There are some actors that have so much personality on screen that it doesn’t matter what movie they are in, no matter how bad it is, they elevate any scene they are in. I came up with this idea after watching Charlie Varrick and The Outfit within a couple days of each other, both with Joe Don Baker and he had no trouble keeping up with such major screen presences such as Walter Matthau and Robert Duvall. And, he played almost opposite type characters.
I debated leaving out the major stars like Bogart and Cary Grant, but I figured, hey, I actually will watch anything with those guys. I’m sure most people have a similar list, even if they haven’t formalized it. Some people like Harry Dean Stanton, Henry Silva or John Saxon on their list. While I like each of those guys immensely, they didn’t make the cut. I’m going to do actresses later this week or next.
Great list! Good to see Warren Oates up there. His TV work from the 60s in westerns and dramas was really interesting too.
Bunchie´s last [type] ..Best Films I Saw for the First Time in 2012
Oates was ALWAYS interesting!
Hard to disagree with a lot of these. My list would drop a few, certainly, but would keep probably more than half.
I’d include James Mason and Claude Raines for sure, and probably Peter Lorre and Walter Brennan.
As for Joe Don Baker…I’ve seen Mitchell and Final Justice. If you haven’t either one might make you rethink his position on this list.
SJHoneywell´s last [type] ..Git Along, Little Doggies
SJHoneywell, Thanks for commenting! I could easily include Claude Raines or Walter Brennan. Lorre… I’ve seen some of his later stuff that scares me off from watching more of that era.
Nice list. I’ve been seeing many of these guys a lot on TCM.
I’d add Glenn Ford, Jack Palance and Burt Lancaster in there for sure if it was my list.
Glenn Ford probably should have been on my list too. He’s fantastic.