Golden Age Hollywood Stars as Greek Gods

Rita Hayworth "the Love Goddess" as Aphrodite

Franklin Pangborn as Ares, God of War.

Hedy Lamarr as Athena

It’s Hedley!

Shirley Temple = Medusa

BAN OP.....

Mary Pickford as Hestia

Pickfair as Olympus.

John Wayne as Artemis, goddess of chaste womanhood

The Big Three gods (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) should be played by the three big stars who all had CG/GC initials. Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and Gary Cooper.

Although Spencer Tracy, as Gable's frequent co-star, could also play one of the brothers.

Vanity Fair magazine had a two-page illustration depicting Golden Age Hollywood stars as the various Greek gods and goddesses in its first issue.

Buster Crabbe as Apollo(no question about it)

Robert Mitchum/Victor Mature as Hephaestus( the brawny type needed here, alas Brian Blessed came along much too late and across The Pond)

Deborah Kerr as Hera(casting way against type)

Joan Crawford as Eris, the Goddess of Discord(she was good at that)

Olivia deHaviland as Hestia or Demeter( in a pinch, she could be Persephone)

Bette Davis as Medusa( I mean, is there any other?)

Cary Grant as Momus, god of satire and mockery

Charles Laughton as Dionysus, god of wine, ritual madness and theater

Katharine Hepburn as Artemis, the maiden goddess. Kate had the athleticism.

Maybe not quite Golden Age, but Paul Newman was Michelangelo’s David come to life.

R14 David was not a god, nor was he even Greek. Wrong religion.

R12 Eris started the Trojan War by goading the goddesses into fighting over who was the most beautiful to win a golden apple, all because she wasn't invited to a party. Deborah Kerr, a six time Oscar nominee with no wins, would work as this spurned goddess.

As for Hephaestus he was brawny but also deformed. Robert Mitchum isn't classically handsome so he works but Spencer Tracy with his broad features and sturdy figure would also work even if he wasn't muscular.

Pretty boys Tyrone Power or Robert Taylor would work as Apollo except they aren't blonde. I guess that leaves Leslie Howard, considering he was cast Ashley Wilkes for the same reason.