Baz Luhrmann takes on the biopic this year, with the release of Elvis in June, but the biopic has long been one of the most popular and enduring genres in Hollywood, providing viewers insight into the minds and lives of various historical figures. While musical biopics have been having something of a moment in recent years, it is also true that there are a number of stars from the period of old Hollywood whose life stories would make good fodder for a biographical movie. Fortunately, the users of Reddit have helpfully suggested a number of these giants of the cinema, whose lives and loves would surely entertain today’s moviegoers.
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando is inarguably a larger-than-life figure, someone whose powerful stage presence was matched only by his often-tumultuous personal life. Snorfy77 concurs with the belief that Brandon would make a good subject for a biopic, in part because of his youthful antics. As they recount: “He went to the same high school I went to and was famous for getting expelled by driving his motorcycle down the hallway inside.”
Any biopic focused on his life would certainly have a great deal of material to work with, considering how long and successfully he worked in the industry.
Orson Welles
Orson Welles remains one of the best and most insightful directors in the history of Hollywood. Even today, many of his movies continue to enthrall audiences. However, he also repeatedly showed that he was a formidable presence as an actor, playing numerous memorable characters. There would be no shortage of current stars who would be able to do him justice. ForRedditFun, for example, argues that “Leonardo DiCaprio as Orson Welles would be so perfect that it's not even funny.” Given how respected DiCaprio is as an actor, he could certainly do the role justice.
Hedy Lamarr
At the height of her career, Hedy Lamarr was viewed as one of the most glamorous stars in Hollywood. She would go on to appear in a number of high-profile roles, perhaps most notably as the biblical seductress Delilah in Samson and Delilah. As viskoviskovisko rightly notes: “she invented radio technology that jammed enemy torpedoes, which she donated to the US government.” Any biopic of her would thus have a great deal of material to work with, highlighting both her Hollywood career and her successful inventions.
Clark Gable
Clark Gable was arguably one of the most famous stars of classic Hollywood, and he embodied a certain masculine ideal. Svevobandini astutely calls him a “playboy superstar.” There’s no doubt that, like many of the stars of his time, he had a very dramatic personal life, with numerous relationships. However, there’s no doubt that he is most famous for appearing in a number of very important movies including, of course, Gone with the Wind, arguably one of the best epic movies to have emerged from Hollywood.
Paul Newman
When he first appeared in movies, Paul Newman represented a new form of masculinity, one that was both rugged and also uniquely beautiful. He would go on to not only have a very successful career in Hollywood but would also race cars and become active in the Civil Rights Movement. Kevlarbuns points out that: “He also managed to make a Hollywood career and a lifelong marriage work.”
His decades-long marriage to Joanne Woodward would certainly make for a touching and beautiful romantic biopic.
Christopher Lee
Though he would achieve fame in later life for playing the character of Saruman in The Lord of the Rings, Christopher Lee had one of the most diverse careers of any star of his era, as well as one of the most interesting lives. Anasui1 provides an extensive overview of the many fascinating aspects of his life and career, including the fact that he “ met Tolkien in person.” The only challenge might be finding someone who could capture his unique gravitas and power as a performer.
Humphrey Bogart
Some Hollywood stars have become so iconic that it’s hard to imagine the industry without them. Humphrey Bogart, who appeared in numerous famous movies of classic Hollywood, is one of these. Furthermore, he was also famous for his marriage to Lauren Bacall, who would also go on to have a hugely successful career in her own right. Insane677 observes that it would be wise to “get Scorcese to direct it.”
Given his own amply-attested love of all things Hollywood, Scorsese does seem like an ideal choice for director.
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck is another of the great female stars of old Hollywood. In part, her success is all the more extraordinary given her humble origins as an orphan who was shuffled to several foster homes in her youth. However, her steely determination and her willingness to work ensured that she would have a successful career in both movies and TV. Thus, it’s no surprise that astrowhiz would point out: “In fact a lot of those early stars had interesting, tough and probably character building lives.” In other words, perfect material for a fascinating biopic.
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood has been responsible for many great movies, both in front of and behind the camera. He has also straddled different periods of Hollywood history and, to add even more complexity, has been in both movies and TV series. Dark_Vengeance puts it best when they state that he is “a Hollywood icon and legend.” Anyone who wanted to make a biopic about his life would have a great deal of material to work with, including both his personal life and the making of the many movies in which he has famously appeared.
Paul Lynde
Paul Lynde, like many actors of his generation, had a varied career, appearing in both movies and TV shows. He would attain his greatest fame, however, from being on the hit game show Hollywood Squares. Swissch33z says: “He was a really interesting person with an excellent sense of humor.” They go on to suggest that Steve Carell, arguably one of the great comedic actors of his own generation, would be one of the best people who could bring out Lynde’s unique personality.