TCM Survey Reveals How Modern Hollywood Compares to Film Legends

TCM Survey Reveals How Modern Hollywood Compares to Film Legends

Steven Spielberg Ranks with Alfred Hitchcock, but No One Equals Marilyn Monroe

ATLANTA, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Turner Classic Movies (TCM) poll gauges how modern movies, stars and filmmakers stack up against Hollywood icons. The sometimes surprising results show that Johnny Depp fills Errol Flynn's shoes, and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt capture some of the glamour of power couple Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. But, when it comes to sex symbols, no one is quite like Marilyn Monroe.

TCM's survey - conducted during the week of Oct. 18 - is part of the build-up to the Monday, Nov. 1, premiere of the new, seven-part documentary series MOGULS & MOVIE STARS: A HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD. TCM's MOGULS & MOVIE STARS survey included 1,000 adults, with 43% who identified themselves as "classic film enjoyers." The findings include the following:

-- 41% said Johnny Depp's performance in the Pirates of the Caribbean
trilogy is today's best example of the swashbuckling tradition that was
the trademark of stars like Errol Flynn.

-- Denzel Washington is one of today's top box-office draws. An
overwhelming 71% also chose Washington as the contemporary figure who
carries on Sidney Poitier's tradition as a pioneering black actor.

-- Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were chosen by 36% as the most iconic
Hollywood couple in the tradition of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard
Burton.

-- When it came to choosing a contemporary counterpart to Marilyn Monroe,
33% chose none of the options.

-- Steven Spielberg was the choice of 61% of respondents in terms of
directors with the level of influence exercised by Alfred Hitchcock.

-- "None of the above" was the #1 or #2 choice on six of the 10 survey
questions, indicating that many fans see legendary stars and filmmakers
as without compare.

The following is a complete list of TCM's survey results:

The Marx Brothers were comedy
pioneers in the 1930s and 1940s.
Among the following, who do you
think best represents their
crazy style today?
(tie) Jim Carrey 33%
(tie) None of the above 33
Will Ferrell 18
Steve Carell 9
Sacha Baron Cohen 5
Seth Rogen 2

Errol Flynn was famed for his
heroics in films like The
Adventures of Robin Hood. Among
the following, who do you
believe best carries on the
swashbuckling tradition today?
Johnny Depp in The Pirates of the
Caribbean 41%
series
Antonio Banderas in The Mask of Zorro 24
Russell Crowe in Robin Hood 18
None of the above 12
Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride 6

Edward G. Robinson, Paul Muni and
James Cagney portrayed gangsters
in the early 1930s. Among the
following, who do you think is
the best modern-era gangster?
Robert DeNiro in
Goodfellas 47%
Al Pacino in Donnie Brasco 26
None of the above 10
Johnny Depp in Public
Enemies 9
Jack Nicholson in The
Departed 9

Alfred Hitchcock was a prolific
film pioneer. Among the
following, which of today's
filmmakers are as influential?
Steven Spielberg 61%
Clint Eastwood 34
Martin Scorsese 30
Ron Howard 27
Quentin Tarantino 25
Spike Lee 10
None of the above 8
Joel and Ethan Coen 7

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard
Burton were Hollywood royalty.
Among the following, which
celebrity couple is just as
iconic today?
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt 36%
None of the above 27
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones 16
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith 15
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes 4
Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony 2

Judy Garland became a star at age
16. Among the following, who do
you think had the biggest
breakout role among today's young
stars?
Drew Barrymore in E.T. The Extra
Terrestrial 44%
None of the above 18
Dakota Fanning in I Am Sam 16
Natalie Portman in The Professional 8
Ellen Page in Juno 6
Kirsten Dunst in Interview with the
Vampire 5
Anna Paquin in The Piano 3

Marilyn Monroe was an iconic star
and sex symbol. Among the
following, who would you consider
to be today's "Marilyn?"
None of the above 33%
Angelina Jolie 25
Scarlett Johansson 16
Halle Berry 14
Charlize Theron 10
Uma Thurman 3

Singin' in the Rain is one of the
most famous musicals of all time.
Among the following, which modern
day musical would you consider to
be the greatest?
(tie) Chicago 27%
(tie) None of the above 27
Mamma Mia 17
Dreamgirls 12
Hairspray 10
Rent 8

Charlie Chaplin was an iconic
comedic actor and renowned
director. Among the following,
which modern-day star do you
think is best-known for this
double duty?
Clint Eastwood 38%
Woody Allen 21
Ron Howard 17
None of the above 14
George Clooney 10

Sidney Poitier was a pioneering
black actor. Among the following,
who do you think carries on that
tradition today?
Denzel Washington 71%
None of the above 9
Forrest Whitaker 7
Eddie Murphy 7
Jamie Foxx 6

Source: Turner Research; based on results from the Synovate e-Nation Omnibus Study; conducted 10/20-10/22/10; total sample represents 1,000 respondents among adults 18+; 43% of the total sample were "classic film enjoyers."

About MOGULS & MOVIE STARS: A HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD

TCM will tell the comprehensive story of the men and women who built the American film industry in this groundbreaking, seven-part documentary series premiering Monday, Nov. 1, at 8 p.m. (ET). MOGULS & MOVIE STARS features rarely seen photographs and film footage; clips from memorable American movies; and interviews with distinguished historians and major Hollywood figures, including Sidney Lumet, Richard Zanuck, Samuel Goldwyn Jr., Peter Bogdanovich, Gore Vidal, Robert Osborne and Molly Haskell. Spanning from the invention of the first moving pictures to the revolutionary, cutting-edge films of the 1960s, this ambitious production is an epic history of Hollywood, detailing the personalities, inter-personal relationships, collaborations and conflicts that created an industry and an art form. The series also serves as a history of America, looking at how moviemakers responded to such major events as the Great Depression, World War II and the Civil Rights movement. MOGULS & MOVIE STARS is executive-produced by Bill Haber (TNT's Rizzoli & Isles; Broadway's The History Boys and Monty Python's Spamalot) and written and produced by Jon Wilkman.

About Turner Classic Movies

Turner Classic Movies is a Peabody Award-winning network that presents great films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world. Currently seen in more than 85 million homes, TCM features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and weekend daytime host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials, 31 Days of Oscar and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also stages special events and screenings, such as the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood; produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs; and hosts a wealth of materials at its Web site, www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

SOURCE Turner Classic Movies

Turner Classic Movies

CONTACT: Erin Naman, Atlanta, +1-404-885-0797, erin.naman@turner.com, Cassie Bryan, Los Angeles, +1-818-729-7351, cassie.bryan@turner.com, Samantha Graham, New York, +1-212-275-6821, samantha.graham@turner.com, Press site at http://news.turner.com, Twitter @TCM

Web Site: http://www.tcm.com

-------
Profile: intent