BOTD | Hollywood Yesterday

Elizabeth Taylor, Actress and Humanitarian was BOTD in 1932

February 27, 2023 By Joi

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

Today we celebrate the date of Elizabeth Taylor’s birthday, and what better way to do so than with photos of her iconic role as Cleopatra in the iconic 1963 movie. Brilliantly directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the movie also stars Richard Burton and Rex Harrison.

Elizabeth Taylor was born on this date in England in 1932. While she is (for obvious reasons) greatly celebrated for her beauty, she was also an extraordinary actress and humanitarian. She passionately fought for victims of AIDS – for them to receive both care and respect. She dedicated so much of herself and her life to the cause that it’s one of the things I most respect about her. Can you imagine if we all fought so valiantly for the cause or cause we believed in? If we all preached love, tolerance, and kindness instead of trying to draw lines, pick sides, and judge people who are different than we are.

The world wouldn’t just be a better place, it’d be a much happier one as well.

Thanks to Elizabeth Taylor for her beauty, her films, and her great example. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

You can find Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic Cleopatra on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Elizabeth Taylor in the Iconic Cleopatra Bath Scene

Happy Heavenly Birthday to the Extraordinary Donna Reed

January 27, 2023 By Joi

Donna Reed, Backlash

The wonderful Donna Reed was born on January 27, 1921 in Denison, Iowa. She’s one of my VERY first favorite actresses and remains in the top 8 to this day. I simply adore everything about her, every role she ever graced, and… quite frankly… everything she stood for as a human being. She was simply lovely in every way.

Like Elvis, Marilyn, Rita, Audrey, John Wayne, and Lucille Ball, Donna Reed has been collectively framed in a particular way – as the smiling, perfect wife and mother – both on her wonderful television series and in the extraordinary and larger than life It’s a Wonderful Life. While being framed, collectively or any other way, is pretty much unavoidable, it’s really – in many ways – a shame. After all, Marilyn and Rita were so much more than the sex symbols they’re “framed” as in most people’s minds.

Elvis and John Wayne were more than the images most people have of them

Audrey was a warm and wonderful person and talented actress – not simply a lovely little style icon!

Lucille Ball was more than simply one of the most hilarious people to ever draw breath.

Last but not least, Donna Reed was much more than the characters she created. In fact, while she’s remembered by most as Donna and Mary, she brought a great number of other colorful characters to life as well. Her filmography is alive with color and entertainment and she was extraordinary in each and every role.

I actually (literally 20 minutes ago) just ordered a great-sounding Donna Reed biography, In Search of Donna Reed (Amazon link) by Jay Fultz. I’ll tell you all about it as soon as I’ve devoured it cover to cover!

Happy Heavenly birthday to one of the best actresses of all time, and one I’m always so proud to call a favorite.

Donna Reed and Richard Widmark, Backlash (1956)

The photos in this post are from the 1956 Western Backlash starring Donna Reed and Richard Widmark. You can find Backlash on dvd and Blu-ray (Amazon link).

The Wonderful Paul Henreid was BOTD in 1908

January 10, 2023 By Joi

Paul Henreid and Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca

One of the best actors from Old Hollywood… or any Hollywood for that matter… was BOTD in 1908, Paul Henreid. His filmography is FILLED with timeless entertainment and masterful performances. A few of my personal favorite Henried films are The Spanish Main, Casablanca, Between Two Worlds, and Now, Voyager.

I was recently discussing my top 10 favorite actors with someone and, as I mentioned Paul Henreid’s name between James Cagney and John Wayne, it hit me just how unique he was. I’ll get back to this in one moment, but to further illustrate my point, here are my top 10 favorite male actors:

Henry Fonda
James Stewart
Buster Keaton
Lionel Barrymore
James Cagney
Paul Henreid
John Wayne
Humphrey Bogart
James Garner
Jack Lemmon

When you read the names, you’ll notice that many had a lot of larger than life characters and carved out a larger than life persona for themselves. John Wayne, Buster Keaton, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Jack Lemmon…. known for their great talent and excellent characters they brought to life.

Yet, the same can ABSOLUTELY be said of Henry Fonda, Lionel Barrymore, Paul Henreid, and James Garner. Their characters were often more traditionally calm.. oftentimes more “real.” If you ask me (and no one did, but, if I know me, I’ll probably proceed anyway), their characters would have been even more challenging to portray.

The wonderful thing is, Hollywood needed (and needs) both types of actors and actresses – all of either type of actor/actress wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable.

So, next time you watch a classic like Casablanca, Gone With the Wind (with the contrast of Vivien Leigh and Olivia de Havilland), or any great classic for that matter, pay a little extra attention to both types of actors/actresses. I recently did this with a rewatch of Between two Worlds – again, contrasting the calm demeanor and flawless execution of Paul Henreid and the impassioned demeanor and (again) flawless execution of John Garfield. They had a similar dynamic to Henreid and Bogart in Casablanca and it simply works so beautifully.

Happy Heavenly birthday to the wonderful Paul Henried. Thanks for all of the excellent performances and films!

Between Two Worlds Lobby Card: Eleanor Parker, Paul Henreid, and John Garfield

You can find Casablanca on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

You can also find the wonderful (and so underrated!) Between Two Worlds on video on Amazon.

BOTD in 1900, the Extraordinary Agnes Moorehead…

December 6, 2022 By Joi

James Stewart, Agnes Moorehead, and June Allyson in The Stratton Story

The extraordinary Agnes Moorehead was born on December 6, 1900 in Clinton, Massachusetts. In some ways, it’s almost unfortunate that she’s most remembered for her role as Endora on Bewitched. I say “almost” because she created one of the most colorful and entertaining characters ever portrayed on television and gave one outstanding performance after another. I say “unfortunate,” because, in her own words, she didn’t want to be remembered as a witch.

“I’ve been in movies and played theater from coast to coast, so I was quite well-known before ‘Bewitched’ and I don’t particularly want to be identified as a witch.” ~ Agnes Moorehead

Can’t blame her.

Agnes Moorehead’s filmography is filled with wonderful films. In fact, four of her films have been honored in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant: Citizen Kane (1941), The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), All That Heaven Allows (1955) and How the West Was Won (1962). in each of these, as in each of EVERY film or appearace, she gave an excellent performance. My personal favorite of her performances is one I don’t see often mentioned: Ma Stratton in The Stratton Story (1949, directed by Sam Wood).

She gives such a completely believable, beautiful performance in a role that many actresses would have over-sold. She allowed the script to tell the story, gave her co-stars all the space they needed and never once tried to upstage one of them or the script, itself. She played the role of a woman who had had to be strong all her life, and when tragedy comes to her family, she remains so TRUE to character it’s mesmerizing. She had always been the strong one for her son and she handles his horrible accident in the same manner.

Agnes Moorehead was an extraordinary actress but seems to have been an even more extraordinary person. Known for being a very Spiritual person, she would often show up to work with a script in one hand and a Bible in the other.

I LOVE that so much!

Happy Heavenly birthday to one of the truly great ones.

You can buy The Stratton Story on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the wonderul movie on Prime Video.

Lee Meriwether, Frank Gorshin, and Burgess Meredith: Batman the movie (In Honor of Burgess Meredith, BOTD in 1907)

November 16, 2022 By Joi

Lee Meriwether, Frank Gorshin, and Burgess Meredith: Batman (1966)

The wonderful, talented, and ALWAYS deliciously entertaining Burgess Meredith was BOTD in Cleveland, Ohio in 1907 and those of us who adore classic television and films are awfully happy he was!

Whether it was in a great classic drama like Castle on the Hudson, in iconic roles such as Mickey (in the Rocky franchise) or the Penquin (Batman, film and tv), in hilarious comedies (the Grumpy Old Men films), or in cult favorites like Clash of the Titans… the man was simply one of the most versatile and entertaining stars we’ve ever had.

When I watch Burgess Meredith in one of his many phenomenal role, I always think the same thing, “He relished this role and gave his ALL to entertain his audience.” Truly, he never gave anything less than 110 percent and, in my opinion, that sets him apart from most other stars.

Ironically, this same type of thing can be said about many of his co-stars… Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Sylvester Stallone, and just about everyone associated with the series Batman and the movie as well. I like to think he inspired those around him.

How could he not have?

You can find the insanely FUN 1966 movie Batman on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

STUNNING Pandora’s Box Lobby Card with Louise Brooks (BOTD in 1906)

November 14, 2022 By Joi

Louise Brooks, Pandora’s Box

You know how it is, fellow film fanatics… you’re humming along in life, content and happy with your “top 10 favorite” actresses and your “top 10 favorite” actors, when seemingly out of the blue, a star comes on the scenes and shakes things up. Maybe it’s seeing them in just the right role, seeing them in just the right number of films, or reading about them and seeing them in a new light… whatever the reason(s), this star all but INSISTS on a single-digit number among your favorites.

That’s exactly what two stars have done to me this year… Louise Brooks and Marlene Dietrich. Both of these actresses have basically charged up my list of favorites, leaving madness and chaos in their wake.

And I love it!

In both cases, it was simply a matter of finally seeing several of their films. For whatever reasons, neither lady had popped up much in the films I’ve watched over the years until I searched their work out personally this year. That’s all it took to become smitten with each one… seeing them in action!

Ironically, the two legendary actress’s share a bit of trivia – Marlene Dietrich was replaced (at the last minute, for extra drama!) by Louise Brooks in one of Brooks’ most popular roles/films, Lulu in Pandora’s Box (1929). While I ADORE Louise Brooks in the role and wouldn’t have the film any other way, my mind does often go to… “I wonder what Marlene Dietrich would have been like as Lulu?!?”

You can find Pandora’s Box on dvd (Amazon link). It’s a film I very much need for my own collection and it can, at times, be pricey. I’ve linked you to the best deal I can find.

Grace Kelly, BOTD in Philadelphia in 1929

November 12, 2022 By Joi

Grace Kelly on the set of The Country Girl

Grace Kelly was BOTD in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1929. Not counting made for TV movies, the legendary actress made only 11 films. In spite of the relatively small number, her lovely fingerprints are all over Classic film and she’s an iconic star to this day.

She left Hollywood in 1956 to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco. They had three children and were married until her death in 1982 at the age of 52.

Her one Academy Award was for Best Actress in a Lead Role for The Country Girl. She was also nominated for her role in Mogambo (in the category of Supporting Actress). She won the Golden Globe for each of these roles.

You can find The Country Girl on dvd and Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the film on Prime Video.

Grace Kelly, The Country Girl

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Hedy Lamarr!

November 9, 2022 By Joi

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr was born on this date in 1914 in Vienna. The Austrian beauty is known by most for her brains as much as she is her beauty. She was a very, very bright woman.

How bright? She received an award from the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 1997 for her pioneering work in spread-spectrum technology. THAT’S how bright!

Fast Facts About Hedy Lamarr:

Believed Delilah to be her best performance of her career, with Samson and Delilah being her favorite of her films.
She was married six times. Sometimes Mr. Right is impossible to find even when you look like a goddess!
Sued Mel Brooks for mocking her name in the film Blazing Saddles by naming a character “Hedley Lamarr.” They settled out of court. She absolutely had a point, in my opinion because the name “Hedley Lamarr” as followed her since.
She was introduced to one of her husbands by Bette Davis.

Hedy Lamarr led a fascinating life, filled with as much drama, mystery, and intrigue as any movie she appeared in. The highs of her life – including her children, brains, beauty, and films – are wonderful to celebrate. She’s a very inspiring lady to read about! The lows of her life show that absolutely anyone – no matter how bright or beautiful – can fall prey to desperation and hard luck. Everyone is capable of making mistakes in life. The really, really horrible thing is they often come one after another – one mistake leading to the next and to the next. When you’re up against it and nothing is going right, you get desperate and do things you normally wouldn’t even dream of.

As a fan of Hedy Lamarr’s I dearly wish she had had people around her to support her and help her when she needed it most. Like another lovely actress, Veronica Lake, her life didn’t end as beautifully as it should have and, maybe it’s because I’m a fan of these actresses, but I think a great deal of fault lies in the fact they didn’t have a strong support system. They were left to fend for themselves in a world that suddenly had turned cruel and unkind to them.

I can’t even imagine how jolting it had to have been to have been one of Hollywood’s most cherished princesses for a while – a beauty who had people flocking all around her, only to become all but abandoned in what must have felt like a very cold world.

I’m thankful we have Hedy Lamarr’s films and her photos to remember her by. A beautiful actress worth remembering and celebrating. I’ve read a great deal about this actress and I always come away with the same thought: “She was strong until she simply couldn’t be strong any longer.”

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Dorothy Dandridge!

November 9, 2022 By Joi

Dorothy Dandridge: Carmen Jones Lobby Card

The beautiful and talented Dorothy Dandridge was born on this date in 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio. I try never to think about things that can’t be changed (it does nothing but drive a person mad!) but it is such a shame that Dorothy Dandridge wasn’t given all of the films and roles she deserved. As beautiful and as talented as any, she wasn’t given the chance to shine she should have been given. While I will forever be thankful that she had the opportunity to shine in the films she had (particularly in Carmen Jones, Bright Road, and Porgy and Bess), I’ll always wish she had been awarded more films worthy of her great talent and screen presence.

I’d love to have seen her in… let’s say… a great romantic comedy, a musical (in which she could do her own singing), and a film-noir or two.

Maybe three!

She was simply phenomenal and worked under conditions that had to have been less than ideal. Trailblazers such as Dorothy leave me speechless – the courage, determination, and backbone it took to show up every day and have to fight at least twice as hard as everyone else.

Suffice to say, this lady has all of my respect and then some and I want to simply celebrate her memory today and everyday, for that matter!

Dorothy Dandridge was taken from us far too soon – dying on September 8, 1965 at the ridiculously young age of 42.

Dorothy Dandridge

Vivien Leigh: Publicity Pictures from Sidewalks of London (1938)

November 5, 2022 By Joi

Vivien Leigh, Sidewalks of London

We celebrate the life and films of one of the most remarkably beautiful and talented stars of all time today, Vivien Leigh. She was born on November 5, 1913 in Darjeeling, India.

While the gifted actress is best-remembered as Gone with the Wind’s Scarlett O’Hara, her filmography is nothing short of wonderful.

A few of my favorite Vivien Leigh films (and performances) are listed below. I hope that, if you are unfamiliar with her work, you’ll seek out more of her films soon. She was truly remarkable.