The Role: George Hanson

Why It’s The Best: Just when you thought Dennis Hopper’s counter-culture classic couldn’t get any cooler, in swans Jack Nicholson half way through to steal the show as boozey lawyer George Hanson.

Nabbing himself a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for his troubles, Nicholson creates an indelible impression in his relatively brief time on screen, his disillusioned speech concerning the state of the nation resonating long after the credits have rolled.

Iconic Moment: His maiden joint is a riot, but it’s his quiet decency that sticks in the memory. “This used to be a hell of a good country,” he laments. “I can’t understand what’s gone wrong with it.”

Jack Says: “Each time I did a take (during the campfire sequence), it involved smoking almost an entire joint. The main portion of that sequence is the transition from not being stoned to being stoned. After the first take or two, the acting job became reversed.”