Movies in which they got the lead actor / actress dead right?

Let's kick off with....

 

I couldn't picture anyone other than Charlton Heston playing George Taylor in the original 1968 version of 'Planet of the Apes'.

 

There are of course the movies that were or seemed specially written for an actor or actress.
Think of The Mask and Jim Carrey.

 

This guy....



Martin Sheen as Captain Willard in Apocalypse Now.

 

Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird.
Peter O'Toole in Lawrence Of Arabia.

 

Anthony Hopkins Magic

 

Mel Gibson-Braveheart

 

James Cagney White Heat

 

Dillinger- Warren Oates Did a excellent job in this excellent movie.

 

"Terminate ... the Colonel."

 

Tuesday Weld Pretty Poison

 

007

Sean Connery

 

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn - Woman of the Year
spence/clark gable/ myrna loy - test pilot

 

From wikipedia:
For the role of Lecter, Demme originally approached Sean Connery.
Demme's first choice for the role of Starling was Michelle Pfeiffer

Which film am I talking about? I think they got the two main characters dead right.

 

Though the entire cast is perfect

 

This guy in every role:

 

Clint Eastwood as 'Dirty' Harry Callahan.

 

Danny DeVito could not do wrong when playing evil characters, e.g. in the movie Ruthless People (1986). Always gives me a Louis de Funès vibe.

 

every tarantino movie, the guy just knows, somehow, he knows.

 

Perfect casting, perfect performance, perfect film. Michael Biehn nails every facet of who Kyle Reese is.

 

Robert Walker Strangers on a Train
Jimmy Stewart Vertigo
Anthony Perkins Psycho
Ingrid Bergman Notorious
Ray Milland Dial M for Murder
and of course Cary Grant for North by Northwest

 

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka

 

Jack Nicholson in The Shining. I would have to disagree with Stephen King's misgivings.

 

George C. Scott in A Christmas Carol.