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1) Carol
Lombard 1908-1942
I first saw her in My Man Godfrey, a film that appears on my favourite movies
list. I could change my mind on my favourites and their positions in the cue as I become more familiar with their work but
Harlow and Lombard will never stray from this list. Lets not waste any valuable space and risk reader fatigue on the events
surrounding her untimely death, it was, what it was…a plane crash. Gawd, she was so over the top and I mean that in
the most complimentary of ways. I like a woman that can remain sexy while still capable of being a clown, like they can switch
it on and off. I’ll bet her approach to life was unique and up front with a flair for the dramatic and the intelligence
of a scientist. Lombard kicked off her career at a very young age, at the age of 12 in 1921. She was another of the few that
"morphed" from the silent movies to sound and the decade of change, the 1930's was on. She made a couple of movies with her
first husband, William Powell, like My Man Godfrey. In 1932, a year before she would divorce Powell, she starred opposite
of Clark Gable in No man of her own...she would later marry Gable in 1939. In her heyday, she was tops at Paramount studios
and earned a reported $35,000.00 a week, serious coin considering the era. As far as I'm concerned, one of the biggest tragedies
in Oscar history happened when she lost the best actress statue (For her work as Irene Bullock in My Man Godfrey) to Luise
Ranier for The Great Ziegfield. I’ve seen so many posted pictures of her and can only assume that besides outside her
celebrity, it must’ve been a challenge to stay grounded. Lombard was known for her genuine concern for people, speaking
her mind and her fabled parties. "I've lived by a man's code designed to fit a man's world, yet at the same time I never forget
that a woman's first job is to choose the right shade of lipstick." ---Carole Lombard Pictured above: I figured a profile
this time of Lombard may say something a little extra about this legend. Clark Gable could have had any woman he wanted, but
he sure showed great taste in pursuing Lombard. Something tells me despite his fame, she made him work for it. I am forever
captivated by her combination of beauty, style and wit as expressed in her movies. Click this picture and see what I'm talking
about. Lynn's classic movie favorites would be better equipped to explain.
She's Hollywood's original blonde bombshell. I have a hard time getting people
to recognize who she was much less appreciate what she gave. She was just 26 years old when she passed away but her contributions
are immeasurable. She was stunning, that's a given, but since she burst on the scene at the start of the golden age of Hollywood,
where new and exciting changes were happening daily, she complemented the new style....if you will. She manages to maintain
an aura and mystique that has never been duplicated. At a time when the "talkies" changed filmdom (is that a word?), she drew
the interest and involuntary physical reaction known as hormones from just about every guy that saw her. Her career lasted
only a decade but sans the beauty and revealing outfits she wore, this girl was funny and could act! Harlow starred in 25
films and caused a stampede to the local hair salons so that women could attempt to look like her, but alas, there is only
one Harlow. She's number 22 on the American Film Institutes greatest female screen idol, she's number 1 with me. There are
numerous pictures of Jean that you can find on the net, here's my favourite simply because it seems to surround your senses
with the true beauty that is Harlow instead of the many over the top glamorous stills that run rampant. Click on Jean Harlow's
picture and find out more.
3)
Greta Garbo 1905-1990
She is perhaps the most
mysterious of all my favorites simply because her career ended so prematurely. The reason for this, unlike Harlow and Lombard
who passed away, Garbo chose to remove herself from Hollywood at the age of 36. Those that have studied her or love the films
she made will attest to how brilliant she was in her portrayals, albeit few. Many to this day don't know much of her due to
her self imposed exile from the movie business in 1941. Coupled with the fact that many of her films were silent lends to
her mystique. Her beauty was intense and captivating and can be seen in all its splendor in "Mata Hari" (1931) and "Camille"
(1937).
Garbo was the most unique
of all my favourites, perhaps of anyone. A short span in Hollywood but the impression she left was timeless. She was a runaway
bride, had reportedly several lesbian lovers, didn't like visitors on the set of her movies, was said to be less than pleased
with some of her own performances and simply wanted to be left alone. Well, she acted on that wish and lived much of
her life in seclusion in New York City. Guiness Book of World records has her listed in high esteem for her beauty.
4) Katherine
Hepburn 1907-2003 Regarded by most as the greatest of all time, you can't ignore
the great "Kate" from any best-of... acting list. She would never be regarded as a bombshell and her rise to fame included
a span where she was actually regarded by the industry as sheer poison. Katherine Hepburn blazed a trail for all women in
her determination, her innovation, her opinionated stances, her will to be recognized and her desire to be unique. My list
includes a variety, sure, but in acting ability alone, no one on the planet will ever come close to Hepburn. Her many starring
roles with Spencer Tracy, that awesome duet with Bogey in "The African Queen", tugging at the heart strings in "On Golden
Pond", screwball as they come in "Bringing up Baby" and the list goes on. My favorite Kate flicks include, "Adams Rib", "Mary
of Scotland", "The Philadelphia Story" and "Little Women". I must confess my ignorance in this case in saying that I never
knew of her talent, range and brashness until the past couple of years. While I had viewed some of her movies long ago, I
became most interested in this legend, especially her 1930s decade releases just recently. My friend Jeston, who enlightened
me to some of the Hollywood legends was high on Katherine Hepburn and I'm glad I took his advice and viewed many of her movies.
She was absolutely "The Queen"
5)
Marilyn Monroe 1926-1962
"...She gave more to the
still camera than any actress...any woman...I've ever photographed, infinitely more patient, more demanding of herself and
more comfortable in front of the camera than away from it."....Richard Avedon
So much has been said,
so much has been speculated and I wouldn't know where to begin. Forget the story's about her questionable death, her fabled
insecurities and other personal problems, remember her for the innocent young Norma Jean and the glamourous movie star
that evolved with the looks of a goddess that seemed to draw any man who had a heartbeat. There's no way to compliment Marilyn
unless you come across as sexist because there was no escaping her looks and her body and her smile was incredible, the appeal
was magnetic. Let me try to put this in perspective. In the movie Some Like it Hot, though clearly a funny movie with
memorable performances from Lemmon and Curtis, Marilyn was sexier than any "R" rated or "X" rated movie could ever attempt
to be. Now, that's drawing power!
Pictured right: There are thousands of pictures of Marilyn to oogle endlessly, this
is one of my favourites. Her early Norma Jean shots depicted innocence while her latter pics were glamourous. I thought this
picture showed both. I've never been one for over the top glamour, that is why the Harlow and Marilyn's shots are not of that
variety.
6)
Rita Hayworth 1918-1987
Margarita Carmen Cansino...say it with me...Margarita Carmen
Cansino just flows off your tongue doesn't it ? Taking her mother's maiden name turned her into Rita Hayworth eventually and
all you have to do is watch her in "Gilda" and she's sure to be one of your favorites too. The "Love Goddess" or better known
as Rita Hayworth was the movie star of the 1940s with beauty and talent both as an actress and a dancer. 'Course, the Gilda
role was one part of the package, that of the erotic nature...so much so, the censors got in a bit of a snit at the time.
The other side was the talented dancer, very accomplished at that starring with Fred Astaire is such films as You'll never
get rich, and You were never lovelier. It's easy to see why Orson Welles was so infatuated with her and boldly
claimed while filming a movie in South America "I'm going back to America to marry Rita Hayworth" I'm not going into the whole
history surrounding that story, but he eventually did win the hand of Hayworth in marriage. Maybe I have a soft spot for beautiful
women but the ones I've chosen had so much more to offer than just looks, Hayworth was a classic example. Did you know
that her stage name is part of the legitimate title of my favourite movie, Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption.
7)
Grace Kelly 1929-1982 Of all the movie stars that I have
to choose from, Princess Grace is without a doubt a classic example of an actress who would have made it on looks alone. She
first gained considerable attention with Gary Cooper in "High Noon" although it wasn't her first. 1953's "Mogambo"
gave her star status playing alongside Clark Gable and Ava Gardiner. In 1954 Grace teamed with Jimmy Stewart in "Rear Window",
a Hitchcock classic and proof she was no fluke. Her best actress Oscar came in that same year opposite Bing Crosby in "Country
Girl". "High Society" with Frank Sinatra turned out to be her last film as she went from being Grace Kelly, Hollywood actress
to Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco. An absolutely beautiful woman in the purest form.
8)
Elizabeth Taylor 1932- Married
8 times to seven husbands...funny how that label chases her around like a bad film review. AIDS activist, Kabbalah supporter,
jewelry connoisseur, perpetual scarlet fish wrap titillation and steadfast cheerleader to Michael Jackson all pale to her
beauty and acting prescence that made her a legendary name in the first place. Hell...she's Cleopatra, that's enough isn't
it? She was Maggie in "Cat on a hot tin roof" !!! National Velvet...she played Velvet Brown....good GOD!!!, stop there...that's
all I need! That was before the hardware was awarded for Butterfield 8 and Who's afraid of Virginia Wolf.
Elizabeth Taylor, for me, is placed in that lofty area reserved for those that fit the billing as larger than life stars like
Gable, Dean Martin, Sinatra, Munroe, etc. K...I gotta stop now, the scene where Maggie edjusts her nylons just flashed...and
I'm flushed.
The Guys
1)
Steve McQueen 1930-1980
McQueen, "The King of Cool"
indeed WAS the king because he always had the answers, he was fearless and it was effortless. This guy was the epitome of
cool. "LeMans", "Bullitt", "Papillon", "The Towering Inferno", need I say more? I remember the first time I saw him in "The
Great Escape", though he was surrounded by the likes of Coburn, Bronson, Attenborough, Pleasance and Garner, he stood out like
a '71 Fastback on a Lexus lot. The classic look and demeanor made women want him and guys wanna be him. A licensed pilot,
9th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, McQueen dropped out of school in grade 9 and later drove his motorcycle through the
College of Fine Arts Building in what is now Canegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. The guy was amazing! Pictured: a
classic stll. Click on his picture and find out why he's "the man". The First Steve McQueen Site (where this pic comes from) is
a shrine to the greatest actor in movie history. Know it, feel it, get used to it, cause it's never gonna change!
He mastered the art of the
stare and his tough guy image was enhanced by his quirky personality, his love of race cars and his many vices in life.
I'm sure he alienated a few people in his time with his attitude but anything he did that was perceived as wrong was
almost forgiveable because of his talents. Here's his movies, that's the big screen only...he was a TV star as well.
(1980) The
Hunter (1979) Tom Horn
(1977) An Enemy Of The People (1976) Dixie Dynamite
(1974)
The Towering Inferno (1973) Papillon
(1972) Junior
Bonner (1972) The Getaway
(1971) Le
Mans (1971) On Any Sunday
(1969) The
Reivers (1968) Bullitt
(1968) The
Thomas Crown Affair (1966) Nevada Smith
(1966) The
Sand Pebbles (1965) Baby The Rain Must Fall
(1965) The
Cincinnati Kid (1963) The Great Escape
(1963) Love
With The Proper Stranger (1963) Soldier In The Rain
(1962) Hell
Is For Heroes (1962) The War Lover
(1961) The
Honeymoon Machine (1960) The Magnificent Seven
(1959) Never
So Few (1959) The St. Louis bank Robbery
(1958) The
Blob (1958) Never Love A Stranger
(1956)
Somebody Up There Likes Me
2) James
Cagney 1899-1986 I love this guy, he shoulda been number
1 but it's almost a blaspheme to put him ahead of McQueen. But, here he is on my greatest actors list at number 2. Yeah, I
know...he was typecast in a number of films, and we can all appreciate his versatility in Yankee Doodle Dandy but he
could've hosted a documentary on the mating practices of the June bug and I would've bought anything he was selling. Often
imitated but never dupicated...no where does this cheesy saying apply better than with Cagney. Three of his movies are
on my "Top 30" list and for good reason. James Cagney was extremely gifted with an acting style that offered contrasts from
the far extremes of the spectrum. Being a true fan, you'd think I'd be trying to get you to realise "the artful disciplinarian"
that he was, but who's kidding who...he was the toughest gangster in movies. He stole every scene he was in with a dominance
that few could muster. That Irish hard nosed appearance with that mile a minute dialogue and voice that oozed confidence and
told you to step back 'cause the boss was in the house. I fear that of all the stars that I applaud, this guy is still
the most underappreciated. From that magical role as Tom Powers in The Public Enemy, he played second fiddle to no
one in the decades to come. The way he wore his clothes, the body language that commanded attention, his reactions to any
stimuli were classic. Here's a list of flicks...I don't know if I have them all. Cagney could play the worst kind of vile,
reckless, lawless figure and you'd still be in his corner...daring you to like him, to understand him, to do it his way and
to never be a sucker!
(1981) Ragtime (1962) Dupont Show of the Week
(1961) One, Two, Three (1960) The Gallant Hours
(1959) Shake Hands With the Devil (1958) Never Steal Anything Small
(1957) Man of a Thousand
Faces (1956) Tribute to a Bad Man
(1955) Love Me or Leave
Me (1955) The Seven Little Foys
(1955) Mister Roberts (1955) A Link in the Chain
(1953) A Lion is in the Streets (1952) What Price Glory?
(1950) The West Point Story (1950) Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
(1949) White
Heat
(1948) The
Time of Your Life (1946) 13 Rue Madeleine
(1945) Blood on the Sun
(1943) Johnny
Come Lately (1942) Captains of the Clouds
(1942) Yankee Doodle Dandy
(1941) The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941) The Strawberry Blonde
(1940) The Fighting 69th (1940) City for Conquest
(1939) Each Dawn I Die
(1939) The Oklahoma Kid
(1939) The Roaring Twenties
(1938) Boy
Meets Girl (1937) Something to Sing About
(1938) Angels with Dirty Faces
(1936) Great Guy (1936) Ceiling Zero
(1935) A Midsummer Night's Dream
(1935) Devil Dogs of the Air
(1935) G Men (1933)
Lady Killer
(1933) Footlight Parade (1931) Blonde Crazy
(1931) The Public Enemy
3) James Stewart 1908-1997
Appearing in almost a hundred films,
television shows and shorts, Jimmy Stewart was a gifted actor, soldier and professional as described by his peers. His versatility
as a performer was immense. His long list of classic, unforgettable movies are some of the best ever made. Consider too, that
in a day and age where actors were literally owned by the production studios, he was a bit of a maverick with his signing
to a talent agency after his service in the war. Funny how we appreciate such an individual long after his incredible movies
were made. Not a whole pile of people went to see It's a Wonderful Life when it came out, but today it's an essential
part of everyone's DVD Christmas collection. That first time I saw him in Mr. Smith goes to Wahington, it changed the
way I see movies and of the messages and symbolism it evokes. There are movies he starred in which I truly believe NO ONE
could have replaced him in...he's the only actor that could have pulled it off. I think that in itself is the mark of a great
performer.
This isn't the entire list because ,frankly, there's thousands of web sites
that can accomodate your thirst for that kind of trivia. Here are some notables
1936 After the Thin Man 1936
Next Time We love
1938 You can't take it with you 1939 Mr. Smith Goes T Washington
1939 Destry Rides Aagain 1939
Made for Each Other
1940 The Shop Around The Corner 1940 The Mortal Storm
1940 The Philadelphia Story 1940
No Time For Comedy
1941 Ziegfeld Girl 1941
Pot O' Gold
1941 Come Live With Me 1944
Harvey
1946 Its A Wonderful Life 1949
Malaya
1949 The Stratton Story 1950
Broken Arrow
1950 Winchester '73 1951 No Highway in The Sky
1952 Bend Of The River 1952
The Greatest Show On Earth
1953 The Glenn Miller Story 1953
The Naked Spur
1953 Thunder Bay 1954
The Far Country
1954 Rear Window 1955
The ManFrom Laramie
1955 Strategic Air Command 1956 The Man Who Knew Too Much
1957 Spirit of St. Louis 1957
Night Passage
1959 North By Northwest 1959
Anatomy of a Murder
1961 Two Rode Together 1962
The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance
1962 Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation 1962 How The West Was Won
1964 Cheyenne Autumn 1965
Shenandoah
1965 The Flight Of The Phoenix 1965 Dear Brigitte
1966 The Rare Breed 1968
Firecreek
1968 Bandolero 1970
The Cheyenne Social Club
1976 The Shootist 1977
Airport 77
1978 The Magic of Lassie 1978
The Big Sleep
1983 Right of Way 1983
The Green Horizon
 4) Paul Newman 1925-2008
"Cool hand Luke", "Hud", "Cat on a hot tin roof", "The Hustler",
"The Sting", "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" to name just a few. Newman, though versatile as an actor, will be forever
known for his enduring characterization of an insolent, self reliant anti hero with a penchant for wry humour, that description
I cut and pasted. The movies listed above are all classics, you should watch them. Up until 1985, Newman had been nominated
7 times for the best actor nod. Hollywood figured that his best years were behind him, so, in 1985, they presented him with
a lifetime achievement award. It's at this point where the industry figured they goofed and should award an honorary Oscar
to a man that should have won best actor at some point in his career and never did. The very next year he walked away with
the prize for "The Color of Money". Check him out with Tom Hanks in "The Road to Perdition". Even past the age of 80
he was still voicing and acting and still a perfectionist. Using his past method acting experience, he constantly applied
the natural rules and laws to theatrical or screen acting, and remained a perpetual "cut above the rest" with his ability
to stand out as the clear antithesis to many tired, cliche ridden approaches to acting in the modern era. Said a mouthful
there, I think I may have hurt myself on that spiel. I don't know if you happened to catch the movie, but the animated "Cars",
starring the voices of Owen Wilson, Michael Keaton, Tony Shaloub and Larry the cable guy was a classic and would never have
reached that level had it not been for the voiceover talents of Paul Newman as "Doc". Dragline: "Somebody say somethin'?"
Luke: "Nah...I didn't say nothin'...boss". Dragline: "What we got there?" Luke: "You got Lucas Jackson" Classic dialogue and
picture from "Cool Hand Luke", starring Paul Newman.
5) Errol Flynn 1909-1959
Ever wonder where the
expression "in like Flynn" came from. Errol Flynn was straight from the golden age of Hollywood when "talkies" replaced the
silent film, who inherited the swashbuckler role and typecast from Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and reinvented it so that today we
recognise the word as a direct reflection of him. This was a man who did it all, lived hard, played hard, died young and had
talent that few of us even are aware of. His early films like "Captain Blood" and "Murder at Monte Carlo" established his
brilliance but it wasn't until films like "The Adventures of Robin Hood", "The Sea Hawk" , "The Dawn Patrol" and more that
took him to the top. Along the way, he fought, he drank, was a complete egomaniacal scoundrel and was acquitted on three
charges of rape. His infamous escapades with females earned him the "In like Flynn" distinction to describe his prowess and
ease at which he attracted the fairer sex. His lifestyle no doubt lended to his early expiration but I recognize Flynn for
his considerable acting talent aside from his swashbuckling womanizing label he wore so prominantly. Outside his meteoric
rise to fame, before the glamour, he was living the life of a movie with jobs that ranged from journalism, sailor and gold
hunter. His movie "Don Juan" must've been written for him...because it WAS him! Read my words on his Robin of Locksley
character in my movie section. I read "My Wicked, Wicked Ways", you should too.
6) Clark Gable 1901-1960
The epitome of the leading
man. Plus, he sure had good taste when it came to choosing a wife. "The King of Hollywood" played with some heavy hitters
like Garbo in "Susan Lenox, Her Rise and Fall', and Harlow in "Red Dust" and "Saratoga". My favorite
film was his pairing with Claudette Colbert in "It happened one night" in 1934. He won an Oscar for his role in
this movie and sweet justice prevailed as MGM head Louis B. Mayer "loaned" Gable out to lowly Columbia to film this flick.
In 1939 after two previous marriages, he married the love of his life, actress Carole Lombard. When she died in a plane crash
in '42, they say he was never the same. Like Jimmy Stewart, Gable was a successful air force soldier and reached the rank
of Major. Although known mostly for his role as Rhett Butler in "Gone with the wind", many think his finest role was
in his last film "The Misfits". He was married five times, was rumoured to have had a long standing affair with
Joan Crawford and will forever been known as the most classic example of "lead actor" in hollywood.
7) Claude Rains 1889-1967
This is a bit of a change of pace.
The list, so far, contains nothing but leading women and men but the legend of Claude Rains is one of the character actor...he
defined it. In reality, I'm not that learned on the biography or the filmography of the man. I know what the mainstream knows,
but I've seen enough of his movies to know that no one has ever eclipsed his range in the movies. We know that character actors
are an essential part of the business and that several today make a great living and are called upon on a regular basis
to fill a part. Let's take, for example, people like Ed Harris, Gene Hackman, Gary Cole even Steve Buscemi. Claude Rains appeared
in some the greatest movies ever made, including two on my list, The Adventures of Robin Hood and Casablanca.
Every scene he was in, he stole...even the ones where he appeared with guys like Flynn and Stewart...and dare I say it...Bogey!
Here's what I know: He was in film, theatre, television and radio. He was known for his distinctive voice, his perfectionist
ways when rehearsing his lines, was nominated 4 times for an Oscar and came up with nothing, was a theatre actor long before
Hollywood beckoned, and never gave a bad performance or mugshot. Incredible character, incredible actor!
8) Edward G. Robinson 1893-1973
He made a career out out of the
tough guy gangster flick that tore up the theatres in the Cagney era. He actually only made one flick with Jimmy Cagney (Smart
Money 1931), but made 5 with Bogey. As his career wore on, he showed his range. Like Claude Rains, he was known for his
character acting as opposed to leading man and he was brilliant. The first time I saw him was in The Ten Commandments,
a far cry from his greatest performance but I could tell from that role, he was something pretty special. Kid
Gallahad in 1937 had him teaming with Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, can you imagine the talent assembled in one room? Maybe
he stands out for me, because he starred with my all time favourite, McQueen in The Cincinnati Kid in 1965. That whole
conspiracy laden crap back in the 50's known as the House Un-American Activities Committee put a strangelhold on many promising
Hollywood careers and Robinson was no different. He tried his best to clear his name and was welcomed back into the fold
where his career rebounded. These days, that period in his life has nothing to do with his legacy, too bad it played havoc
with talented people like him. Chief Wiggim on The Simpsons is more or less a dedication to Edward G. Robinson courtesy
of the voice actor Hank Azaria.
9) Dean Martin 1917-1995
Dino Paul Crocetti is
such a clear example of a larger than life icon whose every move, step, wink, motion, word, gesture and response made him
stand alone in a world of one dimensional talent. Like Sammy Davis Junior, or "The Chairman" himself, he was a "personality",
an actor and singer and an incredibly funny and appealing person. I want you to feel what I felt when I first saw him in Rio
Bravo starring Ricky Nelson and the great John Wayne and how, in every scene, he stood out, clear as Cagney but with
a much different approach. If I could only tell you how much, in a middle of a long drawn out storyline , after convincing
me that "Dude" was troubled and wrestling with his demons, that he should put it all aside for a peaceful moment of song and
voice bringing me to a better place...I sure appreciated this guy.
Stars are larger than
life and the human mindset loves celebrity but it took on such monumental meaning if Dino was attached..like say...at
a Celebrity Roast or The Dean Martin Show. Movies or TV, album recordings or on the concert circuit...he was immense. Although
his legendary teaming with Jerry Lewis is enough for any entertainer to call it a career, it was his post Lewis years I became
entralled with. I like him because though his celebrity reached the stratosphere, he never took himself too seriously and
often lampooned himself when he was presented the opportunity. His lovable drunk schtick convinced a lot of people but it
was his voracious wit and under appreciated pure acting talent became his legend. If you are a fan of this man, consider
yourself unequivocally more informed than your peers...you have arrived. I COULD go on.
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