Joi | Hollywood Yesterday

Linda Darnell and Tyrone Power: The Mark of Zorro (1940)

August 12, 2022 By Joi

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 James Stewart as Wyatt Earp

August 10, 2022 By Joi

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.

Henry Fonda in My Darling Clementine (1946)
James Stewart was Wyatt Earp in Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

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 as Maid Marion and Robin Hood (Perfection!)

August 9, 2022 By Joi

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, The Company She Keeps

August 7, 2022 By Joi

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.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: One of the Best Movies EVER Made

August 5, 2022 By Joi

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.

Walter Pidgeon and Maureen O’Hara, How Green Was My Valley

August 4, 2022 By Joi

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

Gorgeous Color Picture of Gloria Grahame (1947)

August 1, 2022 By Joi

Gloria Grahame

Crossfire is a 1947 film-noir, directed by Edward Dmytryk. The cast includes Gloria Grahame, Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, George Cooper, and Jacqueline White. The entire cast is perfection and the directing is a thing of beauty… like Gloria Grahame, herself!

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

Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda as Jesse and Frank James

July 29, 2022 By Joi

Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda

Two of my favorite actors in one Western (my favorite genre)??? Pop the popcorn, pour the raspberry tea, and call me when it’s on. I could literally watch Jesse James (1939) once a week and be perfectly content. The great Western also stars the underrated (and underused) Nancy Kelly, Randolph Scott, Henry Hull, Slim Summerville, John Carradine, Donald Meek, and Jane Darwell.

Wonderful cast, wonderful film.

You can find this great film (with its outstanding cast) on dvd or blu-ray – Jesse James (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

Marlon Brando, Shirley Jones, and David Niven: Bedtime Story (1964)

July 28, 2022 By Joi

Marlon Brando, Shirley Jones, and David Niven

I’m not sure why these three always strike me as such a deliciously unusual threesome but they do. I guess part of the reason may be that I tend to think of Shirley Jones as a much more modern actor than the others. I was surprised when I did the math and realized that Brando was born just 10 years before Shirley – I honestly would have thought there were more years between them.

Bedtime Story (1964, directed by Ralph Levy) is a fun, really cute movie with a strong “Sixties” feel that I love. In addition to the three pictured above, the cast also includes Dody Goodman, Parley Baer, Marie Windsor, and Aram Stephan.

You can find Bedtime Story on dvd or blu-ray (Amazon link).

How beautiful is Shirley Jones… her face is absolutely perfect!

Ava Gardner, A Gorgeous Publicity Photo for The Killers

July 27, 2022 By Joi

Ava Gardner

The gorgeous photo above is a publicity photo for Ava Gardner’s wonderful film The Killers (1946). The film-noir is one of Ava’s most popular films and is one of the best ever made, in my opinion.

The Killers was directed by Robert Siodmak and boasts a great cast that includes Burt Lancaster, Ava Gardner, Edmund O’Brien, Sam Levene, and Albert Dekker.

You can find The Killers on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.