# Favorite Actor Who Was Never In A GREAT Movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980 "2020-03-05T21:17:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/21 "2020-03-06T14:20:10Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > James Cagney > > Again, your favorite, and movies you consider great… He was in many good films, a lot of 80 minute manufactured quickies, but a GREAT movie? Ragtime is not a great movie? RAGTIME? James Cagney and Pat O’Brien’s last movie? Nominated for 8 Oscars? Great book, movie and stage musical? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/22 "2020-03-06T14:33:30Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > 20 minutes into it, I had to turn it off! You were lucky. I saw it in a theater (luckily not in Cinerama). It’s popularity is mystifying. It was basically the _1941_ of its time – too big, too loud, too overacted, and ultimately not too funny. It’s for people who think the Three Stooges are too sophisticated for them (and their appearance here was the precursor of _Scary Movie_ and that ilk). At best, it’s a mildly amusing comedy, but a great film? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/23 "2020-03-06T15:13:41Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Ragtime is not a great movie? RAGTIME? James Cagney and Pat O’Brien’s last movie? Nominated for 8 Oscars? Great book, movie and stage musical? I’d call it a curio - a cult film at best. It’s interesting (particularly its casting), but it’s not one of Milos Forman’s best films. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/24 "2020-03-06T15:15:52Z")
I won’t say that he is one of my favorites but I’ve always thought Tony Todd has often been the best thing in some awful movies. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/25 "2020-03-06T15:21:32Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > James Cagney > > Again, your favorite, and movies you consider great… He was in many good films, a lot of 80 minute manufactured quickies, but a GREAT movie? He was the Captain in Mr. Roberts, a great movie with a great cast. Starring Henry Fonda in his prime, supported by young Jack Lemmon and aging vets Cagney & William Powell. Great movie by any standard. 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. A financial success and has stood the test of time. Lemmon won an Oscar for it. I would also argue Yankee Doodle Dandy was a great movie even if you don’t like it. ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/26 "2020-03-06T17:53:36Z")
Without going down the “was it GREAT or just good” rabbit hole, I think Duane “The Rock” Johnson is a really good leading man who has never gotten a breakthrough role. He is a lot of fun to watch, but it seems like he is stuck as lead in second-rate movies–back when we had double-features, the B movie. Also, **Angels with Dirty Faces**. Great movie, Cagney nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/27 "2020-03-06T17:57:06Z")
> [@Reno\_Nevada](#): > > Without going down the “was it GREAT or just good” rabbit hole, I think Duane “The Rock” Johnson is a really good leading man who has never gotten a breakthrough role. He is a lot of fun to watch, but it seems like he is stuck as lead in second-rate movies–back when we had double-features, the B movie. I agree. He needs his James Cameron. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/28 "2020-03-06T20:10:44Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > At best, it’s a mildly amusing comedy, but a great film? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: You got to remember, I’m also That Guy who loves the 1967 **Casino Royale.** Maybe I was dropped on the head as an infant. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/29 "2020-03-06T20:27:02Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > …In the same vein, Johnny Weissmuller. _Tarzan and his Mate_ (1934) is arguably a great movie. It is fast-paced, action-packed, has an excellent (and poignant) performance by scene-stealing Cheetah and features a rousing elephants vs. lions climax. It’s also one of the most erotic Hollywood films of the period, esp. with Jane’s startlingly revealing one-piece “costume” and an extended swimming sequence with Olympic champion Josephine McKim doubling for Maureen O’Sullivan under the water (she was filmed clothed, topless and almost-fully nude to cater to regional sensibilities). It’s only real flaw, imo, are the fake tusks and ears placed on the Indian elephants to make them look African (so cheesy!) Not simply the greatest Tarzan movie ever made, but a great jungle action-romance. The next Weissmuller movie, _Tarzan Escapes_ (1936) is very good as well, though perhaps short of “greatness.” Jo Shishido is a favorite actor of mine. He has over 220 credits on IMDB and I just learned he passed away in January. I might have seen 20 of his films and would not call any of them “great,” though all were entertaining. Robert Taylor is an actor I don’t like. He has 79 credits on IMDB and not a single one is a “great movie,” usually because he is in them. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/30 "2020-03-06T20:59:11Z")
James Belushi. Sure, he was in _Wag the Dog_ … playing himself. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/31 "2020-03-07T01:38:36Z")
The answer is **Richard Pryor**. He was in one or two good movies (_Stir Crazy, Brewster’s Millions_) a couple of mediocre ones (_Harlem Nights, Jo Jo Dancer)_ and then a bunch of crap (too many to name). For all his talents as a stand-up act, I think they just couldn’t find the right showcase to translate that to film. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/32 "2020-03-07T02:45:32Z")
Arguably, Richard Prior Live on the Sunset Strip was a great (and intense) movie, though it was just his standup act. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/33 "2020-03-07T03:33:20Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > You got to remember, I’m also That Guy who loves the 1967 **Casino Royale.** > > Maybe I was dropped on the head as an infant. I find CR-67 the best of all 007 films. And yes, I _did_ crack my skull in infancy. It shows? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/34 "2020-03-07T03:45:15Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > The answer is **Richard Pryor**. > > He was in one or two good movies (_Stir Crazy, Brewster’s Millions_) a couple of mediocre ones (_Harlem Nights, Jo Jo Dancer)_ and then a bunch of crap (too many to name). _Silver Streak_? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/35 "2020-03-07T03:52:19Z")
I admit that I’m not well versed in his filmography, but was Vincent Price in any _great_ movies? He was terrific as the heavy in a lot of macabre movies, and he had a wonderfully distinctive appearance and voice, and as a loyal St. Louisan I have a soft spot for him, but was he in anything that could be called great? _Edward Scissorhands_ was quite good, but I’m not sure I’d go so far as _great_. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/36 "2020-03-07T11:22:51Z")
> [@minlokwat](#): > > The answer is **Richard Pryor**. > > He was in one or two good movies (_Stir Crazy, Brewster’s Millions_) a couple of mediocre ones (_Harlem Nights, Jo Jo Dancer)_ and then a bunch of crap (too many to name). > > For all his talents as a stand-up act, I think they just couldn’t find the right showcase to translate that to film. “Blue Collar” is a very good movie. Directed by Paul Schrader, who wrote the story and screenplay of “Taxi Driver” ---
**Author:** ![Biggus\_Richard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@Biggus\_Richard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggus_Richard)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/37 "2020-03-07T11:26:09Z")
The only nearly good movie with Brendan Fraser was “With Honors”. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/38 "2020-03-07T12:25:15Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > …was Vincent Price in any _great_ movies?.. How about House of Usher? I haven’t actually seen it but I’ve heard good things about it. IMDB gives it a 7/10 rating. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/39 "2020-03-07T12:47:06Z")
> [@jerez](#): > > How about House of Usher? I haven’t actually seen it but I’ve heard good things about it. IMDB gives it a 7/10 rating. The Fly — which, for what it’s worth, has a higher IMDB rating — strikes me as being pretty much perfect at exactly what it set out to do. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2020, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980/40 "2020-03-07T13:06:59Z")
This may be a controversial choice, but: George Clooney. Look at his filmography: lots of good films, lots of mediocre ones, but the only films of his I personally would consider calling “great” are \*Out of Sight, Oceans 11 \*and **O Brother Where Art Thou** - and even for them, I fear I may be in the minority. He’s a very good actor who’s never quite found the perfect project. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-actor-who-was-never-in-a-great-movie/848980.md?page=3)