Joi | Hollywood Yesterday

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford on the Set of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane

September 25, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford

One of the most controversial movies among fans of old Hollywood is Whatever Happened to Baby Jane. Some like it, some dislike it, some love it, some loathe it! I, personally, fall somewhere between disliking and loathing it! The fact that Joan Crawford and Victor Buono are outstanding in it keeps me from loathing it entirely. Joan Crawford always, always, always gave a flawless performance, no matter what film she was in and this one is no exception. Not once did she go “too far” or fail to go “far enough.” She was flawless in every scene.

I (personally) believe the same could be and should be said of Bette Davis – until the very last of the movie. I am not sure what was up with the last scenes but (for me, anyway) they sort of got the entire movie derailed.

Again… that is only my opinion, and it’s a rare one from what I’ve seen and heard. Most old movie fans love every minute of this one.

You can find Whatever Happened to Baby Jane on dvd or watch the movie on Prime Video. I’d love to hear your opinions on the movie!

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford

James Stewart and Claude Rains: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

September 24, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Claude Rains and James Stewart

If you know anything at all about me, you know James Stewart is one of my absolute favorite actors. As far as I’m concerned, the actor could do no wrong when he stepped in front of the camera.

One of my favorite James Stewart films (and, trust me, I love them all… even The Rare Breed) is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The magical thing about this film is that he was surrounded by a cast that was as outstanding as he was! When you take an excellent script, cast stars like James Stewart, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, and Jean Arthur AND put a director like Frank Capra at the helms, something special is sure to happen and… holy cats… did it ever?!

James Stewart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

James Stewart doesn’t just give one of his best performances in this film, he gives one of the all-time best performances in ANY film. If you’ve never seen this one before, I hope you’ll find it right away and enjoy every drop of magic this one holds.

You can find Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on DVD (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

James Stewart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Marilyn Monroe on the Set of Clash by Night

September 23, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe

These wonderful pictures of Marilyn Monroe on the set of Clash by Night show something I have always said… she was at her most beautiful without all the glam and glitz. She didn’t need anything to give her more beauty – she came fully equipped with all she’d ever need!

Clash by Night (1952, directed by Fritz Lang) was Marilyn’s big break and, in my opinion, she did a wonderful job. If you can share the screen with one of the greatest actresses/actors of all time (Barbara Stanwyck) and not get swallowed alive, you have done something!

You can find the wonderful Clash By Night on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Amazon Prime.

Claudette as Cleopatra (1934)… Stunning!

September 22, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra

There’s just something so RIGHT about Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra (1934). Everything about her performance was magical as far as I’m concerned. The whole movie is an iconic work of art and I can never see it often enough.

The epic was directed by the wonderful Cecil B. DeMille and starred Warren William as Julius Caesar, Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Anthony, and Claudette Colbert (of course) as the mesmerizing Cleopatra.

You can find the wonderful 1934 Cleopatra on dvd (Amazon link).

Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra

Gene Kelly, Singin’ in the Rain

September 21, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly, along with Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Jean Hagen, and Cyd Charisse (in addition to the rest of the exceptional cast) created one of the most iconic movies of all time with Singin’ in the Rain. It isn’t just an exceptional musical, it’s an exceptional movie and one I can never recommend enough.

While the entire cast is flawless, Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor’s are absolutely in the front seat steering this vehicle. Both stars (in my opinion), along with Jean Hagen, should have won Academy awards. Unfortunately, musicals (as well as comedies) don’t often get the strong consideration other movies do, which kind of makes me nuts – I mean, entertainment is entertainment and excellence should be recognized regardless of the genre.

Besides, I’d like to see any member of the academy act while dancing and singing!

You can buy Singin’ in the Rain on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the iconic musical on Prime Video. Either way, I know you’ll agree with my rant above!

Gene Kelly

Claire Trevor in Key Largo… One of the All-Time GREAT Performances

September 20, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Claire Trevor, Key Largo

I love it when a perfect movie meets a perfect performance, don’t you?! One such movie and performance is Key Largo with the wonderful Claire Trevor. Her portrayal of Gaye Dawn is absolutely breathtaking. In the scene where she’s forced to sing…. I mean, it’s nothing short of movie magic.

Claire Trevor VERY deservedly won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar for her portrayal.

The movie is filled with outstanding performances – how could it not be with a cast that also included Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, and Lionel Barrymore? And yet, as far as I’m concerned, Claire Trevor managed to stand out.

That tends to happen when you give a completely mesmerizing performance!

I also want to mention the generosity of her co-stars. Each time I watch this film (well over 20 times by now), I’m struck by the “room” given to Trevor by her co-stars. You can tell they knew something truly special was happening and not one tried to take the spotlight from her. So much professionalism!

Humphrey Bogart, Claire Trevor, and Lauren Bacall

You can find the brilliance that is Key Largo on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

James Dean: Behind the Scenes of Giant

September 19, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

James Dean

I’m afraid that I’m often (too often) guilty of doing something with stars that I hate and that’s focus more on their death than their life… on the fact that they were taken from us instead of the fact that they once walked amongst us! I did this recently on this very old Hollywood blog with James Dean and I’ve felt guilty for it since. That’s why I’m writing about him again so soon! He deserves better and I’m going to see to it that I do better. The last time I wrote about this fine, iconic actor, I’m afraid I fell into the “all too easy to fall into” trap of focusing on the fact he was killed at the unbelievably young age of twenty four.

Yes, it’s easy to focus on such a horrifying tragedy – but it’s far, far better to focus on the energy, the talent, and the larger than life force that was James Dean while he was alive. This young man packed a LOT of living into 24 years. He left us with wonderful films, a lot of extraordinary quotes (he seems to have been born old and wise in many ways), and plenty of exceptional photos like the ones here. These are behind the scenes photos of James Dean on the set of Giant (1956) and I think they really showcase that personality of his!

You can buy Giant on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

James Dean

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn: Dodge City (1939)

September 19, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn were one of the all-time GREAT movie couples. The talent was off the charts and the chemistry was out of this world. One of my favorite of their movies is Dodge City (1939), a film that really doesn’t get nearly enough attention!

The western was directed by the great Michael Curtiz and also stars Ann Sheridan, Bruce Cabot, and Alan Hale.

You can find Dodge City on Amazon (link to the dvd) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn

Angie Dickinson and Gregory Peck: Captain Newman, M.D. (1963)

September 18, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Angie Dickinson and Gregory Peck

As I’ve been known to bellyache about before (and will again), many films and stars from the 50s-70s often get lost in the shuffle. Old Hollywood fans often gravitate toward the 20s-40s and modern movie fans often don’t venture from the 90s-today. When they DO “go back” to what they consider old Hollywood, it’s often the 80s.

The sad thing is, there are a wealth of wonderful movies, stars, and performances from 1950-1979 – dare I say it? Yeah, why not. There is just as much magic and fun to be had during this time as before or after this time.

Infinitely so!

Angie Dickinson and Gregory Peck are two of the many stars I love most during the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The wonderful Gregory Peck, of course, made some extraordinary movies in the 40s as well whereas the younger Angie Dickinson didn’t come onto the scene until the 50s.

Captain Newman, M.D. is a highly entertaining movie starring both of these talented stars as well as a few other names I’m sure you know… Tony Curtis, Eddie Albert, James Gregory, Robert Duvall, Dick Sargent, and Bobby Darin.

Directed by David Miller, Captain Newman, M.D. has the distinction of being the rare “War Comedy Drama.” The comedy part seems kind of out of place for a war movie, doesn’t it? However, the movie brilliantly, aptly, and perfectly intertwines drama and comedy – the latter making the former much easier to handle.

If you’ve never seen this one or if it’s been awhile, I hope you’ll find it and revisit the colorful cast.

You can find Captain Newman, M.D. on dvd on Amazon.

Ida Lupino and Bing Crosby, Anything Goes

September 18, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ida Lupino and Bing Crosby

Anything Goes (1936) is the joyous payoff of casting talented stars like of Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman, Ida Lupino, Arthur Treacher, and Charlie Ruggles! Throw in a wonderful director (Lewis Milestone) and your almost destined to succeed.

Unfortunately this one is seldom to never shown on TCM or anywhere else, so the dvd is nearly your only option.

You can find Anything Goes (1936) on Amazon… which, if we’re being honest… is a very pleasant surprise!