Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors
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.
Ava Gardner, One Touch of Venus
One of the most beautiful actresses to ever grace the screen was easily Ava Gardner. Absolutely stunning is a phrase I often associate with her and for good reason!
But she was so much more than just a beautiful face and perfect form… she was wonderful, especially when given a role that was ideal for her (a few examples would be Mogambo, One Touch of Venus, Lone Star, The Killers, and Pandora and the Flying Dutchman).
One Touch of Venus (1948, directed by William A. Seiter) really gave Ava an opportunity to shine and she embraced the role as only she could. I’ve looked closely at the time period in which this movie was made and honestly cannot think of another actress who would have filled this role any better. In fact, I have trouble thinking of very many who could have been anywhere near as perfect as Ava was.
It’s a joy to watch an actor or actress in a role that was absolutely ideal for them and this is very much one of those instances. The movie is lovely and a great deal of fun.
You can find One Touch of Venus on dvd (Amazon link). I’m really surprised it isn’t on Prime Video. Maybe one day!
Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner
One Touch of Venus (1948, directed by William A. Seiter) really gave Ava an opportunity to showcase her comedic talents and she did just that. Not only is she a great deal of fun to watch in this one, she’s so beautiful she practically glows.
MGM loaned its popular actress to Universal Studios to make this movie. Universal sent her to sculptor Joseph Nicolosi to make the life-size statue of the goddess Ava portrays. The statue is pivotal in the film and is absolutely stunning.
It was almost more than just stunning… it was almost scandalous! Nicolosi’s first statue was completely nude, so the studio asked the artist to please make a more modest goddess!
You can find One Touch of Venus on dvd (Amazon link).
David Niven and Ava Gardner
Ava Gardner and David Niven were both so colorful and had such bigger than life personalities, I can’t help but think that 1957 film The Little Hut’s set must have been a blast. Directed by Mark Robson, the movie also starred Stewart Granger.
You can find The Little Hut (link to the dvd) on Amazon. I don’t think it’s on Prime Video, unfortunately.
Ava Gardner, The Killers
One of the most beautiful actresses EVER (not just from old Hollywood… but from anytime!) is the wonderful Ava Gardner. I won’t name names, but some actresses got by almost entirely on their looks. Ava was one of the beauties who happened to be a very good actress. In fact, if anything, her beauty (which wasn’t very subtle, was it?) probably kept her from getting more roles than her talent did.
The Killers is one of Ava Gardner’s most popular films and it is certainly one of the best. She’s wonderful as the beautiful Kitty Collins… spelled TROUBLE. The film-noir co-starred Burt Lancaster in one of his finest performances.
You can watch the 1946 film on Amazon Prime… I highly recommend it!
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
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
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…
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
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
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.
My main goal with Hollywood Yesterday is to keep the names, faces, and films of the stars that mean so much to me shining brightly. When I’m guilty of focusing more time on my personal favorites (such as Olivia de Havilland) than other stars, I hope you’ll forgive me. I am, by all indications, very human!
Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!
Wait. What did I just admit to??
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!
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…
