Ava Gardner | Hollywood Yesterday

Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart, The Barefoot Contessa

May 8, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart – The Barefoot Contessa

Ava Gardner has been one of my favorite actresses for about as long as I’ve known what an actress was. Humphrey Bogart has been one of my favorite actors for about as long as I’ve known what an actor was.

Love them both to distraction… so you have to know how much I love The Barefoot Contessa. They’re both brilliant in it – but, I’ll let you in on a bit of a guilty secret. Guilty because, being a fan of each star, I should love this film without reservation.

And yet….

While it’s a wonderful, dramatic film (and visually stunning) – each time I watch it, I feel a smidgen of regret. How could anyone have gotten these two giant stars together and not pair them up romantically?! Yes, the movie is wonderful but a film-noir starring these legends as lovers would have left me utterly speechless.

Speechless I tell you!

At any rate, The Barefoot Contessa (dvd on Amazon) is a darn good movie – do I love the ending? Not a lot… but it is very much worth watching.

Ava Gardner, The Little Hut (Summer on My Brain… Can You Tell!?!)

April 7, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

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

Ava Gardner, Mogambo…. She’s the Reason I Don’t Like the Movie (But Not Why You Think!)

March 28, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner, Mogambo

Ava Gardner, in my opinion, was the best thing about the movie Mogambo (1953).

Like… by a long shot.

She was beautiful, feisty, fun, and (by comparison), the rest of the film and cast (in my opinion) just kind of seemed like wet blankets.

Funny thing is, I see and hear from A LOT of people who really liked the film. That’s why, about a month ago, I rewatched it (it was the third chance I’d given to this movie!), just to be sure I wasn’t missing something.

While I didn’t come away liking it any better than the first two times, I did come away with the reason I don’t like the film and, shockingly enough, it’s because of one of my favorite actresses… Ava Gardner!

Nor for reasons you may thing – she was perfect. In every way. Which is part of the problem…

In what universe would any man have someone who looks like Ava Gardner (with the fieriness of her character as a bonus) even take time to glance at another woman?! And yet that’s what Clark Gable’s character does… he spends over half the movie pining after Grace Kelly who not only isn’t interested in him (while Ava’s character IS), she is married, is pretty much lifeless (compared to Ava’s wonderful character), and is…. in this particular role, and again compared to Ava… pretty plain.
Her energy level is so much higher than that of Grace Kelly or Clark Gable’s that she almost makes them seem like they’re sleep walking!

Don’t get me wrong – I love Grace Kelly and Clark Gable. Just not in this film. Each of the three times I’ve watched, I’ve thought of about a dozen actors that would have (at that time) been better in Gable’s role. I hate to say it, because he is one of my favorite actors… but I think he was too old for this particular role.

My profuse apologies to anyone who loves this film… my opinions don’t make me right – they’re simply my opinions. And since my mom always told me to speak my mind… that’s what I tend to do.

Just ask my family!

You know the really unfortunate thing??? I collect ALL of Ava Gardner’s films so… at some point… I’m going to have to buy this film that I don’t at all like! Oh well… she’s worth it.

Ava Gardner, Mogambo

Ava Gardner, Behind the Scenes of Knights of the Round Table

March 9, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner

One of my guilty pleasures is Behind the Scenes photos of stars. I love them so much it’s a wonder I hadn’t created a “Behind the Scenes” category on the Old Hollywood blog before today.

Better late than never, as they say!

The photo above is especially wonderful because of the period costume Ava Gardner is wearing – for the colorful and fun 1953 film, Knights of the Round Table (Amazon link), while reading a modern-day newspaper. Whether it was staged or happened doesn’t really matter to me… I simply love it.

Ava Gardner, The Barefoot Contessa (1954)

January 6, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner, The Barefoot Contessa

Ava Gardner’s The Barefoot Contessa (Amazon Link) is one of her more popular movies and roles. She’s breathtaking in the film and, itself, is a beautiful masterpiece. While it isn’t one of my favorite of her movies (simply because of the ending – I will fall out of love with a movie in a heartbeat if it doesn’t give me a happy ending!), it is one I highly recommend watching. I also, of course, recommend owning the dvd if you (like me) collect all of Ava and/or Humphrey Bogart’s films.

Obviously, given the fact that the movie begins at a funeral, I knew the unhappy ending was coming, but ever-the-optimist, I was hoping for a big reveal. Had that been the case, this would be among my favorites movies.

The story and the acting are truly enjoyable and, as I said earlier, it’s a visual stunner.

With both of these stars (Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart) being favorites of mine, it may seem unusual for me to say this, but (in my opinion anyway), yet another actor steals this film. Edmond O’Brien (as Oscar Muldoon) gives a wonderful, often hilarious performance and literally steals scenes left and right.

Plot: Maria Vargas (Ava Gardner) was a beautiful star who touched many people’s lives. At her funeral, several of these people remember her and the impact she left on their life. Humphrey Bogart plays Harry Dawes, a fairly washed up writer/director ho was hired by rich producer Kirk Edwards to use Maria Vargas in a film and make it a hit.

Oscar Muldoon (played to perfection by Edmond O’Brein) is a stereotypical PR man who adds so much more to this film than I can convey.

The fast-paced, larger than life world that Maria finds herself in… in the end… destroys her.

Again, this isn’t a “feel good” movie but it is a “FEEL” movie as it will move many of your emotions, often simultaneously.

Ava Gardner, Bhowani Junction Promotional Photo

December 30, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner, Bhowani Junction

Ava Gardner was one of the most beautiful stars Hollywood (or anywhere else in the world!) has ever had and the 1956 film Bhowani Junction showcases the fact splendidly.

If you’re an Ava Gardner fan and have never seen this film, I recommend you find it as soon as possible. She’s mesmerizing in the role of Victoria Jones. Ava plays an Anglo-Indian woman who is searching for her true identity during the British withdrawal from India. The film is highly entertaining and Ava Gardner was the perfect (PERFECT) choice for the lead role.

Bhowani Junction (Amazon link) was directed by the wonderful George Cukor (one of my absolute favorite directors) and also stars Stewart Granger.

Picture of the Day: Melvyn Douglas and Ava Gardner (My Forbidden Past, 1951)

December 2, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner and Melvyn Douglas

We all have “Old Hollywood” regrets, don’t we? Roles we wish our favorite stars had played (roles we wish our favorite stars had NOT played!), pairings that never happened we wish had happened, etc.

One of my Classic Film regrets is that Ava Gardner and Melvyn Douglas (two of my favorites) weren’t paired romantically in, say, a great film noir. While I enjoy their film My Forbidden Past a great deal, not only are they cousins but she has both of her eyes on Robert Mitchum!

I would have loved a film where her beautiful eyes were only on Melvyn.

Oh well, sometimes we have to take what we can get! You can read more about My Forbidden Past here.

Find My Forbidden Past on Amazon.

Publicity Still for Mogambo: Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, and Grace Kelly

October 29, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

It seems to me that Mogambo is one of those films you either love to distraction or hate with a passion. For me, it’s that latter, I’m afraid. Which is ODD and downright WEIRD because Clark Gable, Ava Gardner, and Grace Kelly are three of my favorites. Love them like crazy.

And yet… I’d rather gargle live crickets than watch this film.

Due to my love of the three stars, I’ve given it several chances to win me over. I have watched it three times over the years, with the following thoughts:

First Viewing: Ava is absolutely wonderful, Grace is boring in this role, and Clark is as miscast as miscasts get. Why did Grace sign on for this?
Second Viewing: Ava is absolutely, positively wonderful, Grace is absolutely, positively boring in this role, and Clark is as absolutely, positively miscast as miscasts get. Why did Grace sign on for this?
Third Viewing: Ava. She’s the only good thing about this turkey of a movie. Why did Grace sign on for this?

And yet… I see so many people name it as a favorite movie?! I don’t get it, but that certainly doesn’t mean it can’t be “got.” The worst thing about it is that I collect ALL Ava Gardner films, as well as ALL Grace Kelly films which means I’m actually going to have to buy this thing one day. Horrors! I’ve already decided it’s going on the Ava Gardner collection shelf.

After all, she’s the only good thing about it. Why did Grace sign on for this?

Find Mogambo on Amazon, if you’re also a collector or one of those who happens to like it.

My Forbidden Past with Ava Gardner, Robert Mitchum, and Melvyn Douglas

April 7, 2019 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner and Melvyn Douglas, My Forbidden Past

It’s always a special treat when two absolute favorites appear in one film together, isn’t it? Ava Gardner was thoughtful enough to team with my favorite actors quite a few times (Melvyn Douglas, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart to name a few). Melvyn Douglas and Ava were each spectacular in My Forbidden Past (1951).

It is actually their performances (as well as an excellent performance by Robert Mitchum) that make the film take flight. Melvyn Douglas is known, primarily, for his lovable characters but in this particular role, he’s a bit of a cad! It’s actually a lot of fun seeing this side of him and, while I could be wrong, he seemed to enjoy playing this type of character. He brings a great deal of humor to the role and film.

Dr. Mark Lucas (Robert Mitchum) and Barbara Beaurevel (Ava Gardner) are star-crossed lovers in My Forbidden Past – basically a tale of a woman scorned!

The film is set in 1890s New Orleans and the costumes and sets are positively delicious.

(Continued Below…)

Ava Gardner and Robert Mitchum

Lucas, wrongly, believed that Barbara stoop him up when they were on the verge of eloping. In a fit of something between raw emotions and a temper tantrum, he takes off for South Africa and marries a woman named Corinne (played by Janis Carter) on the rebound.

Not one to take defeat well, beautiful Barbara bribes her cousin (played to the hilt by Melvin Douglas) to break up their marriage. It’s all fun and games until the scheme ends in Corinne’s death, with her husband Dr. Lucas suspected of murder.

The chemistry between both Ava Gardner and Robert Mitchum AND Ava Gardner and Melvyn Douglas are palpable.

Find My Forbidden Past on Amazon.

Ava Gardner and Gordon Oliver

Ava Gardner: The Little Hut (Beautiful Pictures of the Day)

March 11, 2018 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ava Gardner – The Little Hut

I have to admit, I love The Little Hut. It may not get a lot of love from movie critics – past, present, professional, or amateur – but I find it to be pretty darn entertaining, and it’s not just because I love Ava.

Her co-stars are perfectly wonderful in their roles and, all in all, it’s simply a very entertaining movie.

Plot: When they find themselves shipwrecked on a deserted island, best friends Philip Ashlow (Stewart Granger) and Henry Brittingham-Brett (David Niven) compete with one other for the love of Philip’s neglected beautiful wife, Susan (Ava Gardner).

Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger – The Little Hut

For some reason, when I first saw The Little Hut, as a teen, I recall wishing another actor had played the friend rather than David Niven. However, when I recently rewatched the movie, I thought he was perfect for the role.

I suspect “teenager me” was far more superficial and wanted a… well… better looking rival for Stewart Granger?

I know… I know… adult me sees the flaws in the younger me’s thinking. But, what can I say, she was wrong on a lot of things. You should’ve seen the things she ate (stuffed bell peppers with ketchup, green beans with ketchup, mashed potatoes with ketchup…).