Old Movies, Actors and Actresses | Hollywood Yesterday

Rita Hayworth: Wonderful Actress and Dancer Who Happened to be Extraordinarily Beautiful

August 8, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford, The Loves of Carmen

One of my favorite actresses (for as long as I can remember knowing what an actress even was!) has always been Rita Hayworth. So many people – UNDERSTANDABLY – associate the name Rita Hayworth with beauty. They’ll usually even picture her in her role as Gilda. For me, I guess the relationship I have with her image is a little different. Obviously, I associate the name with great beauty (I’m not blind after all!) but I associate it first and foremost with her wonderful, wonderful talent.

My first Rita Hayworth movie was actually Miss Sadie Thompson and while, obviously, beautiful, the main thing that stands out to you in that particular film is her acting. She does as great a job in this role as any actress has ever done in any role.

Yes… ANY role.

My second Rita Hayworth film was The Loves of Carmen (the promotional photos in this post are from that film). Her beauty and talent kind of fight it out in this particular movie!

My third film was You Were Never Lovelier (her perfect musical with Fred Astaire). At the time (I was just a teenager without all of the Old Hollywood knowledge I currently sit on), I had no idea she could also dance, so I was blown away. I thought, “Gorgeous, wonderful actress, and an excellent dancer…. wow!”

She still wows me, each and every time I watch and rewatch her films.

Like Marilyn, Ava, and Lana… Rita is so much more than just a beautiful face. She was an actress and dancer who just happened to be extraordinarily beautiful.

You can find The Loves of Carmen (link to the dvd) on Amazon or watch it on Amazon Prime.

Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford, The Loves of Carmen

Clara Bow: Pictures of the Day from The Fleet’s In

August 7, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clara Bow, The Fleet’s In (1928)

Compared to my “talkie” Old Movie viewing, I’m relatively new to silents. I believe it was a mere 4 years ago when I watched my first silent film, in fact. I started off with Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid and have never looked back.

My favorite silent film stars (so far) are:

Buster Keaton
Clara Bow
Charlie Chaplin
Georgia Hale
Harold Lloyd
Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle
Lothar Mehnert
Marion Davies
Mildred Davis
Marceline Day
Marion Mack
Marion Byron
Mary Pickford
Zasu Pitts

But I’m picking up new favorites to add along the way. Having said that, there will never (I’m certain of that) be a silent film star I enjoy any more than I do the wonderful, one-in-a-billion Clara Bow. A few I enjoy as much… but more than??… NEVER!

These great photos are from her film The Fleet’s In (1928) – a movie that is, unfortunately, considered lost. Isn’t that as criminally frustrating as it gets?!

Lucille Ball: A Legend was BOTD in 1928!

August 6, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lucille Ball and Bob Hope, Fancy Pants

The wonderful, beautiful, hilarious, intelligent… I could go on for weeks… Lucille Ball was BOTD in Jamestown, N.Y. in 1928. All of us who love movies and (especially) television owe a debt of gratitude to the event. Television would never have been the magical force it became without Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Not even close.

The picture of the day is from the hilarious movie she made with her friend Bob Hope, Fancy Pants (1950). It is deliciously over the top, hilarious, and outrageous… just like its wonderful stars.

Happy Heavenly birthday to my personal favorite television star of all time… bar none!

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock

August 5, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock

I love A LOT of old movies… so many that I almost laugh when someone asks me what my favorite movie is. FAR too many to name… but there is and will always be a special corner of my heart reserved for Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne movies. The Quiet Man, McLintock!, Rio Grande… love them all and love them dearly.

McLintock! (1963) was sublimely directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starred the Duke, Maureen, Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Jack Kruschen, Chill Wills, Yvonne DeCarlo, Jerry Van Dyke (love him in this role!), and a host of other colorful stars creating colorful characters. Like its stars, the movie is deliciously larger than life and more fun than it has a right to be.

If you’ve never seen it, or haven’t seen it in a while, I hope you’ll watch it soon. It is a romp… a perfect, glorious romp!

You can find McLintock! (Amazon Link) on dvd or watch it on Amazon Prime.

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock

Henry Fonda in War and Peace (The Resemblance to his Son, Peter, is Stunning)

August 3, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Henry Fonda and Barry Jones, War and Peace

One of my favorite actors is, has always been, and will always be Henry Fonda. I don’t believe there has ever been a better actor. Sure, there have been actors “as good,” but better? You’d never convince me of that.

In today’s picture of the day, the great actor is pictured with Barry Jones in the 1956 film War and Peace (directed by King Vidor). Henry Fonda and his son Peter Fonda often resembled one another but never more so than in this photo. The glasses, the hair… even the expression… I see Peter Fonda in this photo more than I see Henry Fonda.

My word what a talented family. I mean, if you stop and think about it for a minute…. WOW!

If you’ve never seen War and Peace (link to the dvd on Amazon), you really have to get your hands on it. Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer, and Audrey Hepburn are exceptional, as always.

The Unforgettable Myrna Loy: Born on this Date in 1905

August 2, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Myrna Loy, Double Wedding

Myrna Adele Williams on August 2, 1905 in Helena, Montana. She would go on to become the much-loved actress Myrna Loy.

What better star to shine the spotlight on than the birthday girl herself, today?!

Myrna Loy is always such a joy to watch – she had a unique acting style that was all her own and, while I’m sure it was, didn’t seem to be inspired by anyone but HER, herself. There was an underlying strength and confidence radiating from her that jumps through the screen at you.

Those of us who adore her certainly aren’t alone.

Some of her biggest fans included James Stewart, Winston Churchill, and Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt were also fans.

The beautiful photos, shown here, are from Myrna’s hilarious 1937 movie Double Wedding, with William Powell.

Talk about a magical duo… this was one of the most magical.

Myrna Loy and William Powell

Picture of the Day: Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh, Bye Bye Birdie… Love Them!

August 1, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh

I love, love, love the movie Bye Bye Birdie (1963). Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, Paul Lynde, and Ann-Margret are four of my favorite stars and this is one of my favorite films of each. While it is often referred to as an “Ann-Margret movie,” I couldn’t disagree more.

She is, obviously, one of the main characters.. and, in being such, she is featured heavily (funny thing about main characters, that happens).

However, for me anyway (and this is coming from one of Ann-Margret’s biggest fans!), my favorite part of the movie is Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh’s storyline. They are wonderful in this movie – in fact, it’s my favorite Janet Leigh role. I wish the beautiful star had done more comedy – she was a natural.

I also wish she’d been brunette more… the dark hair draws more attention to that stunningly beautiful face.

I’d love to see more people watching and enjoying Bye Bye Birdie (link to the dvd on Amazon). We often associate the wonderful Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde with television (understandably, they were legends after all!) and Janet Leigh with Psycho (also a legend), but this fun movie shows just how gifted they were in comedy on the big screen. I’ve always thought that, like James Stewart, Dick Van Dyke could have had a career with comedies and dramas – there are moments in Bye Bye Birdie when he proves my point.

The Hilarious Dick Van Dyke

I just love the movie – everything about it. If you’ve never seen it, I hope you’ll check it out soon. And if you love it as much as I do, let the world know – I’d love to see word reach Dick Van Dyke, letting him know how wonderful he was in this film… as well as in everything he ever does!

Dick Van Dyke, Maureen Stapleton, and Janet Leigh

Rita Hayworth, Miss Sadie Thompson (So Much More Than a Beautiful Face!)

July 25, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Rita Hayworth, Miss Sadie Thompson

As if we Rita Hayworth fans needed the reminder, the actress served notice in Miss Sadie Thompson (1953, directed by Curtis Bernhardt) that she was much more than just a beautiful face. She was a very, very good actress and this role allowed her to show off her talent as well as her beauty.

If you’ve never seen this one, as a huge Rita Hayworth fan, I very much wish you’d check it out. She’s mesmerizing – the entire cast is outstanding, but she (as always) stands out.

You can buy the movie on dvd or blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch on Prime.

She seemed to relish playing the role so much that I think she totally understood the opportunity she had been given as an actress. And, boy, did she ever come through!

Ann-Margret, State Fair Wardrobe Test (Safe to Say She Passed!)

July 24, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Today’s pictures of the day are just what a Friday calls for… Ann-Margret! These are photos from her wardrobe test for State Fair (1962, directed by José Ferrer). The beautiful, talented, and off-the-charts charismatic actress is so wonderful in everything she ever did – State Fair, included.

Ann-Margret’s State Fair (1962) can be difficult to find on dvd, so if you ever see a copy, buy it! I’ve been trying for a while now to add it to my Ann-Margret collection and can’t find it anywhere.

Buying the dvd is really the only way to go because the movie is almost never shown on television.

Ann-Margret State Fair Wardrobe Test

Ava Gardner, The Killers: There are Gorgeous Pictures of the Day, then There are Gorgeous Pictures of the Day!

July 23, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner, The Killers

One of the most beautiful actresses EVER (not just from old Hollywood… but from anytime!) is the wonderful Ava Gardner. I won’t name names, but some actresses got by almost entirely on their looks. Ava was one of the beauties who happened to be a very good actress. In fact, if anything, her beauty (which wasn’t very subtle, was it?) probably kept her from getting more roles than her talent did.

The Killers is one of Ava Gardner’s most popular films and it is certainly one of the best. She’s wonderful as the beautiful Kitty Collins… spelled TROUBLE. The film-noir co-starred Burt Lancaster in one of his finest performances.

You can watch the 1946 film on Amazon Prime… I highly recommend it!