August 16, 2001. Copyright 2001. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

ÒHannibalÓ worst bad-guy on silver screen

LONDON, August 16, Graphic News: Sir Anthony HopkinsÕ Oscar-winning performance as hungry Hannibal Lecter has also clinched him a ÒBest BaddieÓ award from film-goers.

The ÒSilence of the LambsÓ villain slaughtered the opposition in a poll of more than 17,000 film fans, conducted by www.only-movies.com.

The 63-year-old Welsh actorÕs portrayal of the serial killer with a taste for human flesh beat ÒStar WarsÓ bad boy Darth Vader and Norman Bates of Alfred HitchcockÕs classic, ÒPsycho,Ó to claim the title. 

Hopkins scooped 40 per cent of the votes in the internet search to find the worldÕs all-time movie villain.

A spokesman for the website that ran the poll said: ÒPeople obviously responded to HannibalÕs wit as much as his monstrosity.Ó

ÒHis one-liners are what make the character stick in the memory -- remember at the end of the first film when he told FBI agent Clarice Starling: ÔIÕm just having an old friend for dinner?ÕÓ 

Fourth was Alan RickmanÕs Sheriff of Nottingham from ÒRobin Hood, Prince of Thieves,Ó followed by ankle-smashing Kathy Bates from the Stephen King thriller ÒMisery.Ó

The earliest villain nominated in the top 30 was Max Shreck, from the 1922 vampire movie ÒNosferatu.Ó

Other classic creeps included Christopher Lee from the 1958 version of ÒDracula,Ó Richard WidmarkÕs portrayal of Tommy Udo in the 1947 flick ÒKiss of DeathÓ and Robert MitchumÕs Rev. Harry Powell from ÒNight of the HunterÓ (1955).
/ENDS
Sources: www.only-movies.com