Golden Age of Hollywood
Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley, Viva Las Vegas
Ann-Margret…. one of my favorite actresses and entertainers.
Elvis Presley….. one of my favorite actresses and singers.
Viva Las Vegas…. how could it NOT be one of my favorite movies. As in EVER?!
I am in love with this 1964 movie more than I could ever say. It epitomizes the Sixties in many ways and makes visiting the colorful and fun era unspeakably entertaining.
Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley, Viva Las Vegas
Two of my favorite stars of all time are Ann-Margret and Elvis Presley – love everything about these two. So, it only stands to reason that I should be a fan of Viva Las Vegas (Amazon link), right?? It goes beyond being a fan of it, I’m in love with it! I could seriously watch it several times a month and still want to see more of it.
It’s fun, colorful, upbeat, doesn’t have stress, strife, and violence – it’s just a very enjoyable movie with two of the most charismatic and entertaining stars to ever grace the big (or small) screen. Elvis had a tremendous amount of talent and personality – a tremendous amount… BUT when Ann-Margret is on the scene, she causes him to kick it up a notch, making him even more entertaining and enjoyable.
She’s simply one of those amazing stars who makes everyone around her even better. She did it in every movie she was in. She worked her magic on so many people they may not have even realized they were completely under her spell.
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Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret
I love many of Elvis’ movies (they’re always just so much fun), but Viva Las Vegas (Amazon link) is my absolute favorite. The music is wonderful, the story is adorable, Elvis is outstanding, and I love the dancing. Most of all, however, make no mistake about it…. it’s the Ann-Margret factor.
The lady is one in a billion.
Elvis Presley, Jailhouse Rock
If you’re going to post a Tuesday picture of the day… might as well make it a great one!
This was a promotional picture for his wonderful 1957 movie Jailhouse Rock (Amazon link to the dvd).
I love this photo of Elvis – it has as much personality as he did. Well, almost.
Barbara Eden, Flaming Star (1960)
When I started out making the Old Hollywood blog Hollywood Yesterday, I intended to focus mainly on the Golden Age of Hollywood. However, along the way, I realized that limiting the fun was in NO way the best way to go about this whole celebration of “Hollywood Yesterday.” After all, I enjoy classic television and many movies from the 50s, 60s, and even 70s as much as I do the earlier films.
What’s more, some of my absolute favorite stars were shining in these years. One of my very favorites is pictures above in all of her glory and beauty – Barbara Eden!
Due to the fact that many Old Hollywood blogs and social media accounts DO focus primarily on Hollywood’s earliest days, many of these wonderful stars are often overlooked. Not going to happen here! Barbara Eden, Elvis, Ann-Margret, Elizabeth Montgomery and the rest of them deserve to be celebrated, appreciated, and introduced to new generations as much as anyone.
Sorry… I’ll go ahead and step down off of my soapbox now!
If you’ve never seen Flaming Star (Amazon Link), check it out. It was, literally, a movie caught between the 50s and 60s and it is very apparent, as it has great elements from each decade. Best of all, it has Elvis Presley and Barbara Eden – a beautiful pairing if there ever was one!
Barbara Eden and Elvis Presley, Flaming Star
Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret, Viva Las Vegas (1964)
If you love both Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret like I do, then you’ll love this film! It’s just good, clean, old-fashioned fun like most of Elvis’ movies and like so many of the films made at this time.
They didn’t overthink things back then when making comedies – they just had as much fun as God’s law would allow!
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A Few Fast Facts About Viva Las Vegas:
Love this picture of Nancy Sinatra (what a beauty!) and Elvis Presley. This is a promotional picture from the 1968 film Speedway.
Fast (unintentional pun, but enjoyed nonetheless) Facts
Elvis Presley and Debra Paget, Love Me Tender
About Love Me Tender (1956):
“Originally, it had no songs. Elvis didn’t want to sing, but they wanted to cash in, so he did sing in the movie. I didn’t know Elvis was to do the picture until it was time to do the film. I was very shy, very quiet and very immature for my age. I was in my very early twenties but I was emotionally more like a 16-year-old. Elvis and I just sort of came together like a couple of children really. Following the film, he did ask me to marry him, but my parents objected to my getting married. I cared about Elvis, but being one not to disobey my parents, that did not take place. He was a precious, humble, lovely person. Elvis had a lot of talent; there was a lot of depth they never used.” ~ Debra Paget
Richard Egan, Debra Paget, and Elvis Presley
Love Me Tender (Amazon dvd link) also starred Richard Egan, Robert Middleton, William Campbell, Neville Brand, and Mildred Dunnock.
Richard Egan, Debra Paget, and Elvis – Love Me Tender
The Nine Chris Consani Posters
This set would be a gorgeous way to bring the fun of the Golden Age of Hollywood into your own home – they’d also make pretty darn amazing gift ideas for other fans of Marilyn, Humphrey, James, and Elvis.
Click through the link or picture for more information.
The beauty above is Silent Film star Mildred Davis. She was a frequent co-star (and longtime wife) of legendary actor Harold Lloyd. She’s one of my favorite silent film actresses and one I can’t understand not being a household name!
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
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…
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!
