Edmond O'Brien in The Barefoot Contessa (1954)

— Trixi Dalton

In the 1954 film "The Barefoot Contessa," Edmond O'Brien delivers an unforgettable performance as Oscar Muldoon, a brash public relations guy. He one the Best Supporting Oscar that year for his performance. The films director - Joseph L. Mankiewicz - worked with Edmond O'Brien previously in Julius Caesar, and knew he wanted to cast him in The Barefoot Contessa. At this point in his career Edmond was doing lead roles and wasn't keen on doing a supporting part. However, his friend and drinking but Humphrey Bogart convinced him to do the picture. He has some great lines, like describing Ava Gardners title role as “the world’s number one symbol of desirability, on display all over the world’s number one showroom.” His sweaty, motor-mouther portrayal of Oscar Muldoon was a bridge to his later day career as a powerhouse character actor.