27 heartthrobs from the golden age of Hollywood

Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire."Hulton Archive/Getty Images

• Hollywood's golden age took place from the end of the silent film era to the early 1960s, and was a high point for the film industry.
• The era was also rife with heartthrobs, many of whom drew huge box office numbers for their respective studios.
• From Marlon Brando to Marilyn Monroe to Paul Newman, movie lovers in the early and mid 20th century had a lot to look forward to.

The heartthrob is not a recent invention. Though many Justin Bieber and One Direction fans may think their crushes are the first in existence, crush-worthy famous people are a phenomenon that dates back to Hollywood's golden age.

Silent film star Rudolph Valentino, for example, is considered by some to be one of Hollywood's first heartthrobs.

From Cary Grant to Sophia Loren to Doris Day, here are 27 swoon-worthy stars from Hollywood's golden years.