Movie Poll: Who is your favorite pre-‘60s sex symbol?

If you want pure unadulterated sex appeal you need go no further than Marilyn. There's a reason she's still an icon 50 years later. Some men may get turned on by a woman's brain but the majority of men feel a little intimidated by strong feminist types (Stanwyk, Bergman etc.).The things Marilyn could do with that great bod and those eyes leave a lasting impression on guys like me.Practically, however it requires a combination of brains and beauty to have a meaningful relationship.

There was never an actress as sexy in talk, walk, and general conversation as well as looks as Mae West. Although plumpish by today's standards of beauty, the woman radiated sex and was a walking ad for breast enhancement before there was such a thing.

I also went for the saucy Cupie-doll looks of Joan Blondell.

There were few actresses possessing the nubile innocence, raw physicality and perfect beauty of Debra Paget. And does so even unto today.

Stanwyck was good but why didn't Doris Day make the poll. She was very sexy in a wholesome way.

Overall, I think Barbara Stanwyck gets my vote. It was between Ingrid Bergman and Barbara but the deciding factor was the numerous films Barbara was in. I truly loved every performance I saw her in.

I would add Greta Garbo to the list as well!

When "Gilda" flipped that hair it made men in the audience melt!!

I'll go with the lovely Natalie Wood.

I think that Marilyn Monroe was the sexiest woman at the time because she has the baddest body and the most gorgeous smile for that time frame

What a list! Lana Turner is luscious and Ingrid Bergman is stunning. Yes, the days when women were women. They all kind of made my legs go weak.

I'm with the Kim Novak fans. What a beauty.

Jane Russell. I'd have dreams about her.What a girl.........

Anna May Wong

I'm sorry I have to go with BRIDGET BARDOT in God
Created Woman. For my age group she was IT!. It
didn't matter the movie was in French

There was something innocently sexy (or sexily innocent) about Lauren Bacall in her early films. She's been my favorite for years.

Without a doubt if you're talking about sexy women it's MM. Heady Lamarr was the most beautiful. I guess Jane Russell would be next best sexiest. That's probably why they were teamed in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes".

The female stars of today just "ain't what they nused to be"

Also, Yvonne Romain was awesome in a Lollobrigida-like way. She was mostly in low-budget horror pictures: Circus of Horrors, and she was Oliver Reed's mother in Curse of the Werewolf.

I can't wait for the 60s & 70s sex symbols with Carol Wayne, Adrienne Barbeau, Raquel Welch, Connie Stevens, et. al.

Ingrid Bergman got my vote but only because Hedy Lamar or Myrna Loy were not on the list. Many might not consider Ms. Loy to be "sexy" but when it comes to a complete package (brain, figure, eyes, etc.) she had it.

Marilyn Monroe is by far the sexiest woman on the list, hands down. Back in 1983 I walked into a book store as a young boy and there stood a life size poster of Marilyn(whom at the time I had no idea who she was)her arms were open, reaching out to you in her costume from "Bus Stop" with her fish net stockings. I was in love from that moment on, still love her and I still own the life size poster. Of course I was shocked Betty Grable with the million dollar legs didn't make the list(though I would still have voted for Marilyn) and what about Carmen Miranda? She had a sex appeal as well as a sense of innocence.

I'm bad. Betty Grable did make the list. I told you I would still have voted for Marilyn Monroe...

my dreamgirl..dorothy malone.had her picture on my locker aboard ship

When I was in elementary school, I saw "One Touch of Venus" with Ava Gardner. I never forgot her and she got my vote. However MM was undoubtedly the sex queen of the 1950's. To WWII vets Betty Grable was very popular along with Rita Hayworth. From the comments on this board there were sure a lot of sexy women in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.

My first thought was Elizabeth Taylor. Beautiful and noone could have any doubts about her acting ability.

They all get my vote.But Marilyn would be the one to go home with.

I voted for Marilyn, but if Sophia Loren was on the list, she would have been my first pick. What a classic beauty..........

A very hard pick-- but i just love Ava-- Too bad Frank you couldn't hold on to her... But she is a men's woman...

WHAT ABOUT DOROTHY LA MORE! BEAUTIFUL AND FUNNY. REMEMBER THE ROAD PICTURES WITH BOB AND BING?

When I was 14 years old I went to a film preview in San Francisco (MGM's The Red Danube)and saw Ava Gardner in person as she walked past me into the theatre, wearing a strapless black velvet gown, her hair pinned up, and no jewelery, and she looked at me. I was hooked for life!

They didn't call those chrome protusions from the '55 Mercury front bumper "Dagmars" for nothing!!!

clark knew CAROLE LOMBARD

lauren bacall, lauren bacall- always and forever

You should probably break this down by decade in order to list enough choices to choose from for each period of time. This would be especially true for the period of time of the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. My choices would be Jean Harlow (30s), Ingrid Bergman (40s), Marilyn Monroe (50s) and Sophia Loren (60s). I do have to admit I am partial to both the movies and the women of those four decades.

Number one sexiest woman of all time is Monroe. She radiates sex appeal. Forget about the Dumb Blonde roles she was cast in. Marilyn could turn on the appeal like a light switch. Second would be Rita Hayworth and Lana Turner, just check out the opening in The Post-Man Rings twice when Garfield picks up the lipstick and cast eyes apon her for the first time. If beauty is what you want then that would be Liz Taylor then Ava Gardner and Gene Tierney. Sophia Loren is the sexiest woman of the next decade. Also Dorothy Dandrige is the sexiest black actress of all time.

Well, uh, none of these ladies is my TYPE! However, if it comes to which one of 'em held it down best, with tuffcoolsexxy? It's gotta be Miss Barbara Stanwyck. I loved her in everything she was in--she was even badass in "The Big Valley!" I mean, really, check out her middle-aged mama of 4 grown children, still rocking black gauchos, riding boots, and that hat cocked to the side: she was all that!

I couldn't pick! But I chose Veronica Lake. If I was a man, she would have rocked my world. I love watching her. There were so many beautiful ladies in those "old" movies. The only ones I remember watching when I was young were Marilyn Monroe and Sofia Loren. The others, I watched in reruns of black and white movies on tv.

Actually, my favorites STILL are Heddy Lamar, Donna Reed, Loretta Young!

Sophia Loren without a doubt. Curves and swerves and a primal female demeanor that soothes the nerves.

Ingred Bergman was by far the best actress in the list - sex symbol? Wrong sex. Rock Hudson, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper.....

Hedy Lamar was by far the most beautiful/sexy/intriguing. Although I'm prejudiced-my mother was mistaken for her all the time back in the forties.

I agree with all the Marilyn fans out there. She is the all time best. Dumb blonde--no sexy smart woman--Yes. She will always be remembered.

I would definately put Kim Novak on my list. Who
could forget that slow dance scene in "Picnic"
with William Holden or that heated love connection between Kim and Jimmy Stewart in
"Vertigo".

The prettiest eyes in Hollywood is Elizabeth Taylor's violets plus she one hell of a good actress. I loved her in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and National Velvet, yet some on this list I would remove because there was some much more beautiful than Marlene Dietrich even when she is in film with the Duke I still don't like her. When I hear the names of Vivien Leigh, one of the first female vixens, or Olivia De Haviland, elegant but strong willed, Gone with the Wind is the first time I thought about beautiful women could be human. And what about Olivia's kid sister,Joan Beauvoir , from Alfred Hitchcock movie Rebecca or Jane Eyre with Liz Taylor, or Sophia Lorena she was sexy as can be and she talks with her beautiful brown eyes, well she maybe to young for this group. Where is Mae West? Some say she was a very sexy woman if you don't believe me just ask her, remember her famous quote of "when I'm good, I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better". I know that Betty Grable was the PEN UP GIRL with each leg being insured for a million but thats about all I know about her. The only movie that I know of hers is because she co-star with Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall in How to Marry a Millionaire. Even Lauren Bacall is sexy in her own way. Katharine Hepburn was a beauty icon in the 1940's as well, she had beauty and class and grace. She makes me laugh in Bring up Baby, my favorite production of Little Women is with Katharine Hepburn playing Jo. Do you know she turn down the part of Scarlet O'hair because she didn't think she was sexy enough for the part. As she got older she made good movies like Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and Golden Pond. Oh yea she played in Roster Cogburn with the Duke. Then there is Audrie Hepburn who is a true aristocrat by birth. She gorgous in a Roman Holiday and Sabrina. What about Jennifer Jones, she play part like The Song of Bernadette or the sexy half breed in Duel in the Sun.
I like Ingrid Bergman but sexy she not really, very good actress she was. I loved her movies The Bells of St. Mary's and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Even though she died young in a plane crash Carole Lombard was sexy as well as funny. Love her movie, My Man Godfrey as well as the comedy Mr. & Mrs. Smith directed by Alfred Hitchcock. She was actually one of the first female stars to get paid big bucks and she even has a World War II Liberty ships name after her.

The choices were all over the map on this one depending on one's interpretation of beauty. It didn't really surprise me that Monroe would be number one since that was the way that she was promoted in the majority of her films. Many of the other women had true sexuality but it was smoldering and sometimes hidden in their roles.
Although I AM a big fan of Monroe, I voted for Jane Russell. She was an extremely attractive woman in the 40s and 50s.

Names that were omitted but deserved to be on there includes Virginia Mayo, Kim Novak, Grace Kelly, Jayne Mansfield and Elizabeth Taylor. The decade of the 50s featured Taylor at her Hollywood best. Nancy Gates best known for "Some Came Running" also comes to mind. An attractive woman who didn't make many films. Marie Windsor ("The Killing")also should have been included as she was at her zenith in the 50s. Cyd Charisse didn't get ANY of the credit she deserved. Herself and Ann Miller were THE SEXIEST dancers on the MGM lot.

Mae West was sexy through her saucey style and delivery however in the looks department she was short and chubby. I can't even believe that someone would EVEN CONSIDER Marie Dressler!!! Time for a NEW PRESCRIPTION!!!

My personal favorite, Hedy, was not on the list, so i voted for Lana, another longtime fave. I adore Rita and Jane Russell as well so it was a tough choice. A few other gals who deserve credit for being hott: linda darnell, susan hayward, ann sheridan, merle oberon, alexis smith, yvonne decarlo, diana dors, vera ralston, joan/constance bennett, ella raines, evelyn ankers, bette & joan, mae west...