tiger.” He had previously been named Best Supporting Actor for 1955’s “Mister Roberts.” Mister Lemmon was clearly thrilled to receive a bookend, especially after three Best Actor losses for 1959’s “Some Like It Hot,” 1960’s Best Picture “The Apartment” and 1962’s “Days of Wine and Roses.” After an 11-year dry spell, everything finally came up roses (and Oscar) for the popular actor.

In “Save the Tiger,” Lemmon played Harry Stoner, a struggling Los Angeles clothing executive desperately trying to stay afloat. In retrospect, it doesn’t appear that Lemmon was a sure thing for the award. His stiff competition included Marlon Brando as an American businessman in Paris in “Last Tango in Paris,” Jack Nicholson as part of a trio of sailors on-the-loose in “The Last Detail,” Al Pacino as whistleblowing New York City police officer in “Serpico,” and Robert Redford as a professional grifter in “The Sting.” While Brando was undoubtedly persona non grata after refusing his Best Actor Oscar for “The Godfather” the year before, the other three gentlemen must have been strong contenders. Nicholson was on his third nomination in five years. Pacino had won the Golden Globe and held an Oscar IOU for “The Godfather.” (He had lost Best Supporting Actor to Joel Grey in “Cabaret.”) And even though this was Redford’s first try at the Oscar, he was the star of “The Sting,” the eventual winner of Best Picture of the year.

So how did Lemmon get lucky? Here are five reasons why.

1. He delivered a standout performance.
I’m afraid that this statement might get me in trouble with Gold Derby Founder and President Tom O’Neil, who recently revealed to me that he thought that Lemmon was kind of a lemon in “Save the Tiger.” O’Neil and I are famous for our disagreements, so it should come as no surprise that I opine that Lemmon was simply sensational in the film. He played a flawed and extremely complex man with exceptional skill, grace and honesty. He shared scenes with a variety of characters in different settings. In each one, we learned a little bit more about Harry, and how he came to be the unhappy and morally challenged person that he was. It was also a highly energetic performance, thanks to Lemmon’s dynamic delivery and masterful movements. Academy members were undoubtedly impressed.

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2. He was finally due for the Best Actor title.
After arriving at the podium to collect the trophy, Lemmon joked, “I had a speech prepared – in 1959.” That year he was a hot prospect for the smash comedy “Some Like It Hot.” Had the “Ben-Hur” Oscar chariot not carried its star Charlton Heston to victory, Lemmon might have walked away as Best Actor. As I previously mentioned, his bids for “The Apartment” and “Days of Wine and Roses” were similarly unsuccessful. Thanks to “Save the Tiger,” his day for the win had finally come.

3. “Save the Tiger” received other major nominations.
While it didn’t make the Best Picture lineup, it did secure noms for Jack Gilford for Best Supporting Actor plus Best Original Screenplay. It had competed for the Golden Globe for Best Drama Film earlier in the season. Had the Best Picture field been expanded to 10 that year as it is now, it’s probable that “Save the Tiger” would have nabbed a bid. Even without it, the film had enough support to help put Lemmon over the top.

SEE Oscar Best Picture gallery: History of every Academy Award-winning movie

4. Veteran actors were on a roll.
Consider some of the Best Actor recipients from the previous ten years. Rex Harrison in 1964’s Best Picture “My Fair Lady.” Lee Marvin in 1965’s “Cat Ballou.” Rod Steiger in 1967’s Best Picture “In the Heat of the Night.” John Wayne in 1969’s “True Grit.” George C. Scott in 1970’s Best Picture “Patton.” Gene Hackman in 1971’s Best Picture “The French Connection.” And Brando in “The Godfather.” The academy was clearly favoring older actors with lengthy and distinguished careers. Lemmon had seniority over his most serious rivals. That gave him an undeniable edge in a close contest. Which leads me to my final point …

5. There was no one in the race who was able to beat him.
I think that it’s safe to say that two-time Best Actor champ Brando was not going to “Tango” his way to a third. (Unless voters were curious to see whom he would have accept for him this time.) Nicholson and Pacino were both excellent, but the lack of Best Picture noms for their films left each without a leg up over Lemmon. And as for Redford, “The Sting” was being recognized in numerous other categories (seven to be exact.) An additional statuette for Best Actor just didn’t seem necessary. That left Lemmon the last man standing — and his triumphant turn in “Save the Tiger” roaring away with the Best Actor Oscar of 1973.

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