The year is 1947. I've chosen two nominees for Best Supporting Actor:
Diva: Richard Widmark in *Kiss of Death*
Mensch: Edmund Gwenn in *Miracle on 34th Street*
Edmund Gwenn was the winner and he was charming. Such a lovely, sweet, sincere performance. Widmark, on the other hand, was one of the most vicious, creepy villains in the history of the movies.