The Ten Best Academy Award "Best Actors"

Of all the Oscars for "Best Actor" here are the top 10.


1) William Holden - Stalag 17 - It made Holden a superstar and propelled him out of mediocre films. Wilder only considered Holden after Kirk Douglas and a few others turned him down. His blend of toughness, charm, and intelligence is hard to beat. Most actors including Douglas couldn't have pulled it off. Holden's character really isn't that likable and its only Holden's charm that allows us to root for "the crud" in the early part of the movie.
2) Brando - On the Waterfront - His second best, after Streetcar, but this one won the Oscar. The role fit the young Brando like a glove.
3) George C. Scott - Patton - A great performance Scott is Patton, even Patton's daughter was impressed. Scott was at the bottom of the casting list. Supposedly, every star including John Wayne, Heston, Lancaster, Douglas, and even Lee Marvin turned it down before Scott was given the role.
4) Cagney - Yankee Doodle Dandy - Again, Cagney is George Cohan. He signs, dances, and even acts. Another movie where the best actor dominates from start to finish without a misstep.
5) Bogart - African Queen - He was better in Treasure of Sierra Madre, but funny, pathetic, charming, and brave as "Charlie". He even makes us believe he's in love with Spinster Hepburn.
6) Harrison - My Fair Lady - The movie itself is a too literal adaptation of the play but Harrison's performance will live forever as the definitive "Professor Higgins".
7) De Niro - Raging Bull - An incredible performance that makes a bleak, unineresting movie come alive.
8) Olivier - Hamlet - The definitive performance.
9) Nicholson - One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Jack makes us root for a selfish psychopath. Like RAGING BULL this is a one man show.
10) Scofield - A Man for All Seasons - No one could have done better as Sir Thomas More.