The above guys are pure awesomeness, in my opinion. :) Just look at them! These are talented actors that I almost always enjoy seeing in movies, for one reason or another. Here's my list...
1. Cary Grant. First of all, at the risk of sounding really superficial, Cary Grant is ridiculously handsome. :) But the best thing about him is this: There is only one Cary Grant. No one can ever truly be like him, and he's just in a class of his own. He had a distinctive voice and style and quirky mannerisms. But he could be anything. He could be a debonair millionaire, a loveable ex-husband (but he never really stayed the ex-husband for long, did he? :), a fast-talking newspaper man, a nerdy professor and a former jewel thief. And he was all of those brilliantly. He could be hilarious and swoon-worthy within the same five minutes of a film. I really like Cary Grant, could you tell? :)
Favorites: The Awful Truth, His Girl Friday, The Talk of the Town, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Charade.
2. Gene Kelly. I saw Gene Kelly in of the first musicals I ever watched, Singin' in the Rain, and it was one of my most memorable classic movie experiences. Gene Kelly can dance (boy, can he dance!), act, and sing, and he's amazing at all three! The first thing I noticed about him was how enthusiastic he was while dancing, and how it was obvious he really, really loved what he was doing. Gene Kelly was my introduction to real dancing (I'm a child of the 90s and the only dancing I had ever seen was the synchronized moves of popular boy bands). And his smile is really contagious. I also love to hear him sing...I read once that his singing voice was an extension of his speaking voice, and it's so true. It sounds so natural.
Favorites: For Me and My Gal, Anchors Aweigh, On the Town, Summer Stock, and Singin' in the Rain.
3. James Stewart. Jimmy Stewart could be your next door neighbor. He's so likeable, earnest, unassuming, and good. He seems easy-going and familiar, but he could definitely surprise you with emotional scenes. In one case, there was even a murderer hidden behind that nice guy façade! :) I don't really know what else to say about him...I mean, he's Jimmy Stewart.
Favorites: You Can't Take It With You, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Shop Around the Corner, Harvey, The Glenn Miller Story, and Rear Window.
4. Humphrey Bogart. He didn't have the attractive looks of other actors like Cary Grant or Gregory Peck (strangely enough, he always reminded me of a mouse. Very weird, I know, but I think it was how he sometimes talked with his teeth bared :) but Humphrey Bogart was incredibly talented. Sometimes he played characters that were genuinely rough and rotten to the core. But quite often he just seemed to be putting on a tough guy act to hide the fact that he was actually a nice guy. :) And he was perfect with Lauren Bacall- it's like she smoothed out his rough edges.
Favorites: Casablanca, To Have and Have Not, Key Largo, The African Queen, and Sabrina.
5. Gregory Peck. After you've fallen in love with Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday, there's really no turning back. :) I haven't seen as many of his films as I'd like to, because I'm generally not a fan of Westerns. He's tall, dark, and handsome, and even better, he seems like such a nice guy. He also has a perfect voice. And could anyone have ever been a better Atticus Finch? I think not.
Favorites: Spellbound, Roman Holiday, and To Kill a Mockingbird.
So...who are your favorite leading men from classic films? Let me know in the comments or link up your post below!
Until next time,
