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Greatest Classic Mystery and Suspense Characters: 5 Roles That Live On Through Big Screen

Greatest Classic Mystery and Suspense Characters: 5 Roles That Live On Through Big Screen
James Stewart, Vertigo, 1958. (imdb.com)

By    |   Saturday, 02 May 2015 06:35 AM EDT

The movie genre of mystery and suspense is one of the most popular genres today. From 1995 to 2015, movies in this genre have raked in approximately $15.3 billion in box office revenue. Mystery and suspense movies often have outrageous, cunning, and bizarre characters as the element of horror comes into play. Here are five classic movie characters that appear in the genre of mystery and suspense:

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1. John "Scottie" Ferguson, “Vertigo” (1958)

Starring in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo,” John ‘Scottie’ Ferguson, played by James Stewart, is a detective investigating a strange crime. There are many twists and turns in this Hitchcock classic, with Scottie at the heart of it all, cutting a dashing figure.

2. Marion Crane, “Psycho” (1960)

“Psycho,” directed by Alfred Hitchcock, combines horror with mystery and suspense with the character of Marion Crane. Without Crane, played by Janet Leigh, the movie would not have been nearly as popular as it became. The film also starred Anthony Perkins as the killer Norman Bates.

3. L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies – “Rear Window” (1954)

“Rear Window” is yet another Hitchcock classic staring James Stewart. In classic fashion, the movie has an incredible amount of mystery and suspense all made possible by the intriguing character of wheelchair bound Jefferies.

4. Bennett Marco, “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962)

Released in 1962, this mystery-thriller is still beloved today. Much of the popularity of this movie must be attributed to Frank Sinatra and his character of Bennett Marco.

As most people know, Sinatra was one of the most popular actors and singers of the 20th century. Biography.com says Sinatra “had a dazzling array of hit songs and albums and went on to appear in dozens of films, winning an Oscar for 'From Here to Eternity.' He left behind a massive catalog of work that includes iconic tunes like 'Love and Marriage' and 'New York, New York.'”

Vote Now: Which of These Actors Stands the Test of Time?

5. Sherlock Holmes – “The Pearl of Death” (1944)

One of the most iconic characters of the mystery and suspense genre across both television, film, and literature is Sherlock Holmes. The character has appeared in many different ways, cutting a striking figure with hit pipe, top hat, and wit.

“The Pearl of Death,” released in 1944 and directed by Roy William Neill, starred Basil Rathbone as Holmes. More recently, Holmes has been played on the big screen by Robert Downey Jr., in the 2009 film "Sherlock Holmes," and the 2011 film "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows."

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FastFeatures
The movie genre of mystery and suspense is one of the most popular genres today. Mystery and suspense movies often have outrageous characters. Here are five classic movie characters that appear in the genre of mystery and suspense.
classic, mystery, suspense, characters, films, movies
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2015-35-02
Saturday, 02 May 2015 06:35 AM
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