Top Actor Polls: Old Hollywood

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20 Oct 2009 01:12 PM
What Exit?

Top Actor Polls: Old Hollywood

This was not easy to narrow down a list. I used my knowledge of movies and several Internet sources. The lines between Old Hollywood, Post Studio and Current are not sharp but I managed to get 23 actors for each list. In the end I will take the top 8 for each category for a second thread to determine the top10. I am sure I left some off and I included some I would never vote for, but I think this is a fair list. Please have fun with it and promote your choices and why or argue with others.

So vote for your top 10 and the top 8 will move on.
20 Oct 2009 01:17 PM
jali

Alec Guinness 1 100.00%

Cary Grant 1 100.00%

Clark Gable 1 100.00%

Gary Cooper 1 100.00%

Gene Kelly 1 100.00%

Gregory Peck 1 100.00%

Henry Fonda 1 100.00%

James Stewart 1 100.00%
20 Oct 2009 01:31 PM
Zuul

I see Henry Fonda and Gregory Peck have 100% of the vote at this moment. Smart people.
20 Oct 2009 01:37 PM
What Exit?

I need to parse out 65-75 actresses next. I think it will be even harder.

Nice to see Kelly get three votes already, I almost did not include him as he is not often considered a "Serious Actor".
20 Oct 2009 01:48 PM
jali

I lurves Gene Kelly.
20 Oct 2009 02:08 PM
Orual

There is a shocking lack of love for Bogey around here ...
20 Oct 2009 02:10 PM
Zuul

Quote:

Originally posted by Orual

There is a shocking lack of love for Bogey around here ...

Huh. That is shocking. I just noticed only three of us voted for him so far!
20 Oct 2009 02:45 PM
What Exit?

I goofed badly, I lost William Powell off the end of the list. I have reported the thread for him to be added on. Thankfully he is suppose to be in the last position.
20 Oct 2009 03:26 PM
OtakuLoki

Alright, who's the slacker who forgot to vote for Archy? I know no one would have deliberately left him off their list. Speak up, now! Chop! Chop!
20 Oct 2009 03:33 PM
Sarahfeena

Quote:

Originally posted by jali

I lurves Gene Kelly.

Oh, me too! :)
20 Oct 2009 04:09 PM
Myrnalene

Cary Grant is a Mellophant favorite, so I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him come out on top. This is a hard list to choose from, I don't see one weak link on it. If I came back on another day, I might vote for a different top 10.
20 Oct 2009 04:11 PM
Myrnalene

Quote:

Originally posted by Orual

There is a shocking lack of love for Bogey around here ...

People, people, watch The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Caine Mutiny and The Maltese Falcon and come back and vote properly!
21 Oct 2009 11:21 AM
hatesfreedom

John Wayne had more of an impact on America than any of these people. I'm just sayin'
21 Oct 2009 11:32 AM
What Exit?

Quote:

Originally posted by hatesfreedom

John Wayne had more of an impact on America than any of these people. I'm just sayin'

Probably not. He was big in promoting the myths of the West and then helping to change the attitudes towards the "Indians" and his war movies were inspiring but actors like Jimmy Stewart were actually real war time heroes and showed America how to be better people. He so often portrayed gentler intelligent thoughtful heroes. Good people.

Wayne was a huge star. One of the biggest, but he was not in my opinion a truly great actor. His influence though was large.

I am surprised by the sparse votes for Spencer Tracy. I don't understand why Alec Guinness is consider so great. I hope it is not for Ben Kenobi but I fear it is.

Cary Grant is kicking butt here. I do love him in several movies, especially Arsenic and Old Lace. What movies are inspiring everyone to vote for him?
21 Oct 2009 12:00 PM
Myrnalene

Quote:

Originally posted by What Exit?

I don't understand why Alec Guinness is consider so great. I hope it is not for Ben Kenobi but I fear it is.

Oh no no. I voted for Guinness and I hate Star Wars. Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Kind Hearts and Coronets, Oliver Twist, Doctor Zhivago. Guinness was a craftsman, one of the finest actors of all time. He HATED the idea that some people would remember him for Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Quote:

Originally posted by What Exit?

Cary Grant is kicking butt here. I do love him in several movies, especially Arsenic and Old Lace. What movies are inspiring everyone to vote for him?

I think there are a lot of fans of The Philadelphia Story here, and I know Exy loves Bringing Up Baby. There is also Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House, The Awful Truth, Suspicion, His Girl Friday, Holiday, My Favorite Wife, etc. I personally am not a fan of his later movies like To Catch a Thief and An Affair to Remember but they are popular.
21 Oct 2009 12:09 PM
jali

Quote:

Originally posted by What Exit?

Cary Grant is kicking butt here. I do love him in several movies, especially Arsenic and Old Lace. What movies are inspiring everyone to vote for him?

Loved Mr. Grant in Arsenic and Old Lace.
Father Goose is one of my favorites. To Catch a Thief is another.
21 Oct 2009 12:18 PM
OtakuLoki

Quote:

Originally posted by Myrnalene

I think there are a lot of fans of The Philadelphia Story here, and I know Exy loves Bringing Up Baby. There is also Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House, The Awful Truth, Suspicion, His Girl Friday, Holiday, My Favorite Wife, etc. I personally am not a fan of his later movies like To Catch a Thief and An Affair to Remember but they are popular.

Actually, my three favorite Cary Grant films are I Was a Male War Bride, People Will Talk and Father Goose. I think, for me, Cary Grant's presence in a film means that I won't be hit with any speedbumps from the his performance. I won't claim he always chose deep roles, but for the roles he did choose, he did well bringing them to life.
15 Nov 2009 08:01 AM
What Exit?

Poll closing soon, let's get some more votes and comments.