Your Top 5 Antagonists in British & American Films

[Davy_Lee]

Out of interest, I'm starting a thread for "Your Top 5 Antagonists in British & American Films". These may be those who have played in any genre - British or American actors of the past or present. Most of you know who your favorites are ...

State the actors' names and one of their films you like best (if possible) in no particular order. This will be tough

On top of my mind are:
1. Christopher Lee
2. Donald Pleasence
3. Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver, Cape Fear)
4. Jack Palance (Companeros)
5. Henry Silva (The Boss)

Other notable names: Lon Chaney Jr., Peter Lorre (Mad Love), Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Vincent Prince (Theatre of Blood), Laurence Olivier (Marathon Man), Peter Cushing (Star Wars), Lee Van Cleef (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly), James Mason (Salem's Lot), Malcolm McDowell, Telly Savalas (On Her Majesty's Secret Service), Dennis Hopper (Speed), Al Pacino (The Devil's Advocate), Gene Hackman (The Unforgiven), Joe Pesci (Casino), John Malkovich (Con Air), James Woods (Against All Odds), John Travolta (Face/Off), Gary Oldman (Leon), Alan Rickman (Die Hard) and the list goes on...

Those who have unique villainous faces : Richard Lynch, Scott Glenn, Robert Z'dar (Maniac Cop), William Sadler (Die Hard 2), Michael Ironside, Willem Dafoe (To Live and Die in L.A.), Robert Davi (Licence to Kill), Bolo Yeung (Bloodsport), Danny Trejo (Desperado) ...

Special mention for non-British or American actors: Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu), Anton Diffring (Operation Daybreak), Max Von Sydow (Flash Gordon)...

[Jim_Mcdonaugh]

Max Von Sydow (Flash Gordon)...

Wa-ha-ha! Yeah, he's the ultimate evil there! Are you serious?
He always makes me laugh when I'm thinking about that movie!

My personal fav is Stephen Lang in Shadow Conspiracy and Avatar. He's one mean bad ass there!

Christopher Lee

Yes, as Count Duku. One mean old cold-blooded bastard.

Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver, Cape Fear)

In Cape Fear, absolutely. In Taxi Driver, no, just one seriously disturbed young man. He's hardly any evil there. Just a guy having a breakdown.

Henry Silva

In Nico and Code Of Silence, yeah, he's great.

Other notable names: Lon Chaney Jr., Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Vincent Prince, Donald Pleasence, Peter Cushing (Star Wars), Lee Van Cleef, James Mason (Salem's Lot), Malcolm McDowell, Telly Savalas, Dennis Hopper, Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, Joe Pesci (Casino), John Malkovich (Con Air), James Woods, John Travolta (Face/Off), Alan Rickman and the list goes on...

Agree, some are really convincing as villans. Other aren't, like James Mason in Salem's Lot. Nah, he's too weak there. Is good as Rommel though.

[Davy_Lee]

You're right, Jim. Many say James Mason is good as Rommel. I have seen him only in a few films where he plays convincingly as a villain, imo.
Salem's Lot just crossed my mind when I think of him. Just remembered that he just has a small, but effective, role in it.

As for stone-faced Henry Silva, you should see him in Weapons of Death a.k.a. Napoli Spara! and The Boss a.k.a. Il Boss.

[Jim_Mcdonaugh]

As for stone-faced Henry Silva, you should see him in Weapons of Death a.k.a. Napoli Spara! and The Boss a.k.a. Il Boss.

I'll try to get a hold of that DVD/BR.