The Rat Pack

I mean, Tony Curtis was an absolute icon back in the day, and honestly, I'm right there with you on Paul Newman and Jean Gabin.

Badlands 👋 Even their last names rhyme.

Marlon Brando was easily the most handsome man to ever grace the screen; even Alain Delon couldn't hold a candle to him. 😍



A few other legends worth noting:
James Cagney

Henry Fonda

Robert Redford

Terence Hill


Kurt Russell

Casey Cox2 said:

Lana Del Rey might say something like:

Blue Jeans, white shirt, walked into the room and I just knew you made my eyes burn; it felt like seeing James Dean, honestly—you're just so incredibly fresh and strikingly intense.

Casey Cox2 said:

Absolutely stunning eyes. 🙂

Bud Spencer ☕

None of those guys would stand a chance.

For me, Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson are just incredibly Cool


Gordon Gekko is easily one of the best-dressed characters ever put on film. And Charlie Chaplin? A total gentleman too.


Even their dads had that kind of style.

Gritty, hard-boiled noir vibes...

Bud Spencer and Terence Hill were the absolute heroes of my childhood. It’s actually hard to put into words just how much I loved them back then, and honestly, how much I still adore them now. If I ever have kids, I might just name them after them—that’s really how much they mean to me. 😁
But while Hill was always that handsome, charming guy with that effortless Cool attitude and those stunning blue eyes—someone who looked incredible in any suit, especially a police uniform 😍—Bud was always my sweet, gentle giant. He had those small, dark eyes and such a kind soul; he wouldn't even step on an ant if he could help it. Even though he occasionally leveled villains with his "special fighting style," I would never quite associate him with the term The Rat Pack. Still, as a screen presence, he deserves nothing but admiration.

You misunderstood the point. The Rat Pack. 😁

That title officially belongs to Steve McQueen. It’s not just about having handsome features or nice blue eyes; it’s about charisma and being undeniably Cool—true icons. I see you applying that same logic to Alain Delon. 😁 You might find him handsome and sexy, but to me, he’s just the guy I remember from the movies. A cold-blooded killer. There’s something damn charismatic about how he plays that part. That's why he's Cool. That's why he's the man.

Who thinks Charles Bronson is good-looking? To me, he’s the ultimate icon, which is why I brought him up. Of course, you have guys who are Cool because they have that charm like Cary Grant or Paul Newman. Their brand of charisma—especially Grant's style—is just a different kind of greatness to me.

I can't believe none of us guys are posting these guys here just because they're hot. 🎉

That’s why I called them action stars. Those heavy hitters from before the era of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. You had Marvin Gaye, Turt Coburn, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, and even Bruce Lee. To me, that is the definition of Cool—when those guys just absolutely demolish everything that came before them on screen.

I honestly think Bud Spencer is ten times Cooler than Terence Hill. Watching him just flatten everyone in his path is unmatched—especially this one scene, it's easily my favorite. [Video Link] 🤣🤣

Look, when I say "tower," my first thought is primarily on... Action movies. It starts with the stars, then you get the charm and the style. Toshiro Mifune fits right in here too.



Then the biggest star of classic Hollywood. 🙏

You misunderstood me; my issue with Bud Spencer isn't about him not being good-looking, it's just that he doesn't strike me as Cool—he simply doesn't radiate that kind of energy.

Aha, okay.

And what about when he was swimming? 😁

oh wait! totally forgot to include myself 🤦



just some uninspired outfit 😎

@ bluenomad2, then he wasn't acting 😉
I actually mentioned Charles Bronson myself, even before you did, as one of the most Cool guys ever. And believe me, even if he isn't conventionally handsome, there is something about him that makes him irresistible. It’s not just that "action star" thing you're talking about—the guy who just smashes through everything with a mustache; that alone isn't enough to make someone a legend, at least not in my book, and I've been around for more than 14 years. That "something" is that damn attitude, that look, and that raw energy he carried.
Besides, James Cagney was only about 5'3", which makes him nearly 20cm shorter than me. Do you honestly think I brought him up because I find him physically stunning? The guy radiated Cool and was a top-tier badass.
Bud Spencer never had any of that, and that's why, despite being unbeatable and tall and strong, he just isn't Cool.

Patrick Martin said:oh wait! totally forgot to include myself 🤦



just some uninspired outfit 😎

No need, everyone already knows you're the most Cool guy on this forum. You earned that status a long time ago; you're basically the Michael Caine of this place.😉

analogpanther55 said:No need, everyone already knows you're the most Cool guy on this forum. You earned that status a long time ago; you're basically the Michael Caine of this place.😉

🙂

analogpanther55 said:@ bluenomad2, then he wasn't acting 😉
I actually mentioned Charles Bronson myself, even before you did, as one of the most Cool guys ever. And believe me, even if he isn't conventionally handsome, there is something about him that makes him irresistible. It’s not just that "action star" thing you're talking about—the guy who just smashes through everything with a mustache; that alone isn't enough to make someone a legend, at least not in my book, and I've been around for more than 14 years. That "something" is that damn attitude, that look, and that raw energy he carried.
Besides, James Cagney was only about 5'3", which makes him nearly 20cm shorter than me. Do you honestly think I brought him up because I find him physically stunning? The guy radiated Cool and was a top-tier badass.
Bud Spencer never had any of that, and that's why, despite being unbeatable and tall and strong, he just isn't Cool.

Well, I know he wasn't acting, which is why I'm talking about when he was swimming and winning medals.

That's enough for any action fan to tell you. It’s all about how it's done. For some, it's cool; for others, it isn't. With Dudikof, it’s not cool at all, but with Arnold Schwarzenegger, it is. Or Charles Bronson in In Case of Misfortune. Every sequel gets worse, but Bronson just keeps getting better. That's what makes him a legend. You mentioned that attitude, the look, and the energy yourself. I'd also add those one-liners. When you put it all together, that's when I enjoy watching them tear through everything.

That's exactly why movies like The Mercenaries were made—to give us 80s action fans something to obsess over 🤣, even if they didn't quite live up to my expectations. Still, that church scene where Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Bruce Willis are talking is just pure cool 🙏

Take Mickey Rourke, for instance; he wasn't always smashing things, but he had a cool presence. Sure, he did a bit of smashing in the ring later on ☕

Terence Hill doesn't have that vibe at all, unlike Spencer Tracy. To me, he's like Paul Newman, though I prefer Newman. There's nothing particularly cool about him.

The point isn't the muscles (though Arnold Schwarzenegger is a legend), it's how they present all that absurdity in their films. That's why action fans obsess over stuff like that. I can't help but smile while watching. 😁

So, I find it a bit funny when people constantly bring up how handsome Alain Delon is and nothing else. The guy is a legend because of his roles and his coldness. That's what's always been valued.

Did someone mention Michael Caine?

It’s definitely not Jimmy Carter.