If Marvel Superheroes Were Cast 40 to 60 Years Ago...

When a film based on a beloved book, comic book, video game, or television series is announced to be in production, some fans become both excited and nervous at the prospect of just who might be playing their favorite character. This rings especially true for superhero movies, a medium whose fans are especially rabid and obsessive.

While some choices were great (Christopher Reeve as Superman, Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, or Michael Keaton as Batman), some were either uninspired (Nic Cage as Ghost Rider, Eric Bana as Bruce Banner) or atrociously executed (Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, Ben Affleck as Daredevil, or, dear God, Halle Berry as Catwoman).

After the announcement that Chris Evans was chosen to portray the iconic Captain America, my eyebrow raised considerably. While I believe that Evans is a great actor (his Human Torch was the only saving grace of the otherwise horseshit Fantastic Four films) and has the potential to pull it off, I began wondering if there was any current actor who could effectively convey the trademark characteristics of the Star-Spangled Avenger. Heck, would there have been any actors from years' past who could've done it?

This thought, of course, got me to thinking: if Marvel's superheroes were adapted into movies decades earlier, who would play them? If one got their hands on a time machine and picked actors from several eras of the early-to-mid twentieth century, what screen legends would be the appropriate perfomers?

So here's a list of who I think would've been the perfect picks for the cinematic Marvel universe, if they were to have wholly disregarded the need for believable special effects that were mostly nonexistent in those days.

ROBERT REDFORD as STEVE ROGERS/CAPTAIN AMERICA (to be portrayed by Chris Evans)

With the handsome good looks, square jaw, commanding presence, and an air of maturity that too few actors possessed, The Sundance Kid himself would have been an obvious choice for Captain America. Even with those goofy little wings on his mask.

CLARK GABLE as TONY STARK/IRON MAN (previously portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.)

Let's face it: if it wasn't for Clark Gable, Gone with the Wind's Rhett Butler wouldn't have been the biggest pimp in film history. From his gentlemanly-yet-cocky demeanor to his dashing good looks, Gable proved to be one of cinema's most suave and charming leading men. So naturally, who would've been more deserving of playing Marvel's resident playboy billionaire Tony Stark, a.k.a. the Invincible Iron Man?

MONTGOMERY CLIFT as PETER PARKER/SPIDER-MAN (previously portrayed by Tobey Maguire)

Highly acclaimed in his day for his portrayals of sensitive, angst-ridden characters (with four Oscar nods to his name), a young, '40s-era Montgomery Clift (The Search, From Here to Eternity, Wild River) would have been ideal to play the early '60s incarnation of the friendly neighborhood webslinger, back when Peter Parker was still the lonely, nerdy teen behind that red and blue costume.

GREGORY PECK as REED RICHARDS/MR. FANTASTIC (previously portrayed by Ioan Gruffudd)

Beloved for his legendary, Oscar-winning role as defense lawyer Atticus Finch in 1962's To Kill a Mockingbird, the classy and solemn Peck's natural aura of authority and wisdom would have been a truly fantastic match to the pragmatic and brilliant leader of the Fantastic Four, the elastic Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic.

GRACE KELLY as SUE STORM/THE INVISIBLE WOMAN (previously portrayed by Jessica Alba)

Before she was consort to Monaco's Prince Rainier III and became Princess Grace, Grace Kelly was one of the silver screen's most beautiful, elegant, and sophisticated actresses. Her natural beauty and classy style endeared herself to audiences worldwide, so naturally her maturity and independent demeanor would translate easily into the heart and soul (and most powerful member) of the Fantastic Four, Susan Storm-Richards.

JAMES DEAN as JOHNNY STORM/THE HUMAN TORCH (previously portrayed by Chris Evans)

The youngest and most hotheaded member of the Fantastic Four was depicted as a bad-boy teen idol in the Marvel Universe, so who would have been a better choice than Hollywood's original rebel without a cause, James Dean? A cultural icon and one of the catalysts for the transformation of America's youth in the late 1950s, Dean shared many traits with Johnny Storm (including car racing, which sadly and famously took Dean's life at only age 24), and surely would have looked even cooler (if that was possible) tearing across the sky in flame.

JOHN WAYNE as BEN GRIMM/THE THING (previously portrayed by Michael Chiklis)

Come on, do I really need to explain this one? His name synonymous with the Western, and a true American icon, the Duke was best known for his portrayal of tough, craggy sons of bitches. Ben Grimm, the rocky, grumpy member of the Fantastic Four with a heart of gold and a love for clobberin', matches John Wayne to a "T". Just apply orange, rocky makeup to Wayne, and the rest takes care of itself.

ANTHONY PERKINS as BRUCE BANNER (previously portrayed by Eric Bana and Edward Norton)

Immortalized on screen for his frightening and iconic portrayal of the murderous Norman Bates in Psycho, Tony Perkins was known for his neurotic, moody acting style. Mix that with his skinny frame, and you got yourself a pitch-perfect Bruce Banner, the meek physicist who becomes the Incredible Hulk. And of course, since this era would be lacking in CGI for the jade giant, they could just go the Lou Ferrigno route, and paint green bodybuilder Steve Reeves (who Ferrigno actually regarded as a role model).

ANNE BANCROFT as NATASHA ROMANOFF/BLACK WIDOW (to be portrayed by Scarlett Johansson)

The stunningly gorgeous Anne Bancroft became internationally known for her Oscar-nominated performance as the ultimate MILF, Mrs. Robinson, in 1968's The Graduate. Seductive like no other, it'd be no surprise to see Mrs. Mel Brooks suit up as the beautiful-yet-deadly Russian spy/superheroine/Avenger, the Black Widow.

SIDNEY POITIER as T'CHALLA/THE BLACK PANTHER (not yet portrayed)

One of cinema's finest and most venerable actors, the Academy Award-winning Poitier has carved out a consistent screen persona as a cool-as-a-cucumber, intelligent, and powerful performer, and he would have been ideal as King T'Challa, also known as the Black Panther (no connection with the Black Panther Party, mind you), a longtime member/ally of the Avengers, and the first mainstream black superhero in comic book history.

CLINT EASTWOOD as LOGAN/WOLVERINE (previously portrayed by Hugh Jackman)

If John Wayne defined "badass" during the early days of the American Western, then the incomparable Clint Eastwood was passed the badass torch, leaving his mark on cinema with his tough-as-nails action heroes like Dirty Harry, or the Man With No Name. And it would've taken a tough son of a bitch like Eastwood to truly pull off the X-Men's most popular character, Wolverine. And although the lanky Eastwood has a few inches on the traditionally short Canadian mutant, the character's (and actor's) loner status, "take no shit" attitude, and roguish charm would've certainly made up for it.


Well, there you have it. If you think there's a Marvel character that would've been done justice to a few generations ago, speak up! Excelsior!