The Essay - Five Screen Gods

In this series of The Essay, Sarah Churchwell celebrates some of the leading men of the silver screen from the 1930s and 40s.

Monday: Clark Gable
In today’s episode, Sarah discusses Clark Gable and his famous role in Gone with the Wind.

Tuesday: Frederic March
Sarah discusses Frederic March’s amazing dramatic range, playing a lot of different types of characters throughout his career.

Wednesday: Charles Boyer
Charles Boyer played killers and gigolos, conmen and psychopaths, but was also an equally good performer in romantic comedies, and was seen debonair and suave.

Thursday: Joel McCrea
Throughout his career Joel McCrea mainly starred in westerns and crime capers. The actor refused some films where he believed the characters did not possess "moral fibre", saying that he wanted to be "the regular guy who 'rode off into the sunset".

Friday: Cary Grant
Grant embodied the unimaginable. He was also excellent at romantic comedy and drama, and this is now examined.

• Producer: Duncan Minshull

Publicity contact: SRB