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Perfect Cast, Perfect Script, Perfect Director, Perfect Movie… The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

January 23, 2023 By Joi

The Adventures of Robin Hood Cast

Melville Cooper, Basil Rathbone, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, and Errol Flynn

Can we talk about one of the best movies ever made for a minute? The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) wasn’t just directed by one of the best directors to ever wear the title – the wonderful Micahel Curtiz – it also features the type of stellar cast that most films would envy – a cast that includes Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale, Una O’Connor, Melville Cooper, and Ian Hunter.

(Continued Below…)

Errol Flynn and Eugene Pallette in The Adventures of Robin Hood

Errol Flynn and Eugene Pallette

This is one of those films that, somehow, seems to be even more enjoyable each time you watch it. I always notice a new expression on one of the star’s faces or a great line that had never quite registered, a piece of background furniture or something delicious that had escaped me the MANY times I’d visited the film before.

In fact, if I’m not mistaken… and in this case I am absolutely not mistaken… I’ll be revisiting this extraordinary film again this week.

You can buy the iconic The Adventures of Robin Hood on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.


Errol Flynn, Patric Knowles, Herbert Mundin

Patric Knowles, Herbert Mundin, and Errol Flynn

Filed Under: Basil Rathbone, Errol Flynn, Eugene Pallette, Herbert Mundin, Patric Knowles, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Errol Flynn, Eugene Pallette, Herbert Mundin, Melville Cooper, Olivia de Havilland, Patric Knowles

The Spider Woman (1943): Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, and Dennis Hoey

January 17, 2023 By Joi

Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, Dennis Hoey, and Basil Rathbone - The Spider Woman (1943)

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, and Dennis Hoey

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, and Dennis Hoey star in the wonderful 1943 Sherlock Holmes film The Spider Woman. Director Roy William Neill is best-known for the Holmes films he directed for Universal.

Neill was actually quite an EXPERT on the subject of Sherlock Holmes and was notoriously meticulous over even the smallest details. As a huge fan of these films AND Sherlock, I love that this respect and knowledge always shines through – as in each and every scene.

The Spider Woman is one of my favorite Sherlock Holmes films – not only is the wonderful Gale Sondergaard is in the cast, but Dennis Hoey is also on board as Lestrade. He is so deliciously fun to watch in this role and I’m simply spellbound any time he’s on the screen.

Sherlock Holmes Complete Movie Collection

The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection (Amazon link)

You can find the wonderful film The Spider Woman on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

You can also buy the 14 Sherlock Films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in a wonderful collection: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection on Amazon. It’s the one my husband and I  have in our collection and watch frequently… over and over and over again!

Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, and Basil Rathbone – The Spider Woman (1943)

Filed Under: Basil Rathbone, Dennis Hoey, Gale Sondergaard, Nigel Bruce Tagged With: Basil Rathbone, Dennis Hoey, Gale Sondergaard, Nigel Bruce, Sherlock Holmes films

Bela, Boris, and Basil in Son of Frankenstein (1939)… Talk about a 1, 2, 3 Punch!

October 30, 2021 By Joi

Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi

Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi

Some films boast casts and some films boast ICONIC casts. Son of Frankenstein (1939) is the latter. Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi.. in ONE film?! That’s what I call a film for the ages.

The classic horror was directed by the wonderful Rowland V. Lee and I call him wonderful not just because he was an outstanding (and way ahead of his time) director but also because (as a huge Bela Lugosi fan) I love the extent he went to in order to give Lugosi more respect, credit, and even money while making this film.

Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Basil Rathbonev

Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Basil Rathbone

Sadly, Bela Lugosi’s career was beginning to decline when he signed on to make Son of Frankenstein and his fee reflected this decline. Fortunately, director Rowland V. Lee was VERY much in his corner. He realized that Lugosi wasn’t being treated fairly and was perhaps even being taken for granted, so he gave Bela’s character (Ygor) more dialogue and a bigger role in the film, causing Bela be paid (and respected) more.

This role, IMO, is one of Lugosi’s absolute best performances. He more than rewarded Lee’s wonderful efforts!

You can watch Son of Frankenstein on Prime Video (Amazon link). I’m having a heckuva time finding it on dvd for my collection, but if I’m ever to find it, I’ll let you know.

Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi

Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi


Filed Under: Art Prints and Posters, Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, classic horror movies

BOTD in 1892 in Johannesburg, South Africa: The Wonderful Basil Rathbone

June 13, 2021 By Joi

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, The Woman in Green

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, The Woman in Green

The question “Who is your all-time favorite Sherlock Holmes” is a question that often comes up on “film Twitter.” This question is asked nearly as often as “Who is your favorite Bond?” While I struggle to answer only one Bond (I have three favorites), my favorite Sherlock is never in doubt… Basil Rathbone.

Sure, I love each actor who has stepped into the role (radio, tv, or film) BUT there’s something about Basil Rathbone’s performance that, to me, is simply perfect. It’s one of those actor/actress and character combinations that make you believe they were born to play the role.

You’ll never convince me otherwise!

Basil Rathbone in The Adventures of Robin Hood

Basil Rathbone, The Adventures of Robin Hood

Naturally, while this is one of his more famous roles, Basil Rathbone starred in quite a few extraordinary movies. In fact, he appeared in THREE films that were selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant:

  • The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
  • The Mark of Zorro (1940)
  • The Court Jester (1955)

All three are exceptional movies and he adds a GREAT deal to each. Each link above leads to that movie on Prime Video.

Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone, The Mark of Zorro

“Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart.” ~ Basil Rathbone


Danny Kaye and Basil RathboneDanny Kaye and Basil Rathbone

Filed Under: Basil Rathbone, BOTD, Danny Kaye, Nigel Bruce, Tyrone Power Tagged With: Basil Rathbone, BOTD, Danny Kaye, Nigel Bruce, Sherlock Holmes, Tyrone Power

Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury, Behind the Scenes of The Court Jester (LOVE This Picture!)

June 10, 2021 By Joi

Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury, Behind the Scenes of The Court Jester

Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury, Behind the Scenes of The Court Jester

My obsession with and love for “behind the scenes” movie or tv photographs knows no equal. If anyone DOES love them as much as I do, I’d sure love to hear from them!

This photo of Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury sharing a meal while filming The Court Jester (1955) is one of my favorites.

She even eats with class!


Filed Under: Angela Lansbury, Basil Rathbone, Behind the Scenes Pictures, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Angela Lansbury, Basil Rathbone, Behind the Scenes pictures, The Court Jester

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection

March 31, 2020 By Joi

The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce

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, 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!

Filed Under: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Sherlock Holmes Tagged With: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Sherlock Holmes

Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

Ann Sheridan, It All Came True

Ann Sheridan
My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I created Hollywood Yesterday as my personal tribute to Old Hollywood. It’s my effort to help keep the stars from Old Hollywood, Classic Television, and Old Radio Shows alive and shining forever. Old Hollywood was positively magical and I see no reason for the magic to ever die.

Be warned, I am (by nature) overtly positive, I never take anything too seriously, I say extraordinary so often you’d think I invented the word, and I overuse exclamation points to distraction. I’m perpetually over-caffeinated.. we’ll blame that.

Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my personal favorites) here!

Old Hollywood Actresses

Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas

See the Old Hollywood Actresses page for the index of Classic Hollywood Actresses and Classic TV Actresses.

Old Hollywood Actors

Henry Fonda, Behind the Scenes The Grapes of Wrath

See the Old Hollywood Actors page for the index of Old Hollywood and Classic TV actors.

Old Hollywood Book Reviews

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel by Christina Rice

I love reading old Hollywood biographies and memoirs as much as I love watching classic movies, and that’s truly saying something!

To see my Old Hollywood book reviews, please see the index listed here: Book Reviews.

Pictures of the Day

Maureen O'Hara, The Parent Trap

Maureen O’Hara

The Old Hollywood & Classic TV Pictures of the Day are published as regularly as possible. If I miss a few days, please just know that the husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandbabies, and/or my cats were demanding my attention. I’ll be honest, nothing comes before any of them! Not even Maureen O’Hara or Henry Fonda.

Priorities, y’all.

Movie Collections on Amazon

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Recent Posts

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Movie Night, ANY Night…

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Arthur Hunnicutt in El Dorado
Have movie night ANY night with Prime Video on Amazon:  Prime Video (Amazon link)

Thank You for Visiting!

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times
Thank you so much for visiting Hollywood Yesterday! You truly HONOR me with your presence. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

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?? 

Barbara Stanwyck Quotes

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!

Old Hollywood Movies

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Top Hat Cheek to Cheek

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

Classic Hollywood Books & Biographies (Reviews)

Maureen O'Hara's Autobiography 'Tis Herself

‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
I Know Where I'm Going (Katharine Hepburn Biography) and Princess

I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn

 

Debbie Reynolds Unsinkable
Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds

 

Ginger Rogers Autobiography - Ginger: My Story

Ginger by Ginger Rogers
Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
More Old Hollywood Book Reviews!

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge Carmen Jones Poster

Getting to Know the Gorgeous and Talented Dorothy Dandridge

My Lucy Obsession

Lucille Ball

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…

Legalities…

Aside from pictures of books I review, I do not claim to have taken any of the pictures on this website, nor do I own the pictures – the ones of the stars or the affiliate (product) pictures.  Other, far more talented photographers than me have the credit for the beautiful photos you see. If you would like credit for a photograph or would like one removed, please e-mail me (joitsigers@gmail.com).

Movie posters and promotional photos are used in the belief that they qualify for the Fair Use law. Fair use is a doctrine in the law of the United States that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Fair use is one of the limitations to copyright intended to balance the interests of copyright holders with the public interest in the wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.

When you click through an affiliate (product, book, dvds..) link, I earn a small portion of the money you spend IF you purchase anything. This does not cost you any extra money, of course. This is how I am able to work from home and support my cats! – Joi (“Joy”)

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