Glad I finally got in a viewing of GONE WITH THE WING a couple weeks ago!
But I guess that closes the Golden Age of Hollywood--who else is left from the 1930s marquee?
RIP Olivia - whilst I'd name THE HEIRESS as her keeper I think David Shipman is wrong in his assessment that by common consent "the only person to steal a movie from Bette Davis was Mary Astor in THE GREAT LIE"... I'd add Olivia in HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE
I believe Astor is on record as saying Bette handed it to her on a platter.
Hi - I think we did an audit of who is left when Kirk passed . Since then we've lost Honor Blackman* (1947 debut and certainly a star in UK at least from the prominent and affectionate obits) Trintignant (late 50s) and Jeanne Moreau (1949). Of really big names probably Angela Lansbury (1944 debut) now the longest surviving - a 76 yearstar run....Eva Marie Saint (1954 = 66 years). Glad that Rhonda*, Janis* et al still with us but I don't think they were ever front rank stars..
EDIT Glynis Johns makes the Shipman 500 greatest stars list .....and debuted in 1938 although not major UK star really until 1948.....but hasn't filmed this millenium (a 61 yr run)
A marquee from 1938 film featuring Glynis below! (although the billing configuration on the poster- and my consciense - both oblige me to state I think this might be a reissue poster from mid 40s when Ann Todd* & Glynis were bigger names .....maybe post SEVENTH VEIL? .........On other posters I can locate Richardson, Edna Best* & Gwenn top the bill... I seriously doubt Johns would have trumped Richardson in billing in her first movie. I saw it years ago and recall it as an ensemble piece without one dominant lead role.... I list her 7th in my notes....with Richarsson/Best/Gwenn leading (and Todd 9th!) .....I generally list cast members roughly by prominence in the movie/screen time rather than the billing on the film or their general eminence/position in the star hierarchy).
As a back up here is a 1939 marquee featuring Marsha Hunt* (debut 1935)
EDIT2 Margaret O'Brien debut 41, star 42.... I think Glynis & Margaret are the only surviving names from volume 1
Other Vol2 shipman stars active pre 1950
Ann Blyth (one of his more perplexing choices for inclusion...-Janet Leigh*, for example. from that era gets left out.
.- Maybe I'll start a FIXING DAVID SHIPMAN thread.....
) 1944
Anouk Aimee 1947 debut and a star by 1949
Claire Bloom 1948 although not a star til 1952, but I think she's still active - a 72 year run!!!!!!
Mitzi Gaynor 1950
Poitier (50 I think) and Robert Wagner* (51) are the best I could do on the boys
Of those who were legit 50s stars Novak, Maclaine, Loren, Bardot, Woodward, Saint and erm ....Hayley Mills... are the only ones still alive that I could spot in vol2
EDIT
Here is the audit I mentioned (amended/corrected/added to)
Living golden age superstars? (was the question)
Taking the 200 names from Shipman's Great Movie Stars Volume 2 as my guide - (and I'm not checking if alive - just going from memory) .....I'm interpreting "Golden age" as up to 1970... I can suggest some names, but none that achieved stardom before Kirk, let alone Livvy....unless I'm wrong none of the names below made their star debut as early as 1947 .
This volume by and large covers stars who became such during period post WW2 - 1970s roughly - although there is not a strict start/cut off.... and most of the big name survivors are not really Kirk peers
I count maybe 2 dozen superstar level names tops from the Shipman vol 2 - I list them all and their breakthrough years
Sean Connery - one of the biggest of the lot! debut in 54 although not a major star before 1962
Sophia Loren (has Bardot gone?) - made her debut 1950 I think but again - lots of bits/small parts - a star by mid 50s
Kim Novak 55
Shirley ( a star since 1955 ) & Warren (1961) - Shirley has now had a 65 year run and I'm not imagining she has retirement plans - Lansbury aside she's probably the biggest star name still active from classic era (and I'm sure even Lansbury's most rabid fan would concede she was really a top featured player in films until 1970...she only got top billing in a couple of 50s Bs pre 1970...certainly not a film star of Maclaine's order in the classic era..... For avoidance of doubt I'm not questioning her talent)
Robert Redford - around since early 60s but not superstar til that western (1969)
Poitier Not far behind Kirk early 50s but not top star til 60s
Deneuve 56 debut I think but not a star til the Demy (64?)
Vanessa Redgrave 66
Clint 55 ? debut a star from 64 and superstar since 70s
Julie Andrews 64
Julie Christie 63/65
Faye Dunaway 67
Jane Fonda 60 (and a superstar from HORSES/KLUTE onwards)
Streisand 68
James Caan . Hmm..... was he a superstar??? Strong thoughts? 72?
Alain Delon 60
Gene Hackman 71
Glenda Jackson 69
Raquel ( a superstar in terms of public recognition... if few actually went to see the films) 66
Hayley Mills 59
Joanne - not sure she a superstar...... 55
Still around but never superstars - Eva Marie Saint (almost a contemporary of Kirks) , George Segal (although for a while in the 70s he made the front rank of the A list), Ellen Burstyn, Louise Fletcher, Elliott Gould (if he was it was very brief), Ryan & Tatum ( I think Ryan was a superstar at the time but posterity has not been kind) , Tuesday Weld,,,,,
Robert Wagner* (thanks Matt!) 1951 debut I think an a star within a year or so although never superstar imho
Of the notable omissions from Shipman's book from this era Donald Sutherland, Claudia Cardinale and Charlotte Rampling are still with us. (see also any marked *)
Checked Shipman's vol 3 - this includes a few more names who were stars pre 1970 that are still alive -
Living Superstars? a few I'd nominate:
Michael Caine (debut 56, major stardom took nearly another decade)
Ann-Margret
Woody Allen
Hoffman
Liza (borderline - not in terms of being a superstar but qualifying before 1970)
Goldie (ditto)
Voight (ditto)
Jack (ditto)
Maggie Smith
Mia Farrow
Sally Field wasn't really big til 1979
Bisset, Bujold, Candice Bergen*, Terence Stamp*, Katharine Ross*, Alan Arkin, Sarah Miles*, Barbara Hershey(just)... were all stars before 1970 but never superstars
Judi* was around but not really a film star til late 90s
Carroll Baker* debut 53 and still with us (retired from acting but had her 4th book published last year!) Bless.
Tippi*? If Dean can be a star from 3 movies then I think she can be one with only 2.... Obvs never a superstar
Sarandon* has 50 years but she's resolutely post -classic
That is a cool list, that's pretty impressive many of the minor stars from the Golden Age are still around. I have to check out some of the films.