Friday, October 2, 2009

Friday Night Fab Five: Let's Hear It For The Boys

So my post entitled "Where Were These Hotties When I Was Single?" led my favorite smiley user Julie to think that my post was going to be about mantastic actors from the 40's-50's. Unfortunately, as most of you saw, the title was referring to decidedly non-mantastic man-boys trying to find love through the medium of 80's video dating. *shudder*

I have been wanting to do a Fab Five of Hollywood actors, after all I've already done one on my five favorite actresses of the Golden Age so it stands to reason that the boys should follow. So thank you Julie for the kick in the butt and this one's for you! (And me because these actors are whoa baby woo hoo!)

1. Cary Grant


(Image courtesy of Rebel Without A Cause)

Grant was all man and then some. Although I'm not sure he'd be quite so dashing had he kept his birth name: Archibald Alexander Leach...nah, he'd still be tops for me! As a matter of fact, although he came to Hollywood with the first name "Cary" the studio was less thrilled with his chosen last name "Lockwood". It was decided he would instead use the name "Grant" because the initials "C" and "G" seemed to work for Clark Gable and Gary Cooper. (Wikipedia)

He was also the one to introduce Esther Williams to the wonders of LSD. Williams had heard about his successful treatment with the drug (then legal and prescribed by a doctor) and went to him for a referral. She also had successful results using the drug, which she claimed helped her come to terms with painful events in her past.

2. Sidney Poitier


(Image courtesy of Music2MyEars)

If you don't think Poitier is gorgeous, you need to go watch "To Sir With Love" right now! (Actually, any of his movies really) Go on, we'll wait...

Poitier was raised in the Bahamas although he was born in Florida quite by accident. His parents were in Miami selling produce from their farm and he came prematurely. Although "To Sir, With Love" is my favorite Poitier film, any movie from his extensive filmography is worth seeing. He became the first black actor to ever be nominated for an Academy award ("The Defiant Ones", 1958) and was the first black actor to receive an Academy award for his work in "Lilies of the Field" in 1963. (Wikipedia)

3. Jimmy Stewart


(Image courtesy of EmMe09)

Jimmy Stewart is not the first name to come to mind when you think of "hotties" and MGM had no idea what to do with him since he wasn't a "Gable" or "Grant". Ironically it was his shy, quiet, steadfast unplayboyish demeanor that drove the women of Hollywood wild including Marlene Dietrich, who he turned down (although her biography tells a different tale). I personally think he was a doll and still tear up all during "It's A Wonderful Life" (which was a bomb at the box office but it's showing years later to a whole new generation gave his career a much needed rebirth). He was best friends with Henry Fonda despite their polar opposite political beliefs and his "first" was none other than the fabulous Ginger Rogers.

4. Gene Kelly


(Image courtesy of EmMe09)

Gene Kelly...singer, dancer, actor and I know not what. And devilishly handsome in my opinion. He wanted to bring ballet to Hollywood and make it commercially acceptable and successful. He is best known for his work on the amazing film Xanadu. Okay, that's not true. (Although that's one of my favorites!) He of course is most well known for his work in "Singing in the Rain" and it's interesting to note that during the shooting of the actual "Singing in the Rain" musical number, the studio "rain" would be interrupted by surrounding neighborhoods using their lawn sprinklers and holes were dug in the floor to create the puddles Kelly stomps during the number.

Years ago I watched a documentary on Gene Kelly and I'll remember one particular bit for as long as I live. The interviewees were discussing Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire and one of them said this:

"You’d give your heart to Fred Astaire, but save your body for Gene Kelly"

I absolutely love this quote. Speaking of which...

5. Fred Astaire


(Image courtesy of danceonair1986)

Another that may never make the general public's top 100 boy toys but come on, look at him! He was debonair, dashing, distinguished and all of those other D words used to describe handsome men. Like Kelly he was multi-talented though not everyone thought so--->From Wikipedia: "According to Hollywood folklore, a screen test report on Astaire for RKO Pictures, now lost along with the test, is reported to have read: "Can't sing. Can't act. Balding. Can dance a little." But the man sure could work a suit...

And there you have it! My Fab Five (though not my only favorites which also include a large number of present day actors) for this week! Who are your favorite actors, past and/or present?

Before I sign off, I wanted to let you all know that I am now on Twitter and you can follow me by clicking HERE. And if you are on Twitter, please let me know so I can stalk...uh, I mean follow you!

Have a great weekend everyone!

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love your choice...have a good weekend

Anonymous said...

Cary Grant is the dreamiest dreamsicle in the history of dreamtopia!

Oh oh oh if I had ever met him, my picture would've been next to the word "Swoon" in the dictionary.

Build my dreamhouse. bring up my baby. ohhh yessssssss.......

PS your other four are all good choices too. its just that well, cary grant is my johnny depp....
XOXOXOXOXOX

laterg8r said...

what about rock hudson? totally hot, totally gay - typical LOL :D

love him :D

the men on your list are awesome! thanks for the smile :D

Tanner Cangelosi said...

your blog is too cute....I am a craftaholic.

Julie Ranae said...

What a fun list...and I am so glad it was from old Hollywood...much more 'dashing'!

Miss Matilda said...

smashing baby, smashing!

Anonymous said...

U got two of my faves, sidney poirtier and jimmy stewart.
I have to admit though, I love a few of the rat pack boys too...like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
I wish I was like 25 in the 50's so bad! :)

avintagespirit (Lizzy) said...

Oh, lovely post :)
I agree with Cary Grant, Sidney Poitier, and Jimmy Stewart all the way. And I really like Fred Astaire, though he is not classicaly handsome to be sure.
I personally would add Gregory Peck to the list, what a face and voice!

jacque4u2c said...

Still drooling........awesome post!!!!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Have
i
told
u
lately
that
i
l
o
v
e
e
e
e
e
e
e
U!!!!!??????!!!!!!

:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

*sigh*
Sidney
*sigh*
Jimmy
*sigh*
Gene

but don't forget my Uncles....lol lol lol...George and Frank were pretty hot too! LOL! :):):):):):):):):):):):):)

*sigh*
to sidney again
*sigh*
U ROCK! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

Karen said...

Mmmm.....what a splendid and lovely trip down memory lane! Oh wait. Couldn't be memory lane for me.....how about a glimpse of another time?! Anyhow, I certainly enjoyed myself taking in your Fab 5 this week! :>

Melanie said...

Wait, wait, wait! There's no Paul Newman on your list? How can this be? Did you get distracted by Aud and forgot to include him? (tsk, tsk!)

Molly Anne said...

I love these kind of lists.

I have a total crush on Jimmy Stewart! So I'm glad he made your list too. :)

That Crazy Ajumma said...

I have adored Gene Kelly since I was 15 when I first saw Singing in the rain.I have seen almost every movie he's ever been in.
Two days ago I finally got to see An American in Paris.
*sigh*
I love him.

A Vintage Revival said...

Add Montgomery Clift in there...talk about a dream boat!!!!!

debra@dustjacket said...

Really really love your choices. They are all fantastic in my eyes and so talented too.

Have a fab weekend honey,
xoxo

Lisa said...

You've picked some good ones, my dear! Being Italian, I'm partial to Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra :)

Aimee Kidd said...

Nice choices!! It has been on my to-do list for a couple of years to sit and watch some of the classic movies. It definitely would help to watch and drool over these hoties!! I agree with Melanie to add Paul Newman to the list! Even in his older age, I drool!

Carmen said...

Whoo whoo! Top totty! Have to agree with Jimmy Stewart - he was lovely! You'll laugh when I tell you who I loved... Danny Kaye and Jerry Lewis, must be true what they say about making a girl laugh ;)

Back to today and anything with Johnny Depp or Alan Rickman in and I'm there. And my all time number one actor crush comes in a very unlikely form... James Earl Jones. Oh man what a voice. Don't care what he looks like he only has to open his mouth and I melt! Swoon.

And of course Alice Cooper but he doesn't count as an actor dahling does he :D

The Vintage Kitten said...

Gene Kelly was gorgeous! *Swoony swoon swoon* X

Witchcrafted Life said...

Oh my, is anyone else suddenly feeling a trifle warm? Must be the heat radiating off those rather scrumptious gentlemen! :)


Your fellow lover of yesteryear men,
♥ Jessica

Anonymous said...

cary grant is super HOT!! steaming like flaming mozarella pizza! whooop!

Gretchen said...

Oh my gosh, I love your choice of the mantastic hotties from the old days! I'm a huge classic film fan, they just don't make 'em like they used to,...the films either. hee ;) I love your blog and am now a new follwer. I found you from the SITS site! Have a wonderful day! ~gretchen

yyam said...

Love your list Maggi!

I love the classics...and the leading men...I think it was hard to be a star then...you really had to sing, act and dance...

From The Owls' Nest said...

love your fab five....I always love the extra facts and information you include. Let's Hear it for the Boys!!!!

Anonymous said...

what?!? You are a twit now?!? Maggi! What am i going to do with you? ;)

Unknown said...

definitely sexy...all of them! great pics! i'm a twit too!