1. Marlon Brando - The Godfather
Marlon Brando is considered by many to be the greatest actor that ever lived; he was a colossal star of 1950s cinema. A Streetcar Named Desire- a role which he had originated on Broadway- was his first big break in the industry, and lead to the first of many Oscar nominations. He would receive his first Oscar for lead actor for the role of Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront; this performance even at this early stage, cemented his legacy. Brando was a new kind of actor for a new era. As great as they were, the days of Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracy were coming to an end, as the world changing and Brando represented that. Yet for some reason as the 50s went by and the 60s arrived, Brando was left behind. Like fellow 50s icon James Dean, he played a large part of the shift towards a new generation in Hollywood, yet he would have no substantial part in the new landscape himself. He did of course make movies in the 60s, but practically every one of them was a failure, he had lost his magic touch and had been surpassed by new stars like Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman who rose up in the decade, to carry on what he had helped to start. Along with his commercial failure-Brando also received gained an unfortunate- but probably justified reputation, of being difficult to work with. These factors looked to have ended his previously illustrious career- its bad enough that he was seemingly box office poison- why would anyone employ the relic of a bygone era, if all he was going to do was cause trouble? Thankfully Marlon was able to put any attitude problems he may have had to one side and deliver a performance that some consider more iconic than that which he gave, In On the Waterfront. That role is of course Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather. Everything about it is memorable; the puffed out cheeks, the way he spoke and his endlessly quotable lines. He embodied the layered, fascinating character, that In one moment could be an intimidating monster and the next a generous and happy family man. With this role Brando earned another Oscar and his career began anew- he wouldnt be the star he was in the 50s- but he did manage memorable roles in Superman and Apocalypse Now. Not bad for a forgotten man, right?
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