Who was the best, bar none , movie star of the 20th century?

timejim

This really is a hard choice for me, as there were several, but considering fan appreciation, money making, and quantity of movies made, I would pick JOHN WAYNE.

Echo 6 Sierra

Ditto,TJ...I'd like to add Evo for her work in stills.

zoobyshoe

Probably Jack Nicholson. He is vastly more fascinating than most actors to watch, and he has managed to relocate the center of his fame onto his most recent role more than most other actors.
First it was Randle P. McMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest Then it was Jake Giddes in Chinatown. Then it was the father in The Shinning. Then it was Van Horn in The Witches Of Eastwick. Then it was the Marine in A Few Good Men.

jimmy p

James Stewart or Tom Hanks for me.

Andy

Jack Nicholson has my vote.

Evo

You are so sweet...and FUNNY!!! [:D]

Actually, I did sing on national tv with Arlo Guthrie once. There must be some old timers out there that remember him.

My favorite actor is Cary Grant, my favorite film by him is a Christmas film The Bishop's Wife where he plays an angel. It is sooo funny.

selfAdjoint

Bugs Bunny

Tsu

NO JOKE?? ARLO GUTHRIE??? Tell us about this! What show? You must have been just a BABY!! [:D] [;)]

Evo

Nothing glamorous. I worked for a radio station that had their transmitter bombed the the Ku Klux Klan and a song by Arlo Guthrie was playing when we went off the air.

There was a show called the Great American Dream Machine that did documentaries for PBS and they decided to do a documentary on us. Arlo was asked to write a song about the bombing and come to our station and sing it with the station workers for the show. I was asked to sit next to him for the filming.

And on topic, Arlo is also a movie star.

rick1138

"You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant"


I vote for Elizabeth Taylor.

Evo

Wow, I'm impressed, I didn't think anyone would know.

firefly

I vote for Katharine Hepburn ... especially Katharine Hepburn / Spencer Tracy duo.

Echo 6 Sierra

Arlo Guthrie was a main character in a tv series that was filmed in Hawaii for a while. Not sure what happened to it though. I think it just didn't "pop" for the networks.

And speaking of Evo...is there an avatar or smiley with little chirpy birds flying in circles overhead, or little hearts swelling up and poppping...(swoon)Evo, would you be my Valentine? (blush) And forget pickles, I jus wanna ride my mowtor-sickle.

cragwolf

Peter Falk.

I'm serious. You sould see his work in films of John Cassavetes.

one_raven

Tough one...
Of course you can look at their effect on the populace...
Marilyn Monroe
James Dean
Marlon Brando
Liz Taylor

Or their esoteric style and proof of range...
Johnny Depp
Gary Oldman
Jack Nicholson
Robin Williams

Their classical style and technical abilities...
Bette Davis
Judi Densch (sp?)
Audrey Hepburn
Jim Varney
Juliette Binoche

Their box-office drawing power...
Arnold Schwartzenwhatever
James Stewart
Leonardo Dicaprio

The acting giants of the seventies/early eighties grit explosion...
Robert Deniro
Al Pachino
Harvey Keitel

God, this list coud go on forever!

On most days I think I would have to go with a toss up between:
Johnny Depp, Gary Oldman and Jack Nicholson
With honorable mention to Jim Varney, of course.

I am surprised no one nominated Pauly Shore yet.
Didn't you see his heart wrenching perfomance in "Encino Man"?

zoobyshoe

One_Raven, your mention of Gary Oldman made me realize I'd forgotten about him. He may in fact be the greatest living actor, now that Laurence Olivier is gone. Oldman's range is stupendous. He can play anything, it seems, powerfully and convincingly. Most people have probably seen him in several different things without realizing it was the same actor, he is such a complete chameleon.

Of course you're right, though: there is Jim Varney...

Njorl

I was tempted to say DeNiro, but he has pretty limited range. I would say Jimmy Stewart. When you look at his range, it is amazing. He did comedy very well (Harvey, Philadelphia Story), westerns, It's a Wonderful Life, and those Hitchcock movies.

Njorl