Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1948)

> PHOTOPLAY'S WINNERS FOR 1946 ( Van Johnson, not in leading five last year, is there this the choice of the was Garv Cooper appears on list of five top men stars for second time. Voting on men varied more than on women ftrsi place hands down. And for the third time he also is the most popular male star in almost every group, rich and poor, frequent and infrequent movie-goers in suburban, metropolitan and rural areas. He is, in truth, as 1 said last year, even while he lives, an American legend The runners-up among the men who will receive Gold Medal Certificates, listed alphabetically, are: Gary Cooper. Bob. Hope, Van Johnson, Spencer Tracy. The popularity of male stars, it is interesting to note, proves more variable than that of feminine stars. Bing and Bob Hope are the only men who have been in the winning line-up all of the three years this poll has been conducted. Insofar as the winning pictures are concerned, at no time did the national polling leave much doubt that “The Bells of St Mary’s” would be the winner. It took an early lead and held it. For. besides presenting both of the Gold Medal stars for 1946, this movie has universal appeal; everyone — men and women, young and old, rich and poor — enjoyed it thoroughly and so remembered it warmly. To RKO, as the studio; Leo McCarey, as the producer-director and Dudley Nichols, as the writer of the screenplay, go Photoplay’s Gold Medals. To the entire cast and everyone else who receives screen credit for this picture go gold medallions, which are replicas of the Gold Medals. It was difficult, however, to establish the relative popularity of other pictures in the top ranks. Those which rate fourth Bob Hope, like Bing Crosby, has kept his popularity pace for three years. Rated high with teen-age hoys Spencer Tracy, one of last year’s five leading men, keeps his popularity and rates again this year f 41