George C. Scott as General George S. Patton

The man and the part truly became one.

Sean Connery as James Bond

Oh sure, the Bonds come and go, but we all know who owns the role. Actually, I thought Roger Moore was just an outstanding James Bond as well, but he wasn't . . . supreme, the way Connery is.

Tom Baker as Doctor Who

I find Doctor Who to be a basically unwatchable show. Except when Tom Baker is playing the Doctor, then the show perks up and becomes interesting, and the $10 budget-a-show sets, costumes and special effects don't seem so distracting anymore.

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka

I heard Johnny Depp (who I like a lot) got good marks for his portrayal as Willy Wonka. Didn't see it. Didn't need to. Wilder is, was, and always will be Willy Wonka.

Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes

Basil Rathbone was of course the most famous Holmes. But he was a cardboard cariacature in a deer-stalker cap compared to Brett's complex portrayal.

Here was Holmes as he was supposed to be: neurotic, intense, addicted (or so it was implied) and wavering on that thin line between genius and madness. The late Jeremy Brett was fascinating to watch in this role, it is a shame he never brought Holmes to the big screen.

Yul Brynner as Ramses II and King Mongkut

Okay so it's basically the same role, but who could ever play a pompous potentate better than Brynner?

Bela Lugosi as Dracula

Lugosi has had some excellent competition. The original Nosferatu was one of the creepiest things ever put on film. Christopher Lee, of course, filled this role admirably, and Gary Oldman was just spectacular in the role as well (in the most fun film version by far, in my opinion). But Lugois just became Dracula. It reminds me of Ed Wood's favorite phrase - "Bela, that was perfect!"

Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins

Hard to imagine anyone but Andrews pulling off this role: she had to be pretty but not sexy, stern but fantastical, and sing like a dove on top of everything else. Easily one of my top ten favorite movies.

Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli

Penn was just a little too believable as the clueless, dope-smoking Spicoli.

David Bowie as Andy Warhol

Basquiat is not a super-well-known film, and Bowie is not really the star in it, but it is fun, and worth watching for Bowie's performance alone if nothing else. Must be seen to be believed.