Fay Wray | Hollywood Yesterday

Fay Wray: Beautiful Promotional Picture for Adam Had Four Sons (1941)

April 9, 2023 By Joi

Fay Wray, Adam Had Four Sons

Fay Wray was absolutely one of the most beautiful actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood (or any age for that matter!), but she was also very talented and always so much fun to watch. She always brought the role and film exactly what it needed from her – no more, no less.

It’s a gift and an ability a select number of stars had – bring your character to life in a way that makes the movie better…. as opposed to playing a role so large you distract from the film. Paul Henreid, Ann Sheridan, Lauren Bacall, and Melvyn Douglas are others who come to mind who were brilliant at the approach.

Adam Had Four Sons (1941) is a film that deserves a lot more attention. It was directed by Gregory Ratoff and stars include Ingrid Bergman, Susan Hayward, Warner Baxter, Fay Wray, Richard Denning, Johnny Downs, and Robert Shaw.

You can find Adam Had Four Sons on dvd or watch the movie on Prime Video. (Amazon link)

Fay Wray and Lionel Atwill, The Vampire Bat (1933)

September 23, 2022 By Joi

Fay Wray and Lionel Atwill, The Vampire Bat

The Vampire Bat came out the same year as King Kong… our heroine Fay Wray went through an awful lot during the early 30s… monsters everywhere! Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray are excellent in this film which also stars the wonderful Melvyn Douglas, Maude Eburne, and George E. Stone.

This one’s perfect for getting in the mood for Halloween and VERY much worth adding to your movie collection!

You can find The Vampire Bat on dvd (Amazon link), on Blu-ray (Amazon link), or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Fay Wray and Lionel Atwill, The Vampire Bat

Fay Wray and Gary Cooper, The Legion of the Condemned

September 22, 2022 By Joi

Fay Wray and Gary Cooper

The Legion of the Condemned (1928) is, sadly, a lost film. The silent drama was directed by William A. Wellman and the cast included Fay Wray, Gary Cooper, and Barry Norton. While I save words such as “tragic” for the loss of human life, it is an especially sad thing that the work of director William A. Wellman, the writers, the crew, and the cast can’t be enjoyed and appreciated by film fans.

Of course, there’s always hope that a copy will be found in someone’s attic, basement, hope chest, or even storage unity. Wouldn’t that be amazing?! Imagine, being able to see a film that had been lost for so long?

Almost too wonderful to think about!

Merian C. Cooper and Fay Wray: Two Reasons the 1933 Version King Kong is STILL the Best

September 17, 2022 By Joi

Merian C. Cooper

King Kong was produced and directed by Merian C. Cooper and stars Bruce Cabot, Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Noble Johnson, and Sam Hardy. Merian C. Cooper based the film on a dream he’d once had about a giant ape destroying New York City! When he spoke to Fay Wray about her role in the iconic film, he told her, “You are going to have the tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood.”

He was not wrong!

He’s pictured (above) in a promotional picture for the wonderful film and (below) with beautiful Fay Wray in a behind the scenes photo.

You can find the 1933 King Kong on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Fay Wray and Merian C. Cooper behind the Scenes of King Kong

Celebrating Fay Wray on the Date of Her Birth!

September 15, 2022 By Joi

Fay Wray

Beautiful Fay Wray was born on September 15, 1907 in Cardston, Alberta, Canada and film fans are awfully happy that she was!

As I’ve said many times on the old Hollywood blog and Twitter, one of my favorite things about watching old movies and classic television is that you often pick up new favorites over the years – your old favorites… often ones you’ve had from the start… stay right in your heart, but new favorites come to join them.

As far as I’m concerned, the more the merrier!

Over the past few years, as I’ve seen more of her films, the beautiful and very talented Fay Wray has assumed her position alongside my lifelong favorite actresses Maureen O’Hara, Lucille Ball, Ann Sheridan, Rita Hayworth, Barbara Stanwyck.. as well as favorites I’ve picked up over the years that have also joined them such as Ann Dvorak, Tallulah Bankhead, Claudette Colbert, etc.

This is one of the reasons I always recommend watching “new to you” stars and films – you just never know who’s spell you’re going to fall under next and that’s deliciously fun. In fact, I recently had an actress join my ranks of favorites that I thought I didn’t like… Doris Day.

You just never know. Until you know!

Until mere months ago, Fay Wray was an actress I was only familiar with on the basis of one film – King Kong. While I have always considered her, unquestionably, one of the most beautiful of all actresses, I had simply not had the chance to see more of her work. SADLY, her other films are hardly ever shown on television and some can be hard to find anywhere. However, after watching (many times a week!) King Kong with my 4 year old grandbaby (with plenty of editing done by MiMi and her remote control), I became very stricken with Fay Wray’s unique screen presence, ethereal beauty, and natural talent. So I made it a point to search out other films.

Suffice to say, she is now FIRMLY in my top 10 favorite actresses and one that I now “collect” (an honor for the upper favorites, mind you!).

Many film historians and movie fans will argue that starring in King Kong “stifled” Fay Wray’s career… that starring in a blockbuster, iconic, larger than life movie locked her so firmly into one role that it cost her other roles. I just can’t get on board with this type of thinking, and I’ll tell you why. Given that I spend so many of my waking (and non-waking) hours in old Hollywood, many of my thoughts spend their time on old film lots, movie theaters, movie sets, and in old Hollywood magazines.

Something I find myself OFTEN mulling over is this: WHY ARE SOME STARS MORE REMEMBERED THAN OTHER STARS? Why, say, do people who don’t even watch old films know who Katharine Hepburn is but couldn’t pick out Ann Dvorak from a lineup with other actresses…. let alone name one of her wonderful films.

Why is Cary Grant a household name, yet even a lot of people who call themselves old Hollywood fans couldn’t name 3 Sterling Hayden films?

Sterling Hayden and Ann Dvorak were extraordinary stars with so much talent and MANY fine performances. Yes, Katharine and Cary most absolutely were, as well… but you get the idea. Why are some remembered (the ultimate reward for any star, in my estimation… being REMEMBERED, after all, lasts much longer than the glow from an Oscar) and others forgotten (one of the saddest words in the entire English language)?

When you frame one’s legacy in this way, guess what…. Fay Wray is wonderfully remembered and celebrated! Her name is associated with a film that gave (and GIVES) all of us so much entertainment and joy. She is remembered, loved, and celebrated… which is why I simply cannot call her role in King Kong anything less than a blessing.

If you aren’t familiar with other Fay Wray films and performances, I hope you will seek out her movies. She was wonderfully versatile and as at home with comedy as she was drama. Her screen presence is stunning (she lights up the screen and has chemistry with everyone she comes in contact with!) and her filmography is deliciously entertaining.

The beautiful promotional photos shown here are for the 1934 film Viva Villa! (directed by Jack Conway). The movie stars Fay Wray, Wallace Beery, Leo Carrillo, and Donald Cook. You can find Viva Villa! on dvd (Amazon link). It’s very much worth adding to your collection!

Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot, and Robert Armstrong: King Kong (1933)

March 17, 2022 By Joi

Fay Wray and Bruce Cabot, King Kong 1933

King Kong was produced and directed by Merian C. Cooper and stars Bruce Cabot, Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Noble Johnson, and Sam Hardy. Merian C. Cooper based the film on a dream he’d once had about a giant ape destroying New York City. From everything I’ve read, Cooper poured his heart and soul into this movie and it’s obvious each and every time I watch it.

The PERFECT actress was cast in the role of Ann, Fay Wray. She was ideal for the role – ethereally beautiful, talented, vulnerable yet strong in many ways, and did she ever nail the frightened expressions and screams?!?!

You can find the 1933 King Kong on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong, King Kong 1933

Fay Wray: Beautiful King Kong (1933) Promotional Picture

October 4, 2021 By Joi

Fay Wray, King Kong

For my money, the 1933 King Kong was the BEST King Kong and it isn’t even close. I also think Fay Wray was the best Ann Darrow and, again, I don’t think it’s even close!

She is so associated with this iconic character that actresses who came after her are more often referred to as, “the one in the Fay Wray role” than they are “Ann Darrow.”

Now that’s when you know you’ve put your fingerprints all over a role!

King Kong was directed by Merian C. Cooper and also stars Bruce Cabot, Robert Armstrong, Noble Johnson, and Sam Hardy.

You can find the 1933 King Kong on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell, and Lionel Atwill: Mystery of the Wax Museum

April 1, 2020 By Joi

Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell, and Lionel Atwill- Mystery of the Wax Museum

Ever like a movie in spite of itself? That’s how I am with a lot of movies, if we’re being honest. I love sitting down with a tall glass of raspberry tea and a fat bowl of popcorn and losing myself in a movie so much, I’m not the least bit particular.

A lot of people ask a lot of a movie – I simply ask only that it entertain me. If it gives its viewer a wild ride around the block, so be it.

So long as it’s entertaining.

If it suspends all true reality and believability… so what, it’s all make believe anyway!

So long as it’s entertaining.

If it goes a little too far at times… well, it’s better than not going far enough.

So long as it’s entertaining.

No, Mystery of the Wax Museum isn’t Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, or It’s a Wonderful Life. It doesn’t have to be. It is gloriously itself and it is a very fun 1 hour and 17 minutes. Much of the entertainment is due to the cast. Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell, and Lionel Atwill are each deliciously fun to watch- so throwing them together can only mean one thing… that’s right… a movie that hits the magic mark: It’s entertaining.

Fay Wray and Glenda Farrell… LOVE these Hats!

Beautiful Fay Wray: Publicity Photo for King Kong

March 26, 2020 By Joi

Fay Wray: King Kong Promotional Photo

Some stars have become so associated with particular roles or films that far too often, the rest of their work is overlooked. While it can be frustrating when you are a fan of the star to see the general public unaware of just how well-rounded their career was – we have to remind ourselves that it is actually very flattering.

For a role and/or film to be so ingrained in the public’s mind and heart, speaks volumes about all who were involved in the production.

Fay Wray’s performance in King Kong (1933) won (and wins more each year!) her legions of fans. We feel her fear and other emotions as we watch her go through her ordeal!

Her beauty – especially in contrast to the “beast” – jumps off the screen at you. So, as a Fay Wray fan… when someone hears the name and says, “King Kong!,” I’ve vowed to stop listing her other films and simply talk about how mesmerizing she was in a difficult role. Very difficult, if you think about it! She had to react to a monster that wasn’t even there.

Speaking of the wonderful actress, have you seen her daughter, Victoria Riskin’s biography? It’s called Fay Wray and Robert Riskin: A Hollywood Memoir (Amazon Link) and it is excellent. I’m working on the book review for Hollywood Yesterday and hope to have it up within the next few weeks.

Fingers crossed!

Before reading the biography (Victoria is an excellent author, by the way), I knew Fay Wray and Robert Riskin were very likable, classy individuals but… after reading the book… I’m even more of a fan of each. I highly recommend it.

Faye Wray: Sweet 16 Facts About King Kong’s Favorite Leading Lady

April 18, 2019 By Joi

Fay Wray

Beautiful Fay Wray is best remembered as the girl held in King Kong’s giant hand in the iconic movie from 1933. I love a lot of things about this wonderful actress, but one of the things I love the most is the fact that even though her career was often lost in the HUGE shadow of King Kong, she didn’t seem bitter in the least. From what I’ve read, she has only spoken favorably about the entire apeish experience. A lot of stars tend to resent being so incredibly associated with a particular role or movie but she seemed to be genuinely grateful to have been a part of such a colossally enjoyable and historically memorable movie.

Many of us who desperately love Old Hollywood are passionate about keeping the stars’ names alive and their faces and movies in front of new generations of fans. It honestly becomes almost an obsession with us, if I’m being honest! Fay Wray falls into an unfortunate category of Old Hollywood actors and actresses that make our job a bit more difficult.

When stars have, say, less than five movies that are really “well known” and celebrated, it is VERY rare to find their movies shown on television or readily available on dvds. It’s very challenging to introduce new legions of fans to an actor or actress if they can’t find their movies easily. This poses a huge challenge, too, for most stars from the silent movie era.. aside, of course, from Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, and Pickford.

I’ve found another challenge with these stars as well. When you hear even casual fans of old movies talk about their favorites (which we all do pretty much non-stop!), you’ll hear the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Barbara Stanwyck, Ava Gardner, James Stewart, Lana Turner, Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant… it seems that, frustratingly enough, the celebrated only become more celebrated. I’m not pointing fingers, I’m as guilty as anyone! Heck you’ll hear me talking 24/7 about the group I just named, in fact!

When actors and actresses – who often happen to be just as talented as the celebrated ones – don’t have films that are as readily available as the popular crowd’s films… sadly, they get lost in the shuffle.

I lose track of the number of times I feel myself getting frustrated about this very thing and have to get up and make a cup of tea to distract myself and the frustration! What compounds the frustration is the fact that while some of these stars we want to see celebrated more intensely simply made poor choices with the movies they agreed to star in…. often it wasn’t in their hands. Studios often depicted what movies they would star in and their star rose and fell, to a certain extent based upon these choices.

At any rate, I’ll step down off of the soap box now and allow you to get to know Fay Wray better. She was a very fascinating woman. I’m having a nightmare of a time finding more of her movies to buy and watch, but from the ones I’ve seen, she was off the charts talented and, obviously, beautiful. I can’t help thinking of the number of “favorite actress” lists she’d appear on if she’d had even three more widely shown movies.

Fay Wray was born in Canada on September 15, 1907 but was raised in Los Angeles. She was barely in her teens when she began working in films as an extra.
Two days after her death, the lights on the Empire State Building in New York City were dimmed for 15 minutes in her memory. Beautiful tribute to her iconic scene at the end of King Kong, her most popular movie. I’ve read that when she died (August 8, 2004 at the age of 96), King Kong was showing in the hospital’s ER waiting room.
Wray was originally offered the role of the elderly Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic (1997), but she turned the role down.
King Kong (1933) saved its studio, RKO Radio Pictures, from bankruptcy.
She became friends with producer Peter Jackson, who happened to be a big fan.
She is credited as being Hollywood’s first “scream queen.” Not at all surprising, when you consider her thrillers during 1932-1933: Doctor X (1932), Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), The Vampire Bat (1933), The Most Dangerous Game (1932) and, of course, King Kong (1933).
Described King Kong as her “little man”.
In January 2003, a 95-year-old Fay Wray was awarded the “Legend in Film” Award at the Palm Beach International Film Festival.
On the main street of Cardston, Alberta, Canada (her birthplace) there is the “Fay Wray Fountain” in her honor.
She had a daughter, Susan, by her first marriage to writer John Monk Saunders and two children, Robert Jr. and Victoria, by her second marriage to writer Robert Riskin.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960.
Pictured on one of four 51¢ Canadian commemorative postage stamps honoring “Canadians in Hollywood” issued 22 May 2006.
Along with Ginger Rogers and actress Marie Blake, she was a bridesmaid in Jeanette MacDonald’s 1937 wedding to Gene Raymond.
She gave much of her time and money towards various political causes. She was active in the campaigns of Wendell Willkie, Thomas E. Dewey, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.
She was friends with: Laraine Day, Joel McCrea, Frances Dee, Dorothy Lamour, Fred MacMurray, June Haver, Gloria Stuart, Jean Arthur, Ginger Rogers, Walt Disney, Bruce Cabot, Cary Grant, Richard Barthelmess, Mae Clarke, Pat O’Brien, Irene Dunne, Bob Hope, Dolores Hope, Robert Cummings, Ann Sothern, Joseph Cotten, Patricia Medina, Robert Montgomery, Walter Pidgeon, Naomi Watts, Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan.
My favorite Fay Wray fast fact…. She drove a car into her 90s!