Who's the best actor of all time?

[dpgmel]

I suspose I'm the only one who is going to mention my avatar in this thread ?

[Mr Sloane]

My choices



Charles Laughton

Bogey

Spencer Tracey

Katherine Hepburn

Meryl Streep

Barbara Stanwyck

Bette Davis

Angela Lansbury

Pete Postlewaite

John Simm

Julie Walters

Claude Rains

Trevor Howard

Sydney Greenstreet

Peter Lorre

Irene Handl

Gary Oldman

Lindsey Coulson

Maggie Smith

Vannessa Redgrave

Alan Bates

Cary Grant

Robert Newton

Alastair Sim

Alec Guiness

Thora Hird

Judi Dench



and many more ....



but not forgetting Bugs Bunny

[Mustard Pies]

For me, 'Who's the best actor of all time?' would be an almost impossible question to answer.

[icetorch]

My choices

Vanessa Redgrave

- - - -

but not forgetting Bugs Bunny

Vanessa Redgrave, yes. In her best films, she absolutely transforms herself. My absolute favourite is the 1980 TV movie, "Playing for Time", in which she plays a concentration camp inmate. Riveting. Unfortunately it is yet to be issued as region 2 DVD.

Bugs Bunny?! Why, that'th DETHPICABLE! Daffy Duck is surely a Shakespearean compared to that second-rate Groucho Marx wannabe.

[Tonch]

I applaud DdraigGoch for the ambitious, breathtaking cheek of setting such a deliciously impossible question to launch this thread

You could drive yourself round the bend trying to thrash out an answer; instead I will offer just two names which always spring to my mind when great actors are mentioned:

John Thaw, whom I never once saw deliver a poor performance and could play very different characters utterly convincingly, the hallmark of a truly great actor. Try as I might I cannot watch D.I. Jack Regan of The Sweeney and imagine the same man is Chief Inspector Morse from Thames Valley. And vice versa... when absorbed in Morse I just can't believe he was Regan. Brilliant.

But "All Time"?

No contest for me.

George Sanders, who made the whole business of acting look completely effortless.

[vincenzo]

Spencer Tracy, with Marlon Brando a very close second.

[will.15]

Sonny Tufts.

[TimR]

British:

John Mills
Deborah Kerr

US:

Spencer Tracy
Lillian Gish

Best single performance, regardless of nation:

Victor Mclaglen The Informer
Renee Jeanne Falconetti The Passion of Joan of Arc

[didi-5]

Best single performance, regardless of nation:

Victor Mclaglen The Informer
Renee Jeanne Falconetti The Passion of Joan of Arc

Totally agree about Falconetti. What a breathtaking performance she gave as Joan, and in her only film! She was a comedienne on the French stage, I believe? But look into her eyes in those close-ups and you really do believe she is the Maid herself.

[Elaine]

Who is the best actor of all...now let me see, ummm. Frowning while scatching my head. No it's totally impossible, just impossible. Too many to mention. I would be here all night if I tried. I give up..

[Edward G]

No need to spend all night, Elaine.
Charles Spencer Chaplin.
Now go and make yourself a nice cup of tea!

[Elaine]

Just had a thought. No surprise really. If we are mentioning our favourites. No contest really for me, Jack Hedley. No jokes please..I am biased. Sigh...

[batman]

Just had a thought. No surprise really. If we are mentioning our favourites. No contest really for me, Jack Hedley. No jokes please..I am biased. Sigh...

No jokes from me .... I mentioned Maxwell Reed in this thread!

[Elaine]

Good on ya. I like Maxwell Read, Batman.

[batman]

Good on ya. I like Maxwell Read, Batman.

Good on ya too!

[Santonix]

I'm a big fan of Jack Nicholson and think he is one of the very best actors around today.