Movies Gene Hackman vs. Marlon Brando - Who's the better actor?

[Highway99]

At the end of the day Hackman maintained his aura into a longer film career. Brando post-Godfather was iconic but was also essentially looking for a massive paycheck then holding off doing anything for years, rinse repeat. If you look at his filmography from 80 onward, it’s pretty sparse.


Now maybe you can’t really let that factor into the analysis of which one was the superior actor, but, I think an argument could be made that it does have some part.

Both guys were really legitimately great though.

If we want to factor in other aspects apart from performances alone such as career longevity, than we must consider all the other elements particularly cultural impact. Brando is literally a Christlike figure insofar as there is a before and after Brando in regards to how acting was thought of, taught and perceived by the public.

And if we consider that, than no one comes close to Brando.

 

[JSN]

This is some Salieri-Mozart ass shit.

 

[ufcfan4]

If we want to factor in other aspects apart from performances alone such as career longevity, than we must consider all the other elements particularly cultural impact. Brando is literally a Christlike figure insofar as there is a before and after Brando in regards to how acting was thought of, taught and perceived by the public.

And if we consider that, than no one comes close to Brando.

Excellent point. Yeah - it's crazy to think how Brando inspired like an entire generation of elite actors in the 70s- people like Hoffman, Pacino, DeNiro, etc.

And even people in his own era were trying to emulate him. I remember in Brando's autobiography he spoke about how he liked James Dean but thought he was too self-consciously trying to imitate him when he was breaking out. Watching Rebel Without a Cause sometime after that, I couldn't help but think he was definitely trying to channel that Brando aura.

 

[Highway99]

Excellent point. Yeah - it's crazy to think how Brando inspired like an entire generation of elite actors in the 70s- people like Hoffman, Pacino, DeNiro, etc.

And even people in his own era were trying to emulate him. I remember in Brando's autobiography he spoke about how he liked James Dean but thought he was too self-consciously trying to imitate him when he was breaking out. Watching Rebel Without a Cause sometime after that, I couldn't help but think he was definitely trying to channel that Brando aura.

Yeah, I have always been somewhat puzzled as to the influence James Dean given that he was a Brando clone, and never got the chance to grow into his own...

And when I say Brando clone I don't necessarily mean that as a slight, just that most people emulate those that they admire when they first start out in any endeavor.

 

[ufcfan4]

Yeah, I have always been somewhat puzzled as to the influence James Dean given that he was a Brando clone, and never got the chance to grow into his own...

And when I say Brando clone I don't necessarily mean that as a slight, just that most people emulate those that they admire when they first start out in any endeavor.

It’s tough for me to gauge Dean’s career or potential cause I’ve only seen Rebel which I didn’t particularly like. I thought it was good in parts but, as a cohesive whole, It just seemed to lack some X factor for me. I thought he was quite good in it but definitely thought it was a bit too Brando-ish but without the same level of charisma Brando had during that time period.

My assumption is that Giant and East of Eden are the more complete films.

No surprise Dean’s legend only grew given his early death.

 

[Billthebutcher]

brandos best film was the missouri breaks, hackman has more projects and movies, and a wider acting range. most still consider brando better but after the 1990s brandos ability went downhill.

 

[Highway99]

It’s tough for me to gauge Dean’s career or potential cause I’ve only seen Rebel which I didn’t particularly like. I thought it was good in parts but, as a cohesive whole, It just seemed to lack some X factor for me. I thought he was quite good in it but definitely thought it was a bit too Brando-ish but without the same level of charisma Brando had during that time period.

My assumption is that Giant and East of Eden are the more complete films.

No surprise Dean’s legend only grew given his early death.

I agree with everything here.

hackman has more projects and movies, and a wider acting range. .

Lets not get carried away...

Brando effectively played: Emiliano Zapata, Napoleon, Mark Antony (Shakespeare), an Italian mob boss and had a number of other foreign character portrayals.

Hackman once played a Polish military officer using an accent that could only be described as Dick-Van-Dykian. Gene Hackman like many great actors was at his best when he brought himself to the role, he was not the chameleon that that say Oldman, DDL, Streep or Brando were/are.

 

[Adamant]

I honestly haven't seen a whole lot with Brando. I've seen a lot of Hackman and he is a great actor.

 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Imo, Brando had more depth in his roles. Hackman was always hackman, no matter the film. I love his filmography, but Brando just seemed like the better actor. Plus his Godfather role was so damn good, he could probably take it with that alone.

I'm a huge fan of method actors though, so I may be very biased here.

 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

brandos best film was the missouri breaks, hackman has more projects and movies, and a wider acting range. most still consider brando better but after the 1990s brandos ability went downhill.

LOL, well considering he was into his 60s, I'd say his best years were certainly far behind him by then.

Like I said in an earlier post, hackman was indistinguishable in virtually every role. Hes like Leo is now or even Denzel. Great, strong actor, but he doesn't really change. Same mannerisms, same tone, same demeanor every role.

Brando certainly morphed into his roles a whole lot better. Therefore, imo he's the better actor.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

I love Gene Hackman, cannot vote against him. I wouldn't say he is a better actor than Brando, but I wouldn't say the opposite either.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

This is some Salieri-Mozart ass shit.

lol nice analogy.

 

[I Fusion I]

How is Hackman winning?

Brando might have the GOAT performance in The Godfather. That alone puts him a class above.

 

[rearnakedchoke]

Brando was before his time. Was able to adapt from a melodramatic style to I’d say a more contemporary style of acting?

Hackman is amazing. Very versatile actor.
I went with Brando, as I am a huge fan of godfather though.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

How is Hackman winning?

Brando might have the GOAT performance in The Godfather. That alone puts him a class above.

I think because Hackman has quality performances/movies that have been released in the 80's, 90's even in 00's. While Brando was phoning it in by the 80's, he couldn't careless about acting, he turned very cynical about the whole process. So therefore quality performances or quality movies were lacking those decades.

So it could be recency bias.

 

[jx820]

Brando is a more skilled actor. I generally prefer Hackman and his films.

 

[n...not crazy]

I wish there was another Hackman. He's incredible.

tbh I don't know squat about Brando. Yeah he's great in Godfather. Apocalypse Now? He mumbles like a weirdo. Idk man I'm not old enough to have seen his prime.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

I wish there was another Hackman. He's incredible.

tbh I don't know squat about Brando. Yeah he's great in Godfather. Apocalypse Now? He mumbles like a weirdo. Idk man I'm not old enough to have seen his prime.

Watch A Streetcar Named Desire or The Waterfront. That pretty much change movie acting altogether.

So many elite actors that were born in 1930 to 1950 were all pretty much influenced by Brando. Guys like Dean, Duvall, Pacino, De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Streep, Nicholson, Martin Sheen to name a few, we're all influenced by Brando.

 

[I Fusion I]

I think because Hackman has quality performances/movies that have been released in the 80's, 90's even in 00's. While Brando was phoning it in by the 80's, he couldn't careless about acting, he turned very cynical about the whole process. So therefore quality performances or quality movies were lacking those decades.

So it could be recency bias.

yeah seems fair enough. Hackman is a great actor too.

 

[SammyPops]

Both were in the Superman movie with Christopher Reeve. But never had a scene together I believe.

Who's the superior actor of the two in your opinion?

Gene Hackman:

The French Connection
Superman
Hoosiers
Mississippi Burning
Unforgiven
The Firm
Crimson Tide
The Birdcage
The Royal Tenenbaums

Marlon Brando:

A Streetcar Named Desire
The Wild One
On the Waterfront
Guys and Dolls
Mutiny on the Bounty
The Godfather
The Missouri Breaks
Superman
Apocalypse Now

You should have led with the unforigven. We can all learn a lot from Little Bill