Golden Age of Hollywood
Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley, Viva Las Vegas
Ann-Margret…. one of my favorite actresses and entertainers.
Elvis Presley….. one of my favorite actresses and singers.
Viva Las Vegas…. how could it NOT be one of my favorite movies. As in EVER?!
I am in love with this 1964 movie more than I could ever say. It epitomizes the Sixties in many ways and makes visiting the colorful and fun era unspeakably entertaining.
Ann-Margret, Tommy
Ann-Margret gave a memorable performance in the 1975 film Tommy. While it isn’t one of her more popular films (or best-loved among those of us who are her fans), she was fantastic and (as she always does) gave it her all and then some.
Love the movie or hate the movie, there’s no denying one fact – these promotional pictures of Ann-Margret make pretty amazing pictures of the day!
Ann-Margret, Tommy
When it’s one of your absolute favorite actress’ birthdays, it takes the mystery right out of who the picture of the day will be! The only choice is… which gorgeous picture of the star will you use?
Today is beautiful Ann-Margret’s birthday and I hope it is as wonderful as she is.
She has been one of my top favorites for nearly as long as I’ve been alive.
Beautiful, charismatic, multi-talented, and a very, very good person. No wonder she’s such a favorite.
Happiest of birthdays to an ABSOLUTE favorite star!
Ann-Margret and Kitten
When you see this promotional picture for Kitten With a Whip (1964) – or when you read the title, for that matter! – You’d almost expect a movie that takes itself lightly. A (forgive the pun) fluffy comedy.
Kitten With a Whip is anything but a comedy, though. It’s a dark drama. How dark? Well, here’s the plot:
Ann-Margret plays Jody – a troubled juvenile delinquent who escapes from reform school by stabbing a matron. She then attempts to burn down the building. She tries to hole up in the home of a very ambitious politician named David Patton (played by John Forsythe ). David knows she’s trouble he doesn’t need and tries to drive her away.
Rebel kittens don’t shoo easily, though, so she returns. She brings with her a gang of other deliquents and they take David hostage. More violence ensues and Jody and her band of misfits kidnap David and force him to drive them to Mexico.
If you’re accustomed to Ann-Margret in Viva Las Vegas, Bye-Bye Birdie, and State Fair, Kitten with a Whip (Amazon DVD Link) will be a bit of a shock for you at first. It is fun, however, seeing her play a different type of character. Like everything else, she plays it to perfection…. make that purrfection.
Sorry. I had to.
Ann-Margret, Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
Today’s picture of the day is one of my favorite actresses, Ann-Margret. She took a really cute movie, Bye Bye Birdie (Amazon link), and made it a great movie. Was it extra good to begin with? Absolutely! But her charisma, talent, and personality made it the iconic musical it is today.
Without her, I don’t believe it would still be as loved as it is.
Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley, Viva Las Vegas
Two of my favorite stars of all time are Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley – love everything about these two. So, it only stands to reason that I should be a fan of Viva Las Vegas (Amazon link), right?? It goes beyond being a fan of it, I’m in love with it! I could seriously watch it several times a month and still want to see more of it.
It’s fun, colorful, upbeat, doesn’t have stress, strife, and violence – it’s just a very enjoyable movie with two of the most charismatic and entertaining stars to ever grace the big (or small) screen. Elvis had a tremendous amount of talent and personality – a tremendous amount… BUT when Ann-Margret is on the scene, she causes him to kick it up a notch, making him even more entertaining and enjoyable.
She’s simply one of those amazing stars who makes everyone around her even better. She did it in every movie she was in. She worked her magic on so many people they may not have even realized they were completely under her spell.
(Continued Below….)
Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret
I love many of Elvis’ movies (they’re always just so much fun), but Viva Las Vegas (Amazon link) is my absolute favorite. The music is wonderful, the story is adorable, Elvis is outstanding, and I love the dancing. Most of all, however, make no mistake about it…. it’s the Ann-Margret factor.
The lady is one in a billion.
If you’ve read my Old Hollywood blog for any length of time or if you know me on Twitter, you know that I love Ann-Margret to distraction. She’s one of my top favorite actresses – in fact, there isn’t one actress (or actor, as far as that goes) I like better than this talented and charismatic lady.
Love her – that’s all, plain and simple.
Today’s picture of the day is a promotional picture from Ann-Margret’s 1964 film, The Pleasure Seekers and it is a BEAUTY.
Ann-Margret, 52 Pick-Up
The 1986 film 52 Pick-Up (Amazon link) is based on an Elmore Leonard novel and was directed by John Frankenheimer. An underrated film, starring Ann-Margret, Roy Scheider, and Vanity – it’s very much worth watching if you can find it on television or dvd.
Description:Based on an exciting bestseller by the great Elmore Leonard (Out of Sight) with a screenplay by Leonard and John Steppling and top-notch direction by legendary filmmaker, John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate), 52 Pick-Up reminds us that if you have a lot… you stand to lose a lot.
Life is pretty sweet for Los Angeles entrepreneur Harry Mitchell (Roy Scheider)… great business, beautiful home and a gorgeous wife (Ann-Margret). Just when he thinks he’ll land a seat on the city council, Harry’s life suddenly spins out of control when a trio of pornographers, led by the ruthless Alan Raimy (John Glover), shows up with a video of Harry in bed with his mistress (Kelly Preston). And when Harry goes on the offensive and tries to pit one blackmailer against the other, the tension mounts – as does the possibility of murder. The stellar cast includes Clarence William III, Vanity and Doug McClure.
This is a VERY edge of your seat thriller and, again, very well worth seeing. You can find 52 Pick-Up on Amazon.
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!
Love this photo of Ann-Margret, Carol Lynley, and Pamela Tiffin! The three beautiful actresses starred together in The Pleasure Seekers (1964) and, for whatever reasons, the film didn’t do as well as it, honestly should have.
It’s a lot of fun and, in many ways, is kind of the 60’s version of How to Marry a Millionaire. I really love it.
Ann-Margret believed that the lack of success was due to the fact that audiences weren’t ready to see her in an adult, lady of the world type of role because they knew her mainly from Bye, Bye Birdie. I truly think she makes a great case.
Hopefully audiences, today, will discover the film and give it the attention it deserves.
An Ann-Margret, Carol Lynley, and Pamela Tiffin fan can certainly hope, can’t she?!
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
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, charismatic, and colorful. This growing collection of Barbara Stanwyck Quotes will give you an idea of just how colorful she was!
