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Publicity Stills from Miracle on 34th Street (One of the Best Movies Ever Made)

December 12, 2022 By Joi

Maureen O'Hara, Edmund Gwenn, and Natalie Wood in Miracle on 34th Street

Maureen O’Hara, Edmund Gwenn, and Natalie Wood

Ironically, two of the films that made me fall so deeply in love with old movies are both Christmas movies (Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life). Ironically, three of the stars involved – Maureen O’Hara, James Stewart, and Lionel Barrymore – are three of my top 10 favorite stars of all time. It’s as though they befriended me as a child and have been with me all these… let’s not count how many!… years.

Both movies are as magical and beautiful to me now as they were then.

My only regret is that, somehow, Miracle on 34th Street doesn’t get the same attention It’s a Wonderful Life does and, frankly, I have no idea why. It’s every bit as wonderful – in every possible way.

If you’ve never seen this beautiful “feel GREAT” movie, I hope you’ll find it this Christmas season and lose yourself in the magic. If you have seen it… well, who couldn’t just a little more Christmas magic??

I watch it every year and have since I was a little girl. In fact, I believe I’ll pour a big mug of hot chocolate and go watch it now!

You can find the iconic 1947 Miracle on 34th Street (Amazon link) on dvd on Amazon or watch the iconic movie on Prime Video.

Edmund Gwenn, Natalie Wood, and John Payne in Miracle on 34th Street

Filed Under: Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Miracle on 34th Street, Natalie Wood, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Miracle on 34th Street, Natalie Wood

Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne in the Wonderful Miracle on 34th Street

December 16, 2021 By Joi

Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, and John Payne in a promotional picture for Miracle on 34th Street

Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne 

There are presents to wrap, presents to buy, candy to make, and candy to eat… so I am literally sharing today’s picture of the day and running back to the kitchen! This is a wonderful publicity photo for one of the best movies ever made, Miracle on 34th Street. Directed to perfection by George Seaton, this is one of my favorite viewings of the Christmas season.

I hope you’re enjoying every last drop of the holiday season this year and (even when busy) smiling and maybe even humming a Christmas carol or two!

You can find the iconic 1947 Miracle on 34th Street (Amazon link) on Amazon… and you really, really should!

Filed Under: Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Miracle on 34th Street, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Christmas movies, Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Miracle on 34th Street

Between Two Worlds: Perfect Movie, Perfect Cast, Perfect Reminder Why We All Love Movies

July 15, 2021 By Joi

Between Two Worlds Lobby Card

Eleanor Parker, Paul Henreid, and John Garflield

First of all… Hello again! I’ve been offline for over a week and while I’d love to be mysterious and allow you to think I’d been on vacation in an exotic location, drinking my coffee and raspberry tea by the ocean…. the truth is nowhere near as colorful. My body decided to cash a check my immune system wrote after an entire winter of being home and masked completely FREE from colds and bugs. Payment came due and it’s as though I enjoyed a dose of a nasty cold on top of a mild flu with a brief bout of bronchitis thrown in to keep things interesting.

Quite frankly, I didn’t do much more than watch old movies, play with grandbabies (who were also sick), watch baseball with my husband (also sick), and talk about food and Christmas with my daughters (yep… also sick.. all three).

We’re all well now (thank goodness!) and I’m ready to get things back to normal. I have a lot of different pictures of the day planned for the coming days as well as three… count them, THREE… extraordinary books I want to tell you all about.

However, today, quite frankly all I want to talk about is Paul Henreid, John Garfield, Faye Emerson, Edmund Gwenn, Sydney Greenstreet, Eleanor Parker, Sara Allgood, George Tobias, Dennis King, George Coulouris, and the phenomenal movie they combined to make – Between Two Worlds.

I normally don’t give a second thought to the fact that I’m surrounded by a family who does not watch old movies (except for the occasional John Wayne western, Charlie Chan, or Elvis movie my husband agrees to or the classic horror movies my oldest daughter enjoys). HOWEVER, when I’ve seen a movie that just completely blows me away, I wish SO MUCH they did watch old movies because that movie and its stars are all I want to talk about!

That’s the case with Between Two Worlds. I literally want all of them to sit down, watch it, and then talk with me for days on end about the exquisite performances, the writing, and the flawless direction. I’d love to know which performances were their favorites, which storylines caught them most off guard, their reactions to particular scenes, etc.

As it is, I’ll just come here and talk to you! First and foremost, if you haven’t seen Between Two Worlds, please please please find it and watch every delicious second. It may seem, in the first few scenes, that it’s moving slowly… trust me, it quickly (QUICKLY) turns into a film you don’t want to look away from for even a second. You can find the Between Two Worlds (Amazon link) dvd on Amazon. I wish it were on Prime Video, but it doesn’t seem to be yet.

Hopefully one day!

Between Two Worlds Lobby Card

Eleanor Parker and Paul Henreid

Before watching this particular film during “sick week,” I was already a HUGE Sydney Greenstreet and Paul Henreid fan. Huge, huge, huge. They’re actually the reason I wanted to see this one so much, so I knew they’d blow me away with their performances, because that’s what they always do. I wasn’t quite as familiar with the rest of the cast. In fact, I’d only seen Edmund Gwenn in ONE movie (you guessed it, he was Santa Claus) and had only seen John Garfield in two movies many years ago. I wasn’t much more familiar with Eleanor Parker and wasn’t the least bit familiar with Faye Emerson.

That’s the exciting thing about watching old movies, isn’t it? You’re always meeting new favorites and rekindling old favorites!

I had nearly forgotten what an incredible actor John Garfield was. Holy cats, was he ever talented?!

Between Two Worlds Lobby Card

Sydney Greenstreet, Dennis King, Eleanor Parker, Edmund Gwenn, and Paul Henreid

I could go on forever about the performances of each cast member but I’d be here hours if I said all I’d love to say about each one and my cats would in NO WAY allow me to spend that much time doing something that doesn’t directly benefit their comfort or appetite.

I do want to say, however, that the following impressed me the most…

  • John Garfield – Such an outstanding, charismatic performance. He always gives a scene all he has and it’s always more than enough.
  • Paul Henreid – Henreid’s performance, here, reminds me a lot of Donna Reed’s in It’s a Wonderful Life and John Wayne in The Quiet Man. Like them, he finds himself surrounded by so many larger than life characters that it would be easy (perhaps even human nature) to play his role larger. He remains true to his reserved character, however, and gives a flawless performance. He never tries to be more than the story dictates and I am in awe at the reserve shown. He is the stability and calming influence the story needs… its anchor, so to speak… and he is the perfect, perfect actor for the role.
  • Faye Emerson – How impressed was I with Faye Emerson? I’ve already found and written down every movie she made and plan to watch her entire filmography. I’ve also added her to my list of stars I “collect.” When I fall under a star’s spell… I commit!
  • Sydney Greenstreet – Why is this man so insanely wonderful in every role he ever filled?!?! His tone of voice, his facial expressions, his bodily movements…. every single thing keeps perfect timing with his character and purpose in a movie and this role is no exception. It takes his character a while to show up, but once he does, his presence is profoundly felt.

The most important thing I can say about this movie is this: Between Two Worlds reminds you why you fell in love with movies in the first place. I found myself, many times actually, sitting transfixed, eyes completely on the screen, brain 100 percent invested, lungs barely remembering to breathe!

Like I said, the reason we all fell in love with movies in the first place. Between Two Worlds (Amazon link) is on dvd and will occasionally air on TCM. If you’ve never seen it, I hope you’ll move Heaven and earth to watch it.

You won’t regret a single second.

Filed Under: Dennis King, Edmund Gwenn, Eleanor Parker, John Garfield, Paul Henreid, Perfect Movies, Sydney Greenstreet Tagged With: Edmund Gwenn, Eleanor Parker, Faye Emerson, John Garflield, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet

Miracle on 34th Street: Fun Lobby Cards (Love These!)

December 10, 2019 By Joi

Lobby Card Miracle on 34th Street

Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne

Maureen O’Hara is one of my VERY favorite actresses, so you can bet I’ve seen Miracle on 34th Street more times than the average movie fan. Honestly… I couldn’t even begin to count the number of times, because I watch it multiple times each year.Lobby Card Miracle on 34th Street

John Payne and Maureen O’Hara

Heck, I’ve been known to watch in in the middle of July!

Each time I watch it, I love it even more. The cast was simply perfect – from Maureen, Natalie Wood, John Payne, and Edmund Gwenn to William Frawley, Porter Hall, Jerome Cowan, and Gene Lockhart. Each was spectacular and (obviously) knew they were part of something extra EXTRA special.

Lobby Card Miracle on 34th Street

Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne

A few things in particular strike me with each viewing:

  • Natalie Wood was a very, very special actress – whether she was a child, teen, or adult… she was spectacular and obviously born to do what she did so beautifully.
  • Maureen O’Hara was as talented as she was stunningly beautiful – and that’s saying something!
  • John Payne and Edmund Gwenn were exceptional actors and should be household names! How more front and center roles in popular movies eluded them is beyond me – but I’m forever thankful that they’re in this personal favorite film.
  • Finally, this is a perfect movie – perfect in every way!

Lobby Card Miracle on 34th Street

Natalie Wood, Maureen O’Hara, and John Payne

Find Miracle on 34th Street (1947) on Amazon.

Filed Under: Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Miracle on 34th Street, Natalie Wood, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Christmas films, Edmund Gwenn, John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Miracle on 34th Street, Natalie Wood

Christmas Picture of the Day: Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Gwenn (Miracle on 34th Street)

December 3, 2019 By Joi

Maureen O'Hara and Edmund Gwenn, Miracle on 34th Street

Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Gwenn, Miracle on 34th Street

I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Well, I could, but we’d be here all day and well into the night. I’d be obsessed with it even if it didn’t star my beloved Maureen O’Hara – it’s just a beautiful, perfect, wonderful film.

In the days leading up to Christmas, I have no doubt that Miracle on 34th Street (Amazon link) will be featured in a lot of Pictures of the Day.

In fact, you can count on it!


Filed Under: Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, Miracle on 34th Street, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Christmas films, Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara, Miracle on 34th Street

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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Movie Night, ANY Night…

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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
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Ginger Rogers Autobiography - Ginger: My Story

Ginger by Ginger Rogers
Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

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Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
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Dorothy Dandridge

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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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