I look at all the famous actors from that era like Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Gary Cooper, Ronald Coleman, William Holden and at least to me, none seem to be particularly good looking, especially if you compare them to the looks movie actors have now.
Now I am in no way talking about their acting abilities, most we excellent actors.
I look at Actresses from that era like Grace Kelly and Rita Hayworth, who were simply breathtakingly beautiful (and talented) and they seem just as attractive as Hollywood’s current crop of beauties.
Outside of Marlon Brando none of the actors of that era had decent bodies, (OK Brando was Good looking as well).
Was the standard of male beauty lower back then? Or was it that movie studios didn’t think a man’s looks were a selling point so they concentrated on finding actors with acting ability.
And yes I know there will be a few people that think these guys were fine looking. I just got to thinking of this while I was watching “Rear Window” and Grace Kelly is smothering Jimmy Stewart with kisses and he’s too busy looking out the window to notice she’s all over him. Stewart was a great actor but lookswise he shouldn’t have been able to get Grace Kelly much less ignore her
There were all kinds of handsome actors from that era: Ronald Reagen, George Reeves, Victor Mature. The difference is, the people you name could ACT.
If you want good looking leading men who could also act from that era, I’d suggest Burt Lancaster, Spencer Tracy and the young Orson Welles, to name a few.
When I was a kid in the '50s, I thought that Tyrone Power was the best-looking man in the world (this was before I saw George Clooney, of course). Tyrone Power was so handsome that many people were surprised to learn that he could act, but Witness for the Prosecution and Nightmare Alley proved that he wasn’t just a pretty face.
As for the bodies of the actors of earlier times, keep in mind that today’s trend of exaggerated six-pack abs and bulgy biceps was not always the standard.
Definately actors had horrible bodies, I saw Rear Window and it is ludicrous to look at Stewart shirtless in this pic and think of Grace Kelly wanting this?
I don’t think until Marlon Brando came along any actor had a body which would be similar to today’s standards. Even Johnny Weissmuller wasn’t muscular or buff as say Michael Phelp is.
I think if you look at the OP question and looking a pictures of actors from that 30s - 50s era and then look at actors now you’d find most of them not as attractive.
But if you were to look at ACTRESSES from the 30s - 50s and put them up against the actress of today you’d find them equal in beauty. Rita Heyworth, Grace Kelly, Marie McDonald to name a few were beauties it would be hard to compete with today
Well one thing that has certainly changed is the image of the perfect male BODY. The very cut, muscular look (which Brando had when young) wasn’t the ideal back then. A much slimmer look was considered masculine and sexy. (See, for example, William Holden on the poster for Picnic. Obviously meant to be a very virile, sexy pic, and he’s got a good amount of muscle, but he doesn’t really compare to, say, Brad Pitt in Troy. That was a style thing - my grandfather was built like Holden and he was quite the sexy fella in his day.
But for the rest of it, I think it’s just your taste in men. Those men are very handsome indeed! Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart (check out those eyes!), GaryCooper, Ronald Coleman…okay, I’ll give you Ronald Coleman, William Holden. The hair might be a little stiff, the mustaches a little funny, but those are some fine looking men.
Who do you find more attractive today? Maybe some examples would help us see the kind of male actor you don’t think these guys measure up to.
It is indeed a lovely body, and one I’d be most willing to entertain in my bunk.
But if he were looking to get the role today, his contract would stipulate he gain 30 pounds of muscle, I’m sure. Women aren’t the only actors suffering from unrealistic body requirements. Woo-hoo. Let’s hear it for equal opportunity eating disorders! :rolleyes:
I’d put up Jean Harlow against the best you kids can offer. Still photos don’t do her justice because she was so alive. Great body, too, with no handicapping for the tastes of the day necessary.
As for the guys bodies, they had the bodies that guys have when they are in pretty good shape but never visit a gym and don’t have personal trainers sculpting their every muscle. Not much definition, but you don’t want to get into a fight with them (see Green Bean’s link–Lancaster was a gymnast and circus acrobat). Look at photos of US soldiers in WWII and you don’t see Arnie S. but you see a bunch of guys who are “lean, mean, killing machines.”
Hell, I’d switch for Holden. Until Stephanie Powers came along and I remembered I was straight. But we’re edging into the 60s and who was, is, and will always be Catwoman? Julie Newmar.
And news for those who care about these things? Gary Cooper was not just tall in the saddle, if you know what I mean. No steroid shrinkage THERE, according to Gloria Swanson!
However, I never saw the appeal of Bette Davis. Give me Myrna Loy any day.
Jimmy Stewart was really hot in The Philadelphia Story. Mmmm. All tall and lanky with his pretty eyes.
As for different body types, there’s a scene in My Favorite Wife where Cary Grant is drooling over Randolph Scott while Scott was at the swimming pool. I can’t find an image of that scene, unfortunately, but he had a very nice body. I can, however, find a lot of images of Grant and Scott being all hot together–but I’m sure they were just good friends.
Speaking of Cary Grant, I can see why some people would say he’s not as handsome as today’s actors. But on the other hand, I think that if Grant and George Clooney had a contest to see who was the most suave and charming, Grant would win.
But what I do know? I think Ronald Coleman is very attractive. I could see why Greer Garson fell for him in Random Harvest. Oh, speaking of hotness, I think Garson was just stunning.
I’m a straight guy but I recently watched On The Beach and I have to say, I think Gregory Peck was better-looking, and more charismatic, than pretty much ANY male star that I can think of in the current day.
I’m partial to the old days. Give me Alan Ladd or Joseph Cotten, and Paul Newman and Gregory Peck. The only modern day actress who’s made me rewind the tape and go “Oh my” was Salma Hayek in From Dusk til Dawn.
One thing to consider is that back in those days, guys smoked and drank whiskey a whole lot more than they do now. The “in” thing among celebs now is personal trainers, specialized diets, health-fanaticism, scientology, whatever. Back then, it was three packs a day, and Scotch all the time. A lot more craggy features, and much deeper voices, because of this. If you like that look, the classic guys will be more appealing.
Her attitude was infectious, but I never considered her looks to be any more than blah. I also never understood how the Rutledge brothers both fell for her; she certainly wasn’t the siren they made her out to be. (On the other hand, this was a movie where the best friend had a flat, American accent despite being a German and a student in England. Logic did not abound.)
Me, I thought Janet Gaynor was a looker, especially at the end of Sunrise, when her hair had tumbled free. What a lucky fellow George O’Brien was. (Well, except when he was trying to kill her. But, you know, the travails of marriage and all.)
