Which era had the best looking movie stars?

[Mark S.]

I must just be a creature of my generation, because I've never found Elizabeth Taylor all that alluring. When she was younger, she was cute, but as she aged, she just became grandmotherly. Not unattractive in the least, but not what I would call an alluring woman.

The leading man, on the other hand, has taken a huge hit. Men used to look like men. Eastwood, Lee Marvin, James Coburn, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, DeNiro, Pacino, Brando. Today's leading men, with very few exceptions, look like prep school grads who only have to shave once a week.

[shawarma]

I think the older actresses (pre-1970s) were much prettier than the current ones, mostly because the majority of them didn't need tons of Botox to look pretty.

Vivien Leigh was pretty. Her hair was very lovely. She also looked good in all her roles.

Ava Gardner was pretty too. I've seen a number of her movies too.

And I think Gloria Stuart was incredibly beautiful when she was young. I saw two of her early movies and could not believe how pretty she was. She was blonde, but she was the type of blonde that I like - not at all like today's generic Hollywood blondes like Jessica Simpson, many of whom aren't even natural.

Others I like: Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Olivia de Havilland, Lena Horne (mostly a singer, but still pretty), Jane Russell

With the male actors, it's about the same IMO.

[Lucky Lady123]

Originally Posted by Trimac20

I would say the 40s and 50s, the age of the great stars:

Cary Grant, Rock Hudson, James Stewart, Montgomery Clift, Marlon Brando, James Dean

Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Russell, Janet Leigh, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman


Worst is probably today...I find the 'hot' actresses in particular, like Angelina, Jessica Alba, Scarlet Johanssen so overrated. Natalie Portman is one of the few exceptions. The 90s were pretty good with Meg Ryan, Demi Moore, Brook Shields, Sharon Stone. As for the men Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Richard Gere, even Tom looked quite handsome in the day.

What about Tyrone Power!

[Lubina]

Depends on how narrow your view is of attractive. Stars back then looked more clean cut and put together than today but there was also not a whole lot of diversity onscreen unless you changed your face and your name and kept it a secret.