Golden Age of Hollywood
Mae West in I’m No Angel
In honor of her birthday, Mae West is our picture of the day. The actress was born on August 17, 1893 in Brooklyn, New York. Amazingly, to be so well-known and iconic, the actress only made 12 movies. She may not have left us with many films, but the ones she did leave are terribly entertaining and she NEVER disappoints!
Maureen O’Hara
One of my first “favorites” is still one of my top “favorites” today and today is the day we celebrate her birth. Maureen O’Hara was born in Ireland on August 17, 1920. The first two Maureen O’Hara films I ever saw were (in order) Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and The Parent Trap (1965). These films, along with It’s a Wonderful Life and The Adventures of Robin Hood made me fall in love with old movies and they vaulted Maureen O’Hara to the top of my favorite actress list – right by Lucille Ball’s side.
I’ve always LOVED Lucy.
While I personally love and recommend seeing all of Maureen O’Hara’s filmography, the following movies are my personal top 12:
Happy Heavenly birthday to a beautiful and extraordinary actress – one who was an even more extraordinary person! ~ Joi (“Joy“)
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth in the role of Gilda is so deliciously iconic – in fact, it’s one of the most iconic film roles I can think of.
The wonderful 1946 film-noir also stars Glenn Ford and George Macready and, somehow seems to be even better each time you see it.
You can find Gilda (link to the dvd or blu-ray on Amazon) on dvd on Amazon or watch the movie on Prime Video.
Butch Patrick, Yvonne De Carlo, Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, and Pat Priest
Happy birthday to the beautiful Pat Priest – best known as the lovable Marilyn on The Munsters. But, unless they’ve seen the first 15 episodes of the series, a lot of people don’t realize she was actually the second actress to play Marilyn.
Beverley Owen was the first Marilyn (for the 1st 15 episodes).
In addition to portraying Marilyn to the hilt, Pat Priest also made a lot of guest-appearances on television including Perry Mason, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mannix, and Bewitched.
You can watch The Munsters on Prime Video or buy the complete series on dvd (Amazon link). After shopping for several other favorites on dvd, I was joyfully surprised by how inexpensive The Munsters is! It would make a really fun gift idea for anyone who loves classic television.
Tyrone Power, director Rouben Mamoulian, and Linda Darnell
The Mark of Zorro (1940) was one of four films Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell made together and it deliciously entertaining. Directed by Rouben Mamoulian, the movie also stars Basil Rathbone and Gale Sondergaard.
Tragically, the stars had something else in common… dying far too young. Tyrone Power was only 44 when he died and Linda Darnell was just 41.
You can find The Mark of Zorro on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
Henry Fonda and Cathy Downs, My Darling Clementine
Ironically, real-life close friends James Stewart and Henry Fonda BOTH played Wyatt Earp in westerns that were directed by the legendary John Ford. They’re my top two favorite actors of all time, so I have (of course) seen both movies more than a few times.
While I personally prefer My Darling Clementine, I think they’re both wonderful movies and each actor gives an outstanding performance.
James Stewart and Arthur Kennedy, Cheyenne Autumn
You can find My Darling Clementine on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
You can find Cheyenne Autumn on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
John Ford on the set of Cheyenne Autumn
Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) was directed by the wonderful Micahel Curtiz and is (without question) one of the most iconic and entertaining films ever made. The cast includes Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, and Alan Hale.
This is one of those wonderful films that, somehow, seems more enjoyable each time you watch it.
You can buy the iconic The Adventures of Robin Hood on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
Jane Greer
Jane Greer, Lizabeth Scott, Dennis O’Keefe, and Fay Baker star in the 1951 drama The Company She Keeps (directed by John Cromwell).
The Company she keeps marked the film debut of Jeff Bridges – if you can really call it a debut, he was an infant after all! Beau Bridges (his older brother) and their mother, Dorothy Dean Bridges, also appear in the film.
The cast is a pretty strong one but the star of the movie, in my opinion is absolutely Jane Greer. She’s mesmerizing.
The movie can be a real challenge to find on DVD and is very rarely shown on television. IF you are able to find it, however, you’ll definitely want to check it out and buy it if possible.
James Stewart and Jean Arthur
The 1939 classic Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is, without a doubt, one of the most extraordinary films ever made. Directed by Frank Capra, the movie features an unusually strong cast that includes James Stewart, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, and Jean Arthur. Admittedly, I love Jean Arthur in everything but she is ABOVE AND BEYOND in this role. The chemistry she and James Stewart had was palpable.
She’s simply always a joy to watch.
Claude Rains and James Stewart
The entire cast is outstanding, with one excellent performance after another. Claude Rains, one of the most versatile actors of all time, is deliciously despicable and Thomas Mitchell is as lovable as ever.
Naturally, the star of the film is, unquestionably, James Stewart and he gives one of his best performances. James Stewart and Frank Capra made movie magic together and did so more than once! The legends also worked together on the Classic (with a capital C) It’s a Wonderful Life.
You can find Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on DVD (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.
Maureen O’Hara and Walter Pidgeon
Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O’Hara, Anna Lee, Donald Crisp, and Roddy McDowall lead an excellent cast in the 1941 epic, How Green Was My Valley (directed by John Ford).
This was the first movie Maureen O’Hara made with legendary John Ford. They’d go on to make Rio Grande (1950), The Quiet Man (1952), The Long Gray Line (1955), and The Wings of Eagles (1957). The Long Gray Line and How Green Was My Valley were their only two films that didn’t also star the larger than life John Wayne!
You can find How Green Was My Valley on dvd and blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the VERY highly rated drama on Prime Video.
Maureen O’Hara, Roddy McDowall, and Anna Lee
My main goal with Hollywood Yesterday is to keep the names, faces, and films of the stars that mean so much to me shining brightly. When I’m guilty of focusing more time on my personal favorites (such as Olivia de Havilland) than other stars, I hope you’ll forgive me. I am, by all indications, very human!
Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!
Wait. What did I just admit to??
Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!
There’s nothing quite like watching a movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whether it’s a Musical, Western, Comedy, Romance, Film Noir, or Drama – if it’s on, I’m not too far away… with popcorn and raspberry tea in hand and a couple of cats nearby.
Below are a few Old Hollywood movie reviews I’ve done on the blog. There are, as you’d imagine, a lot more to come. – Joi (“Joy”)
We’re in the Money (Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell)
The Naked Spur (James Stewart, Janet Leigh)
The Prince and the Showgirl (Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier)
The White Sister (Helen Hayes, Clark Gable)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)
Rio Bravo (John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan)
El Dorado (John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey)
Rio Grande (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara)
Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (What is it With Me and These Movies??)
The Stooge (Jerry Lewis’ favorite Lewis and Martin Movie… for good reason.)
Critic’s Choice (Hilarious movie starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball)
To Please a Lady (Clark Gable and Barbara Stanwyck team up in a fast track movie)
Grand Hotel (Joan Crawford, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore)
Hearts Divided (Marion Davies, Dick Powell)
The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald)
More Old Hollywood Movie Reviews
Find out just how much I (truly) Love Lucy in the Lucille Ball category. I’m warning you, I call it an obsession for a very good reason…
