Which Golden Age Actors/Actresses Can You Watch In Whatever Movie They Are In?

[Widebrim]

We often write about our favorite (or least favorite) actors and actresses, but I was thinking to myself the other day, "What actor or actress will I watch in whatever film, even a bad film?" I mulled over it a couple of days, and came up with only two actors so far. So let me start:

#1: BELA LUGOSI- I will absolutely watch anything that the King of Horror is in. I've forced myself to sit through Murder By Television, The Death Kiss (which was actually interesting, historically-speaking), Scared to Death, and even Old Mother Riley Meets the Vampire. I've, of course, seen all of his Poverty Row movies, but those are actually always entertaining...It's been said that no matter how ridiculous the role, Bela gave it his all; heck, some of his films relied almost exclusively on his presence. As much as I like Karloff, Zucco, Cheney, Carradine, and Atwill, Bela leaves them in the dust...

#2:Tex Ritter- For whatever reason(s), I can watch any cowboy/western movie that Tex is in. Perhaps it's his very relaxed personality, or his Code-of-the-Cowboy morality, but Tex is tops in my books. And go White Flash!

Others that I'll watch in almost anything are Errol Flynn, Dana Andrews, Robert Cummings, Franchot Tone, Robert Montgomery, Raymond Burr, and John Payne (and almost anything with Barbara Stanwyck made in the '40s).

So who will you watch no matter what film they are in??

 

[St. Louis]

(For some reason the quotation thing isn't working -- this is from widebrim's post) "Others that I'll watch in almost anything are Errol Flynn, Dana Andrews, Robert Cummings, Franchot Tone, Robert Montgomery, Raymond Burr, and John Payne (and almost anything with Barbara Stanwyck made in the '40s)."


I would agree with most of those! My top golden era actresses (and no, I won't call them actors) are Hedy Lamarr, Barbara Stanwyck, Bette Davis, Margaret O'Brien (the kid in my avatar), and Gene Tierney. For actors, I'd add Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Cary Grant (in his darker movies), and Melvyn Douglas to Widebrim's list.

 

[JonnyO]

Edward Robinson and Barbara Stanwyck

 

[Widebrim]

^^Two excellent choices. They both were great in most of their roles.

 

[rue]

There are so many, but right now all I can think of are Jack Carson, Jean Arthur, Tyrone Power and Doris Day.

 

[lolly_loisides]

Una Merkel, Gloria Grahame, Robert Donat and Cecil Kellaway.

 

[Widebrim]

There are so many, but right now all I can think of are Jack Carson, Jean Arthur, Tyrone Power and Doris Day.

I could see Tyrone in just about anything, too, especially his earlier films. Same for Linda Darnell, with whom he made two pictures...

 

[The Wolf]

William Powell, Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Are tops on my list. Maybe Alan Ladd and Van Heflin. As much as I love Cary Grant I can't sit through all of his movies.

Sincerely,
The Wolf

 

[rocketeer]

My faves, Susan Hayward and Claudette Colbert.
Male, I would rob ably watch anything with James Cagney or Steve McQueen, even their rubbishy films.
J

 

[Gregg Axley]

Edward Robinson and Barbara Stanwyck

Great selections.
I'll add William Powell to this, for me.
We've got a large collection of all 3 for this very reason.

 

[rue]

I could see Tyrone in just about anything, too, especially his earlier films. Same for Linda Darnell, with whom he made two pictures...

She's on my list too. I only wish they would have made more movies together.

 

[skyvue]

Women:
Barbara Stanwyck, Kay Francis, Claudette Colbert, Ann Harding, Margaret Sullavan, Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow, Jean Arthur, Thelma Todd, Audrey Totter, Carole Lombard, Roz Russell, Gloria Stuart, Ruth Chatterton, Clara Bow, Mary Pickford

Men:
Humphrey Bogart, William Powell, Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, Jimmy Stewart, Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Lee Tracy, Melvyn Douglas, Richard Widmark, Herbert Marshall

 

[LizzieMaine]

Ned Sparks, William Demarest, Louise Fazenda, Patsy Kelly, and Stymie Beard.

 

[I Adore Film Noir]

Women: Jean Harlow, Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo, Lana Turner, Myrna Loy.

Men: Robert Taylor (swoon), William Powell.

 

[wahine]

Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Oscar Levant (for some reason, I adore him) and Cary Grant.

 

[vitanola]

Mabel Normand, Geraldine Farrar, Winnie Lightener, Janet Gaynor, Edna Purvience, Pearl White, Bessie Love, Anita Page, Maria Ouspenskaya, Marie Dressler and Eugenie Bessereron the distaff side.

Actors would include Warner Baxter, "Bronco Billy" Anderson, Billy Haines, George O'Brien, Sessuie Hayakawa, Dick Powell, Warner Oland, Ned Sparks, Guy Kibbee, Jean Hersolt and Cliff Edwards are among the actors whose work I'd never miss.

Long list, but I suppose I'm not all that discerning, besides which the pictures featuring these stars don't turn up as often as I'd like.

 

[dhermann1]

All of the above plus Carole Lombarde and Jean Harlow. Has Spencer Tracy been mentioned?
Ah! E. E. Clive! And Charles Laughton! C. Aubrey Smith and/or Victor McLagen! David Niven. Glynis Johns. Danny Kaye. Buster Keaton, Chaplin and Harold Lloyd.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I can't believe I left out my all-time favorite, the immortal Lyda Roberti.

 

[Widebrim]

Wow, what a variety of names. Stymie Beard? Hmmm. I think I'd go with Willie Best...

 

[tridentine]

Irene Dunne, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, Ward Bond, Loretta Young, Fred Astaire. and Jack Haley.