The Legends Of Hollywood

[Uncle Stevie]

I have been wondering where my euphoria comes from when I watch musicals. Is it the always happy scripts? Is it the beautiful women? Is it the divine music? No it is not any of those although they contribute to the moment.

What it turns out to be is talent. Not just a little but a whole bunch of talent. When I watch any movie I take in the story and live the moments but then all at once someone special walks onto the screen. Tell me you don't come alive and relax in the comfort of a Judy Garland or a Gene Kelly or a Deanna Durbin or a Cyd Charisse. These people take over the screen with a confidence and talent that is incomparable. When I watch Opera and enjoy the singing and suddenly a Grace Moore or a Lily Pons or a Kathryn Grayson or Mario Lanza or Luciana Pavarotti come into view. Suddenly the movie becomes a comfort chair and all will be well from now on. That extraordinary talent just wraps it's arms around me and lulls me into a sense of euphoria that cannot be duplicated by any drug.

I love dominating talent and find myself skipping passages in a movie until a Jane Powell or Frank Sinatra or a Marilyn Monroe hit the screen. They wake me up and when I see them they kind of say "all is well in Tinsel Town" I can now enjoy what I am about to see.

The above examples are just some of my favorites but all of you have your own heroes and heroines. Just think of who makes you happy ALL the time. Those are the legends of Hollywood and I love them all.

Uncle Stevie

[MissGoddess]

Ones that make me watch whatever they are in (I assume you are limiting
this to on camera talent, not directors, etc):

Gary Cooper
Clark Gable
Vivien Leigh
Carole Lombard
Marilyn Monroe
Spencer Tracy
Ava Gardner
Humphrey Bogart
Frank Sinatra
Natalie Wood
Lana Turner
Hedy Lamarr
Robert Ryan
James Stewart
Rod Taylor
Henry Fonda
Richard Boone
Harry Carey (sr and jr)
Ronald Colman
Richard Burton
Elizabeth Taylor
Gene Tierney
Kim Novak
Myrna Loy
William Powell
Frank McHugh
Jimmy Cagney
Edward G. Robinson
Errol Flynn
Thelma Ritter
Walter Brennan
Robert Mitchum
John Wayne

and I could go on and on, truly.

[mrsl]

.
But Uncle Stevie you've hit the very reason they are all legends - talent. It's in rare quantity these days, especially the triple threats of actor, singer and dancer. It's the reason we all still watch and treasure their movies. There are a lot of movies today that I like, but I don't buy, rent, or copy them because one viewing is enough. Now and then I'll run across one that is different - most of Clint Eastwoods' are so engrossing, but he's a rare commodity. And, if I see one that I think I'll want to see again, I will tape it just to have around in case the mood strikes me.
.

[ken123]

Well here a list of y favorites in no special order.
Gals: Guys:

Joan Bennett Movita Spencer Tracy Dont Like:
Barbara Hale Jimmy Stewart Betty Hutton
Linda Darnell Greer Garson Henry Fonda Mickey Rooney
Gale Sondergaard Ginger Rogers John Wayne Jerry Lewis
Ann Sheridan Katharine Hepburn James Cagney
Marsha Hunt Myrna Loy Edward G. Robinson
Maureen O' Hara Ann Dvorak Humphrey Bogart
Ella Raines Jan Sterling William Demarest
Barbara Stanwyck Rita Johnson Frank McHugh
Joan Blondell Marilyn Monroe Robert Mitchum
Dorothy Lamour Geraldine Fiztgerald VictorMcLaglen
Helen Walker Anne Jeffreys William Powell
Paulette Goddard Claire Trevor Cary Grant
Eve Arden Jeanette MacDonald ( sans Mr. Eddy )
Patricia Morison John Garfield
Alan Hale Sr

[mrsl]

.
ken 123:

You kind of lost me. You say "Don't like:", then proceed to list all sorts of names. Did you mean all the names after the colon were your dislikes? . . . or just Joan Bennett, Movita, and Spencer Tracy? You have half of the Golden Age of Hollywood listed, which is what is confusing.
.

[ken123]

mrsl,
Sorry that post got so scrambled - Domy like - Betty Hutton, Mickey Rooney, & Jerry Lewis. All the rest are like very much.