Lana Turner | Hollywood Yesterday

Hedy Lamarr, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner

April 22, 2021 By Joi

Hedy Lamarr, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner

Hedy Lamarr, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner are three of the stars who made 1941’s Ziegfeld Girl such a joy to watch. The movie also stars James Stewart as Lana Turner’s love interest (and talk about chemistry… these two certainly had it!).

The photo below is a “behind the scenes photo” – I love these types of photos. I always love to imagine if certain stars are “in character” or showing their own genuine expressions and emotions. Hedy Lamarr and Judy Garland are either in character, here, or greatly concentrating on their next scene.

While positivity runs throughout my dna (seriously, I have been called Mary Poppins more times than I could count.. unless, of course, I put down my umbrella and really focus), I have one bone to pick about this film. Why wasn’t Judy Garland given dresses as beautiful as the ones given to Lana and Hedy?! She had a lovely figure and was absolutely beautiful. I just wish more effort had been put into her costumes – especially in the one pictured here.

I understand that her character was different from the other actresses characters, but still. I wish she had been given a prettier dress, period.

Okay, that’s out of my system. Back to my umbrella….

You can find Ziegfeld Girl (Amazon link) on dvd or watch the movie on Prime Video. Just be warned… James Stewart and Lana Turner will leave you speechless and wishing SO HARD that they’d made many more movies together.

Hedy Lamarr, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner, Behind the Scenes

Hedy Lamarr, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner: Ziegfeld Girl

April 16, 2021 By Joi

Hedy Lamarr, Judy Garland, and Lana Turner

Talk about three beautiful faces! Hedy, Judy, and Lana were as beautiful as it gets. Sadly, Judy never seemed to realize just how beautiful she was. From what I’ve read, she considered Lana Turner to possess the ultimate beauty but, each time I see Judy’s angelic face, I think, “Girl, you should have paid more attention to the mirror… you were a beauty in your own right!”

Ziegfeld Girl (1941) is a colorful, enjoyable extravaganza with an a great cast. In addition to the three talented ladies pictured here, the movie also starred James Stewart, Jackie Cooper, Edward Everett Horton, Eve Arden, Ian Hunter, and Tony Martin.

Lana Turner and James Stewart

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before – once or a million times, I forget which – but James Stewart and Lana Turner’s storyline is my favorite part of this movie. They had an extra special chemistry together that rivaled any other film couple… including Maureen O’Hara/John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy, and Lauren Bacall/Humphrey Bogart.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Hedy and Judy Garland too… James and Lana just brought a little extra magic.

Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr, and Lana Turner

Hollywood in Kodachrome: A Spectacular Book for Anyone Who Loves Old Hollywood, Beauty, and Photography

July 20, 2020 By Joi

Hollywood in Kodachrome by David Wills

As I said in a previous post, I’ve had a really, really rotten July. I just did my makeup, so I won’t get into the details again.. runny mascara isn’t much of a look on anyone not named Ava Gardner.

To lift my spirits, one of my daughters (Brittany) bought me the book you see here, Hollywood in Kodachrome. Knowing my GREAT love for Old Hollywood, she knew I’d lose myself in its pages at a time when losing myself would be just what I needed.

This book is absolutely spectacular – if you love old Hollywood and/or photography, this is the next book you’ll want to add to your collection. Each time I sit, looking through the gorgeous photos, I think how it feels this book was made just for me… just for now.

However, that’s dangerously short-changing the book. Hollywood in Kodachrome is an ideal book for anyone – whether their spirits need to be lifted or their spirits are soaring just fine, thank you very much.

Photographers, understandably, are very particular about where, when, and how their photos are shared with others, so I don’t want to include any here in the post. When you click through one of the links in this post, you can see some of the photos in a preview on Amazon. Even though they appear there, I’m just not comfortable publishing them, here.

I will tell you a few names you can expect to see gorgeous photos of:

Lena Horne
Maureen O’Hara
Henry Fonda
Veronica Lake
Rita Hayworth
Lana Turner
Frank Sinatra
John Wayne
Martha Vickers
Marilyn Monroe
Bette Davis
And many, many, many more.

Many of these photos are never-before-seen!

From the Back Cover

Kodachrome film saturated the 1940s with an unprecedented explosion of color. Movie audiences, accustomed to seeing photographs of their favorite stars on magazine covers, billboards, and cinema marquees in monochrome or black-and-white, were suddenly enthralled as their idols came to life in vibrant hues as flesh-and-blood human beings. For the first time, the world was treated to the glory of Rita Hayworth’s auburn hair, Gary Cooper’s blue eyes, Betty Grable’s rosy cheeks, and the multicolored fruit bouquets of Carmen Miranda’s hats.

Curator and photographic preservationist David Wills has amassed one of the world’s largest private collections of original Kodachromes and color photographs from the 1940s. Now, in Hollywood in Kodachrome, he has gathered spectacular, museum-quality work from many of the great photographers of Hollywood’s golden era—George Hurrell, Clarence Sinclair Bull, John Engstead, Paul Hesse, Ernest Bachrach, Bernard of Hollywood, Robert Coburn, Ray Jones, Bud Fraker, Frank Powolny, Eugene Robert Richee, and many others—to create this stunning portfolio of images that pays homage to the richest, clearest, most brilliant, and archivally dependable film stock in history.

Among the highlights:

Rare and classic images digitally restored from their original 4×5, 5×7, and 8×10 Kodachrome sheet transparencies, vintage Carbro and dye transfer prints, and modern Cibachrome prints.

Never-before-seen publicity photos, scene stills, and work shots from many of Hollywood’s most beloved films of the 1940s.

Previously unpublished portraits of Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Lana Turner, Errol Flynn, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, and many others.

Rare “posed candids” and behind-the-scenes photos of stars at play, poolside, relaxing at home, and with family.

Unpublished outtakes of stars in famous ad campaigns, including Max Factor, Lux, Lipton Tea, Lucky Strike, and Royal Crown Cola.

Never-before-seen WWII patriot photography of stars in service uniform and posing with the American flag.

Pairing more than 250 first-generation photographs with vintage magazine covers, advertisements, movie posters, quotes from photographers, and a personal foreword by Hollywood’s “Queen of Technicolor,” Rhonda Fleming, Hollywood in Kodachrome is an unforgettable showcase of a time when movies were truly glamorous and color photography reigned supreme at its most luscious.

Find this extraordinary book on Amazon (Hollywood in Kodachrome) or in a bookstore. You’re going to love it each time you look through it. Talk about a fascinating coffee table book – only problem is, you’ll lose your guest’s attention entirely as they look through this very, very large 352 page book!

Lana Turner, The Postman Always Rings Twice

May 20, 2020 By Joi

Lana Turner

After years of being an old Hollywood fanatic, I’ve found that some stars are almost universally loved by everyone (Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball..), while others have an almost equal number of people who love them and people who… well… don’t love them. Lana Turner, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, June Allyson, and Bette Davis come to mind. Personally, I love all four…. a lot!

When you’re a fan of someone and others say really bad things about them, it’s unsettling, isn’t it? I mean, you can’t take it personally, of course… but, still…. you just hate to hear it.

I totally understand, mind you. After all, I have some that I don’t like and, oddly enough, I don’t always have a “good” reason – other than they just get on my last nerve!

I get that some stars’ personalities or lifestyles can unnerve people. I’ll be honest, by absolute favorites all tend to be the better-behaved stars. However, I don’t let how they lived or what they did (or are rumored to have done) dictate whether I like an actor or actress or not – any more than it dictates if I like an athlete or author.

Their body of work is what matters most to me. I mean, come on, I don’t tune in to a movie to sit and think about who did what to whom or who said this or that. I just want them to entertain me, that’s pretty much it.

Lana Turner always entertains me greatly. I think she was a fine actress and always gave her all in each and every one of her roles. I heard someone once say they didn’t like her because she was too beautiful and that it was the only reason she got any of the roles she had.

I’m guessing they don’t realize just how many beauties were (and are!) buzzing around Hollywood. There had to be something special about Lana to make her appeal to both Hollywood and to fans. She had that something special, if you ask me.

Tons of it.

The Postman Always Rings Twice (link to the dvd on Amazon)

The Postman Always Rings Twice (link to watch the film on Prime)

Lana Turner

Lana Turner and John Wayne, The Sea Chase

April 23, 2020 By Joi

Lana Turner and John Wayne, The Sea Chase

John Wayne certainly had some stunningly beautiful co-stars, didn’t he?? The Sea Chase, starring The Duke and Lana Turner is a film you don’t hear a lot about but I like it a lot. Then again, I love these two stars so much, a movie would have to be uncommonly horrid for me not to like it.

In spite of my favoritism, it is a very entertaining movie – one that is perfectly directed by the wonderful John Farrow.

Find The Sea Chase on dvd on Amazon.

Lana Turner and James Stewart, Ziegfeld Girl

March 31, 2020 By Joi

Lana Turner and James Stewart, Ziegfeld Girl

Is there a movie that, overall, you feel kind of meeeeeh about except for one performance (or storyline) that blows you away? Maybe you even rewatch the so-so movie for this storyline (or performance) alone?? Ziegfeld Girl (1941) is such a movie for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Judy Garland and… when I rewatch Ziefgeld Girl (Amazon DVD link)… I pause the FF button long enough to watch most of her scenes. BUT the only reason I ever do or ever will rewatch the movie is for Lana Turner and James Stewart. I think they were outstanding in this film and I am mesmerized by their chemistry.

Straight up fire!

Did You Know?

This was James Stewart’s last film role before serving in World War II. He would only come back 5 years later with one of his most popular roles of all time… George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).
Ziegfeld Girl was, reportedly, Esther Williams’ favorite movie.

Picture of the Day: Lana Turner and Lee Bowman, Dancing Co-Ed

December 13, 2019 By Joi

Lana Turner and Lee Bowman, Dancing Co-Ed

I love this picture of the day! Lana Turner is one of my favorites and (EASILY) one of the most compelling and beautiful stars from Hollywood Yesterday. This is from the 1939 film Dancing Co-Ed.

I’m really not overly familiar with Lee Bowman, but after seeing him in this movie recently, I’d like to see more of his filmography. If you’ve never seen Dancing Co-Ed, check it out – it’s as fun as Lana is beautiful…. well, almost.

Lana Turner and Kirk Douglas, The Bad and the Beautiful

November 12, 2019 By Joi

Lana Turner Kirk Douglas: The Bad and The Beautiful Behind the Scenes

The Bad and the Beautiful was a darn good 1952 film starring Kirk Douglas, Lana Turner, Gloria Grahame, Dick Powell, and Walter Pidgeon. If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend it. Gloria Grahame, Kirk Douglas, and Lana Turner are especially good in this film.

The film won multiple Oscars including Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Gloria Grahame. Kirk Douglas was nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role but didn’t win.

Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner (Review)

October 24, 2019 By Joi

Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner

As both a collector and AVID reader of biographies and autobiographies (old Hollywood and history), I often group these books into three categories when adding to my collections:

The stand-alone, ultimate biography or autobiography – as in the only one you really need for a certain star or historical figure.
A component biography or autobiography – one that is a wonderful (even necessary) addition to a collection of memoirs of the individual.
The one I have to have no matter what – one that it simply doesn’t matter which of the above slots it fits into because I collect everything ever written about the individual!

A few examples of number 1:

These books give you such a perfect all-around account of the star that (unless you collect everything written about them, you may not find it necessary to add another book about them to your collection).

Ginger by Ginger Rogers

June Allyson’s Autobiography

Barefoot to the Chin

Esther Williams’ The Million Dollar Mermaid

A few examples of number 2:

These books are so wonderful that they should be added to any collection you have on the star(s). However, either because of their laser focus on one particular topic or because they cover more than one star (Feuding Fan Dancers, for example), they wouldn’t be considered the ultimate biography. There’s also the… shall we say chance… that the author’s recollections are clouded by emotion(s) – such as Georgia Hale’s biography of Charlie Chaplin, a man she spent nearly a lifetime loving.

Feuding Fan Dancers

Georgia Hale’s Charlie Chaplin Biography

Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes

My Examples of number 3:

I collect anything and everything pertaining in any way, shape, or form for the following, so I grab every book associated with them!

Lucille Ball, Maureen O’Hara, Barbara Stanwyck, Rita Hayworth, Katharine Hepburn, June Allyson, Audrey Hepburn, Georgia Hale, Buster Keaton, Bob Hope, Elvis, Abbott & Costello, John Wayne, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis (I get a special kick out of always listing these two together.. strange sense of humor, I guess)…

Back to Lana….

I lay all of this out merely to set the stage for Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner – because it is a “component” type biography that also happens to (for me, anyway) fall into the third category as well – I collect all Lana Turner books!

As you can tell by the title, “The Life and Loves of Lana Turner,” this book has Lana’s (eventful!) love life in mind. In fact, the wonderful author (Jane Ellen Wayne) focuses the bulk of time on the men in the beautiful Lana Turner’s life… to be more precise, the effect(s) they had on the actress.

Make no mistake about it, each man left fingerprints all over her life – for better or worse. A certain amount of naivety existed with Lana, because she seemed to sincerely believe that each one was her Prince Charming.

Not only does the author provide a great deal of insight into what Lana Turner was thinking (even when she seemed to not be thinking at all!), she presents her as she truly was – a human being, just as capable of mistakes as any of us.

Things I Love Most About This Biography

When I think about things that make this biography stand out, the one that comes to mind first is the respect with which author Jane Ellen Wayne treats Lana. Instead of, “She did this wicked thing… she made this irrational decision…,” her response seemed to be more, “I wish I’d been there to help her avoid that guy!” I feel the same way when it comes to Lana and many of my other favorites – I wish I could have been there to tell them, “No… absolutely not!” Heck, with Lana, I’d have been tempted to lock her in a room once or twice! Her heart led down some very destructive roads and left her a beautiful and easy prey for more than one low life.
I am in love with the way the author presents Lana’s beautiful daughter, Cheryl and her relationship with her mother.
While there are a few men you meet along the way who you’d love to throw rotten garbage at, there are a few who you’ll find especially intriguing and want to learn more about (Tyrone Power, for example).
The pictures – just wow! There are gorgeous pictures of Lana throughout her career as well as candids with the men in her life and her beautiful family.
As you’d expect from someone who reads as much as I do, I appreciate a “fast read.” Books that are easily digested and don’t take a lot of time to read have a special place in my heart and Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner is a very fast read – yet it’s one that stays with you.
The “staying with you” aspect is something else I love about this book. Since I first read it, I often think back to moments in Lana’s life when I see pictures or films. When I see her during a particular time, smiling for her fans and looking radiant, I’ll instantly think back to this book and remember what she was going through at the time. It’s very memorable and will stay with you long after the last page.

One could say that Lana was weak in some ways – weak to “allow” herself to become more than one man’s (and more than one situation’s) victim. She often, when faced with two decisions, made the absolute worst one as though it were her job to torment herself. As a Lana Turner fan (and one that has studied her more than I ever studied any subject in school), I would hasten to say this: Yes, she displayed moments of great weakness BUT the fact that she survived the madness and is, today, one of the greatest, most-recognized icons of Old Hollywood took greater strength.

If you are (or even if you are not YET), a fan of Lana Turner’s, I hope you’ll read Lana: The Life and Loves of Lana Turner. I have a feeling it will help you understand her better. Trust me, she’s very much someone worth getting to know.

A Favorite Onscreen Couple: Lana Turner and James Stewart (Ziegfeld Girl)

October 3, 2019 By Joi

There are so many wonderful Old Hollywood onscreen couples to love that I often have trouble naming my favorites. Truth be told, it often changes – depending on which ones have lit up my screen most recently!

However, the following are almost always at the top:

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne
June Allyson and Dick Powell
June Allyson and Van Johnson
Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy
Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery
Lana Turner and James Stewart
Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire
Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford
Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda

I see several of these named as other Old Hollywood fan favorites, as well, but I really don’t see Lana and James named very often.

Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anyone else name them as one of their favorite couples!

Maybe it’s partly because Ziegfeld Girl had so much going on that their storyline tends to get lost in the glitz and the glamour. I’m not sure…. but I am sure that the chemistry is there in spades!

If you haven’t seen Ziegfeld Girl in a while (or, especially, if you’ve never seen it), watch it soon… paying special attention to Lana and James’ scenes. I have a feeling that, like me, you’ll find yourself wishing they had made more films together!