As man and actor, Olivier was obviously not without flaws; he was fiercely jealous of his pre-eminent status and, when tired, could lapse into a tenor bark.
The Oscars have retained their pre-eminent status through simple cause-and-effect: in recent years, nominated films have added an average of $20m to their box office in the so-called "Oscar corridor", even if they don't win.
A prime minister who cannily refused to debate with other party leaders before the elections, for fear of diminishing his own pre-eminent status, was willing to engage with a writer on a equal basis.
Under the peace pact, President Boris Trajkovski is asking Parliament to amend the preamble to the Constitution so that it no longer implies that the Macedonian Slavs have pre-eminent status.
La Paz's pre-eminent status in Bolivia is increasingly at risk: nowadays, most foreign companies choose to set up in Santa Cruz, a business-friendly city in the eastern lowlands.
Al Qaeda's pre-eminent status in the terrorist world stemmed in large measure from its close relations with the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan and its ability to provide training there for thousands of fighters from extremist groups from Africa to Asia.
In fact it was a panel of experts, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, meeting at the Boston Computer Museum in 1987, which gave the Kenbak-1 its pre-eminent status.
As McIlroy continues a journey that is making him the heir apparent to Tiger Woods' pre-eminent status in the game, Clarke is hoping that the former number one can still return to winning ways.
For decades, the United States has been the world's pre-eminent status quo power.
In the past, Britain held a pre-eminent position in many areas of science.
Its pre-eminent position in society is undeniable.
