If I had to pick one guy from the golden era. . .

[VivianRegan]

Jimmy's a birthday boy!

Tomorrow, James Dean would have been 75 years old!

It's as good a time as any to watch Rebel and swoon and sigh...

 

[Novella]

It's hard to pick just one, so how about a tie?

Joel McCrea - for Sullivan's Travels and Dead End (even though this picture is from Foreign Correspondent)

and

Robert Montgomery - for a number of early 30s films, especially The Divorcee

I already feel like I need to change who my favorite is before I even post because there are just too many - Jimmy Stewart, James Cagney, William Powell, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Donat, Ivor Novello, Ramon Novarro, Fred Astaire, Errol Flynn - I could go on for days.

 

[Lena_Horne]

I second and third votes for Cary Grant, William Holden and Gene Kelly. I'd also like to add Harry Belafonte, all I can think of is butterscotch pudding. Yum. Marlon Brando, James Dean and Paul Robeson. And even though he was technically rebelling against just about all of this, Jack Kerouac.

L_H

 

[herringbonekid]

early-50s brooding types

kerouac
clift
dean

 

[Paisley]

Who wouldn't want to be Frankie Manning's dance partner?

You probably know this, but Frankie Manning was still traveling around the country giving dance classes at age 94 as of last year.

I'd have to pick Jimmy Stewart. He had brains and class. He graduated from Princeton, became a fighter pilot even after he was first rejected for military service, helped plan the air support for the D-Day invasion, and attained the rank of general. He was plain and tall and wasn't really a lady killer, but that's what my taste is in men.

I also like David Cotton.

 

[Wild Root]

You probably know this, but Frankie Manning was still traveling around the country giving dance classes at age 94 as of last year.
.

Frankie is still with it! In fact, he's going to be teaching in San Diego this weekend! I've met him on several occasions and he's just one of the nicest guys! So neat to talk to such a Lindy Hop legend!

Also, James Stewart you mentioned... Good taste my friend! He's my favorite! And he was rather popular with the ladies in the 40's because he was tall.

=WR=

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I also like David Cotton.

Do you mean Joseph Cotten?

 

[Paisley]

Yes!

thanks for the correction!

 

[Tin Pan Sally]

Frankie

Yes, Frankie will be doing another workshop here this spring.

We can't forget all the comic talent like dancer and one of the Lindy Hop originators Shorty George Snowden (my hero), violinist Jack Benny, actor Danny Kaye, etc. Back in the golden age, a performer had to do it all.

 

[EL COLORADO]

One guy?

Heh, heh. Easy.

EC

 

[LadyStardust]

ONE?! lol Perish the thought! The best I can do is whittle it down to three:

John Gilbert

Claude Rains

Tyrone Power

 

[GOK]

Gregory Peck tied with James Stewart. Cary Grant is/was handsome and all the things mentioned here but, I don't know, there was just something about Peck and Stewart.

As Atticus Finch, Peck was magnificent - all the right ingredients for my kinda guy! But Stewart as George Bailey, when he first kisses Mary when they're on the phone....<le sigh> That's the clincher!

James Dean? Not at all my cuppa - too rough looking and boyish/laddish for my taste.

 

[lindylady]

Gregory Peck tied with James Stewart. Cary Grant is/was handsome and all the things mentioned here but, I don't know, there was just something about Peck and Stewart.

As Atticus Finch, Peck was magnificent - all the right ingredients for my kinda guy! But Stewart as George Bailey, when he first kisses Mary when they're on the phone....<le sigh> That's the clincher!

I agree! I could watch Gregory Peck and Jimmy Stewart all day! Not to mention that both of them have very distinctive voices that are very pleasing to hear.

 

[GOK]

Absolutely! Fantastic, both of them!

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I've had the hots for William Haines for years now. His life story was so awesome and I'm so glad he got away from the dragons of Hollywood and did what HE wanted to do!! All in the name of love!

Not too shabby:

Dick Powell

Buster Keaton

Harold Lloyd

Edward Everett Horton

Yea, REALLY!!

 

[anselmo1]

John Barrymore

The actor that set the standard on stage and screen in the USA. Don't forget his great profile in addition to his fine acting ability. Watch him with Garbo in "Grand Hotel" and you will see what I mean!