Robert Mitchum, the Marx Brothers, Alec Guiness, Burt Lancaster, Toshiro Mifune, Bing Crosby, and George Raft.
Myrna Loy, Rosalind Russell, Thelma Todd, Linda Darnell, Maureen O’Hara, and Dorothy Lamour.
I have only seen one vote for Errol Flynn. This is clearly just because you’re all tired, overworked and a little absent minded.
I just read a book about Gloria Stewart and I’d like to vote for her!
Certainly Claude Rains.
Good lord, that voice alone makes me blush. I’ve never met anyone else who thinks that way about him. The Unsuspected is my personal favourite of his.
Peter Lorre- I just like him.
Basil Rathbone and Lionel Atwill- what better Holmes and Moriarty? I’ve had a sneaking fixation on the former since I was fifteen.
And, as said by someone else and myself in other threads, my heart truly belongs to Chaney Sr. I was bawled out by an old lady when I was nine for coming as the “wrong Phantom” for Halloween. Damn. That’s impact.
It’s an awful shame to think of him only as a makeup and monster man. Oh, if only it weren’t for such things as too short a career and flammable film stock. (And maybe if he could have gotten the girl for once- the first ten minutes of West of Zanzibar are damned near heartbreaking). He’s the reason I’m in theater as a costume and makeup person.
AL
Charles Laughton … the bells, the bells…
Alec Guiness again
Audrey Hepburn again
Peter Sellers especially some of the early black and white films
Cary Grant, Cary Grant, Cary Grant. Since I’ve been really good in this life, I’m coming back as Cary Grant in the next. I’d come back as Humphrey Bogart, but he was short and wore a rug.
As to actresses, I’ll take K. Hepburn and Bette Davis.
I’ve seen many votes for Jimmy Stewart. Let me add my voice to theirs. Not only a heck of an actor, I hear that he was one of the genuine good guys in Hollywood. I also second (or third, or fourth, whatever) Grace Kelly. Was anyone ever so aptly named? She didn’t walk, she glided.
Bette Davis
Joan Crawford
Peter Sellers
Richard Burton
Louise Brooks. What a babe!
Carole Lombard. Beautiful, brilliant comedienne, and a good egg in real life - everyone living in '30s Hollywood had at least one hilarious Carole Lombard tale. Plus, she was married to Clark Gable - who could ask for anything more?
I can’t believe no one has mentioned W. C. Fields or Charlie Chaplin. Am I the only one who likes them? How about Jerome Howard?
Unless I missed it, it’s hard to believe no one mentioned Sir Laurence Olivier. Apart from his earlier Shakespearean roles, he displayed a range that few actors today can rival. Anyone who saw “Sleuth” would see his comedic aptitude. From “Marathon Man” to “Boys From Brazil,” citing more recent movies, he could play the villain quite nicely, and I doubt his Hamlet portrayal has ever been played more faithfully.
I would offer that the only present-day actor who comes close to Olivier’s talent is Robert DeNiro.
lawrence olivier
michael hordern
and not so old
john hurt (caligula on bbc tv)
I second Carole Lombard and Danny Kaye in the hilarious department.
As far as great talent goes…
Montgomery Clift
-and-
Claudette Colbert
Also, for sheer beauty, Rita Hayworth and Rudolf Valentino. Yum.
Jerome Howard? Don’t forget his brother Morris, or their partner Lawrence Fine.
Yea, but they were nothing without Jerome.
“Morris! Lawrence! The fromage!”
i like ruth gordon and agnes moorehead. i think that they were some underappreciated babes. i also think that basil rathbone was the epitome of cool. hmmm…victor mclagen, bogie.