Balm in Gilead

by chuckofish

Last week I mentioned in a post that Toshiro Mifune is one of my Top Five favorite actors. That got me thinking and when I had lunch with the boy on Thursday we discussed the topic at length. I explained that by Top Five, I meant my personal favorites, i.e. not necessarily the most handsome or most gifted actors. Just my favorites, the ones I will always stop and watch when one of their movies is on TCM etc. This explains why I have seen Bullitt so many times.

After much thought, these are my five:

  1. John Wayne–no surprise there.

2. Steve McQueen

3. Leslie Howard

4. Toshiro Mifune–

5. Paul Newman

That is a pretty great list, am I right? And none of it is a surprise to readers of this blog. (Errol Flynn almost edged his way in.) All five made some great movies and even the ones that are not so great boost my spirits.

I guess it is sad that there is no one on this list born later than 1930, but what can I say?

If I had to add a “modern” fave, I would go with this guy:

How about you?

I will also note that today is the birthday of Virginia Lee Burton (1909-1968), artist, author and founder of the textile collective Folly Cove. Her book The Little House has always been a favorite of mine and I will toast her tonight.

P.S. On Sunday when the wee bud and I were walking around the outside of the house “looking for things,” he said, “Let’s go in the nature room.” I thought that was kind of brilliant.

Have a great day. Watch a good movie. Read a good book. Look for things outside.