Here is blogger Bill White's list of the 10 best non-musical movies with a significant role played by someone who began his show business career as a singer/musician.
"Some of these people have been very successful. Once I removed the musicals, I didn’t find as many stellar movies as I expected, but I did have to leave some good ones out.
For the record, these are the best movies, not the best performances by these individuals. They weren’t even the stars of some of these movies, but none of them are cameos, either.
It was surprising to me that I ended up leaving out maybe the most successful of these singers-turned-actor. I didn't think any of his movies -- at least the ones I've seen -- were good enough to make the cut, but feel free to disagree.
1. From Here to Eternity - Great look at military life on the eve of the Pearl Harbor attack. Frank Sinatra revived his career and won an Oscar for his portrayal of a feisty Army private.
2. Fight Club - Meat Loaf plays Bob, part of the testicular cancer survivor group that helps the narrator overcome his insomnia. Terrific movie.
3. Rio Bravo - This classic John Wayne Western features two singers in starring roles with Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson, although I suppose you could argue that Ricky was an actor before he was a singer.
4. Moonstruck - Cher won the Oscar for her great role in this very funny look at an Italian family.
5. Manchurian Candidate - I hate to use anyone twice, but Sinatra was really good in this tense suspense movie/political satire about a brainwashed assassin.
6. The Departed - Mark Wahlberg, formerly known as Marky Mark, had a great supporting role in this Oscar-winner.
7. League of Their Own - Madonna was very good, albeit typecast, as a promiscuous ballplayer in a professional women's baseball league.
8. Crash - Best Picture Oscar winner featured rapper Ludacris.
9. Sling Blade - Country singer Dwight Yoakim played an abusive alcoholic in this Billy Bob Thornton classic.
10. The People Vs. Larry Flynt - I struggled over which movie to put in this spot, but decided Courtney Love, as Flynt's messed-up wife -- more typecasting -- was too good not to be on the list." Bill White
http://blogs.mcall.com/bill_white/2010/08/best-movies-featuring-singers-turned-actor.html
What do you think of this list? How about "The Man With The Golden Arm,"
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