Old Movies, Actors and Actresses | Hollywood Yesterday

Henry Fonda and Bette Davis, Jezebel (One of the Truly GREAT Films)

May 6, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Henry Fonda and Bette Davis, Jezebel

One of my favorite movies stars FIVE of my favorite stars… it doesn’t get much sweeter than that! The movie is Jezebel (1938, directed by the wonderful William Wyler) and the four stars are Henry Fonda, Bette Davis, Theresa Harris, Spring Byington, and Margaret Lindsay.

How much do I love this particular movie? Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret I haven’t told anyone before (besides my cats, of course, we keep nothing from each other)…. I actually like Jezebel even better than Gone With the Wind.. and this is really saying something because I adore that one.

There’s just something about the magic in this particular film and Henry Fonda and Bette Davis simply cannot be topped. When they’re on top of their game (which they always were), there were no two stars any better.

If you’ve never seen Jezebel, I hope you’ll find it really soon. You can watch Jezebel on Prime Video (link to the movie).

Henry Fonda and Bette Davis

Rita Hayworth Gilda Promotional Pictures (Always a Stunning Idea!)

May 1, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Rita Hayworth, Gilda

There are many (lucky for us!) Rita Hayworth promotional pictures from her iconic role as the title character in Gilda. Gilda (1946) was directed by Charles Vidor and stars Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. It’s a legendary film, mostly due to the fact that Rita Hayworth is so remarkably well…. she was so remarkably Rita!

However, when (if?) you get past her ridiculous beauty, you will find this to be a wonderfully-directed, exceptionally well-acted, and very well-written movie. It’s one of my favorites. It’s also the movie that introduced me to Glenn Ford and made him such a favorite.

It’s funny, a lot of the Gilda Promotional pictures of Rita Hayworth are sultry and gorgeous (like the one below), but for some reason, the photo above is my favorite. It, to me, is more representative of the person lovely Rita actually was.

Rita Hayworth

You can find Gilda (link to the dvd or blu-ray on Amazon) on dvd on Amazon or watch the movie on Prime Video.

BOTD in 1908, the Wonderful Eve Arden

April 30, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Groucho Marx and Eve Arden

Eunice Mary Quedens was born on this date in Mill Valley, California in 1908. Eunice Mary would go on to become one of our best-loved stars, Eve Arden. As I said earlier on Twitter, she’s one of those rare stars who is loved by everyone – you can’t imagine coming across anyone who DOESN’T like Eve Arden.

But I can take it one step further… I’m not sure I’d even want to cross paths with someone so out of their mind that they don’t love her!

The photos shown here need very (very, very) little identification. It is, of course, Groucho Marx and our birthday beauty, Eve Arden. These are from the hilarious 1939 comedy At the Circus.

The movie also stars Chico, Harpo, Kenny Baker, and Florence Rice.

At the Circus is on Prime Video (I always get a huge kick out of seeing our beloved classics on Prime Video!) and can also be found on dvd in a Room Service and At the Circus Double Pack (link to the dvd on Amazon). Room Service stars another beautiful, universally loved actress… Lucille Ball.

Groucho Marx and Eve Arden

Maureen O’Hara: This Land is Mine Promotional Picture

April 29, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Maureen O’Hara, This Land is Mine

As you’d expect from Maureen O’Hara’s biggest fan (raising my hand high), I’ve seen each of her films and most more than a few times. This Land is Mine is one I’m always impressed with for several reasons…. reasons being Charles Laughton and Una O’Connor. Don’t get me wrong, Maureen O’Hara, George Sanders, and Walter Slezak are each wonderful, but it’s Laughton and O’Connor who steal the show.

They are two of the greatest stars of all time and they prove it (yet again) in this war-drama.

You can find This Land is Mine on dvd on Amazon. It isn’t on Prime Video yet – hopefully it will be one day soon!

Wishing a VERY Happy Birthday to Ann-Margret!

April 28, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ann-Margret

People who know me often tease me (very good naturedly, of course!) about my beloved redheads. Four of the actresses I’m most associated with (because I love them so much) are:

Maureen O’Hara
Lucille Ball
Ann-Margret
Rita Hayworth

Notice something in common?? Absolutely…. in addition to being beautiful, talented, and loaded with charisma, they’re redheads.

Ironically four of my very favorites having hair as colorful as their personalities and today is one of their birthdays. I’d love to wish a very, very happy birthday to the wonderful Ann-Margret!

Rita Hayworth, Fire Down Below Promotional Pictures

April 28, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Rita Hayworth

One of my favorite actresses (or stars overall) is Rita Hayworth. Love her, love her, love her. The first thing about her that caught my attention (when I was around 16 or so) was her beauty. I remember seeing a photo of her in one of my mom’s books and asking her about the ridiculously beautiful actress. She said she’d find one of her movies on tv soon for us to watch. She did… we did… and I’ve been obsessed with Rita since!

As I said, her beauty is what I first noticed about Rita Hayworth, but after seeing a few of her films, I quickly realized that she was as talented as she was beautiful. Over the years, as I’ve seen so many more of her films, I’m also struck by the fact that she could play any role, any genre, and master anything thrown her way. Comedy, drama, musicals (she was one of the best dancers ever and was the one Fred Astaire named as his favorite dance partner… HIGH praise from a man who danced with the best)… there isn’t anything this lady couldn’t do.

The pictures here are promotional photos for Rita’s 1957 film Fire Down Below. I rewatched this film recently and something else occurred to me about this lovely actress – she seemed to heighten the charisma and screen presence of everyone around her. It’s almost as though they knew they were sharing a screen with an icon and stepped their game up to the highest notch possible.

Not that any of her co-stars needed to step up their game, mind you… I just personally think she made the great ones even better.

You can find the Fire Down Below dvd on Amazon (link to Amazon) or watch it on Prime Video: Fire Down Below on Prime Video (Amazon link).

Rita Hayworth

North by Northwest Lobby Cards

April 27, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Cary Grant, North by Northwest

Next time you’re in the mood to watch an adventure/thriller/mystery film, I hope you will turn North… more specifically North by Northwest. North by Northwest is the iconic 1959 film starring (among others) Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and Martin Landau. It was directed by one of the most popular, beloved, and wickedly talented directors of all time, Alfred Hitchcock.

On Twitter (link to my Twitter Page), a frequent question is, “What’s your favorite Hitchcock movie?” While my answer is “Dial M for Murder,” North by Northwest always gets A LOT of representation. In fact, more than my beloved Dial M for Murder (whatever… Grace Kelly, Ray Milland and I know it’s the best!).

North by Northwest is a wonderful, wonderful movie that I know you’ll love. You can find North by Northwest on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video (Amazon link).

Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant, North by Northwest

Devotion, Starring Olivia de Havilland, Paul Henreid, and Ida Lupino

April 26, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Olivia de Havilland and Sydney Greenstreet

The lobby cards in this post are all from the underrated (yet extraordinary) 1946 film Devotion. The movie was directed by Curtis Bernhardt and boasted a wonderful cast including Ida Lupino, Olivia de Havilland, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, Nancy Coleman, and Arthur Kennedy.

The movie is loosely (and when I say loosely, please know this…. I mean LOOSELY!) based on the lives of the Bronte sisters Emily (Ida Lupino), Charlotte (Olivia de Havilland), and Anne (Nancy Coleman).

Olivia de Havilland and Paul Henreid

In the film, sisters Emily and Charlotte both fall for Rev. Arthur Nicholls (beautifully portrayed by Paul Henreid). On top of this drama, the sisters (along with younger sister Anne) try desperately to help their brother Branwell (an artist), who is ruining his future… and life… with alcohol.

Olivia de Havilland, Ida Lupino, Nancy Coleman, and Paul Henreid

The film is outstanding, in spite of the fact that the script pretty much tells the story it wants to tell. The acting is exceptional, which is exactly what you’d expect from this group of talent.

You can find Devotion (Amazon link) on dvd on Amazon.

Ida Lupino and Arthur Kennedy

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire: The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

April 26, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire

When I see people naming their favorite Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire movie, I always wonder the same thing, “How could you possibly choose just one – or two or even three.. or four?!” I love them ALL so completely that I don’t think I’d ever stand a chance of narrowing my favorites down to 4, let alone one.

Apart, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were effortlessly charming, charismatic, and talented. Together? They were movie MAGIC.

While I love all of their films, including the one depicted in this post (The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, 1939), this particular movie is often cited as fan’s least-liked Rogers and Astaire film. However, not surprisingly, even fans who don’t rate it particularly high still say the same thing, that it’s still very good and most certainly worth watching.

Personally I think the problem some may have with this one is that it’s pretty different from the rest in their filmography. It is different but, in my opinion, this is a good thing. When you watch and re-watch as many of their movies as I do, you kind of appreciate the change of pace.

People can be funny sometimes, can’t they? They’ll say so and so made movies that were “all the same” but when one ventures away from a particular formula, they scream, “Not as good! Go back to what made you popular!”

In The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, Astaire and Rogers portray Vernon & Irene Castle, renowned ballroom dancers in the years preceding World War I.

This is one of the few I haven’t added to my Ginger Rogers movie collection yet. Looks like I need to skedaddle over to Amazon and take care of that pronto.

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (Amazon link) is available on dvd but doesn’t, unfortunately, appear to be on Prime Video yet. I’ll let you know if that changes.

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire

Pride and Prejudice (1940): Greer Garson, Ann Rutherford, Laurence Olivier…

April 25, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Greer Garson, Pride and Prejudice

Greer Garson, Laurence Olivier, Mary Boland, Edna May Oliver, Maureen O’Sullivan, Marsha Hunt, and Ann Rutherford led a wonderful cast in the 1940 film Pride and Prejudice. I have seen quite a few people who didn’t “love” Greer Garson in the role of Elizabeth because of her age (Greer Garson was 36 whereas Elizabeth in Jane Austen’s novel was twenty). Given that people during the period of time being depicted were more mature (and often looked the part), I have zero problem with the age difference.

Greer Garson, Ann Rutherford, and Marsha Hunt

Pride and Prejudice (1940, directed by Robert Z. Leonard). This film reawakened a great interest in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. At least five editions of the novel were printed to coincide with the movie’s release.

Within 10 years of 1940’s Pride and Prejudice’s release, the novel had become so wildly popular, that it had gone through twenty-one printings!