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I like the lighter Sinatra fare such as Ocean's Eleven and The Tender Trap. I also liked him in Tony Rome.

Sandykaypax, Thanks for suggesting the book. It sounds like it will be a good read.

I was born in 1973 and I attribute my love of classic movies to the fact that these were the movies of my parents' generation. I love the music of their day as well. In fact as I write this I am watching a B&W DVD of The Rat Pack Live. I must say Frank and Dean are good, but Sammy Davis Jr.'s performance is amazing! He was unbelieveably versatile.

"Meet me in St. Louis" sounds like a great DVD. By the way, I am glad I am not the only one who appreciates the vividness of classic Technicolor movies. I've mentioned my love of them to friends of mine who are not into classic film and they just don't see it. They are like "What the heck are you talking about?" On a related note, I just watched "To Catch a Thief" a while back on DVD and the film and the extras were great. I highly recommend it.

Barbara Stanwyck was definitely underrated, which I believe is part of the reason she never won an Oscar. Yes I know she received an honorary one, but that's just not the same. I am glad, however, that despite her underrated status, her films that I like the most are available on DVD and VHS. Well, all except The Furies (1950).

Although I liked Katharine Hepburn in "Stage Door", "Woman of the Year" and other films, she still receives my vote for most overrated. I think the fact that she was born of privilege allowed her certain opportunities that she would not have had otherwise. Plus, as a writer mentioned a few months ago, living a long life and being of sound mind allowed her to schedule interviews aimed at legacy building. I mention the legacy building not as a criticism, though. I wish my favorite actor and actress had done the same.

Gary Cooper if only for his great performances in "Meet John Doe" and "Ball of Fire".

The top actresses today probably weigh more than many of the actresses of the '40s. I would guess it is because weight training is popular now among women and muscle increases the number on the scale. I doubt thin actresses of the past like Veronica Lake, or Barbara Stanwyck ever lifted a weight. One of the reporters who interviewed Stanwyck in the '40s commented on how her menu choices were coffee and cigarettes during the day and steak and veggies for dinner.

Not to be a nitpicker or anything but isn't it Michael Clark Duncan?

Cary Grant was the epitome of class and elegance. Plus he was witty. What more could a girl ask for in a movie star?

Ms. LadySoul, I respectfully disagree. I don't have to be white to to think that many blacks have never heard of the blacks actresses you mentioned. It is your view or perspective that they were well known among that segment and I'm doubting that based on my view/perspective.

I have to deviate from subject for a moment to respectfully disagree with Nickdimeo who listed Ginger Rogers above Ann Miller in the dancing category. I believe Ann was a better dancer than Ginger. Ann was, and I mean this as a compliment, a dancing fool! I love Ginger's movies but she definitely received her share of lucky breaks.

I agree with the comment about Barbara Stanwyck's dancing in Lady of Burlesque. She does a cartwheel as well as some moves that resemble breakdancing. Film lore has it that when Stanwyck signed on to the role of Dixie (in what is definitely a B picture) her peers wondered if she had taken leave of her senses. At that time, she was a major star and was still being offered "respectable" roles. I've watched the film many times and it seems to me she is having a blast. She probably took the role for her own amusement.

Well neither one of them was my favorite, but of the two, I would have to say Bette Davis. I believe her roles had more depth and she wasn't afraid to appear desperate or unattractive on the screen. Actually, she sort of specialized in that. Anyone bold enough to star in a film that required her to look as she did in "Whatever happened to Baby Jane" obviously did not mind putting performance above prettiness. Although Crawford was in that film as well, her role did not require such a shocking appearance.

I was a child at the time but I remember the newscaster announcing Natalie Wood had drowned. After watching the movie, I have the same opinion about her death now that I did then. I think part of the story has been omitted. Despite all of that, I enjoyed watching the movie. I felt that the the lead looked more like Jennifer Love Hewitt than Natalie Wood. Also, the movie made me wonder whether there was ever a rumor leaked as to the name of the legendary actor who invited a 16-year-old Wood to his hotel room.

Charlize is pretty but I didn't think "classic star" when I saw her at the Oscars. I think Catherine Zeta Jones comes closer to acheiving that look. She is a goddess. Renee Zellweger also has pulled off that classic star style at previous Oscars even though most people probably would not call her beautiful.

Please excuse my typo. I know it is spelled 'Dandridge'.

I agree with Ms.LadySoul when she says Blacks admired the white actresses as much as Whites did. However, I do question the statement that the black actresses she mentioned were big names in the black community. Perhaps a segment of the black community were aware of them, but I would wager that most were not. As I've previously stated, I think Dorothy Dandrige was a beauty, but I also think Barbara Stanwyck was beautiful in many of her 1930s and 1940s roles. So clearly my definition of beauty is not synonymous with perfection.

The Dames: Barbara Stanwyck-The Lady Eve Audrey Hepburn-Breakfast at Tiffany's Lauren Bacall-The Big Sleep Marilyn Monroe-Niagra Katharine Hepburn-Woman of the Year The Big Lugs: Gary Cooper-Meet John Doe Fred MacMurray-Double Indemnity Humphrey Bogart-The Big Sleep Paul Newman-From the Terrace Cary Grant-To Catch a Thief DISCLAIMER:I am using dame and big lug simply as decorative words of yesteryear not as a criticism of those in my categories.

In terms of beauty, Dorothy Dandridge is in the same category as Rita Hayworth and Jeanne Crain. It is a shame that Dandridge came along in the wrong era and therefore was unable to achieve true movie stardom.

I believe that Hepburn was overrated as an actress. She was good, but not great. I don't believe she ever lost herself in a role. The personality of Hepburn always seemed to overpower the character she was playing. I believe Susan Hayward and Barbara Stanwyck's performances in film were more authentic, but unfortunately they did not have Hepburn's status in Hollywood. With all that said, I liked Hepburn in "Woman of the Year" and "Stage Door". In fact, I wish TCM would release a restored version of "Stage Door" on DVD.