Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors
Key Largo Lobby Card
I absolutely LOVE this Key Largo (1948) lobby card… the colors are spellbinding. Directed by the wonderful John Huston with a cast including Humphrey Bogart, Lionel Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, and Claire Trevor, this is one extraordinary movie.
You can find Key Largo on dvd or blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the classic and iconic film noir on Prime Video.
Lauren Bacall
Betty Joan Perske was BOTD in 1924 in The Bronx, New York City, New York. She would go on to become one of the most beautiful and celebrated actress of all time as Lauren Bacall. I love this actress’s filmography to distraction. From the films she made with Humphrey Bogart, including Key Largo, The Big Sleep, and To Have and Have Not to other classics such as How to Marry a Millionaire and Designing Woman, her films and performances are the stuff dreams are made of.
The photos shown here are from How to Marry a Millionaire (1953, directed by Jean Negulesco). The photo above is a knock-out promotional picture for the film.
Could this lady wear clothes or what?!
The photo at the bottom is a behind the scenes picture with one of Lauren’s co-stars in the film, Marilyn Monroe.
How to Marry a Millionaire Movie Poster (Amazon link)
The popular and fun comedy also stars Betty Grable, Rory Calhoun, David Wayne, Cameron Mitchell, Alexander D’Arcy, Fred Clark, and William Powell.
You can find How to Marry a Millionaire (Amazon link) on dvd for your collection or watch the movie on Prime Video.
Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall
There are certain stars who you think it would be impossible for anyone NOT to love them. Actors and actresses who were (in all ways) so perfect, they’re surely universally loved. Lauren Bacall is one of those stars in my mind. I honestly can’t conceive anyone not loving this actress.
I mean, come on, she had everything going on for her! She had traffic-stopping beauty, a legendary real-life love story, and head to toe talent. She also made some really great movies, including the one this photo represents, the 1950 romantic Drama Bright Leaf, directed by Michael Curtiz.
The movie also stars Gary Cooper, Patricia Neal, Donald Crisp, and Jack Carson.
You can find Bright Leaf on DVD (Amazon Link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
Claire Trevor, Key Largo
I love it when a perfect movie meets a perfect performance, don’t you?! One such movie and performance is Key Largo with the wonderful Claire Trevor. Her portrayal of Gaye Dawn is absolutely breathtaking. In the scene where she’s forced to sing…. I mean, it’s nothing short of movie magic.
Claire Trevor VERY deservedly won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar for her portrayal.
The movie is filled with outstanding performances – how could it not be with a cast that also included Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, and Lionel Barrymore? And yet, as far as I’m concerned, Claire Trevor managed to stand out.
That tends to happen when you give a completely mesmerizing performance!
I also want to mention the generosity of her co-stars. Each time I watch this film (well over 20 times by now), I’m struck by the “room” given to Trevor by her co-stars. You can tell they knew something truly special was happening and not one tried to take the spotlight from her. So much professionalism!
Humphrey Bogart, Claire Trevor, and Lauren Bacall
You can find the brilliance that is Key Largo on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
Lionel Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, and Humphrey Bogart
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a billion times… Key Largo is one of the greatest movies ever made. The cast is perfection and the story & directing (by John Huston) are phenomenal. Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Claire Trevor, Edward G. Robinson each star gives one of the best performances of his or her career.
You can find all of the excellence on dvd (Amazon link) or watch Key Largo on Prime Video.
Gary Cooper and Lauren Bacall
You can find Bright Leaf on DVD (Amazon Link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.
Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal
Lionel Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, and Humphrey Bogart
One of my favorite Bogie and Bacall movies is also one of my favorite movies, period – Key Largo (1948). Directed by John Huston, the EXCELLENT movie also stars Lionel Barrymore, Edward G. Robinson, and Claire Trevor.
Excellent cast, excellent director, excellent movie.
You can find all of the excellence on dvd (Amazon link) or watch Key Largo on Prime Video.
Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart
Howard Hawks With Crew and Cast Members, Rio Bravo
One of my absolute favorite directors, Howard Hawks, was BOTD (born on this day) in 1896 in Goshen, Indiana. This talented director was behind some of my personal favorite movies…
As I see more of his movies, I have NO doubt that other favorites will join the list.
Not only do we owe him a debt of gratitude for his wonderful films, he is responsible for discovering Lauren Bacall. That, alone, earns him my undying devotion!
Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, To Have and Have Not
Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart
Not only was Key Largo one of the best movies ever made, it had some of my all-time favorite performances. Every single cast member was extraordinary but I am always especially blown away by Bogie, Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, and Claire Trevor.
Just an outstanding movie with one outstanding performance after another. John Huston was an excellent director and this was one of his best films.
You can find all of the excellence on dvd (Amazon link) or watch Key Largo on Prime Video.
Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall
Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall starred in the wonderful 1953 comedy How to Marry a Millionaire (directed by Jean Negulesco). It wasn’t necessarily the best movie ever made, but it was a great one that showcased three of Hollywood’s most glamorous and beloved stars.
You could even make a case (which I do!) that it was a blissful celebration of these three remarkable actresses. Each different, each unique, and each iconic. I like to think of this film as a tribute to each star, which is why it grinds my gears to see only one of the actresses on dvd covers (usually Marilyn).
Why not spotlight all three, right?!
The fun and colorful movie also stars William Powell, David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, Fred Clark, and Cameron Mitchell.
You can find How to Marry a Millionaire (Amazon link) on dvd for your collection or watch the movie on Prime Video.
How to Marry a Millionaire Movie Poster (Amazon link)
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??
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!
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…
