Al Pacino's run from 1972 to 1975

In the span of three years Al Pacino made The Godfather, Serpico, The Godfather II and Dog Day Afternoon. Nominated at the Oscars for his acting in all 4 of those movies. Incredibly not winning one.

Has there ever been a more incredibly run for an actor in such a short period?

 

Jim Carrey from 1994-1998? I mean he didnt win any awards, films werent loved by critics but he was the top box office draw who couldn't be stopped

 

When an actor is hot and in demand, he's hot.

 

Very true. Some big office box movies.

 

Tom Hanks 1993-1995

 

You can extend that earlier by a year to include The Panic In Needle Park too.

And you’ve not mentioned 1973’s Scarecrow, another winner.

 

I don't think any can compare to that presence and raw energy he exuded in the 70's. It's such a shame he couldn't stretch it in to even more quality roles, performances.
I sometimes think what does the older Pacino think when he sees that young, dynamic, wholly believable actor?!

 

Pacino's roles as Michael Corleone and Sonny Wortzik are two of my all time favorite acting performances. His performance in The Godfather is the gold standard for subtlety and glacial character development, and Dog Day Afternoon proves there was a time when he could be wildly expressive without coming off like a cartoon character. Serpico is great too, but few performances match the nuance and magnetism of the other two.

 

Cary Grant from '37 thru '41; includes The Awful Truth, Bringing Up Baby, Holiday, Gunga Din, His Girl Friday, My Favorite Wife, The Philadelphia Story and Suspicion. Not too shabby!

 

Robert Deniro
1973-1976
Bang The Drum Slowly
Mean Streets
Godfather II
Taxi Driver

1978-1983
Deer Hunter
Raging Bull
True Confessions
King Of Comedy

 

Steve McQueen had a pretty good run from '65 thru '68----The Cincinnati Kid, Nevada Smith, The Sand Pebbles (love that movie!), The Thomas Crown Affair and Bullitt.

 

I'd also add in Harrison Ford from '79 thru the eighties.

 

True, a lot of big movies for him in 90's, the Jack Ryan ones, The Fugitive

 

i'm gonna catch hell for this one, but can you really put jim carrey in the same acting class as al pacino? or, for that matter, with every other actor mentioned on this thread.

the difference between a movie star and an actor, i guess is what i am saying.

 

Nicholson’s run wasn’t too shabby, around the same time period too;

The Last Detail (1973)
Chinatown (1974)
The Passenger (1975)
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

 

Pacino owes a huge debt to Martin Bregman, who fully believed in him as a leading man and produced Dog Day Afternoon and Serpico for him in that time frame. Star-making roles along with the Godfathers. That whole early-mid 70s era was mindbending for male leads. I was just watching Warren Beatty in Shampoo the other week and couldn't believe how good he and the movie were.

 

Mickey Rooney, biggest box office draw in Hollywood during 1939, '40, '41 "Bump Schhhhh.."

 

I agree, this is the strongest run of movies. A case could be made for some others, but I'd be inclined to go with Pacino.

 

Yes the 70's was a goldmine of great male actors (Hackman, DeNiro, Nicholson , Duvall..) Beatty fit the Shampoo role but aside from his looks he was always a pretty lousy actor imo, had somewhat of that bewildered look like he had in interviews .

 

i thought beatty's pinnacle was 'heaven can wait', it was like the role was meant for him.

 

some others: Pauly Shore 1993-1996, Encino Man, Son In Law, Bio-Dome....never nominated for Oscar, but a good Razzie run!

 

Dustin Hoffman - Graduate through Tootsie (skipping Harry Kellerman....).

 

Fantastic film run?
In the seventies I’d place Jack Nicholson first ..
Then Al Pacino
Followed by Robert De Niro

 

Squeeze in there Burt Reynolds...not comparing to other actors mentioned so far.....but gotta admit he could do no
wrong early 70's onwards ...obviously starting with '72 Deliverance,The Man Who Loved Car Dancing ,White Lightning ,The Longest Yard....original,yes......who could forget W.W. and the Dixie DanceKings Hustle, Gator,Semi Tough..
never cared for "The Bandit"movies.....once you get into 80's and 90's it was hit or miss,....more miss.....was only nominated for an Oscar in the twilight of his career with Boogie Nights......the one big regret he had was doing that Cosmopolitan magazine centerfold.