James Stewart IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, VERTIGO, REAR WINDOW, THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, HARVEY, THE MAN FROM LARAMIE, THE NAKED SPUR
Jimmy Stewart proves his worthiness to be on this list every Christmas. While his role as George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life might be his most recognizable it is only a small piece of a long and storied career. He was not only an Academy Award winner for Best Actor in The Philadelphia Story, he was also a decorated war veteran from World War II and the Vietnam War. Stewart was a famous figure in many Westerns including those he collaborated on with director Anthony Mann including: Winchester ’73, The Naked Spur, and The Man from Laramie. Another career defining partnership was with director Alfred Hitchcock. Together they made four films:Rope, Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and arguably their masterpiece Vertigo. While not a critical or box-office success at the time Vertigo is now one of Stewart’s most highly regarded films and features a career-best performance as John “Scottie” Ferguson. His body of work of work earned him an Academy Lifetime Achievement award in 1985.
I was slightly tortured about leaving Stewart off of my list, but wow I’m so glad (and weirdly happy for him, a deceased man I’ve never known) that he’s number one! I can live with that.
I was slightly tortured about leaving Stewart off of my list, but wow I am so glad he’s number one (and weirdly happy for him, a deceased man I’ve never met). I can live with that 🙂
It’s too bad Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks had to take up two spots on this list, since they are basically the same actor in two bodies (just kidding?). He seemed to play the versions same kind of role a lot, but the most recent watch of a film of his I saw was kind of different. In the western “Bandolero!” he played a gang member posing as a hangman so he could attempt to set the rest of the gang free at the gallows. I also liked him as the defense lawyer in “Anatomy of a Murder.” It contains great scenes with Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, and George C. Scott – who, by the way, is the only actor in my top 5 who didn’t make this Top 25.
I love Jimmy Stewart but he wasn’t even in my thoughts. He’d make my Top 25 maybe but this shocked me honestly. I think him being at the very top and Kurt Russell being so high are two of the big issues Tyler mentioned he had with the list. They’re certainly the talking points to me.
Is there a thread where people shared their picks? I figured now that countdown is done this is as good a spot as any. Here are my top 5 (caveat: I took off some that were shoe-ins and gave my points to ones I figured would need the help).
5.Gene Wilder (weeks before he died!)
4.Claude Rains
3.Nicolas Cage
2.Klaus Kinski
1.Takashi Shimura
Kinski is a very interesting choice. Are there any really noteworthy films he was in outside of his collabs with herzog? Not saying he wasn’t great in them, but what are some notables? I guess for a few dollars more?
When considering my criteria for this list I went with my gut, has brightly they shined, and whether I figured the listeners would under rate the actor. Because of this I took Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman off my list (for example). So, even though Kinski doesn’t have a ton of iconic roles I think he was such a unique screen presence and wanted someone like him on the list.
I was slightly tortured about leaving Stewart off of my list, but wow I’m so glad (and weirdly happy for him, a deceased man I’ve never known) that he’s number one! I can live with that.
I was slightly tortured about leaving Stewart off of my list, but wow I am so glad he’s number one (and weirdly happy for him, a deceased man I’ve never met). I can live with that 🙂
It’s too bad Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks had to take up two spots on this list, since they are basically the same actor in two bodies (just kidding?). He seemed to play the versions same kind of role a lot, but the most recent watch of a film of his I saw was kind of different. In the western “Bandolero!” he played a gang member posing as a hangman so he could attempt to set the rest of the gang free at the gallows. I also liked him as the defense lawyer in “Anatomy of a Murder.” It contains great scenes with Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, and George C. Scott – who, by the way, is the only actor in my top 5 who didn’t make this Top 25.
He’s a great “every man” kind of actor, but could he ever disappear into a role like Hoffman or Day-Lewis? Absolutely not.
I’d hate to see my favorite actors disappear, especially after I’ve already paid to see them.
LOL
I love Jimmy Stewart but he wasn’t even in my thoughts. He’d make my Top 25 maybe but this shocked me honestly. I think him being at the very top and Kurt Russell being so high are two of the big issues Tyler mentioned he had with the list. They’re certainly the talking points to me.
Is there a thread where people shared their picks? I figured now that countdown is done this is as good a spot as any. Here are my top 5 (caveat: I took off some that were shoe-ins and gave my points to ones I figured would need the help).
5.Gene Wilder (weeks before he died!)
4.Claude Rains
3.Nicolas Cage
2.Klaus Kinski
1.Takashi Shimura
Kinski is a very interesting choice. Are there any really noteworthy films he was in outside of his collabs with herzog? Not saying he wasn’t great in them, but what are some notables? I guess for a few dollars more?
He was in DOCTOR ZHIVAGO. It was only for a moment, but it was very effective.
Also wonderful in two of the greatest Euro-Westerns ever, A Bullet For The General and The Great Silence.
When considering my criteria for this list I went with my gut, has brightly they shined, and whether I figured the listeners would under rate the actor. Because of this I took Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman off my list (for example). So, even though Kinski doesn’t have a ton of iconic roles I think he was such a unique screen presence and wanted someone like him on the list.