Golden Age of Hollywood
Thelma Todd and Buster Keaton, Speak Easily (1932)
This makes a pretty darn good picture of the day, I’d say! The always brilliant and hilarious Buster Keaton and the beautiful and surprisingly hilarious Thelma Todd are wonderful in this comedy. Add in Jimmy Durante and you have quite the romp!
Elvis Presley, Jailhouse Rock
If you’re going to post a Tuesday picture of the day… might as well make it a great one!
This was a promotional picture for his wonderful 1957 movie Jailhouse Rock (Amazon link to the dvd).
I love this photo of Elvis – it has as much personality as he did. Well, almost.
Do Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte make a beautiful couple or what?! They had so much chemistry in their films – as much chemistry as any film couple I’ve ever seen.
If you’ve never watched Carmen Jones, I hope you’ll make a point of doing that ASAP. These stars are outstanding in this fantastic film. Dorothy Dandridge was nominated for an Oscar for her performance but she didn’t win.
She should have. That’s a hill I will die on. She was robbed.
Harry Belafonte should also have gotten an Oscar. They were both mesmerizing in this film. Olga James and Pearl Bailey are also excellent. I wish Olga had been onscreen more. She was adorable and so very, very talented.
Please see the movie soon!
One of my all-time favorite actresses and musical stars is Judy Garland. One of my all-time favorite actors and musical stars is Gene Kelly. So, can you imagine the perfect excitement that fills my den when I’m watching a musical with both of these magical stars?
My cats can barely stand me, I’m so giddy. They truly were magical, weren’t they?
Below is the wonderful duo performing “For Me and My Gal” from the musical of the same name (1942). One of my favorite musicals of all time, it’s pretty underrated, for whatever reasons.
Maybe we can do something about that right now!
Six years later, they would team up again for another one of my favorite musicals, The Pirate. While it’s deliciously over-the-top and not remotely like this particular musical, I love it with all my heart and soul.
How could I not? It stars these two?!
Audrey Hepburn
Every now and then I like to remind my readers that the pictures of the day on Hollywood Yesterday don’t come with a lot of content – as in, I don’t blab on and on and on about a picture you can clearly see for yourself!
Whether it’s food blogs or Old Hollywood blogs, a lot of the writers will talk incessantly (while “keyword stuffing”) to rank higher in search engines. While this is all fine and good – I tend to think of my readers and guests first and foremost (on my food blog, Old Hollywood blog… in fact, ALL of my blogs). I want your visit to be fun, so I try to keep things plain and simple…. short and sweet.
All I have to say about the picture above is this: She was gifted with one of the most beautiful and fascinating faces EVER! What an absolute doll.
Joanna Barnes, “Lola” from The War Wagon, 1967
An actress who deserves more attention and appreciation is Joanna Barnes. She could play a likable character (one you cheer for) as well as an unlikable character (one you want desperately to see brought down!) and be uncommonly believable in each.
However, didn’t see seem to especially relish those bad girl roles?!?!
Her Vicky Robinson in The Parent Trap is one of my all-time favorite “love to hate” movie characters. She was so nasty!
The beautiful photo above is from The War Wagon (1967). Loved her in this role just as much.
I’m trying to find/buy more photos of Joanna Barnes for Hollywood Yesterday – she’s one of those stars who is proving to be a little difficult to find many photos of. When I do get my hands on more, you’ll surely see more of her beautiful face on this blog!
June Allyson and Ray McDonald, Till the Clouds Roll By
As I’ve often said, June Allyson is my Doris Day, as in the actress I most associate with sunshine. Whereas most people feel that Doris Day was the human equivalent of sunshine, June is that for me.
Nothing in the world against Doris Day, mind you! It’s simply that I’ve seen all but a few June Allyson films (I watch, re-watch, and collect them like my life depends on it) and I have seen…. are you ready for this?…. only one Doris Day film.
One!
I’m not sure how she has missed my radar, but she has almost completely. I need to watch more of her films this year, don’t I?
Today’s picture of the day is the wonderful June Allyson and the wonderful Ray McDonald in the musical Till The Clouds Roll By (1946). I will always wonder what might have been with Ray McDonald. He was only 38 years old when he died. Could the man ever dance?!?!
If you’ve never seen this musical (or if you have and it’s time for a re-watch), I hope you’ll check it out soon. Judy Garland, June Allyson, Lena Horne, Angela Lansbury, Robert Walker, Van Johnson, Kathryn Grayson, Van Heflin, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore…. what a cast!
Love, Love, Love, Love Her!
Cyd Charisse: Party Girl
Cyd Charisse is often, understandably, remembered for her dancing and legendary legs – but, make no mistake about it, the lady had a lot more going on for her than these three iconic gifts. She had a wonderful screen presence and, when given the chance to actually act, proved that she was very good at it.
She was beautiful, talented, and (by all accounts) a pretty terrific person. If you aren’t familiar with her work, I hope you’ll find as many of her films as you can and check them out.
She was a flawless dancer and made everything seem so easy – when we all know it was anything but!
Ann-Margret, The Pleasure Seekers Promotional Pic
I would point out that this picture of Ann-Margret is one of my favorites except for one thing… they’re all my favorites! She is, undoubtedly, one of the most photogenic ladies to ever exist.
I love how, in this picture, she proves that redheads can MOST CERTAINLY wear red. Or any darn color they’re in the mood for!
The beauty above is Silent Film star Mildred Davis. She was a frequent co-star (and longtime wife) of legendary actor Harold Lloyd. She’s one of my favorite silent film actresses and one I can’t understand not being a household name.
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
I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn, A Personal Biography
Steps in Time (Fred Astaire)
Enchantment (Audrey Hepburn)
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…
Another personal absolute favorite of mine is Barbara Stanwyck. Not only was she beautiful and outrageously talented, she was exceptionally bright and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!
