TomJH Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 And I'm including actresses, too, of course, in this thread. Who were those performers who simply knock you out with their charm on screen? Those actors or actresses for whom you melt because of their personalities? They don't have to be the best actors in their field, necessarily, or, for that matter, the most beautiful or handsome either. These are the ones that you think just drip with on screen charm. For myself I would pick two, if I had to boil it down. I'm thinking of both of them during their prime period as stars. ERROL FLYNN, during his prime years period in the movies from 1938 (Robin Hood) to 1942 (Gentleman Jim). It was a combination of things for the screen's most famous swashbuckler (who did a fair amount of swashbuckling off screen, as well). People who knew Flynn say that his charm off screen matched that that we saw captured on camera. But Flynn's boyish charm and energy on screen was combined with a physical elegance that is quite unusual for an actor who specialized as an action hero. But it was his personality during his heyday that I think dazzled me perhaps more than anything else about him. That's why I saw him as so many cuts above those of other leading men that some might argue matched his physical attractiveness. JAMES GARNER, for a lengthy period in his career, probably reaching a peak with The Rockford Files in the mid to late 1970s. There's been a lot of talk about this actor lately now that we've lost him. But as incredibly handsome as he was, Garner never came across as a guy with ego. He had that everyman charm. It's hard for me to think of any other actor that has give me quite so much pleasure as this man when his casual down-to-earth affability was at play, and he was using his face for subtle comic effect. Flynn and Garner, my nominations as the two most charming actors of the movies, though there are sure plenty of others that could be named, as well. Anyone else care to a favourite of their own? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swithin Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Actually, I don't think charm and charisma are the same thing, in contemporary usage. If you combine the two, how do you keep this thread from turning into yet another "favorite actors" thread? Here is an actress whom I think is quite charming: Ann Harding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomJH Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share Posted August 6, 2014 Actually, I don't think charm and charisma are the same thing, in contemporary usage. If you combine the two, how do you keep this thread from turning into yet another "favorite actors" thread? I'm not certain about that. But I edited my first post because I don't want to get into a matter of semantics on word definitions. Thanks for your comments, Swithin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepiatone Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Can't have this conversation without mention of CARY GRANT. I would add David Niven. Sepiatone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogie56 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Ronald Colman - king of charm Leslie Howard Hugh Grant - making a career out of it, like it or not Herbert Marshall then there's charm with a dangerous edge. Endless ... George Sanders Basil Rathbone Charles Boyer Anton Walbrook bumpkin charm ... Gary Cooper suave charm ... Maurice Chevalier child's charm. Also endless ... Elizabeth Taylor Roddy McDowell Margaret O'Brien Charm without so much the sex appeal? ... Cecil Kellaway Henry Travers S.Z. 'Cuddles' Sakall psychotic charm? Victor Buono ... kidding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kay Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Robert Donat. When I think of charm I think of him, and vice-versa. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Greer Garson and William Powell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenRipper66 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Dead - Actor: Cary Grant Actress: Carole Lombard Alive - Actor: Johnny Depp Actress: Scarlett Johansson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGayDivorcee Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Ronald Colman and Anna Lee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosebette Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Well, it's hard to top Flynn, but I would say Cary Grant would be my top nominee for actors of the past. Fred Astaire was also very charming; I have a recording of some of his songs that he did with Oscar Peterson in the 50s -- you'd think he was singing to me in my living room, they are so conversational and intimate. Garner -- very charming, kind of an American Grant with a touch of earthy cynicism. Living actors -- George Clooney, hands-down. I also find Hugh Jackman has huge charm as an off-screen stage personality, but it is quite different from his screen persona. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelenBaby2 Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Lots of great people listed. I will add William Powell and Myrna Loy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Well, it's hard to top Flynn, but I would say Cary Grant would be my top nominee for actors of the past. Fred Astaire was also very charming; I have a recording of some of his songs that he did with Oscar Peterson in the 50s -- you'd think he was singing to me in my living room, they are so conversational and intimate. Garner -- very charming, kind of an American Grant with a touch of earthy cynicism. Living actors -- George Clooney, hands-down. I also find Hugh Jackman has huge charm as an off-screen stage personality, but it is quite different from his screen persona. I agree with Cary Grant and my actress choice would be Greer Garson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosebette Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I didn't choose a female actor. That's a tough one -- my top picks would be Irene Dunne, Jean Arthur, and Myrna Loy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodGuysWearBlack Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Ronald Colman Herbert Marshall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newclassicfilmfan1 Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 I would cast my vote for William Holden - the most charming, handsome actor I've seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dargo Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 I would cast my vote for William Holden - the most charming, handsome actor I've seen. Hmmmmmm...gotta say while Bill has always been one of my favorites too, I'm not so sure if I would consider a man with a large number of his roles being of the "cynical" type as necessarily "charming". In fact, I recall many of his roles when he played this type as being somewhat disdainful of "charm", and that in those roles he would pride himself as being a "realist" and often distrustful of "courtesies". (...but hey, maybe not, eh) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newclassicfilmfan1 Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 I found William Holden charming - his face, smile, mannerisms, even if he was playing a role not meant to be charming - I don't care - that man was charming. I envy any actress who got to play against him - especially in a romantic role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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