# Sirens of the Silver Screen
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 3, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279 "2004-05-03T14:07:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/1 "2004-05-03T14:07:24Z")
So I watched the documentary “The Love Goddesses” this weekend. It was nice… could’ve used more depth, and width, too.
But it got me thinking… for a while now, I’ve been utterly convinced that Claudette Colbert is the sexiest woman every to grace the Silver Screen, as evidenced by performances in _Sign of the Cross_, _Cleopatra_, and _It Happened One Night_…
Who are \*\*your \*\* favorite sultry and sassy sirens of the silver screen?
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/2 "2004-05-03T14:23:38Z")
Louise Brooks. Also of silent fame.
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### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/3 "2004-05-03T14:27:30Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#):
>
> Louise Brooks. Also of silent fame.
The doc mentioned and featured her role in _Diary of a Lost Girl_… but which movies do you think she’s best in?
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/4 "2004-05-03T15:02:24Z")
Golly, there are so many answers, depending on what you mean.
**Sexist?** Jean Harlow, Clara Bow, Marilyn Monroe . . .
**Most Talented?** Claudette Colbert, Marlene Dietrich, Barbara Stanwyck . . .
**Most Beautiful?** Greta Garbo, Rita Hayworth, Kay Kendall . . .
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### Author:  [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/5 "2004-05-03T15:09:46Z")
I’m with Eve on her choices, but I have to add Sophia Loren (Sexiest) and Grace Kelly(Most Beautiful).
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/6 "2004-05-03T15:22:41Z")
I’m sure there are _scores_ I’ve forgotten; I’ll page through my movie books tonight. What constitutes a “siren?” I guess Lillian Gish and Mabel Normand don’t qualify?
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/7 "2004-05-03T15:24:16Z")
Another vote for Barbara Stanwyck; and one for Myrna Loy. I love that smart, sexy thing they both do so well.
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### Author:  [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/8 "2004-05-03T15:37:10Z")
Veronica Lake _melts_
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### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/9 "2004-05-03T15:37:14Z")
What constitutes a siren? Any female sex symbol, I suppose.
And I’m just looking for people’s favorites, not a comprehensive listing. Also, if you can think of them, what roles of your faves are the best?
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### Author:  [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/10 "2004-05-03T17:35:31Z")
I love the faces on many of the 30s/40s stars. Myrna Loy. Rosalind Russell. Barbara Stanwyck. But it’s terribly hard to visualize them as living breathing people. They were always swathed in huge amounts of fabric under absurd hats. their faces haunt me, but I find it difficult to think of them as sirens.
An era often overlooked today is the 1960s. That first explosion into color photography and “innocent” sexuality. Jane Fonda. Raquel Welch. Dyan Cannon. Lana Turner. Natalie Wood. Beautiful faces and heart-stopping figures. And that’s not even including the European contingent of Sophia Loren. Brigitte Bardot. Julie Christie.
It’s was a man’s era, with few of the women able to open a movie. They weren’t stars of the magnitude of the earlier days, with the result that when we think about the era it’s the directors and male leads who come first to mind. Looking back, however, it was an extraordinary time.
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/11 "2004-05-03T17:43:42Z")
Speaking of the '60s – I almost mentioned Catherine Deneuve above (I saw “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” her debut, Saturday night and am dazzled), but thought her too recent. What a face, though!
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/12 "2004-05-03T17:59:23Z")
Oops, just reread my reply and realized I accused Jean Harlow, Clara Bow and Marilyn Monroe of being “Sexist.”
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### Author:  [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/13 "2004-05-03T18:13:37Z")
I used to practice Jean Harlow’s “look” in a mirror when I was younger.
Lauren Bacall absolutely smolders.
Carol Lombard was a great comedic actress, but also very sexy.
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### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/14 "2004-05-03T18:14:13Z")
> [@Eve](#):
>
> Oops, just reread my reply and realized I accused Jean Harlow, Clara Bow and Marilyn Monroe of being “Sexist.”
I almost thought to point that out, but I thought you might be serious. 😉
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### Author:  [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/15 "2004-05-03T23:59:32Z")
> [@Maureen](#):
>
> Lauren Bacall absolutely smolders.
She’s who leaped into my mind when I saw the thread title.
The late **DesertWife** had a more than passing resemblence to Ms. Becall. Her jawline didn’t match but from her cheeks up, she was a dead ringer, especially the eyes. I told her this many times but I don’t think she really believed me, until one day a passing stranger did a double take, and asked if anyone had told her she looked like Lauren Becall. I couldn’t stop smirking.
DD
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### Author:  [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/16 "2004-05-04T00:14:52Z")
Thirds on Lauren Bacall. If ever I turned Gay, I’d want Lauren, circa 1944.
Neither’s gonna happen though! 😉
Her performance in “To Have and Have Not”…well, I copied it for years after I saw it out at the Ridge.
Oh, hey, **Eve** , I think you better add Mary Pickford to your list of “nons” as well!
I’ve also always had a thing for Greta Garbo since I saw “Anna Christie”.
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/17 "2004-05-04T01:56:51Z")
> [@Maureen](#):
>
> Lauren Bacall absolutely smolders.
I might note (in fact, I _am_ noting) that Miss Bacall and I are cousins–her grandmother and my great-grandmother were sisters.
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### Author:  [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2004, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/18 "2004-05-04T02:03:59Z")
I’ve always thought that Myrna Loy, particularly during the Thin Man era, was stunning. But then, I’m very fond of the Thin Man movies, and would have like to have **been** Myrna Loy. I even considered naming my dog Asta.
I also thought that Gene Tierney in Laura was incredibly beautiful.
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/19 "2004-05-04T02:28:17Z")
And you can’t get more peaches-and-cream _adorable_ than Betty Grable.
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### Author:  [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sirens-of-the-silver-screen/243279/20 "2004-05-04T02:33:10Z")
> [@Eve](#):
>
> I might note (in fact, I _am_ noting) that Miss Bacall and I are cousins–her grandmother and my great-grandmother were sisters.
_Oh!!_ I am SO jealous! You see, **Eve** , who needs to be British when you’re already royalty? 🙂
**zoogirl** , you’ve got good taste; I love Garbo in _The Blue Angel_.
I cannot believe I forgot: Grace Kelly. Her name fit her to a T. She lit up every room she entered; I don’t believe anyone could watch one of her movies without falling in love with her.
Although she’s not what most people would consider sexy, I also love Katherine Hepburn. Her style, dignity and the way she carried herself made her beautiful.
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