The Second Handsomest Man

OK, I'll grant that Cary Grant (ne Archibald Leach) was Hollywood's handsomest leading man -- and for the long span between the early screwball comedies (playing opposite Katharine Hepburn, Irene Dunne, and Rosalind Russell) and the later thrillers (with leading ladies Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Eva Marie Saint, and Audrey Hepburn).

But who is number two? I would nominate the Clark Gable of "It Happened One Night," "GWTW," and "The Hucksters." How about you? Would you choose the young Gregory Peck of "Ten O'Clock High," or maybe Robert Mitchum in "Out of the Past," or William Holden in "The Bridge On the River Kwai"? Or Paul Newman, Warren Beatty, Burt Lancaster, Steve McQueen, Dana Andrews in "Laura," and I'm sure I've overlooked an obvious contender on the order of Clint Eastwood, Marlon Brando, Robert Redford, Woody Allen, George Clooney, and a whole raft of British actors from Laurence Olivier to Errol Flynn.

Let us know what you think.

Comments

[Sylvie Planet]

Have you seen "Johnny Guitar"? If you do, you might consider Joan Crawford.

[Laura Orem]

Ronald Coleman in "A Tale of Two Cities."

[terence winch]

We were watching "Gone with the Wind" on tv the other night, and Susan, my wife, told me that Clark Gable had such bad breath that Vivien Leigh could barely stand being in the same room with him, never mind kiss him. I think that's enough to remove him from contention.

[Laura Orem]

I've heard that, too. He had false teeth, which seemed to be the problem.

[DL]

So whom would you nominate, Terry?
Coleman is a good choice, LO. I believe I have stinted the Brits -- let alone the Scots (James Bond)-- and the French (Jean Gabin, Charles Boyer).