Premiere Magazine's 50 Greatest Movie Stars

[odinn7]

True, many of Clint's movies involved the same type of character but you may be overlooking some great performances. For the most part I would clump the Dirty Harry character in with his gun slinging characters. They are all fairly similar in attitude and style.  But you have quite different and believable characters in:
Firefox
The Beguiled (excellent movie BTW)
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Play Misty For Me
Kelley's Heroes (awesome movie)
Escape from Alcatraz (who could forget this one?)

Even his comedic roles were played out well (Every Which Way But Loose). The unfortunate thing is that most people think about him as a gunslinger or Dirty Harry. I admit, these are the first roles that pop into my mind when his name comes up but he has done so much more that is quite often overlooked in the whole picture. Anyway, I admit that I am biased too as he has been my "hero" since as far back as I can remember. I've always looked up to Clint as an actor and a great person in general.

[abazzio]

My criterion for selecting an actor for the top 50 was really an answer to the question: "how rich a legacy did this actor leave for the film-goers of tomorrow?"   On that basis, I'm pretty comfortable with putting Jimmy Stewart at the top of the list, since his legacy is truly a wonder to behold.    

The first 25 selections came much easier to me than the last 25.  It was tough passing over the likes of Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, Joseph Cotten, Ingrid Bergman, Lee Marvin and many others.   I wouldn't have a problem with anyone substituting some of those names for any of my more controversial picks.  

For me, the most egregious omission on Premiere's list was Burt Lancaster.  I still can't figure that one out.  Choosing Will Smith or  Doris Day over Burt  is like picking the batboy to pinch-hit for Babe Ruth.