This is tough because of time, modern media saturation, dilution (modern stars simply don't have the cachet of a Cary Grant or Frank Sinatra, for example - and can't achieve it, regardless of what they do).

So - I would argue you need a break line - roughly 1970 - arbitrary, but it gets us there.

Prior to 1970, and limited only to Talkies, you had, at various times, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, and Bogie - probably nudge out anybody else (Hank Fonda, Gary Cooper, William Powell, might be second tier guys at the cusp).

Bing Crosby, Sinatra and Elvis might need their own category - but all were singers first and movie stars second (honestly - the only newer example I could think of was Cher).

Beginning around 1970 (just a rough break) - you had a "realism" to films and the "stars" since that time have reflected that - very few are "larger than life" stars.

Reynolds

Beatty

Redford

Nicholson

Pacino

Deniro

Ford

Murphy

Stallone

Arnold

Cruise

Depp

Leo

3 guys I would suggest as "transitional" guys who might fit this category are Brando, Newman and Eastwood - big, big stars who had pretty significant work on each side of this line.

There are probably solid arguments for Gable, Grant, Stewart, Bogie, Wayne, Brando, Reynolds, Eastwood and Cruise. I start to see a big separation after this group.

(ETA: And - as for females, there is a clear winner - Marilyn Monroe wins against the field, any way you want to draw it up.)

This post was edited on 5/28/14 at 8:52 am

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by DivotBreath

On the course

Member since Oct 2007

3527 posts

Posted on 5/28/14 at 3:16 pm to Ace Midnight

quote:
This is tough because of time, modern media saturation, dilution (modern stars simply don't have the cachet of a Cary Grant or Frank Sinatra, for example - and can't achieve it, regardless of what they do).

I agree to the extent that you almost have to break down what constitutes a "movie star" before and after the introduction of internet/social media. Stars from the golden age were really only known outside of Hollywood when fans saw them in a movie, thus, they seemed bigger than life. Stars today are known more for their off-screen antics, politics, talk shows, etc... than they are for their actual work. It's really more of a movie star vs. celebrity comparison when you start trying to consider how actors from different eras rate against each other.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by Mr. Misanthrope

Cloud 8

Member since Nov 2012

5573 posts

Posted on 5/28/14 at 8:49 pm to Ace Midnight

quote:
Ace Midnight

Great framework. Good to see Newman mentioned as a "great" bridging the 1970 divide.
Also good to see Ned Beatty mentioned.
Interesting the post 70's not "larger than life" aspect." In a sense prophesied by Hollywood:

Joe Gillis: You're Norma Desmond. You used to be in silent pictures. You used to be big.

Norma Desmond: I am big. It's the pictures that got small.