Celluloid Tarot

As an homage to the great Hollywood stars of the 20th century, I thought it would be fun to assign legendary film actors to some of the Major Arcana cards. Melanie Bacon has created an entire Hollywood Tarot which fully explores this theme.

Below is a very subjective, partial list of my very own Celluloid Tarot. The actors were chosen not only for their fame and talent, but because of the enduring personae they created. When relevant, I've also listed the film and character which inspired my choice.

0-The Fool - Charlie Chaplin as The Tramp.

1-The Magician - Houdini. I know that technically he was a stage performer (he only starred in a few silent films), but he owns this archetype.

2-The High Priestess - Katharine Hepburn.

3-The Empress - Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra.

4-The Emperor - Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather.

5-The Hierophant - Sir Laurence Olivier.

6-The Lovers - Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

7-The Chariot - Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur. I'm in agreement with Melanie Bacon on this one. I'm thinking of course of the classic chariot racing scene.

9-The Hermit - Greta Garbo. Another pick I share with the Hollywood Tarot.

11-Strength - Joan Crawford. Notwithstanding her wire hanger phobia, she was one tough lady onscreen.

12-The Hanged Man - Montgomery Clift.

13-Death - Bela Lugosi.

15-The Devil - Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates in Psycho.

16-The Tower - Charles Laughton as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

17-The Star - Ingrid Bergman.

18-The Moon - Jean Harlow.

19-The Sun - Marilyn Monroe.

20-Judgment - The Oscars ceremony.

21-The World - The audience. This also is the same as the Hollywood Tarot.