Who wants to do all war/politics all the time? Not me. That's what I have Command Post for.
My good friend Carol, who always recognizes when I'm ripe for a diversion, sent me this list from Premiere Magazine: 100 greatest movie characters of all time.
They just list the characters, not the movies they represent. Some of them are pretty self evident, some may not be immediately apparent except to film buffs.
After you peruse the list and figure out where each character comes from, you can list your own fave movie characters. Don't be shy about epxlaining your choices. I'm really trying to keep the tone down today.
See, I've got no ass-fucking, but I'm still kind of fun!
Characters listed below. My choices later. And I really have to take issue with some of the names on the list. Judy Benjamin? No way. And number 55 should be in the top five.
Update: Judging from the comments, we could make a list of top 100 movie characters not listed on Premiere's top 100 movie characters.
100. Roger Kint
99. Kevin McCallister
98. Antoine Doinel
97. Ace Ventura
96. Tommy DeVito
95. Oda Mae Brown
94. Rose Sayer
93. Harry Lime
92. Dil
91. Mrs. Iselin
90. John Malkovich
89. Sandy Olsson
88. Raymond Babbitt
87. Jack Sparrow
86. Melanie Daniels
85. Stanley Kowalski
84. Darth Vader
83. William Cutting
82. Jack Torrance
81. Aurora Greenway
80. Sam Spade
79. Hans Beckert
78. Max Rockatansky
77. Annie Wilkes
76. Tony Manero
75. Dr. Strangelove
74. Tony Montana
73. Norma Rae
72. Lloyd Dobler
71. Harry Powell
70. Judy Benjamin
69. Terry Malloy
68. Alex DeLarge
67. Jacques Clouseau
66. Navin Johnson
65. Edward Scissorhands
64. Rocky Balboa
63. Carrie White
62. John Shaft
61. J.J. Hunsecker
60. George Bailey
59. Bill Kilgore
58. Phyliss Dietrichson
57. Tom Powers
56. Alan Swann
55. The Dude
54. Frank Booth
53. Ninotchka
52. Howard Beale
51. Freddy Krueger
50. Blondie
59. Chance the Gardener
48. John Blutarsky
47. Mrs. Robinson
46. John McClane
45. Mary Poppins
44. Jules Winnfield
43. Forrest Gump
42. Harry Callahan
41. Jane Craig
40. The Terminator
39. Michael Dorsey
38. Willy Wonka
37. Jake Gittes
36. Alex Forrest
35. Dr. Evil
34. Bonnie Parker
33. Ratso Rizzo
32. Holly Golightly
31. Norma Desmond
30. King Kong
29. Daphne / Jerry
28. Captain Quint
27. Marge Gunderson
26. E.T.
25. Gordon Gekko
24. The Little Tramp
23. Ethan Edwards
22. Travis Bickle
21. Susan Vance
20. Virgil Tibbs
19. Rick Blaine
18. Carl Spackler
17. Dorothy Gale
16. Robin Hood
15. Hannibal Lecter
14. Randle Patrick McMurphy
13. Atticus Finch
12. Charles Foster Kane
11. Margo Channing
10. Gollum
9. Jeff Spicoli
8. Ellen Ripley
7. Indiana Jones
6. Annie Hall
5. James Bond
4. Norman Bates
3. Scarlett O'Hara
2. Fred C. Dobbs
1. Vito Corleone
Comments
Missing from the list, someone is.
The Dark Side at work, fear I.
Posted by: Laurence Simon | April 14, 2004 11:52 AM
I can only place a handful.
Number 50, Blondie... from the old Blondie and Dagwood films?
Posted by: C Bassett | April 14, 2004 11:58 AM
Any list of great movie characters without Mongo from "Manos: Hands of Fate" is fatally flawed.
Posted by: iowahawk | April 14, 2004 12:00 PM
Dang, I meant Torgo.
Mongo was "Blazing Saddles."
Posted by: iowahawk | April 14, 2004 12:02 PM
The Dude does not belong higher on the list than Darth Vader. Darnit.
Posted by: zombyboy | April 14, 2004 12:07 PM
Actually, Darth should be in the top five as well.
Posted by: michele | April 14, 2004 12:20 PM
Where is Martin Blank? Let alone Grocer.
Nick and Nora Charles?
Posted by: Kathy | April 14, 2004 12:25 PM
Dr. Evil, but no Mini Me? Makes no sense at all.
Posted by: C Bassett | April 14, 2004 12:39 PM
Well, I'm not exactly a movie trivia buff, but I still have problems recognizing a LOT of people on the list. And I agree, no Yoda-no JUSTICE!!
Posted by: JohnO | April 14, 2004 12:40 PM
Where the fuck is Jar-Jar? Meesa demand a recount!
Posted by: Leonidas | April 14, 2004 12:45 PM
Where's Mr. Blonde from Reservoir Dogs? Hank Quinlan from Touch of Evil?
Harry Lime but not Holly Martens? J.J. Hunsecker but not Sidney Falco? Jake Gittes but not Noah Cross?
"I detect a strong odor of mendacity!"—Big Daddy from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, also gone missing.
Posted by: Curtiss | April 14, 2004 12:50 PM
Where's Del Griffith?
Posted by: Mike | April 14, 2004 12:51 PM
Hey. I don't see Dr. Victor Von Frankenstein on there.
THAT'S FRONKENSTEEN!
Posted by: Dean Esmay | April 14, 2004 12:56 PM
Wait....Keyser Soze anyone?
Posted by: Leonidas | April 14, 2004 12:59 PM
And what about INIGO MONTOYA?
Posted by: Conservanatrix | April 14, 2004 01:00 PM
jeff spicoli at #9? top 100, sure... but top 10? i don't think so.
dr evil ranks higher than darth vader? who the hell made this list?!?!?
well, it's nice to see that lloyd dobler made the list...
ok, where the hell are kirk and spock? why aren't they in there?
Posted by: mikey | April 14, 2004 01:09 PM
The Dude? The frigging Dude? That movie still has me twitching irritably.
Posted by: Sekimori | April 14, 2004 01:09 PM
If you include Richard Blaine, you must include Ilsa Lund. Also, Frances Stevens should be included, if for nothing else than her beauty.
Posted by: david | April 14, 2004 01:11 PM
Ashley 'Ash' J. Williams.
Leon
KHAAAANNN!
Hans Gruber
Tyler Durden
Gny. Sgt. Hartman
Butcher Bill
If Vader's on the list Kenobi should be, too. And Boba Fett.
Rory Breaker?
And I am shocked, shocked, that Captain Renault is not on that list.
Posted by: dorkafork | April 14, 2004 01:26 PM
Plus:
Tracy Lord
C.K. Dexter Haven
Regan MacNeil
Babe the Pig
Maria/Robot Maria ("Metropolis")
Cherita Chen. Chut up, I liked her!
Marion Crane instead of Norman Bates
Lassie
That chick with the knockers who got garden shears in the eyes in Friday the 13th Part V.
Posted by: Dave | April 14, 2004 01:27 PM
John Malkovich?
Isn't that like naming the Death Star or the plastic bubble around John Travolta as a character?
Bluto barely in the top 50?
Ellen Ripley in the top 10? What as a homage to her breaking the female action star barrier?
If so, what about Sarah Connor? Weak and defenseless to bonafide ass kicker...makes Ripley look like a wimp.
Posted by: Ryan | April 14, 2004 01:29 PM
Dorkafork is right! Where the hell is Khan?
Oh and Butcher Bill is referenced as William Cutting at #83
Posted by: Ryan | April 14, 2004 01:34 PM
I don't see The Man with No Name in that list. Feh.
Posted by: Mythilt | April 14, 2004 01:40 PM
All Western Edition:
Marshal Will Kane - High Noon
Lil' Bill - Unforgiven
The Stranger- High Plains Drifter
Ethan Edwards - The Searchers
Butch Cassidy - You know...
Chis Adams - The Magnificent Seven
Josey Wales - The Outlaw...
Posted by: spd rdr | April 14, 2004 01:47 PM
Ryan, actually I'll take Ellen Ripley anyday over Sarah Conner. Ripley at least keeps it together when she kicks ass. Sarah's a nutjob.
A few more:
Bueller? Bueller? (yet Spicoli made it???)
Cameron, too.
The Dread Pirate Roberts
Jeffrey Wigand
Vito Corleone but no Michael? And which Vito? Robert DeNiro's Vito or Marlon Brando's Vito?
Posted by: Kathy | April 14, 2004 01:50 PM
Agador Spartacus?
I ran into these same problems when I came up with my own Top 100 Guitar Players in response to Rolling Stone's travesty of a list.
I still get comments bitching about both.
Back to this list:
The Dude
Travis Bickle
Navin Johnson
&
Lloyd Dobler
all need to be much higher.
Posted by: Rob @ L&R | April 14, 2004 01:50 PM
Also, Henry Hill.
Posted by: Kathy | April 14, 2004 01:54 PM
Off the top of my head:
Frankenstein's Monster/Count Dracula
Marshall Will Kane
Judah Ben Hur
Eric (Phantom of the Opera)
(Rudolph Valentino's) Sheik
Heathcliffe
Rhett Butler
Klaatu
HAL
Superman
Mr. Hulot
Posted by: Bruce Lagasse | April 14, 2004 01:58 PM
Otto West! Can't believe I forgot him.
Posted by: dorkafork | April 14, 2004 01:58 PM
Diversion???
Aren't you supposed to be packing?????
Posted by: Sandy P | April 14, 2004 02:00 PM
I'm at work. Packing continues when I get home.
I wish I wasn't such a collector of junk.
Posted by: michele | April 14, 2004 02:05 PM
Double Down Trent
Posted by: keith | April 14, 2004 02:11 PM
Off the top of my head, 2 characters, both, played by Gary Oldman:
1) Dr. Smith (Lost in Space--movie kinda sucked, but he was good)
2) Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg (Fifth Element--excellent movie and excellent character)
Posted by: cardeblu | April 14, 2004 02:19 PM
Paul from Last Tango in Paris.
There, you have assfucking now on your list.
Posted by: Troll King | April 14, 2004 02:30 PM
Paden and Jake would make my list. (Silverado)
As would Agent K.
But the Dude definitely abides.
Posted by: LittleA | April 14, 2004 02:30 PM
What a crappy list. Where's Keyser Soze? Jack Deth? Ferris Bueller? H.I. FRICKIN' MCDONOUGH? HELLO? Vincent Vega? Jessica Rabbit?
Posted by: Skillzy | April 14, 2004 02:41 PM
Number 50, Blondie
I think this pertains to Clint Eastwood, in "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly". Not Blondie from the Blondie and Dagwood films.
Posted by: jack12 | April 14, 2004 02:42 PM
I think Blondie may be from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. If so, Tuco definitely belongs on the list too.
Jack "I've got two words for you: shut the fuck up" Walsh
And how could they have dissed Ash (Housewares) like that?!
Posted by: Chris | April 14, 2004 02:43 PM
They could've at least put a character from Office Space in there, like Milton Waddams, Peter Gibbons, Michael Bolton or Bill Lumberg.
Yeaaaaa. That would'be been greaaat.
Posted by: Patrick Banks | April 14, 2004 02:47 PM
"Vito Corleone but no Michael? And which Vito? Robert DeNiro's Vito or Marlon Brando's Vito?"
Perhaps the combo of both overwhelmed Michael. And perhaps he is being punished for the third installment.
Posted by: Ryan | April 14, 2004 02:59 PM
Crash Davis (Bull Durham)
Brad & Janet (Rocky Horror)
Torgo, definitely... NOT!
Judah Ben Hur is a must
Cool Hand Luke
The Dirty Dozen - as a group
Posted by: Maddog | April 14, 2004 03:01 PM
I know it's very recent, but how 'bout Jack Sparrow? CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow.
Posted by: JohnO | April 14, 2004 03:06 PM
Whattabout Martin Q. Blank? Donnie Darko (and Frank)? Walter Sobchak? Rick Roma?
Posted by: Mike | April 14, 2004 03:22 PM
Dirk Diggler?
Posted by: Robert | April 14, 2004 03:34 PM
Tyler Durden was the fist one I thought of that was missing.
Posted by: carol | April 14, 2004 03:44 PM
King Kong? WTF! What about Taylor, you damn, dirty apes!
Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher | April 14, 2004 03:51 PM
Jack Sparrow's on the list #87), but Captains Blood, Bly and Queeg are not.
And neither is Captain John Miller (Private Ryan).
This list bites.
Posted by: spd rdr | April 14, 2004 04:19 PM
"Shane ... Shane ... Come Back!"
Posted by: mike | April 14, 2004 04:32 PM
the black knight
the predator
Optimus Prime (anyone who says Hot Rod gets a disapproving head shake)
Rocky (from the first movie at least)
Billy Valentine
and why not Winthorp (just for the "aaauuuuggghhh!!!" line in the Santa suit)
And finally:
Clark W. Griswald
Posted by: larry | April 14, 2004 04:38 PM
Where is Johnny Wadd? Or Debbie from Dallas? The obvious anti-porn slant is clearly the work of the devil, Ashcroft!
Posted by: Don Myers | April 14, 2004 05:09 PM
If we had a son, I would have argued strongly to name him "Atticus".
I would have lost the argument, but man, I was ready to make the case.
Posted by: Dave in Texas | April 14, 2004 05:37 PM
I like the list, but if you view it from a stoner POV, the way I love to view flims, it isn't the same. Where is...
Jay and Silent Bob
Batman/Bruce Wayne (but only Michael K.)
Mr. Blonde.
Vampire Hunter D
Tyler Durden
Marty McFly
Biff Tannin
Dr. E. L. Brown
He-Man
All of The Goonies
Frank Castle/The Punisher
The Vampire Listat
Leonard Shelby
Eric Cartman
Rob Gordon
Martin Blank
Clark Grizwald
Clyde the monkey
Ferris Bueller
Spartacus
Doug,2,3,4
Mario and Luigi
I am sure i can come up with more but that will do for now.
Remember,
"Life is a bowl of punch, go ahead and spike it!" Nick Hexum
Posted by: Venom0311 | April 14, 2004 06:25 PM
I like the list, but if you view it from a stoner POV, the way I love to view flims, it isn't the same. Where is...
Jay and Silent Bob
Batman/Bruce Wayne (but only Michael K.)
Mr. Blonde.
Vampire Hunter D
Tyler Durden
Marty McFly
Biff Tannin
Dr. E. L. Brown
He-Man
All of The Goonies
Frank Castle/The Punisher
The Vampire Listat
Leonard Shelby
Eric Cartman
Rob Gordon
Martin Blank
Clark Grizwald
Clyde the monkey
Ferris Bueller
Spartacus
Doug,2,3,4
Mario and Luigi
I am sure i can come up with more but that will do for now.
Remember,
"Life is a bowl of punch, go ahead and spike it!" Nick Hexum
Posted by: Venom0311 | April 14, 2004 06:25 PM
Where's Lord John Whorfin?
Posted by: Randy Webster | April 14, 2004 07:33 PM
Shelley "The Machine" Levene
Ricky Roma
George Aaranow
Dave Moss
John Williamson
Blake from Downtown
One track mind, I have.
Also Ivan the Terrible from the Eisenstein flick of the same name.
Professor Rath and Lola Lola from The Blue Angel.
Posted by: Brian | April 14, 2004 07:40 PM
Max Fischer
Colonel Kurtz
Eric Cartman
Philip Marlowe
HAL 9000
John Bender
Rick Deckard and/or Roy Batty
Posted by: Sean M. | April 14, 2004 08:18 PM
It's interesting that three of the top 100 characters were played by Peter Sellers:
59. Chance the Gardener
67. Jacques (Inspector) Clouseau
75. Dr. Strangelove
Posted by: E Rey | April 14, 2004 08:59 PM
Mrs. Iselin (as played in legendary fashion by Angela Lansbury) is way too low on the list--that character was evil incarnate, and truly terrifying to see in action. Premiere needs more reviewers who actually watched "The Manchurian Candidate."
Posted by: M. Scott Eiland | April 14, 2004 09:18 PM
Unless I missed something, isn't Kaiser Soze #100 (Verbal Kint)?
Posted by: nobody | April 14, 2004 10:41 PM
I think they have to make room for:
Patton
Otto (Kevin Kline's hitman in A Fish Called Wanda)
The Black Knight (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
Joe Clark (Lean On Me)
and where is Captain Bligh? or is Quint meant to stand in for all the lunatic sea captains?
Posted by: Cyranno | April 15, 2004 12:03 AM
If I can post again, I've thought of a few more:
Auntie Mame (Russell, not Ball)
The Ghostbusters (joint entry)
The Jackal (Edward Fox)
Senator Jefferson Smith
Agent Smith
Henry V (either one)
Posted by: Bruce Lagasse | April 15, 2004 01:19 AM
I'm with the some of the others, no Khan?!? WTF!
He delivered Melville's lines better than even Ahab. No one has ever portrayed those emotions like he did.
Posted by: levendus | April 15, 2004 06:47 AM
Ginger Lynn
Posted by: capnjacksparrow | April 15, 2004 08:38 AM
Has anyone mentioned Chewbaca(sp?) yet? I'm too lazy to read long comment threads. And what about Jabba the Hut? Obviously the person who made the list has a bias against non-humans.
I agree that Khan should have been at the top of the list.
Posted by: Lynn S | April 15, 2004 03:29 PM
Maybe not at THE TOP but in the top ten at least.
Posted by: Lynn S | April 15, 2004 03:31 PM