The Greatest Stars of the 1940s Revealed! (Part 2)

Where does he rank in the Top 10?

Last week, we started the countdown of the 25 top vote-getters in our Greatest Stars of the 1940s poll. Today, we will unveil the Top 10.

But before doing that, I want to highlight two important statistics. First, the star that received the most votes appeared on 56% of the ballots. That shows how dispersed the votes were among all the stars on the ballot. Second, the top five stars were significantly more popular than all the rest. In other words, the number of votes separating #5 from #6 was substantial. However, the number of votes separating #6 from #10 was just a handful.

Polls like this are, by nature, a popularity contest. However, one could make a pretty convincing argument that most of these performers are indeed the Greatest Stars of the 1940s.

9.  (tie) Ann Sheridan and Gary Cooper.
8.  Judy Garland.
7.  Katharine Hepburn.
6.  Clark Gable.
5.  James Stewart.
4.  Barbara Stanwyck.
3.  Bette Davis.
2.  Humphrey Bogart.

And, at #1, it's Cary Grant!

By the way, if you missed the post on the rest of the Top 25, click here.

The Greatest Stars of the 1940s Revealed! (Part 1)

The Duke just missed the Top 10!

Last month, over 195 classic movie fans participated in our online poll to determine the greatest movie stars of the 1940s. The ballot included 105 actors and actresses who were active during that decade, ranging from Fred Astaire to Orson Welles. Over the next week, we will reveal the top 25 vote-getters, starting with 11-25 today.

Amazingly, all but five performers received at least one vote. That group included some fine performers, too: Robert Young, Barry Fitzgerald, Celeste Holm, Donald Crisp, and Judith Anderson.

The poll also allowed participants to submit write-in votes and 40 people took the opportunity to add their favorites. The Priscilla Lane Fan Club mounted a campaign on that actress's behalf and she led all write-in candidates with 8 votes. British film fans noted the exclusion of Michael Redgrave, Alastair Sim, Margaret Lockwood, and Joan Greenwood. Some of the Hollywood stars that received write-in votes were Linda Darnell, Jean Arthur, Lon Chaney, Jr., Norma Shearer, and Audrey Hepburn. While a couple of these performers should have been on the ballot (e.g., Linda Darnell, Jean Arthur), most of them made only a few appearances during the 1940s. For example, Norma Shearer starred in just three movies and Audrey Hepburn's film debut was in 1951!

Without further ado, we'll start at #25 and work our way to #11. Then next week, we will unveil the Top 10!

25.  Bing Crosby.
24.  Gregory Peck.
23.  Gene Tierney.
22.  Myrna Loy.
21.  Tyrone Power.
20.  Claude Rains.
19.  Bob Hope.
18.  Ingrid Bergman,
17.  Errol Flynn.
16.  William Powell.
15.  Spencer Tracy.
14.  Fred Astaire.
13.  Rita Hayworth.
12.  James Cagney.
11.  John Wayne.