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Hollywood Yesterday

Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors

You are here: Home / Archives for Cyd Charisse

The Harvey Girls (1946): The Cast Directors DREAM Of!

December 30, 2022 By Joi

The Harvey Girls: Angela Lansbury, Judy Garland, Preston Foster, and John Hodiak

Preston Foster, Angela Lansbury, Judy Garland, and John Hodiak

The Harvey Girls is a wonderfully entertaining 1946 musical-western. directed by George Sidney, the movie stars Judy Garland, Angela Lansbury, Ray Bolger, John Hodiak, Preston Foster, Cyd Charisse, Marjorie Main, Chill Wills, and Virginia O’Brien.

Every role is filled to perfection. It’s rare you watch a movie and think, “I wouldn’t change a single thing…” but this is definitely one of those cases.

You can find The Harvey Girls on dvd and Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

The Harvey Girls - Virginia O'Brien, Judy Garland, and Cyd Charisse

Virginia O’Brien, Judy Garland, and Cyd Charisse

Filed Under: Angela Lansbury, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland, Preston Foster, Virginia O'Brien, Westerns Tagged With: and Cyd Charisse, John Hodiak, Judy Garland, Preston Foster, The Harvey Girls - Virginia O'Brien

Rouben Mamoulian Was BOTD in 1897

October 8, 2022 By Joi

Rouben Mamoulian Film CollageRouben Mamoulian Film Collage

The wonderful director Rouben Mamoulian (1897–1987) was BOTD in 1897. While he doesn’t have as many films to his credit as a lot of other directors, the ones he does have are very, very special.

These films include Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), Queen Christina (1933), Golden Boy (1939), The Mark of Zorro (1940), Blood and Sand (1941), and the colorful, lighthearted, and FUN Silk Stockings (1957).

Some of my favorite Rouben Mamoulian Quotes:

“I consider that color on the screen must be used as an emotion.”

( About Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1931) “I don’t want Hyde to be a monster, Hyde is not evil, he is the primitive, the animal in us, whereas Jekyll is a cultured man, representing the intellect. Hyde is the Neanderthal man and [Fredric March’s] makeup was designed as such.”

“The most important critic is time.”

“You can have all the philosophy you like: if a film doesn’t come across in graphic terms, it falls short.”

Filed Under: Adolphe Menjou, Barbara Stanwyck, Cyd Charisse, Fredric March, Linda Darnell, Tyrone Power Tagged With: Adolphe Menjou, Barbara Stanwyck, BOTD, Cyd Charisse, directors, Greta Garbo, Linda Darnell, Rita Hayworth, Rouben Mamoulian, Tyrone Power

Cyd Charisse Publicity Pictures for Sombrero (1953)

May 3, 2022 By Joi

Cyd Charisse, Sombrero Cyd Charisse

Beautiful Cyd Charisse was an absolute artist when it came to dancing and watching her is a great joy. She loved dancing more than she did acting, which is understandable. Great artists love what they do!

“If I had to give up either acting or dancing, I’d choose to keep dancing.” ~ Cyd Charisse
(Continued Below….)
Cyd Charisse, Sombrero Cyd Charisse
The stunning photographs in this post are publicity photos for her 1953 film Sombrero. The Musical Romance was directed by Norman Foster and also stars Ricardo Montalban, Pier Angeli, Vittorio Gassman, Yvonne De Carlo, Rick Jason, and Nina Foch.
You can find Sombrero on dvd (Amazon link).
Cyd Charisse, Sombrero
Cyd Charisse

Filed Under: Cyd Charisse, Musicals, Picture of the Day, Quotes from Old Hollywood's Stars Tagged With: Cyd Charisse, Cyd Charisse pictures, Cyd Charisse quote

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

September 14, 2021 By Joi

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, Singin' in the Rain

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse

Whenever the question is asked on Twitter, “What are your favorite FEEL GOOD movies,” you can always expect to see Singin’ in the Rain (1952, directed by Stanley Donen) mentioned more than any other movie. It’s just THAT darn good and makes you feel THAT darn happy.

Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Jean Hagen, and Cyd Charisse – in addition to the rest of the exceptional cast – work pure movie magic with this musical and it is always the right time to sit down and visit them… whether it’s for the first time or 100th time.

You can buy Singin’ in the Rain on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the iconic musical on Prime Video.

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse

Filed Under: Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day, Singin' in the Rain Tagged With: Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly, Singin' in the Rain

Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse: The Band Wagon

April 12, 2020 By Joi

Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon

Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon

The Band Wagon (1953), directed by Vincente Minnelli, stars a few names that helped make musicals as successful as they were and as enjoyable as they are: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, and Nanette Fabray.

Everything about this film is stunning – the wardrobe, the choreography, the stars.. everything.

As someone who grew up watching ABC soap operas like her life depended on it, I also get a huge kick out of seeing a very young James Mitchell – not at all like the Palmer Cortlandt (All My Children) I’m most familiar with.

Was he ever deliciously wonderful in the role of Palmer?!?! One of the best daytime actors and characters of all time. 

Sorry, I got sidetracked.

Something that Fred Astaire doesn’t get nearly enough credit for is the fact that he was a really good actor. He was, obviously, an absolute dancing guru… but, make no mistake about it… the man could act.

If you’ve never seen The Band Wagon, check it out as soon as possible. It’s a lot of fun and very well-directed – Vincente Minnelli was absolutely one of the best.

Rent or Buy The Band Wagon on Amazon Prime Video. You can also buy The Band Wagon on Blu-Ray (Amazon Link).

Filed Under: Cyd Charisse, Fred Astaire, James Mitchell, Musicals, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Cyd Charisse, Fred Astaire, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant, The Band Wagon, Vincente Minnelli

Cyd Charisse: Party Girl Promotional Picture

January 8, 2020 By Joi

Cyd Charisse, Party Girl (1958)

Cyd Charisse: Party Girl

Cyd Charisse is often, understandably, remembered for her dancing and legendary legs – but, make no mistake about it, the lady had a lot more going on for her than these three iconic gifts. She had a wonderful screen presence and, when given the chance to actually act, proved that she was very good at it.

She was beautiful, talented, and (by all accounts) a pretty terrific person. If you aren’t familiar with her work, I hope you’ll find as many of her films as you can and check them out.

She was a flawless dancer and made everything seem so easy – when we all know it was anything but!


Filed Under: Cyd Charisse, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse: 12 Fast Facts About a Very Exquisite Star

August 21, 2019 By Joi

Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse was born Tula Ellice Finklea on March 8, 1921 in Amarillo, Texas. She took her name Cyd from a nickname her brother called her. He called her sid, short for sister. She took the nickname and convinced her agent to keep the name. He feared that Sid was too masculine, so it was changed to Cyd. I’m going on record as saying NOTHING was masculine about Cyd Charisse!

Below are more facts about an uncommonly beautiful and talented actress and dancer.

    1. Her first credited film role was “Lily” in the 1943 musical Something to Shout About.
    2. In 1952, she took a $5-million insurance policy on her legs.
    3. She was “the other woman” in Marilyn Monroe’s last film Something’s Got to Give (1962).
    4. Lost out on two of MGM’s most celebrated movie musical roles. She fell and injured her knee during a dance leap on a film, which forced her out of the role of Nadina Hale in Easter Parade in 1948. Ann Miller replaced her as the nasty Nadina. A pregnancy prevented her from taking the lead female role in An American in Paris in 1951. Leslie Caron took the role and became a star.
    5. She once pointed out that her husband could tell who she had been dancing with that day on the MGM set. If she came home covered with bruises, it was the very demanding Gene Kelly, if not, it was the smooth and agile Fred Astaire.
    6. Started taking dancing lessons on the advice of her father. She was very frail and sickly at the time (following a bout with polio). Dance lessons were encouraged to build up her strength. She obviously responded beautifully!  She was trained as a ballerina in the Russian tradition prior to taking Hollywood by storm.
    7. Cyd was offered the role of Jo Stockton in Funny Face (1957) but declined. Audrey Hepburn would go on to play the role.
    8. Appeared with Ricardo Montalban in six movies: Fiesta (1947), On an Island with You (1948), The Kissing Bandit (1948), The Mark of the Renegade (1951), Sombrero (1953) and Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976).
    9. In his wonderful memoir “Steps in Time“, Fred Astaire referred to Cyd as “beautiful dynamite.”
    10. She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1601 Vine St. on February 8, 1960.
    11. Cyd Charisse was one of few actresses to have danced with both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly onscreen. The other lucky ladies were Judy Garland, Rita Hayworth, Vera-Ellen, Debbie Reynolds and Leslie Caron.
    12. She had a cameo in Janet Jackson’s music video for “Alright” in 1990.


Filed Under: Cyd Charisse Tagged With: Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon (Picture of the Day)

April 15, 2018 By Joi

Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon

Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon

The Band Wagon (1953) stars Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Oscar Levant, and Nanette Fabray. It was beautifully directed by Vincente Minnelli and is, unquestionably, front to back gorgeous – the stars, the wardrobe, the sets, the choreography, the makeup, the story… everything as flawless as Cyd and Nanette.

Nanette Fabray fascinates me – she somehow manages to be both beautiful and adorable at the same time. I just really enjoy watching her films. She brought so much energy to each role.

If you’ve never seen The Band Wagon, I hope you’ll find it on TV or get your hands on a dvd. Like so many musicals from Hollywood’s magical past, it was a delicious escape from reality and just a whole lot of fun.

How can you beat that?!

Rent or Buy The Band Wagon on Amazon Prime Video. You can also buy The Band Wagon on Blu-Ray (Amazon Link).

Filed Under: Cyd Charisse, Fred Astaire, Musicals, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Cyd Charisse, Fred Astaire, musicals, Nanette Fabray, Oscar Levant, The Band Wagon

Cyd Charisse Quotes About Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly

March 21, 2018 By Joi

Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly, Brigadoon
Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly, Brigadoon
I love these Cyd Charisse quotes about the two of the greatest musical stars of all time, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. They give you a bit of insight into the men, themselves.
“I can watch Astaire anytime. I don’t think he ever made a wrong move. He was a perfectionist. He would work on a few bars for hours until it was just the way he wanted it. Gene was the same way. They both wanted perfection, even though they were completely different personalities.”
“Fred could never do the lifts Gene did and never wanted to. I’d say they were the two greatest dancing personalities who were ever on the screen. Each has a distinctive style. Each is a joy to work with. But it’s like comparing apples and oranges. They’re both delicious.”
Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire Films:
  1. Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
  2. The  Band Wagon (1953)
  3. Silk Stockings (1957)

Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly Films:

  1. Thousands Cheer (1943)
  2. Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
  3. Words and Music (1948)
  4. Singing in the Rain (1952)
  5. Deep in My Heart (1954)
  6. Brigadoon (1954)
  7. It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)
  8. That’s Entertainment (1994)

Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon

Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire, The Band Wagon

Filed Under: Cyd Charisse, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Picture of the Day, Quotes from Old Hollywood's Stars Tagged With: Cyd Charisse, Cyd Charisse quotes, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly

Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly: Singing in the Rain

November 2, 2017 By Joi

I love every single second of the iconic Singing in the Rain but there will always be a special place in my heart for Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly’s number. There’s just something hypnotic about watching two legends keeping one another on their toes.

Literally.


Filed Under: Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly, Musicals, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly, Singing in the Rain

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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.

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Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas

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

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

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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.

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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.

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  • Joan Fontaine Gives One of Her Most Memorable Performances in Ivy (1947)
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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!

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Barbara Stanwyck Quotes

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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…

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