IMDb Polls

Poll: Face-Off: Roger Ebert's "Stanton-Walsh Rule"

Iconic critic Roger Ebert had such respect for the work of the two following actors that he instituted the "Stanton-Walsh Rule," which states that "no movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad." To be singled out in this way by such an astute critic is an honor few in the film industry can claim. Which of these two legendary character actors do you think has been more deserving of such a claim?

After voting, feel free to discuss here.

Note: The only film to share both actors is the little known Straight Time (1978), co-directed and starring Dustin Hoffman, however the most well known film of each man's shares the same director, Ridley Scott.

Results of 168 votes:

  1. 1.

    Harry Dean Stanton

     
    207 Acting credits including Alien (1979), Wild at Heart (1990), Twin Peaks (2017), Lucky (2017), The Green Mile (1999), Paris, Texas (1984), Repo Man (1984), Pretty in Pink (1986), and Seven Psychop…
  2. 2.

    M. Emmet Walsh

     
    232 Acting credits (thus far) including Blade Runner (1982), Blood Simple (1984), Raising Arizona (1987), 'Knives Out (2019), My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), A Time to Kill (1996), Sneaky Pete (2015)…

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