Donald Crisp | Hollywood Yesterday

Roddy McDowall, Pal, Donald Crisp and Elsa Lanchester: Lassie Come Home

September 27, 2021 By Joi

Elsa Lanchester, Pal, and Donald Crisp

A few days ago, I was thinking about Roddy McDowall. As someone who lives with one foot in old Hollywood, it isn’t even remotely unusual for me to have one of its stars on my mind. I was thinking, isn’t it strange that his name isn’t brought up more often when we’re talking about exceptional child stars? We (understandably!) reel off Shirley Temple, Natalie Wood, Elizabeth Taylor, Jodie Foster, Jackie Coogan, Drew Barrymore, etc… but Roddy was as wonderful as anyone.

He, along with Elsa Lanchester, Elizabeth Taylor, and Donald Crisp (and Pal!) make Lassie Come Home (1943) such a wonderful movie – and one that’s as entertaining the 10th time you watch it as it was the first time.

The beautiful collie who portrayed Lassie in this film was Pal, his one-year old-male. He retired at the age of five. All subsequent Lassie movies used his direct descendants.

You can find the wonderful family movie Lassie Come Home on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video.

Roddy McDowall, Pal, and Donald Crisp

Great Behind the Scenes Picture from Red Dust (1932)

September 11, 2021 By Joi

Donald Crisp, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Mary Astor

One of my favorite 1930s films (or films from any era!) is Red Dust (1935) and four of the reasons are pictured above: Donald Crisp, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Mary Astor. Extraordinary movie, extraordinary cast, and extraordinary director (Victor Fleming).

You can find the extraordinary Red Dust on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video!

Ann SheridanMy 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!

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??

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

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”)