bhryun Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 I haven't actually read through all the threads, but I have seen some of the threads which relate to "most handsome" and "least sexy". Was it ever discussed who had the best, most natural acting ability (not mentioning looks at all)? My choices for the best acting skills are: 1. Cary Grant, 2. Marlon Brando, 3. Vivien Leigh, 4. Bette Davis, 5. James Stewart, 6. Jimmy Cagney, 7.Clarke Gable. (most of them are pretty good-looking, but I'm strictly going by "acting ability"). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katyscar11ett Posted July 14, 2005 Share Posted July 14, 2005 Certainly acting ability is discussed MOST often - but it's fun to talk about other things occassionally. :-) I agree with most you've mentioned, my exception would be Brando, but I know that's my "personal" opinion - he is well thought of and looked up to in the industry. I would hasten to add William Powell, whom I love, and don't believe they come much better than. Also, Paul Muni, Orson Welles, Robert Montgomery and as always, Claude Rains. Of course, asking my favorites is like asking which of my children I love most. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
classickels42 Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 I think Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, and Cary Grant were great at acting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cash5562 Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Testing, have not been able to post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cash5562 Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 Can't believe I finally got through. My opinion. Top five men and top five women. Men 1- Humphrey Bogart 2- Marlon Brando 3- Spencer Tracy 4- Edward G. Robinson 5- Dustin Hoffman Women 1- Jean Arthur 2- Betty Davis 3- Barara Stanwyck 4- Ingrid Bergman 5- Katharine Hepburn PS. Loved Cary Grant, but he always seemed to be playing Cary Grant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted July 30, 2005 Author Share Posted July 30, 2005 I must totally agree with Jean Arthur!!! Tabitha in Tucson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted July 30, 2005 Author Share Posted July 30, 2005 Of those mentioned, Cary Grant,Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Spencer Tracey, and Barbara Stanwyck get my vote. And I would also add Lauren Bacall, Olivia D'Havilland, Harold Lloyd and Boris Karloff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchellleisen Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 I value entertainment most and if I notice any acting going on I consider it a director's failure. Barbara Stanwyck, Jean Arthur, William Powell, Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, Frank Morgan, Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Claude Rains, Charles Boyer, Olivia DeHavilland, Ingrid Bergman, Deborah Kerr, and Bette Davis when she restrains herself, are all actors I appreciate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moviegeek3000 Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 I like Grace Kelly also for the women. Peter O'Toole. The man is still so good-gotta love those stage actors. Edward G. Robinson. Man, I really love some of his later stuff....really showed his ability then. I think a very underrated actor is Richard Widmark. Look at Night and the City, then Panic In the Streets, then Kiss of Death. Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck, and Cary Grant of course. Barbara Stanwyck is great. Kate Hepburn has a way with words/dialogue, but she's not my favorite. Audrey Hepburn was good in her way too....remember Wait Until Dark? Burt Lancaster. Marlon Brando of course(probably the best ever). Ingrid Bergman. Wow, she was really something. I want to say Lon Chaney just for the facials alone. Ray Milland too. He was always quitely very-very convincing. Another underrated talent: Robert Ryan. Awesome actor! James Mason. Joan Crawford. There's so many. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zooty127 Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Top 5 ladies: Ingrid Bergman - I love her voice, her eyes, her sincerity...heck I just love her. Bette Davis - what a fantastic force. Myrna Loy - great comedian, great lady (watching her films make me VERY happy). Deborah Kerr - another foreign beauty who could act her little booty off. Greta Garbo - like her swedish countrywoman (Ingrid), she was a lovely unique gift to Hollywood. Top 5 men: Cary Grant - numero uno...forever. James Cagney - so versatile. Ronald Colman - nobody played "romantic/melancholy" like this gentleman. Fred Astaire - "his feet" did the best acting in the world. Edward G. Robinson - when he was good, he was excellent, but when he was bad...WATCH OUT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted August 14, 2005 Author Share Posted August 14, 2005 Ah, what a difficult choice to make, but here are some of my most faves: Bette Davis --- a force of nature. Geraldine Fitzgerald --- a marvelous actor and person. Meryl Streep --- one of the best ever. Linda Hunt --- a diminutive powerhouse; exceptional abilities. Sir Ralph Richardson --- my favorite of the "British Sirs". Peter Donat -- an angel; they don't get better or more beautiful. Sir Paul Scofield --- my second favorite "Sir". Sidney Poitier --- an 'actors actor' and trailblazer. Al Freeman --- underrated and underemployed. Cicely Tyson --- "...some of the most memorable moments on film." A legend. Paul Robeson --- an icon for all time. Julie Harris --- perhaps not underrated, but certainly underemployed in film. Myrna Loy --- the epitome of dry humor and sophistication... ...with the exception of Audrey Hepburn. I've never seen her do any bad work; also an angel. She and Peter Donat would have made some screen pair! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted August 14, 2005 Author Share Posted August 14, 2005 Great Acting ability somehow seems lost in today's world of film. It is so hard to summon up my favorite, but I will try. Top five women: 1. Jean Arthur (my favorite) 2. Claudette Colbert 3. Dorothy McGuire 3. Myrna Loy 4. Ginger Rogers (she could do more than just dance) 5. Jeanne Crain Top Five Men: 1. William Powell 2. Ray Milland 3. Gary Cooper 4. Jimmy Stewart 5. Gregory Peck I love Cary Grant, but as said before he seems to always be playing Cary Grant...in his later films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcjoan Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 AS far as acting ability goes my hat goes off to. . . Norma Shearer, Margaret Sullavan, Katherine Hepburn Edward G Robinson, Sean Connery, Sidney Portier, Gregory Peck, Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Julie Christie, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Glenn Ford, Jack Lemmon, Adolphe Menjou, Kirk Douglas, Barbara Stanwyck, Jimmy Stewart, Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Ginger Rogers, Walter Brennan, Jack Nicholson, Dorothy McGuire, Errol Flynn, Henry Fonda, Myrna Loy, Elsa Lanchester, Dennis Hopper, Robert Montgomery, Fred Astaire, Jean Simmons, Marlon Brando, Natalie Wood, William Powell, Loretta Young, and Cary Grant, to name just a few! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracey65k Posted August 15, 2005 Share Posted August 15, 2005 Good question! Hmmm, I'll have to think about this one, because while I know who I like to watch, I'm not sure if I like them because they are good at what they do or because they can actually act... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyweekes70 Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 Yes, tracey, I think who we watch and who we respect are definitely distinct. For instance, I love Errol Flynn and vastly prefer him to Laurence Olivier (who I actually don't hold in high regard, but I know others do) but I don't think he's ever been given his due as an actor. These days, I'm always impressed with David Thewlis (whose work I don't see enough of) but my tastes change from day-to-day so if I let this one fester I'll probably never come up with a single name, or names, for Best Acting Ability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodgnoc Posted September 10, 2005 Share Posted September 10, 2005 She isn't 'classic', but the best actress today is Cate Blanchett. She's extraordinary. Nobody even comes close to her. Acting ability in SPADES. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhryun Posted September 12, 2005 Author Share Posted September 12, 2005 Oh, I forgot to include the man whom I think is the most versatile and commanding male actor alive today ---- JEFFREY WRIGHT ---- Made for TV "Boycott" portraying Dr. M.L.King, Jr.; the character of "Peoples" in the Samuel Jackson, "Shaft"; the young man dying of AIDS in HBO's "Angels in America"; Bill Murray's next store neighbor in "Broken Flowers", (an awful film). He has yet to breakthrough... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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