by Lillyswawa

Created on: April 28, 2010

Let us begin with the Classics: Lawrence Olivier (Wuthering Heights). Lionel Barrymore. Charlie Chaplin (The Little Tramp). Charleton Heston (Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments). They held us in rapt attention as romance, adventure, and pathos gripped our hearts and minds.

We love the charming Funny Men (possessing impeccable comic timing while remaining adorably desirable!): Cary Grant. Clark Gable. Danny Kaye. Jack Lemmon. (And, bringing us current:) Billy Crystal. Steve Martin. George Clooney.

And, love to hate the Dark Horses: Peter Lorie. Edward G. Robinson. Claude Rains. Karl Malden (On The Waterfront). Montgomery Cliff (A Place In The Sun). Walter Matthau. James Coburn (Charade).

We embrace the Gun Slinging Good Guys:  John Wayne. Gary Cooper. William Brennan,- incomparable character actor of Westerns.

Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy and Henry Fonda remain adored iconic stand-outs who defied categorical pigeon-holing, and played both drama and comedy with unparalleled ease. As do two other modern-day enigmas, - Mr. Johnny Depp and Mr. Nicholas Cage!

We recall the Rebels with fond empathy: James Dean. Steve McQueen. Heath Ledger..., - what might have been, had they lived out their talented lives?

And, we ladies still dream of the Pretty Boys: Paul Newman (Cool Hand Luke). Marlon Brando (On The Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire). Gregory Peck (To Kill A Mockingbird). Burt Lancaster (Elmer Gantry). Omar Shariff (Doctor Zhivago). Robert Redford (Out Of Africa).

We applaud the Avengers: Charles Bronson. Tommy Lee Jones. Mel Gibson. Denzel Washington. Clint Eastwood (who legendarily invited his adversaries to: "Make my day!")

And, we admire the talents of those gifted Brits across 'the pond': Peter O'Toole (A Lion In Winter). Oliver Reed. Rex Harrison. Richard Harris. Peter Sellers (The Pink Panther). Anthony Hopkins (Silence Of The Lambs).

Some categories call for special recognition:

* Musical Magnificence:  Fred Astaire (for song and dance in, Top Hat). Frank Sinatra (for song and romance in, Pal Joey). Gene Kelly (for unforgettable EVERYTHING in, An American In Paris with Leslie Caron).

* "It runs in the family": Kirk Douglas. Michael Douglas. The Baldwin brothers, - all!  John and Sean Astin (Rudy).

* Hollywood's Bombastic Bad Boys: Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest). Sean Penn (Mystic River). Russell Crowe (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind).

* Most versatile: Dustin Hoffman (Tootsie, Rain Man).

And, finally,

* "Every Man": Jimmy Stewart (Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Harvey, It's A Wonderful Life) and Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Sleepless In Seattle, You've Got Mail).

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