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Before the days of sparkly vampires, Magic Mike dancers, and blonde Bonds; Hollywood’s leading men were no nonsense, fully clothed, alpha males who drank whiskey straight and the only thing that sparkled were their eyes. In the age of black and white film they appeared all the more dashing, mysterious and manly as they said things like “Here’s looking at you kid” and “Steeeeeeellaaaaaaaa”. This Throwback Thursday we celebrate the old school “It’ men that solved the crime, talked the talk, and won the broad (or dame depending on the film).

1. Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando is The Godfather. There is no possible way to be more bad ass than Don Corleone which is why he tops this list. Considered to be the greatest movie actor of all time, Brando has starred in some of the most memorable films ever made including Apocalypse Now, Guys and Dolls, Julius Ceaser and of course A Streetcar Named Desire. He rocked the boat, refused to learn scripts and sometimes made the process of filming a complete nightmare…but in the end, he was always worth it.

2. Cary Grant

Cary Grant was effervescently charming; with his good looks, quick wit and glowing (if slightly orange) tan, he was the leading man that every “Girl Friday” dreamed of. He was tall, dark, and handsome enough for any romantic lead, his expressive features landed him any comedic role and his air of drama worked splendidly in many a Hitchcock thriller. North by Northwest, Monkey Business, I was a Male War Bride – Cary Grant could do it all and with such a charming accent.

3. Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart was not classically handsome; he never possessed a boyish smile, a playful wink or a charming laugh. Instead, he was drop dead serious, he didn’t give a damn, or at least thats how he liked to play it. He drowned his sorrows in whiskey, played to practicality, and had no time for the frivolities of women. And oh how the women loved it. Somehow, no matter how beautiful the actress, it made perfect sense for her to be crazy for Bogart. Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina, Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep, and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca? Why not. Bogart was the ultimate film noir detective: he always got his man.

4. Jimmy Stewart

5. Gregory Peck