1. Jack Nicholson, 1970-1975
The Streak: Five Easy Pieces, Carnal Knowledge, The King Of Marvin Gardens, The Last Detail, Chinatown, The Passenger, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Barring a few odds and ends (A Safe Place, The Fortune), Jack Nicholson's five year streak at the beginning of the 70s marks perhaps the greatest from any performer of the period, and certainly the greatest run in its most distinctive actor's glorious career. From Five Easy Pieces and its chicken salad speech, to Carnal Knowledge and Nicholson's drop of the first ever C-bomb in American film history, to his one-two of films for Bob Rafleson (Marvin Gardens), and Hal Ashby (The Lat Detail), to his iconic work in my contender for the Greatest Film of All Time, Chinatown, to his Oscar-winning turn in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, everything about this Nicholson streak screams mercurial brilliance. Late to acting fame - he was 32 when he appeared in breakout hit Easy Rider - Nicholson wasted no time once he got going, churning out role after impressive role in some of the decades most important features. Mostly working with acclaimed directors, Nicholson carved out a career-path which saw him become one of Hollywood's biggest stars, rarely changing his appearance but always, sometimes ever so subtly, changing his technique and mannerisms. Nicholson would go on to become the most Oscar nominated male in history (12), adding another streak - 1980-1985: The Shining, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Reds, Terms Of Endearment, and Prizzi's Honour - to this one to cement him as one of the four or five greatest American actors ever. Which other actor hot streaks do you think deserve to be on this list? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.