Another: I was thinking when I wrote earlier, how would I rate the great classic actresses. I wonder if some of them were robbed of being considered a great actress by their beauty. In other words, everyone was so stuck on their beauty, they missed their acting prowess. As you say, Marilyn Monroe had unnoticed skills. I, too, have never ranked Katherine Hepburn as highly as most critics. She’s good, but she will never be even close to my top-5 discussion.
I guess Bette Davis is the best. Perhaps she was overwrought in some scenes, but she dominated scenes like some of the great actors I mentioned. She could do whatever she wanted as evidenced in The Man Who Came To Dinner when she wisely chose to reel it in and let someone else play it as she usually would. Joan Collins was the best all around star. Maureen O’Hara could run with the big boys and hold her own (that’s incredible with John Wayne and she was his best female lead). Barbara Stanwyck, Claudette Colbert, Myna Loy, Susan Hayward were all consistently good. Jean Arthur was the most unique. Ingrid Bergman is clearly one of the best, but just didn’t have the quantity of films the others had. But what she had were great classics. Ginger Rogers was the most versatile as she could dance (as good as Astaire), be uproariously funny, and still be solid in drama. You’ve already done some of these ladies, but a few of them need you to go back to give them what is now the Gold Standard J.T. Treatment!


Another New Note: I so enjoyed watching that. It was touching and authentic and I had never seen it before. Probably only he could have pulled that off. Of the great classic stars, he had the greatest dramatic range (even his eyes). I once read that he said that the stammering was because he struggled to remember his lines. John Wayne best dominated the screen. He was so larger than life. Gary Cooper is harder for me to explain. Perhaps he was the combination of the two--unique, more quietly dominating and somehow he out-acted everyone but you couldn't figure out how. Next on sheer acting was Fonda, Tracy, and Bogart, each with incredible uniqueness. The features you mentioned made all of them more enduring. Errol Flynn was the ultimate adventurer always erupting with that devilish grin. Gable was similar but with more polish. He too seemed larger than life. Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea were the perfect quiet rugged individuals with unfailing dependability. Cary Grant was so sophisticated and yet so funny. Bing Crosby was just fun and was the best singer for musicals. Bob Hope was hilarious...most of the time. I guess ranking them is silly, but they are in the upper stratosphere looking down on the many pedestrian actors of today.

New Note: I certainly never noticed that scene! I always read your write ups and comments. You share such interesting details I never knew even after years of watching classic films…..if you don’t have the 1930 version it must be exceedingly rare as you have such a near complete collection. I looked at it more closely and I only lack otherwise A Man From Wyoming beside some cameo appearances (Make Me a Star and Hollywood Blvd) ( I bet they’re rare too) ….I see you’re going to Cary Grant next. You are on the the big boys for sure! I’d love to hear your star rankings since I’m interacted with you. My top three: Wayne, Stewart and Cooper. My second tier is: Fonda, Tracy, Gable, Flynn, Randolph Scott, McCrea, Bogart, Tyrone Power and Bing Crosby. You’ve already done several of them. I’m so grateful to you!


J.T., I'm in complete agreement. He is in my top 3! He probably has 10-15 movies of the best films ever.

I love the collection you have given us here. I'll be saving many of them, and watching again soon. You put on some I've not seen. The only ones you haven't added are some of the first sound films of 1930. Are they super rare? I've always wanted to see "The Spoilers" to compare to John Wayne.
It's so awesome to see you back in the saddle. You are easily the G.O.A.T. of this archive.

Marjorie Mann scene with Cooper, Anthony Perkins and the three daughters at 48:00 is Hilarious

Another new message: Of all the movie critics Roger Ebert was my favorite. I found him honest. Here is a list of his top ten movies: https://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/ten-greatest-films-of-all-time Now a movie is the complete ball of wax. Directing, Acting, costumes, Script writing etc. Good acting between actors requires chemistry a rapport. I agree with what you have written describing the actors. How would you rank female actresses? I don't think people took Marilyn Monroe serious until she died. Katherine Hepburn to me always looked like she tried too hard which resulted in over acting that is why her best movies was with Spencer Tracy. One of the biggest complaints actors would charge other actors is that they would not make eye contact while acting.
New message: Well Jimmy you ask some interesting questions that I never think about. I have never ranked the actors I enjoy watching. Jimmy Stewart Touching Poem About His Dog Beau | Carson Tonight Show [ https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=jimmy+stewart+poem+a+dog+named+beau&mid=B735C7E86973ECA18BE3B735C7E86973ECA18BE3&FORM=VIRE ] Is a must watch if you like Mr Stewart. One of the the things I find as interesting are the actors who had obvious flaws but still became successes. Jimmy Stewart fought a stuttering problem, Humphrey Bogart had a lisp, John Wayne could not recite any dialogue without interjecting a pause, Pruitt Taylor Vince (The Legend of 1900 (1998)) has a terrible eye blinking problem.

I have the 1914 "THE SPOILERS" but not the 1930 version with Gary Cooper. Interesting FACT: In the 1942 version with Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott & John Wayne, Marlene Dietrich wears a SEE-THOUGH blouse (white knitted) in one of the saloon scenes (Starting at about 4:00 minutes in the movie). I wonder how this got past the censors of the time?
JTDIVER

Thank you so much for continuing to post these amazing films!! I've never seen most of his early talkies. Cooper is in my top three or five favorite male movie stars so I'm really loving this collection!