BOTD | Hollywood Yesterday

Happy 100th Heavenly Birthday to Jane Russell!

June 21, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jane Russell

The wonderful Jane Russell was BOTD 100 years ago in 1921 in Bemidji, Minnesota. She was stunningly beautiful and far more talented than her beauty allowed most people to focus on!

The gorgeous pictures here are promotional photos for her 1956 drama The Revolt of Mamie Stover, directed by Raoul Walsh. The movie also starred Joan Leslie, Richard Egan, and Agnes Moorehead. Many consider Jane Russell to be at her most beautiful during this time and I certainly can’t argue with their sentiments.

Happy 100th birthday Jane Russell!

Jane Russell

BOTD in 1903, The Larger than Life Errol Flynn

June 20, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Errol Flynn, San Antonio (1945)

One of the greatest, most colorful, and certainly most popular actors of all time, Errol Flynn was BORD in 1909 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. He often reminds me of another wonderful actor (who also died far too soon), Heath Ledger. The fact that they were both born in Australia is pretty ironic.

One of the things that fascinates me most about Flynn was his ability to (very believably) transition from role to role – oftentimes very different roles! He was just as believable as a swashbuckler as he was a cowboy and just as believable as Don Juan as he was Robin Hood.

“If I have any genius it is a genius for living.” ~ Errol Flynn

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn, Dodge City

Errol Flynn is oftentimes a bit of a controversial figure among old Hollywood enthusiasts and film historians. I always hate when anyone devotes time and effort to trying to “knock down” a star who is no longer with us. They contributed to the old Hollywood that we know and love so much – why is it so hard for some people to focus on the positives and leave the negatives in the background… where, of course, they’d prefer their own faults and shortcomings to remain.

I literally encountered a woman once who (after every positive word I said about Errol Flynn), countered with a negative word. I finally just dropped the subject and asked who her favorite was. She said his name, and while I won’t mention it here out of respect to the actor, he had done everything she had just accused Errol Flynn of! When I gently pointed this out, she laughed and said, “Oh I try not to think about any of that!”

Ummm… okay? I am perfectly fine with that. Just extend the same courtesy to everyone else!

Errol Flynn lived life on his own terms, was spoken highly of by his co-stars, and was seemingly adored by his leading ladies. He left us with larger than life performances – none greater than the one of Errol Flynn, himself.

Concluded Below…

Errol Flynn and Maureen O’Hara in Against All Flags

Errol Flynn’s last words were, reportedly (and VERY believably!), “I’ve had a hell of a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

Jeanette MacDonald: BOTD in 1903 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

June 18, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, Rose-Marie

One of my favorites was BOTD in 1903, the beautiful and ridiculously talented Jeanette MacDonald. Jeanette may not be as remembered today as she deserves (same can be said of so many of our beloved stars of yesteryear), but she still boasts a very large number of fans who love her muchly.

Me included!

There are a great number of stars who aren’t as fortunate as others have been when it comes to having their movies shown regularly. Jeanette MacDonald and frequent co-star Nelson Eddy are two who suffer from this very thing. Even when their films ARE shown (generally ONLY on TCM), they are often the ones aired during the day or in the middle of the night. Primetime spots are often awarded to movies that are already popular (Casablanca, Singing in the Rain, Gone with the Wind).

While it’s very understandable, from a desire for ratings viewpoint, it can be frustrating because this would be the ideal time to pull in more fans for the lesser known films. TCM does, however, do a great job of promoting other movies before featured films.

Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy in Sweethearts

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

June 13, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

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, 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:

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

“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 Rathbone

BOTD: The Heart of Gone With the Wind, Hattie McDaniel

June 10, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Hattie McDaniel and Vivien Leigh in Gone With the Wind

In addition to Judy Garland, another iconic and much-loved actress was BOTD, the wonderful Hattie McDaniel was born June 10, 1893 in Wichita, Kansas. She also happens to be one of my favorites.

She VERY deservingly won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role of Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939). She was the HEART of GWTW.

Hattie McDaniel also starred in other wonderful films including The Mad Miss Manton (1938), The Little Colonel (1935), Alice Adams (1935), and Song of the South (1946) among others.

Happy Heavenly birthday to an actress I CANNOT imagine old Hollywood without.

Hattie McDaniel and Vivien Leigh in Gone With the Wind

BOTD, the Legendary, Beautiful, Talented, and ICONIC Judy Garland

June 10, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

In the Good Old Summertime, Van Johnson and Judy Garland

Frances Ethel Gumm was BOTD in 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The adorable little girl would go on to become “Judy Garland,” one of the brightest and most-loved stars of all time.

While Judy’s angelic voice and charismatic stage performances are legendary, I actually think of her primarily as an actress – and an extraordinary one, at that.

While I love all of her films, my personal favorites are In the Good Old Summertime (1949), The Pirate (1948), The Wizard of Oz (1939), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), and Easter Parade (1948).

Judy Garland and Gene Kelly in The Pirate

Judy exuded warmth, charm, humor, and EVER SO much talent in each of her roles. She also had a natural rapport and chemistry with everyone she came near. I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that everyone was sincerely thrilled to be working with her.

Fred Astaire and Judy Garland, Easter Parade

BOTD in 1917, the Wonderful Dean Martin!

June 7, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Dean Martin

Dino Paul Crocetti was BOTD in1917 in Steubenville, Ohio, to Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, a barber who was an Italian immigrant, and his wife, Angela, who was born in Ohio.

We often talk about great singers and obviously name Dean Martin. We talk about great comedy teams and obviously name Lewis & Martin. We all talk about great entertainers and obviously name Dean Martin. However, when we talk about all-time great comedians, we don’t bring up the name Dean Martin nearly enough.

Yet, the man was absolutely hilarious. When you watch his comedy routines and his hilarious talk show appearances, you realize he had a wonderful gift for comedy. I think the reason many don’t realize it is they believed him to always be drunk off his butt. He wasn’t, of course, but he acted the part to absolute perfection.

(Continued Below Dude…)

Dean Martin as Dude, Rio Bravo (1959)

Another thing Dean Martin doesn’t’ get enough credit for (IMO) is his acting. He gave each and every one of his roles exactly what it needed. He was never too large for the scene and certainly never too small. Drama, comedy, and everything in between. I love his westerns, comedies, and most definitely his Matt Helm movies.

Delirious fun!

My personal favorite Dean Martin Movies:

Rio Bravo (in arguably his best performance)
The Stooge
The Wrecking Crew
The Silencers
Airport
The Cannonball Run
Oceans 11
The Sons of Katie Elder
Artists and Models
Hollywood or Bust
You’re Never too Young
Pardners
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Living it Up
3 Ring Circus
The Caddy
That’s My Boy
At War with the Army
My Friend Irma
My Friend Irma Goes West
Sailor Beware
Jumping Jacks
Money from Home

Suffice to say, I’m a HUGE fan.

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Behind the Scenes of The Stooge

BOTD in 1910, Paulette Goddard

June 3, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Paulette Goddard

Beautiful actress Paulette Goddard was BOTD in 1910 in New York. She’s best remembered for Modern Times, The Ghost Breakers, The Women, The Great Dictator, Unconquered, So Proudly We Hail, Kitty, and Hold Back the Dawn.

Paulette was one of the 20 original Goldwyn Girls (as were Lucille Ball, Virginia Bruce, Ann Dvorak and Betty Grable). She was married to Charlie Chaplin from 1936-1942 and Burgess Meredith from 1944-1949. Her fourth and final marriage was the one that lasted. She and the German writer/actor Erich Maria Remarque were married from 1958 to his death in 1970.

Paulette Goddard

The Beautiful and Iconic Marilyn Monroe: BOTD in 1926!

June 1, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Marilyn Monroe

One of the most beautiful, talented, and iconic stars of all time was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in 1926 in Los Angeles, California. As Marilyn Monroe she would become a star known the world over… to this day!

One of the things I love the most about Marilyn Monroe is the fact she refused to reside in any type of mold others expected her to conform to. She was far more talented than anyone expected her to be (far more talented than she, herself, even realized) and was a very intellectual, well-read woman. She was incredibly bright and seemed to possess endless compassion for others.

Marilyn Monroe

Something that’s easy to lose sight of when talking about Marilyn Monroe is how incredibly young she was when she first began making movies and when insane fame hit her from all sides. The kind of press and attention she received would have been so difficult for anyone to handle – but especially someone so young. She also didn’t have a strong network of loved ones to surround and protect her, either.

Marilyn is one of those stars who I find myself the most “protective” about. She gave the world so much and her fame and popularity consumed her. Something we all tend to forget is just how young she was when she died in 1962 – just 36 years old.

May she continue to rest in peace and in the knowledge that she still has so many of us who love her. Quite a lot!

Marilyn Monroe, Niagra

Happy Birthday Wishes to Clint Eastwood!

May 31, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Clint Eastwood and Manis the Orangutan (“Clyde”)

One of my all-time favorite actors (and directors), Clint Eastwood, was born on this day in 1930 in San Francisco, California. I would list my favorite Clint Eastwood movies, but I simply can’t be at my computer desk all day and night!

One of my favorites is represented here, Every Which Way but Loose. Love the story, love the cast, love the movie… and love love love the orangutan Clyde (played by Manis the Orangutan).

The photo above and below are publicity pictures for the movie. The one at the bottom of the post is my favorite… a behind the scenes pictures of two of the stars.