AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars

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Created by apronikoff.

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In 1999 AFI continued their "100 Years" series with "100 Years...100 Stars." This list sought to identify the top 25 greatest American actors and the 25 greatest American actresses of all time. The criteria was that the performer (or team of performers) must have made their screen debut prior to 1950 or whose death made a complete body of work.

This list was designed for those who wish to familiarize themselves with the best films of those 50 stars. Using imdb rankings, I have identified the five most highly regarded films for each performer (excluding TV as well as cameos or other very small parts). I have also excluded duplicates, so for example the five films for Fred Astaire include collaborations with Ginger Rogers that do not appear in her five films.

Enjoy!

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  1. 121 new

    Sunset Blvd.

    1950 — a.k.a. Sunset Boulevard, in 35 top lists Check
  2. 77 new

    The Third Man

    1949, in 37 top lists Check
  3. 111 new

    The Night of the Hunter

    1955, in 34 top lists Check
  4. 116 new

    Double Indemnity

    1944, in 37 top lists Check
  5. 3 new

    The Maltese Falcon

    1941, in 27 top lists Check
  6. 78 new

    Touch of Evil

    1958, in 31 top lists Check
  7. 66 new

    Rebecca

    1940, in 23 top lists Check
  8. 7 new

    Notorious

    1946, in 24 top lists Check
  9. 4 new

    The Big Sleep

    1946, in 22 top lists Check
  10. 83 new

    Out of the Past

    1947, in 16 top lists Check
  11. 91 new

    Sweet Smell of Success

    1957, in 20 top lists Check
  12. 36 new

    White Heat

    1949, in 15 top lists Check
  13. 82 new

    Ace in the Hole

    1951, in 21 top lists Check
  14. 186 new

    Dial M for Murder

    1954, in 9 top lists Check
  15. 171 new

    Mildred Pierce

    1945, in 17 top lists Check
  16. 152 new

    The Asphalt Jungle

    1950, in 15 top lists Check
  17. 217 new

    The Lady from Shanghai

    1947, in 9 top lists Check
  18. 93 new

    The Killers

    1946, in 15 top lists Check
  19. 216 new

    Gilda

    1946, in 13 top lists Check
  20. 141 new

    Gaslight

    1944, in 12 top lists Check
  21. 218 new

    Only Angels Have Wings

    1939, in 10 top lists Check
  22. 118 new

    Scarlet Street

    1945, in 10 top lists Check
  23. 37 new

    Angels with Dirty Faces

    1938, in 9 top lists Check
  24. 142 new

    Spellbound

    1945, in 7 top lists Check
  25. 43 new

    Fury

    1936, in 12 top lists Check
  26. 117 new

    Key Largo

    1948, in 7 top lists Check
  27. 40 new

    The Roaring Twenties

    1939, in 8 top lists Check
  28. 120 new

    The Woman in the Window

    1944, in 8 top lists Check
  29. 222 new

    Dark Passage

    1947, in 5 top lists Check
  30. 135 new

    The Petrified Forest

    1936, in 4 top lists Check
  31. 175 new

    Sudden Fear

    1952, in 2 top lists Check
  32. 178 new

    Sorry, Wrong Number

    1948, in 2 top lists Check
  33. 189 new

    Fourteen Hours

    1951, in 2 top lists Check
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Last updated on Jan 9, 2013; source