Citizen's Top 62, 1930s Actors & Actresses

My #16 Favorite 30's Actress is

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My #16 Favorite 1930's Actor is

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I love Sir Laurence!

Greta Garbo

Oh dear, don't think I've ever actually watched Garbo in anything other than odd clips - shocking I know Suppose I ought to do my utmost to rectify that if I can before the countdown.

edit: Broke my embarrassing duck on Garbo fillums with Mata Hari which I found rather enjoyable and she certainly had a screen presence that imo was the perfect fit for it. Also watched Grand Hotel - once again she gives a good account and lights up the screen in her happier moments.

Laurence Olivier

Almost certainly would have had to endure Wuthering Heights at some point as a youngster but it would have been so long ago (and I'm not much of a Brontės fan anyway) so I doubt more than the odd frame would trigger any memory. Not seen anything else from his 30s output, I'll try and see if something is available at some point.

edit: Gave The Divorce Of Lady X a runout, an enjoyable enough watch overall (helped by the presence of the delightful Merle Oberon) but I have to say Olivier's performance in it is a little mixed imo. Also gave Perfect Understanding a watch - he's 'ok' in it (which is better than some), it's a fillum that starts abysmally and gradually improves as it plays out but doesn't improve enough imo to warrant advising anyone to go out of their way to watch it.

My #15 Favorite 30's Actress is

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My #15 Favorite 1930's Actor is

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Glenda Farrell

The name rings no bells tbh .... definitely will have seen her in Little Caesar back in my youth, need to revisit that one if I can find it; other than that I know of the character Torchy Blane but couldn't say whether I've ever seen any of that series of movies. I do already have Heat Lightning on my list to watch if I can find, and sadly I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang has eluded efforts to locate it thus far it. I'll have to see what else I can find of hers to watch (at least there's plenty of choices lol).

edit: Gave Little Caesar a run out this morning and she plays her supporting role well enough without really shining.

Gary Cooper

He was in The Stolen Jools you know Recent watches with him in include A Farewell To Arms, Alice In Wonderland, City Streets, Desire, I Take This Woman and Now And Forever - he's better in some than others, the only one I'd say he really disappointed me in was the latter in which I struggled to believe his character. I have Devil And The Deep and Souls At Sea lined up for viewings at some point and will see what else of his I can dig out.

edit: Watched Devil And The Deep this afternoon/evening, sadly an impaired print but mainly watchable and he plays his role in it well. Gave Souls At Sea a run out, not exactly what I was expecting so somewhat disappointing but Cooper gives a decent performance.

I've not seen any of the Torchy Blaine films myself, but I suspect they'd be to my liking.

Damn, they were all in The Stolen Jools. You've seen a goodly amount of Cooper. I've seen Souls At Sea recently, good watch. Not too memorable, but good sea and ship scenes that look believable.

My #14 Favorite 30's Actress is

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My #14 Favorite 1930's Actor is

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Judy Garland

Have to admit I'm not her biggest fan but I have of course seen The Wizard Of Oz countless times (who hasn't?) and I watched Babes In Arms not so long ago, surprisingly enjoyable despite Mickey Rooney also not being one of my favourites. I might have also seen Broadway Melody Of 1938 but if so it would have been as a youngling so doesn't count. I'll be honest and say that I have no plans to seek anything else of hers out in preparation for the countdown.

Peter Lorre

Ahhhhh, such contrast, great choice - my very favourite actor of all time. He's brilliant in M and for me enhances just about anything he's in. There's a number of his 30s output I'm hoping to revisit before the countdown (yep, including his 'yellowface' Mr. Moto series ).

edit: Gave What Women Dream an outing this morning and he plays his part wonderfully in what is a delightful romantic dramedy (co-written by Billy Wilder) that sadly is unlikely to even be seen by many on here let alone stand a chance of making the 1930s countdown. Also watched Hitch's Secret Agent and imo Lorre's character actually harms proceedings at times but I lay that more at the director's feet than those of the actor. Watched I'll Give A Million yesterday in which he gives an ok supporting performance in a modestly entertaining affair and today started on rewatching his Mr. Moto franchise with Think Fast, Mr. Moto a reasonably entertaining introduction to the series that sees him well suited to the generally laconic role. #Mr. Moto update ... 3 down, lots still to go

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That's one I need to see. I'm pretty sure I haven't seen Broadway Melody of 1938. Then again I don't keep track so it's how to remember back.

*waits patiently for #13s

Ha, I know, I know I was thinking of this thread yesterday as I had free time, but I had the HoF stuff to do. I'm thinking I might have a half work day on this Friday, maybe then

My #13 Favorite 30's Actress is

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My #13 Favorite 1930's Actor is
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936) The second full feature, three-strip Technicolor film ever made, and the first one to be shot outside on location.

Jezebel (1938) A film that you will see listed here on my countdown again!

The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) A bio-pic.

Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) Another bio-pic.

Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) Another film that will be showing up on this countdown again!


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Katherine Hepburn

Such a renowned actress yet looking through her 30s filmography I think the only one I've actually seen is Bringing Up Baby - a much loved film by many but not by me sadly ... though that's more down to a dislike for the material in general and Grant's performance. I might give Little Women a spin at some point and see if anything else of hers from that period is available.

edit: Gave Quality Street a watch, she gives a good performance as per usual and whilst the film is a fairly unspectacular affair it's also a reasonably enjoyable one.

Henry Fonda

Such a likeable actor. Again embarrassingly light on being conversant with his 30s output though - most likely saw Jesse James and Drums Along The Mohawk in my childhood and Jezebel is a film I have a lot of time for but, just scanning the titles, that's about all I can lay claim to (and even then two of those can't really be counted lol). I'll certainly try and see if I can lessen the embarrassment a little in the coming weeks.

I hated Bringing Up Baby when I first watched it some years ago. Then it was nominated in the 11th Hof, and I watched it again and still hated it! But...I had the DVD so the next night I rewatched it yet again, but this time with the commentary track with Peter Bogdanovich, who just loved the film! It gave me a new appreciation for the movie, but still I didn't like it. Then it was choose as a Director Dissection film and I watched it for the 4th time, and by then I actually started to like it. I guess familiarity worked on me! But yeah I can see why people don't like it.

I've tried it three or four times I think, last time was toward the end of last year (yeah, I've been working on 30s films for a while so I don't feel oversaturated like I did with the 40s), sadly I still don't feel any real love for it so I very much doubt I ever will.