Elizabeth Taylor | 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

Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor: A Two-for-One Picture of the Day in Honor of My Mom

January 10, 2022 By Joi

Grace Kelly

Today is my mom’s birthday. She has celebrated her birthday in Heaven since 2006 but it’s always a special day for me. As soon as I woke up, I knew exactly who the picture of the day would be…. her two favorite actresses, Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor!

So, in my mom’s honor, here are two very remarkable actresses – they would, however, pale in comparison to my remarkable, selfless, compassionate, and uncommonly COLORFUL mother!

Happy Heavenly birthday… you are and forever will be missed by your daughter and three granddaughters.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor: Stunningly Beautiful Promo Pictures for Giant

November 11, 2021 By Joi

Elizabeth Taylor

I may have mentioned it on Hollywood Yesterday before (I know I’ve mentioned it on my old Hollywood Twitter page millions of times!)… Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly were my mom’s absolute favorite actresses. I can’t see a picture of either legendary actress without thinking of her.

Needless to say, this makes me love them even more!

I remember seeing Giant on tv very often when growing up. Seriously, whenever it was being shown, my mom watched every second. It is a wonderful film with an extraordinary cast which includes Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean.

You can buy Giant on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor in a Striking Giant Promotional Photo

November 6, 2021 By Joi

Elizabeth Taylor

If you follow this old Hollywood blog (or my antics on Twitter), you know that one of my greatest blessings in this world is being able to “watch” (the word has never been more accurate!) my three grandbabies during the week while their parents work. Given that these ridiculously adorable grandbabies are ages 1, 2, and 3 (how cool is that?!), it means my days are filled with love, laughter, and one adventure after another!

In other words… while these beloved and cherished little doll babies are here with me, the last thing I intend to do is sit at a computer! This is why, on many days, my old Hollywood blog posts are as short and sweet as these baby boys are.

That’s right… three boys!

So, on days like today, when I have a few minutes before cuteness arrives, I only have time to drop a picture and a few words. Today’s picture of the day is Elizabeth Taylor… so I’m dropping an extraordinary beauty on you and running.

I doubt seriously if you mind.

This stunning photo is a publicity picture for her 1956 film Giant (directed by George Stevens). The movie also stars Rock Hudson, James Dean, Carroll Baker, Sal Mineo, Chill Wills, Dennis Hopper, Mercedes McCambridge, Rod Taylor, and the always wonderful Jane Withers.

You can buy Giant on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson: Giant (1956)

October 11, 2021 By Joi

Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson

Here’s what you call a couple of beautiful faces! Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson had so much chemistry in Giant, I always wish they had made a lot more movies together. They even LOOKED great together.

You can buy Giant on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

The Beautiful Janet Leigh (Pictures of the Day)

March 28, 2021 By Joi

Janet Leigh

I have long been a “fan” of Janet Leigh’s, in spite of having not seen a lot of her films. Truth be told, until recently I had only seen two of her movies! I have no idea how I spent a lifetime watching old movies and had not crossed her lovely path more frequently. As one would expect from a Westerns’ fanatic, it was in a Western I saw her first… The Naked Spur. I actually saw her in this western before I did in Little Women.

I loved her even more in the 1949 classic Little Women (Amazon link) than I did in The Naked Spur. Around this time, I also saw her in Bye Bye Birdie and that was all it took for her to become a personal favorite.

Margaret O’Brien, Janet Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, and June Allyson

I love Ann-Margret as much as anyone, but Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, and Maureen Stapleton make Bye, Bye Birdie the FUN movie it is. They are always my favorite part about the whole movie!

After Bye Bye Birdie, I made it a point to find more Janet Leigh movies and I have come to absolutely ADORE her.

It always boggles the mind how, as I said, after a lifetime of watching movies, you can STILL discover new favorites along the way. Janet Leigh is now one that I “collect” – the tier of personal favorites who I collect all of their films, magazines, photos, cards, etc. It’s always costly to find a new “top tier” favorite, but it’s even more exciting!

Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor: Behind the Scenes of Father of the Bride

February 6, 2021 By Joi

Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor

I love these beautiful pictures of Jane Powell and Elizabeth Taylor behind the scenes of Elizabeth’s 1950 movie Father of the Bride. This is what I call two gorgeous legends!

Father of the Bride was directed by the great Vincente Minnelli and starred Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor, and Billie Burke.

You can watch Father of the Bride on Prime Video or buy the dvd on Amazon.

Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Powell

Elizabeth Taylor, STUNNING Promotional Pictures from Cleopatra

May 16, 2020 By Joi

There is beautiful, then there is BEAUTIFUL. Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra was the latter.

Boy, was she ever the latter!

Yes, one could (and should) make the case that Elizabeth Taylor as Elizabeth Taylor was always the latter as well… but let’s just keep with the theme here for now.

Cleopatra (1963) is what I always think of as a “jaw-dropping” movie. Simply because you find yourself having to pick your jaw up so many times during the movie! Whether it’s the sets, Elizabeth Taylor’s outrageous beauty, Elizabeth Taylor’s outrageous talent, Rex Harrison’s talent, or Richard Burton’s next level performance as Mark Antony. Burton was a phenomenal actor and honestly deserves more credit than he gets. Being remembered as Elizabeth Taylor’s soulmate is, in and of itself, monumental, of course – but this was one of the greatest actors of all time.

If you doubt a word of that, please see Cleopatra (whether it’s for the first time or 20th).

Buy Cleopatra (dvd) on Amazon or watch on Prime.

Elizabeth Taylor and George Sanders, Pictures from Ivanhoe

April 25, 2020 By Joi

Elizabeth Taylor, Ivanhoe (1952)

I’ve probably mentioned it on Hollywood Yesterday before, but Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly were two of my mother’s absolute favorites. She adored them so much and knew, seemingly, everything about them – from their movies to their bios.

I can’t see a picture of either lady without thinking of my mom and, for this reason more than any other, I love them both almost as much as she did.

(Continued Below…)

The pictures in this post are from the 1952 film Ivanhoe which starred Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Taylor, Joan Fontaine, and George Sanders.

You can (usually!) find Ivanhoe on dvd Amazon (it can be one of those dvds that’s hard to find – so, if you’re a collector, grab a copy as soon as you find one).

Elizabeth Taylor, Ivanhoe

Behind the Scenes Photo from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

April 19, 2020 By Joi

Behind the Scenes Photo of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf

As I’ve often said, I love “behind the scenes” photos so much it defies reason. I’m obsessed with them and any time I come across one I haven’t seen, it’s like Christmas morning to me.

Or at the very least, Christmas afternoon.

The photo above is a behind the scenes moment from the popular 1966 film, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Director Mike Nichols is holding court with some of his amazing cast members: Elizabeth Taylor, George Segal, Sandy Dennis, Richard Burton. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure who the man to the left of Richard Burton is – so, I’m not trying to leave him out, it’s simply that, without his face, I cannot say for sure who he is.

If I am ever able to find out, I’ll return to this post and add him to the cast of characters!

You can find Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf on dvd on Amazon or watch it on Amazon Prime.