Lionel Barrymore or Edward G. Robinson?

Both tremendous actors and unparalleled talents, but Eddie G just has something about him that puts him over the edge for me.

Good catch! 

Robinson

I've said this before on MAR that Robinson, Cagney and Bogart are the crucial American film actors for how they influence later generations - not that they are "better" than Fonda or Tracy or Stewart ....but it is those 3 who mixed an actor "type" with an acting approach - who first really suggest the Method but did it in a basic way - and much earlier .....so their performances tend to "look" more modern - to me at least - than some of the other "great actors" of their day like Barrymore or Muni, Tracy, or March - though I like all of them also......

EGR is very much taken by backstory - all 3 were - where most actors in their period "prepared" mostly externally - costumes, accents, or makeup etc. - so with EGR you get this "dual effect" where he looks the same from movie to movie - and sounds the same - you feel you "know" him ............ but what he's channeling internally for each character is notceably different .....and identifiable to an audience viewing it....I always feel more involved in their performances ......

Both are iconic but it’s Robinson for me.