Claudette Colbert | Hollywood Yesterday

Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra: A Stunning Promotional Picture

September 3, 2021 By Joi

While I love Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra, my personal favorite actress to play the role is Claudette Colbert. There was just something extra special about her performance – as much in the way she carried herself as anything.

Cleopatra (1934) was directed by the extraordinary Cecil B. DeMille and starred Warren William as Julius Caesar, Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Anthony, and Claudette Colbert (of course) as an especially regal and radiant Cleopatra.

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

Claudette Colbert: Cleopatra Promotional Picture

June 25, 2021 By Joi

Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

Cleopatra (1934) was directed by the wonderful Cecil B. DeMille and starred Warren William as Julius Caesar, Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Anthony, and Claudette Colbert as the most stunningly beautiful Cleopatra imaginable.

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

Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

Claudette Colbert: Breathtaking in the Role of Cleopatra!

June 19, 2021 By Joi

Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

Some Old Hollywood stars were so exquisite… so perfect… so breathtaking… in a particular role that it seems they were born to play it. Claudette Colbert, as Cleopatra, is one that comes to mind. Yes… I understand that Claudette was born in France and that it is COMPLETELY doubtful that she resembled Cleopatra in the least, but come on… it’s Hollywood – if someone can’t manage to “make believe” and leave reality behind long enough to enjoy a movie, I don’t know what to tell them. All I know is I’d never want to watch a movie with them!

Cleopatra (1934) was directed by one of the best to ever sit in a director’s chair, Cecil B. DeMille. The movie starred Warren William as Julius Caesar, Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Anthony.

Gorgeous Claudette Colbert Promotional Pictures from Four Frightened People (1934)

May 22, 2021 By Joi

Claudette Colbert, Four Frightened People

One of my favorite actresses is Claudette Colbert. Love her beauty, her unique screen-presence, and her talent. I also love her versatility and the fact that her filmography was a goldmine of great, often larger-than-life films. One such film is the 1934 adventure-drama Four Frightened People, directed by the great Cecil B. DeMille.

The film also stars Herbert Marshall, William Gargan, and Mary Boland but… let’s not get it twisted, this is Claudette Colbert’s moment and she makes the absolute most of it.

While I have nothing but great, great love for Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, and Barbara Stanwyck, I will NEVER understand why Claudette Colbert’s name isn’t always listed alongside their names when elite actresses are being discussed. Think about it, she rarely is. You’ll also see see people’s top 10 list of “best actresses” of all time and she is almost always overlooked.

I’m not trying to whine or complain – more than anything, I guess I’m just thinking out loud. It mystifies me – she was truly wonderful and I wish more people would familiarize themselves with her work.

Continued Below…

Claudette Colbert, Four Frightened People Promo Picture

Four Angry People, while greatly entertaining, isn’t one of Colbert’s best-known or frequently-shown movies. If you want to see it, you pretty much have to buy the dvd. As a Claudette Colbert collector, it’s the next one I’m adding to my dvd collection and I can’t wait to see it again – it’s been far too long!

You can find Four Frightened People on dvd (Amazon link).

You can find more Claudette Colbert promotional pictures for Four Frightened People here.

Claudette Colbert, The Sign of the Cross

May 17, 2021 By Joi

Claudette Colbert, The Sign of the Cross

Today is one of those days where I have one million things to do and have only made it to number 3…. so today’s “pictures of the day” is going to be JUST that. Pictures!

Fortunately, Claudette Colbert speaks for herself and needs no extra verbiage from me.

Claudette Colbert, The Sign of the Cross

I Met Him in Paris Lobby Cards: Claudette Colbert, Melvyn Douglas, and Robert Young

October 11, 2020 By Joi

Three of my absolute all-time favorite stars are Melvyn Douglas, Claudette Colbert, and Robert Young. Love them so much – I spend so much time with their various movies they almost seem like family.

Funny how that happens with stars of movies, television, radio, and music isn’t it? Their wonderful faces and voices become so familiar to us it seems as though we know them personally.

It’s certainly that way for me with these three wonderful stars.

Given my love for each, is it any wonder I’m crazy about I Met Him in Paris?! Although, I have to confess, I spend the entire film just wanting Robert Young to get lost!

Hoping he’ll forgive me for that one… but in this particular love triangle, I had a clear favorite. It has zero to do with the great actor Robert Young, of course. It has everything to do with his character.

If you’ve never seen this adorable and fun movie, I hope you’ll check it out. It is really, really special and these stars shine brightly from the first scene to the last.

Even Robert! (just kind of kidding… a little)

You can find I Met Him in Paris (link to the dvd on Amazon) on Amazon but I don’t believe it’s on Prime Video yet.

Henry Wilcoxon and Claudette Colbert: Cleopatra Promotional Photo

October 1, 2020 By Joi

Henry Wilcoxon and Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

Cleopatra (1934) was beautifully directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The cast includes Claudette Colbert as Cleopatra, Warren William as Julius Caesar, Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Anthony, Joseph Schildkraut as Herod, and Ian Keith as Octavian.

This is one of those larger than life movies that I love to rewatch as often as possible. I literally notice something new each time I watch this gorgeous movie.

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

Claudette Colbert: Born on this Date in 1903

September 13, 2020 By Joi

Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

One of the most extraordinary actresses of all time was born on this date in Saint Mandé, France in 1903. This is an actress with a filmography that’s so remarkable – not just in quantity but quality as well.

Below are my… as of now… personal favorite Claudette Colbert movies (each link leads to the film on Amazon Prime or dvd). I know, as I watch more of her films, I’ll pick up new favorites to add along the way.

It Happened One Night (1934, directed by Frank Capra), co-starring Clark Gable. This film is so popular for a very good reason – it’s outstanding and the humor stands the test of time. It Happened One Night is also available on dvd.
Cleopatra (1934, directed by Cecil B DeMille), co-starring Warren William as Julius Caesar and Henry Wilcoxon as Marc Antony. Visually stunning and the acting is superb.
I Met Him in Paris (1937, directed by Wesley Ruggles), co-starring two of my favorite actors – Melvyn Douglas and Robert Young. They (like Claudette, herself) are wonderful in everything!
The Sign of the Cross (1932, directed by Cecil B. DeMille), co-starring Fredric March and Charles Laughton. Beautiful and lush, as you’d always expect from Cecil B. DeMille.

Claudette Colbert, Cleopatra

I Met Him in Paris, Starring Claudette Colbert, Melvyn Douglas, and Robert Young

August 29, 2020 By Joi

I Met Him in Paris with Melvyn Douglas, Claudette Colbert, and Robert Young

Sometimes… not always, but sometimes… when two or more of your favorite stars hooked up in a movie, magic ensued. This is what happened with I Met Him in Paris, starring three of my very favorites Melvyn Douglas, Claudette Colbert, and Robert Young (though, admittedly, I spend the entire movie wanting Robert to get out of Melvyn’s way!).

This is an especially cute romcom from 1937 (directed by Wesley Ruggles). The film’s plot is somewhat of a love triangle between the three main characters: Kay (Claudette Colbert), George (Melvyn Douglas), and Gene (Robert Young). The problem is, one is concealing quite a secret.

The chemistry among the three stars is palpable and the writing is timeless.

Paramount leased the land owned by a local Sun Valley silver prospector, Gus Anderson, for 500 dollars and built the set for I Met Him in Paris… complete with a Swiss-like lodge! Gus Anderson and his family apparently moved into the lodge after filming was completed.

A few of the skiing scenes call for us old movie lovers to do what we do best… tell our high falutin’ expectations to take the day off. Is it perfectly believable? No. But as we all know, old movies are about entertainment and fun – and, come on, we wouldn’t have them any other way.

You can find I Met Him in Paris (link to the dvd) on Amazon.

And say it one more time with me… Get out of the way, Gene!

I Met Him in Paris: Melvyn Douglas and Claudette Colbert

Claudette Colbert Publicity Photos for Four Frightened People

May 22, 2020 By Joi

Claudette Colbert

Claudette Colbert.. the name alone conjures up beauty and talent, doesn’t it?! Not only was she one of the loveliest and most talented actresses in the history of films, she also lays claim to having one of the most entertaining filmographies.

Take, for example, the movie represented here – Four Frightened People (1934), it’s crazy entertaining! One has to remember that it’s from 1934, so some things stand out as being very, very, verrrrrrry old-fashioned, out of place, and whatnot… but, as I said, it’s entertaining and just a lot of fun.

Besides… Claudette Colbert!

You can find Four Frightened People on dvd (Amazon link).