Greatest Film Performances by Year (US/UK)

Tim · **Joined:** Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:47 pm **Posts:** 11198

So:

1. James Stewart - It's a Wonderful Life
2. Fredric March - The Best Years of Our Lives
3. Olivia de Havilland - To Each His Own
4. Ingrid Bergman - Notorious
5. Claude Rains - Notorious
6. Donna Reed - It's a Wonderful Life
7. Humphrey Bogart - The Big Sleep
8. Cary Grant - Notorious
9. Lana Turner - The Postman Alaways Rings Twice
10. Gregory Peck - The Yearling

11. Rosalind Russell - Sister Kenny
12. Jennifer Jones - A Duel in the Sun
13. Harold Peters - The Best Years of Our Lives
14. Jane Wyman - The Yearling
15. Lionel Barrymore - It's a Wonderful Life
16. Dana Andrews - The Best Years of Our Lives
17. Rita Hayworth - Gilda
18. Henry Travers - It's a Wonderful Life
19. Henry Fonda - My Darling Clementine
20. Burt Lancaster - The Killers

Tim · **Joined:** Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:47 pm **Posts:** 11198

Bruno wrote:

Tim wrote:

Bruno wrote:

Tim wrote:

Woody Allen has so far only one appearence on these lists. How about adding Zelig to 1983 list or, say, Play It Again, Sam to 1972?

I don’t know if these performances surpass the established top 20. In fact, I always thought he was a little high on the actors list.

Well, I think I can see your point given that Allen is one of the weakest names in top 100 in terms of (acting) acclaim. However, I think he makes it up in other categories given how iconic his persona is and the fact that he appeared prominently in so many classics.

I understand, but I think it's not enough to be ahead of Bridges in a actors list, for example.

Ok, I will move him down some.

Bruno · **Joined:** Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:00 am **Posts:** 3702

The 1946’s list looks good.

Bruno · **Joined:** Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:00 am **Posts:** 3702

Tim wrote:

Ok, I will move him down some.

Good.

Tim · **Joined:** Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:47 pm **Posts:** 11198

1945
1. Ray Milland - The Lost Weekend
2. Joan Crawford - Mildred Pierce
3. Ingrid Bergman - Spellbound
4. Celia Johnson - Brief Encounter
5. Greer Garson - The Valley of Decision
6. Trevor Howard - Brief Encounter
7. Gene Tierney - Leave Her to Heaven
8. Gregory Peck - Spellbound
9. Cornel Wilde - Leave Her to Heaven
10. Gene Kelly - Anchors Aweigh

11. Bing Crosby - The Bells of St. Mary's
12. Cornel Wilde - A Song to Remember
13. Ingrid Bergman - The Bells of St. Mary's
14. Jennifer Jones - Love Letters
15. Angela Lansbury - The Picture of Dorian Gray
16. Ann Blyth - Mildred Pierce
17. Robert Mitchum - The Story of G.I. Joe
18. Eve Arden - Mildred Pierce
19. James Dunn - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
20. J. Carrol Naish - A Medal for Benny

Bruno · **Joined:** Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:00 am **Posts:** 3702

Good job.

1. Ray Milland - The Lost Weekend
2. Joan Crawford - Mildred Pierce
3. Ingrid Bergman - Spellbound
4. Celia Johnson - Brief Encounter
5. Gregory Peck - Spellbound
6. Ingrid Bergman - The Bells of St. Mary's
7. Greer Garson - The Valley of Decision
8. Trevor Howard - Brief Encounter
9. Gene Tierney - Leave Her to Heaven
10. Gene Kelly - Anchors Aweigh

11. Cornel Wilde - Leave Her to Heaven
12. Bing Crosby - The Bells of St. Mary's
13. Angela Lansbury - The Picture of Dorian Gray
14. Robert Mitchum - The Story of G.I. Joe
15. Cornel Wilde - A Song to Remember
16. Jennifer Jones - Love Letters
17. J. Carrol Naish - A Medal for Benny
18. Ann Blyth - Mildred Pierce
19. Robert Montgomery - They Were Expendable
20. James Dunn - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Tim · **Joined:** Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:47 pm **Posts:** 11198

So:

1. Ray Milland - The Lost Weekend
2. Joan Crawford - Mildred Pierce
3. Ingrid Bergman - Spellbound
4. Celia Johnson - Brief Encounter
5. Greer Garson - The Valley of Decision
6. Trevor Howard - Brief Encounter
7. Gregory Peck - Spellbound
8. Gene Tierney - Leave Her to Heaven
9. Gene Kelly - Anchors Aweigh
10. Ingrid Bergman - The Bells of St. Mary's

11. Bing Crosby - The Bells of St. Mary's
12. Cornel Wilde - Leave Her to Heaven
13. Angela Lansbury - The Picture of Dorian Gray
14. Robert Mitchum - The Story of G.I. Joe
15. Cornel Wilde - A Song to Remember
16. Jennifer Jones - Love Letters
17. J. Carrol Naish - A Medal for Benny
18. Ann Blyth - Mildred Pierce
19. Robert Montgomery - They Were Expendable
20. James Dunn - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Tim · **Joined:** Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:47 pm **Posts:** 11198

1944
1. Ingrid Bergman - Gaslight
2. Barbara Stanwyck - Double Indemnity
3. Laurence Olivier - Henry V
4. Cary Grant - Arsenic And Old Lace
5. Charles Boyer - Gaslight
6. Humphrey Bogart - To Have and Have Not
7. Bing Crosby - Going My Way
8. Barry Fitzgerald - Going My Way
9. Cary Grant - None But The Lonely Heart
10. Elizabeth Taylor - National Velvet

11. Alexander Knox - Wilson
12. Lauren Bacall - To Have and Have Not
13. Claudette Colbert - Since You Went Away
14. Greer Garson - Mrs. Parkington
15. Bette Davis - Mr. Skeffington
16. Fred MacMurray - Double Indemnity
17. Clifton Webb - Laura
18. Angela Lansbury - Gaslight
19. Margaret O'Brien - Meet Me in St. Louis
20. Anne Revere - National Velvet

Bruno · **Joined:** Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:00 am **Posts:** 3702

1944
1. Ingrid Bergman - Gaslight
2. Laurence Olivier - Henry V
3. Barbara Stanwyck - Double Indemnity
4. Bing Crosby - Going My Way
5. Barry Fitzgerald - Going My Way
6. Cary Grant - None But The Lonely Heart
7. Alexander Knox - Wilson
8. Charles Boyer - Gaslight
9. Humphrey Bogart - To Have and Have Not
10. Cary Grant - Arsenic And Old Lace

11. Elizabeth Taylor - National Velvet
12. Lauren Bacall - To Have and Have Not
13. Claudette Colbert - Since You Went Away
14. Greer Garson - Mrs. Parkington
15. Bette Davis - Mr. Skeffington
16. Fred MacMurray - Double Indemnity
17. Margaret O'Brien - Meet Me in St. Louis
18. Anne Revere - National Velvet
19. Ethek Barrymore - None But The Lonely Heart
20. Dick Powell - Murder, My Sweet

Tim · **Joined:** Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:47 pm **Posts:** 11198

Some tricky disagreements. Mind giving your reasoning on some of them? I am think that, despite lack of Academy nomination, Grant's performance in Arsenic And Old Lace is more notable of two. Also not sure how well Crosby's reputation as actor held up, top 10, sure but top 5? As a role of thumb, as we go further back in time, lasting acclaim and popularity should prevail over initial one imo.

Bruno · **Joined:** Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:00 am **Posts:** 3702

Well, on a second thought, I believe you're right about the Grant's performances. “Arsenic And Old Lace" is the most acclaimed these days and usually appears more on his best performances lists.

I also have no problem with Crosby out of the top 5, although both "Going My Way" performances are acclaimed and deserves the top 8 at least.

1. Ingrid Bergman - Gaslight
2. Laurence Olivier - Henry V
3. Barbara Stanwyck - Double Indemnity
4. Cary Grant - Arsenic And Old Lace
5. Charles Boyer - Gaslight
6. Humphrey Bogart - To Have and Have Not
7. Bing Crosby - Going My Way
8. Barry Fitzgerald - Going My Way
9. Alexander Knox - Wilson
10. Cary Grant - None But The Lonely Heart

11. Elizabeth Taylor - National Velvet
12. Lauren Bacall - To Have and Have Not
13. Claudette Colbert - Since You Went Away
14. Greer Garson - Mrs. Parkington
15. Bette Davis - Mr. Skeffington
16. Fred MacMurray - Double Indemnity
17. Margaret O'Brien - Meet Me in St. Louis
18. Anne Revere - National Velvet
19. Ethek Barrymore - None But The Lonely Heart
20. Dick Powell - Murder, My Sweet

Tim · **Joined:** Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:47 pm **Posts:** 11198

Thoughts on Stanwyck v Olivier? Double Indemnity is more notable movie than Henry V and probably Stanwyck's career performance. And I'd probably keep Clifton Webb in the top 20.

Bruno · **Joined:** Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:00 am **Posts:** 3702

Laurence's "Henry V" wins on initial acclaim and is among his top 10 performances, but I can see Barbara in #2. “Double Indemnity” is her best performance along with “The Lady Eve”.

So:

1. Ingrid Bergman - Gaslight
2. Barbara Stanwyck - Double Indemnity
3. Laurence Olivier - Henry V
4. Cary Grant - Arsenic And Old Lace
5. Charles Boyer - Gaslight
6. Humphrey Bogart - To Have and Have Not
7. Bing Crosby - Going My Way
8. Barry Fitzgerald - Going My Way
9. Alexander Knox - Wilson
10. Cary Grant - None But The Lonely Heart

11. Elizabeth Taylor - National Velvet
12. Lauren Bacall - To Have and Have Not
13. Claudette Colbert - Since You Went Away
14. Greer Garson - Mrs. Parkington
15. Bette Davis - Mr. Skeffington
16. Fred MacMurray - Double Indemnity
17. Margaret O'Brien - Meet Me in St. Louis
18. Clifton Webb - Laura
19. Ethek Barrymore - None But The Lonely Heart
20. Dick Powell - Murder, My Sweet

Tim · **Joined:** Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:47 pm **Posts:** 11198

1943
1. Jennifer Jones - The Song Of Bernadette
2. Paul Lukas - Watch on the Rhine
3. Joseph Cotten - Shadow of a Doubt
4. Ingrid Bergman - For Whom the Bell Tolls
5. Jean Arthur - The More the Merrier
6. Greer Garson - Madame Curie
7. Joan Fontaine - The Constant Nymph
8. Roger Livesey - The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp
9. Joel McCrea - The More the Merrier
10. Mickey Rooney - The Human Comedy

11. Gary Cooper - For Whom the Bell Tolls
12. Charles Coburn - The More the Merrier
13. Joan Fontaine - Jane Ayre
14. Henry Fonda - The Ox-Bow Incident
15. Humphrey Bogart - Sahara
16. Walter Pidgeon - Madame Curie
17. Dana Andrews - The Ox-Bow Incident
18. Akim Tamiroff - For Whom the Bell Tolls
19. Ida Lupino - The Hard Way
20. Charles Bickford - The Song Of Bernadette

Bruno · **Joined:** Fri Nov 25, 2011 8:00 am **Posts:** 3702

Great job.

1943
1. Jennifer Jones - The Song Of Bernadette
2. Paul Lukas - Watch on the Rhine
3. Joseph Cotten - Shadow of a Doubt
4. Ingrid Bergman - For Whom the Bell Tolls
5. Jean Arthur - The More the Merrier
6. Greer Garson - Madame Curie
7. Joan Fontaine - The Constant Nymph
8. Roger Livesey - The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp
9. Katina Paxinou - For Whom the Bell Tolls
10. Mickey Rooney - The Human Comedy

11. Joel McCrea - The More the Merrier
12. Gary Cooper - For Whom the Bell Tolls
13. Charles Coburn - The More the Merrier
14. Joan Fontaine - Jane Eyre
15. Henry Fonda - The Ox-Bow Incident
16. Humphrey Bogart - Sahara
17. Walter Pidgeon - Madame Curie
18. Deborah Kerr - The Life & Death of Colonel Blimp
19. Akim Tamiroff - For Whom the Bell Tolls
20. Teresa Wright - Shadow of a Doubt

Greatest Film Performances by Year (US/UK)

Who is online