Ava Gardner
These pictures of Ava Gardner are promotional shots of her film The Little Hut (1957). Leave it to Ava to make us momentarily forget we’re in a pandemic!
Ava Gardner, The Little Hut
Honor Blackman: Rest in Peace to an Extraordinary Actress and Film Icon
Honor Blackman, Goldfinger (1964)
We lost a unique, strong, talented, and beautiful actress today – the wonderful Honor Blackman. The lovely English actress was best known for her roles of Cathy Gale in The Avengers, and Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. She is also fondly remembered as Julia Daggett in Shalako, Hera in Jason and the Argonauts, and Laura West in the ITV sitcom The Upper Hand.
She was 94 years old. I send all of my warmest thoughts, sympathies, and prayers to her family and friends.
A Woman’s Face Lobby Cards: Melvyn Douglas, Osa Massen, Conrad Veidt, and Joan Crawford
Melvyn Douglas, Osa Massen, and Joan Crawford
I have a huge obsession with Joan Crawford films (certainly not limited to, but especially the ones from the 30s and 40s). Not only was she a remarkable actress, so many of her films just happened to be a particular kind of wonderful. She also happened to co-star with some of my favorite actors (Melvyn Douglas, Robert Montgomery, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone…).
A Woman’s Face is one of my favorites. The entire cast is outstanding and the directing (by one of the greatest directors of all time, George Cukor) is breathtaking.
If you’ve never seen the film, I hope you’ll find it as soon as you possibly can. It is extraordinary.
You can find A Woman’s Face on Amazon (DVD) or click the link below the lobby card to rent (for only $1.99) or buy on Amazon Prime.
Conrad Veidt, Joan Crawford, and Melvyn Douglas
Tuesday Weld and Vince Edwards: From an Episode of Ben Casey
Tuesday Weld and Vince Edwards
The photo above is a promotional photo for an episode of Ben Casey that lovely Tuesday Weld guest-starred on. The episode was titled When You See an Evil Man and aired in 1962.
I may have mentioned this on Hollywood Yesterday before, but I only somewhat recently branched out into the 60s and 70s in my film study, movie-watching, and overall obsession with all things “Hollywood, Yesterday.” Up until then, I had stayed gleefully in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s… with the great exception of Elvis, Maureen O’Hara, Ann-Margret, and John Wayne films – I followed them into whatever decade they led me into.
It was actually an Elvis and Ann-Margret film that made me want to dive deeper into 60s movies and television shows. After re-watching Viva Las Vegas one afternoon last year, I thought it’d be fun to see more 60s films.
I was right! I’m hooked on them now and am collecting as many favorites from this decade as I have from the others.
One I love in particular is Tuesday Weld. What a beautiful, talented, and engaging actress! I’ve been having a lot of fun watching her on classic television episodes and old movies. She really deserves more credit for what she has meant to the entertainment industry from the 1950s through today.
She’s really something extra special and I can’t wait until my next Tuesday Weld film. Think I’ll watch one today.
Maybe two. I find I have a little time…
Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan: Gigi (1958)
Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan, Gigi
I love these promotional pictures for Gigi so much it almost hurts to look at them. Then again, that’s pretty much the reaction I have to Leslie Caron, period.
Such a talented and beautiful actress and dancer. She’s mesmerizing to watch!
I’m also convinced that she is incapable of making a bad movie. Gigi, An American in Paris, Lili, Daddy Long Legs… some of my absolute favorite movies have one beautiful thing in common – Leslie Caron.
Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdan, Gigi
Gigi (1958) is such a delightful, joyful, and stunningly beautiful movie – VERY deserving of its 9 Oscar wins.
Did you know that, the day after the movie’s record-setting nine Oscars, MGM telephone operators were instructed to answer all phone calls with “Hello, M-Gigi-M.” Love that.
The entire cast is absolute perfection. This is actually the only role I’ve seen Louis Jourdan in, but he was so wonderful, I want to search out other films he made.
I love Leslie Caron’s quotes about her female co-stars in Gigi:
- About Hermione Gingold (Madame Alvarez): “Irreverent, naughty, and fun, she had a great appetite for life, like a cat lapping up a bowl of milk.”
- About Isabel Jeans (Aunt Alicia): “She never undid her corset at lunchtime like we all did, and she kept the straight back of a real pro from morning to night.”
Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell, and Lionel Atwill: Mystery of the Wax Museum
Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell, and Lionel Atwill- Mystery of the Wax Museum
Ever like a movie in spite of itself? That’s how I am with a lot of movies, if we’re being honest. I love sitting down with a tall glass of raspberry tea and a fat bowl of popcorn and losing myself in a movie so much, I’m not the least bit particular.
A lot of people ask a lot of a movie – I simply ask only that it entertain me. If it gives its viewer a wild ride around the block, so be it.
So long as it’s entertaining.
If it suspends all true reality and believability… so what, it’s all make believe anyway!
So long as it’s entertaining.
If it goes a little too far at times… well, it’s better than not going far enough.
So long as it’s entertaining.
No, Mystery of the Wax Museum isn’t Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, or It’s a Wonderful Life. It doesn’t have to be. It is gloriously itself and it is a very fun 1 hour and 17 minutes. Much of the entertainment is due to the cast. Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell, and Lionel Atwill are each deliciously fun to watch- so throwing them together can only mean one thing… that’s right… a movie that hits the magic mark: It’s entertaining.
Fay Wray and Glenda Farrell… LOVE these Hats!
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection
The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection
I recently ordered The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection (Amazon link) with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce and have been kicking myself ever since. I mean… seriously… what took me so long to get hooked on these wonderful, wonderful films?!?!
I only recently saw my first Rathbone and Bruce Sherlock Holmes movie (this year, in fact) and I was hooked immediately. My husband and I have been mowing through them and I literally can’t wait to go back and re-watch each and every one.
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, Terror By Night
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are so perfect in these roles it’s a wonder anyone ever tried stepping into the roles since. Don’t get me wrong, I love a lot of the films and television shows that are more modern, but none…. absolutely none… can compare to the magic Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce made.
If you aren’t familiar with these WONDERFUL films, I hope you’ll find them on Amazon – either by watching them on Amazon Prime video or buying the dvds. Like me, you will want to kick yourself for not discovering them sooner.
Only problem is, finding a way to indeed kick oneself would mean taking time away from watching these films… something I have no intention of doing!
Lana Turner and James Stewart, Ziegfeld Girl
Lana Turner and James Stewart, Ziegfeld Girl
Is there a movie that, overall, you feel kind of meeeeeh about except for one performance (or storyline) that blows you away? Maybe you even rewatch the so-so movie for this storyline (or performance) alone?? Ziegfeld Girl (1941) is such a movie for me.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Judy Garland and… when I rewatch Ziefgeld Girl (Amazon DVD link)… I pause the FF button long enough to watch most of her scenes. BUT the only reason I ever do or ever will rewatch the movie is for Lana Turner and James Stewart. I think they were outstanding in this film and I am mesmerized by their chemistry.
Straight up fire!
Did You Know?
- This was James Stewart’s last film role before serving in World War II. He would only come back 5 years later with one of his most popular roles of all time… George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).
- Ziegfeld Girl was, reportedly, Esther Williams’ favorite movie.
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Maureen O’Hara: Sinbad the Sailor Lobby Card
Sinbad the Sailor Lobby Card
I have an obsession with lobby cards and movie posters that defies description – I love them with everything I’ve got. The Sinbad the Sailor Lobby Card pictured above is especially beautiful, isn’t it?
LOVE the colors!
Ginger Rogers: Gold Diggers of 1933 (Picture of the Day and Ravings for One Heckuva Lady)
Ginger Rogers
As I’ve said, often, on the Old Hollywood blog, one of the things I love most about my obsession with classic movies and television is the fact that I’m always accumulating new favorites. Naturally, my love for my old favorites never diminishes… new favorites simply join the ranks.
A case in point: I have always loved Ginger Rogers (how could you possibly not?). My first Ginger Rogers film was The Major and the Minor (link to the dvd on Amazon) and I loved her, Ray Milland, and the film. Still do. However, she didn’t jump into the upper list of favorites quite yet.
Next up, I saw the WONDERFUL musical Top Hat (link to the dvd on Amazon). She danced her way up my list of favorites, but didn’t quite crack the top 12.
Then, as someone as obsessed with collecting and reading old Hollywood biographies and autobiographies as she is with watching the movies, I ordered her autobiography, Ginger: My Story (link to the book on Amazon). After reading this fascinating book, I realized that this wasn’t just a remarkable actress and star… this was a remarkable woman.
She has been one of my favorites since. Truth be told, I come to love her more with each passing film.
Versatility? Are you kidding me?!?! The woman was as funny as anyone in comedies (seriously… she hangs with Lucille Ball!), was phenomenal in dramas, and worked magic in musicals like few ever hoped to.
In fact, when I think of the word “versatile,” as it relates to the entertainment industry, Ginger Rogers and Judy Garland are the first names to come to mind.
If you tend to only think of musicals when you think of Ginger Rogers, I hope you’ll branch out into her other films. There is nothing WHATSOEVER wrong with being a musical star – in fact, it’s one of my favorite genres, so I think it’s outstanding! However, to only think of this wonderful actress as a dancer or as “Fred Astaire’s partner” is almost criminal. There was so much more to this lovely actress.
So. Much. More!
