• Home
    • About Hollywood Yesterday
    • Privacy
  • Old Hollywood Actresses
  • Old Hollywood Actors
  • Biography & Book Reviews

Hollywood Yesterday

Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors

You are here: Home / Archives for Maria Montez

The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood

November 20, 2022 By Joi

 The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood

The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood (Amazon link)

Every now and then, kismet happens and I revel in its glow for months. A while back, after watching Maria Montez in two back to back movies, I became enthralled by her.  I read up on her and became even more enthralled.

I read all I could get my hands on about her – which, sadly, wasn’t much – and wished desperately she had a biography I could devour.

Literally two days later, I read about the gorgeous biography you see pictured here, The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood by Tom Zimmerman.

Kismet, you beautiful thing, you.

From the Inside Cover:

Best known for her appearances in the six Technicolor “Neverland” movies, Maria Montez is a film icon. Growing up as one of ten children in the Dominican Republic, her rise as a film star in the United States seemed unlikely. In 1939, Montez set off on her own to New York City to fulfill her aspirations of movie stardom. Despite having no substantial acting experience, Montez managed to sign with major agent Louis Schurr who helped her secure a contract with Universal Studios before she moved out to Hollywood.

Following her arrival in Los Angeles, Montez began cultivating the larger-than-life persona for which she is known. Her beauty, personality, and series of publicity antics, including dramatic restaurant entrances, endeared her to the press. She even created her own fan club―The Montez for Stardom Club. Her ambitious self-promotion bolstered the success she found with her first big lead in Arabian Nights, released in 1943. From then on, the studio referred to her as “The Queen of Technicolor.”

Author Tom Zimmerman puts Montez’s life in historical context, including her role as a cultural icon and a living representation of the United States’ Good Neighbor Policy with Latin American countries. With her thick Dominican accent, Montez struggled to make herself intelligible to an American audience. However, unlike some of her Latin contemporaries, she did not present a caricature of her culture or use her accent for comedic purposes, giving her credibility with a Latin American audience. Zimmerman skillfully recounts the story of Montez’s fiery ambition and her ascent to Hollywood fame, giving her the opportunity to live on in public memory.

Maria Montez, Cobra Woman

What I LOVE About this Maria Montez Biography:

  • It’s a wish come true and gives Maria Montez more of a voice among other stars of her time. As I said above, there simply isn’t a lot of information available on beautiful Maria, her life, her films, or her place in film history. She was a trailblazer and should be given the respect other trailblazers receive.
  • It is written by a fan of the actress. When I read biographies (whether they’re historical or old Hollywood biographies), I can always tell if the author is a long-time fan of his or her subject or if they’re using them simply to get a book published. Maybe it’s because biographies have been a HUGE obsession of mine, literally since I learned to read, but I’ve read enough to be able to immediately distinguish a “labor of love and respect” from a “cash grab.”
  • The book is a very interesting read! Let’s face it, if a book is boring company, we aren’t going to read it no matter how much the subject intrigues us. Tom Zimmerman provides great details about Maria’s life, insight into her career and into an area she dazzled in, self-promotion.
  • Maria was deliciously aware of how to “market” herself and knew how to get her name and image right in front of the public’s eye. While I pretty much suspected this PRIOR to reading  this enlightening book, I had no idea just how brilliant she was at it! Her career was mostly in the forties – to truly appreciate her great need to “stand out,” it helps to remember other actresses she had to compete against for attention during this time: Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Ann Sheridan, Maureen O’Hara, Claudette Colbert, Ingrid Bergman, Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Gene Tierney, Veronica Lake, Natalie Wood, Lana Turner, Ava Gardner – to name but a few! Can you imagine trying to stand OUT in that group? While I mean ZERO disrespect to lovely Maria (I adore her and all she meant/means to classic films), she did not have the talent to compete with many of these other actresses. Let’s face it, she wasn’t going to beat out Bette Davis for any roles (neither, for that matter, would Marilyn or Lana!). She had to do what all great trailblazers and pathfinders do… they use THEIR strengths and, to a great extent, do what needs to be done to stand out. Fortunately for Maria, she had more personality, color, humor, and charisma than most. In other words, her arsenal was full, you needn’t worry about that!
  • The book is visually stunning. When this book came in the mail, as soon as I opened the package, I gasped. Pictures simply don’t do it justice – it’s an absolute beauty. This book would make such a gorgeous gift for any book lover in your life – especially someone who is a fan of old Hollywood. It’s a very substantial book (around 400 pages), packed with all of the information you could ever want about this colorful actress (as well as a lot of other stars you encounter along the way).
  • The photos are beautiful and very unique. The photos in this beautiful book aren’t photos you’ve likely seen anywhere else. They’re absolutely wonderful and I love studying them!

Finally, I love that this biography, like all the other extra special old Hollywood biographies I’ve read, serves as a glorious piece of a puzzle… the “Old Hollywood” puzzle. The more biographies, memoirs, and autobiographies you read, the more pieces you have of this puzzle. You read certain names (stars, directors, executives, etc) over and over again and, in doing so, you get a truly accurate picture of them. Each time this happens, you get another piece of the puzzle.

That’s why I don’t just read biographies about my favorites (Maureen O’Hara, Lena Horne, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Maria Montez, Ann Dvorak…), I also read biographies of those who really aren’t on my radar. One of two magical things ALWAYS happen when I do this…

  1. The star jumps onto my radar!
  2. I learn more about others who are already there.

Most importantly, each book serves as part of a puzzle to one of the most fascinating, glamorous, mysterious, and intriguing places on earth: Old Hollywood.

About the Author

Tom Zimmerman is a photographer who has permanent collections in the United States Library of Congress, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Motion Picture and Television Photo Archive, and Fortress of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg, Russia, among others.
He is the author of Paradise Promoted: The Booster Campaign that Created Los Angeles 1870-1930, Downtown in Detail, and Spectacular Illumination.
You can find the absolutely gorgeous biography The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood (Amazon link) on Amazon.
The Queen of Technicolor: Maria Montez in Hollywood is from The University Press of Kentucky.
Maria Montez, Arabian Nights
Maria Montez, Arabian Nights

Filed Under: Maria Montez, Old Hollywood Book Reviews Tagged With: Biography Reviews, Maria Montez, Old Hollywood Biography Reviews

Rod Cameron, Maria Montez, and Gale Sondergaard in Pirates of Monterey

October 6, 2022 By Joi

Rod Cameron and Maria Montez in Pirates of Monterey

Rod Cameron and Maria Montez

Pirates of Monterey is a highly entertaining 1947 adventure-romance directed by Alfred L. Werker. It features a fantastic cast, including Rod Cameron, Maria Montez,
Mikhail Rasumny, Phillip Reed, and Gale Sondergaard.

Tragically Maria Montez would make only 7 more films before her death in 1951 at the age of 33. She was discovered, drowned, in the bathtub – suspected of having had a heart attack.

Maria Montez and Gale Sondergaard

Filed Under: Gale Sondergaard, Maria Montez, Rod Cameron Tagged With: Gale Sondergaard, Maria Montez, Rod Cameron

Maria Montez: Beautiful Siren of Atlantis Promotional Pictures

August 24, 2022 By Joi

Maria Montez, Siren of Atlantis

Maria Montez

One of the three actresses nicknamed the “Queen of Technicolor” was Maria Montez. (The others were Maureen O’Hara and Rhonda Fleming.)

One of Maria Montez’s films was the 1949 adventure Siren of Atlantis, directed by Gregg G. Tallas. The fun movie also stars Jean-Pierre Aumont, Dennis O’Keefe, and Henry Daniell.

You can.. surprisingly!.. find Siren of Atlantis (Amazon link) on dvd.

Maria Montez, Siren of Atlantis

Maria Montez, Siren of Atlantis


Filed Under: Maria Montez, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Maria Montez, Maria Montez pictures

Maria Montez as Princess Tahia in White Savage (1943)

July 13, 2022 By Joi

Maria Montez, White SavageMaria Montez, White Savage

White Savage is a 1943 adventure film – the type of movie that I love to call escapism entertainment. One that’ll carry you away from current events, gloom and doom news, and anxieties that accompany daily life and transport you to a colorful and exciting world where you can PAUSE reality for just a little while.

The BEST therapy in the world!

The movie stars the beautiful Maria Montez, Jon Hall, Thomas Gomez, Sidney Toler (best known for his wonderful Charlie Chan films), and Sabu.

You can find White Savage on blu-ray in a Maria Montez & Jon Hall Collection (Amazon link). I haven’t been able to find it anywhere else!


Filed Under: Maria Montez, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Maria Montez, Maria Montez picture

Maria Montez, Cobra Woman

May 23, 2022 By Joi

Maria Montez, Cobra Woman

Maria Montez, Cobra Woman

As I pointed out in a recent Maria Montez post, I adore this actress! I love deliciously colorful, unmistakably unique people and she fit the bill beautifully. Her filmography is almost as colorful and fun as she was.

Almost.

Cobra Woman is a 1944 adventure (directed by Robert Siodmak) and also stars John Hall, Mary Nash, Edgar Barrier, and Sabu.

You can find Cobra Woman on dvd or blu-ray (amazon link).

Maria Montez, Cobra Woman
Maria Montez, Cobra Woman

Filed Under: Maria Montez, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Maria Montez, Maria Montez pictures

The Stunningly Beautiful (and Colorful!) Maria Montez, Arabian Nights

May 17, 2022 By Joi

Maria Montez, Arabian Nights

Maria Montez, Arabian Nights

The stunningly beautiful actress Maria Montez was born in the Dominican Republic in 1912. She made 28 films in her young career including Arabian Nights, Sudan, Gypsy Wildcat, Cobra Woman, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, and Pirates of Monterey. Her charisma, self-confidence, poise, and talent show up in abundance in each film.

I have to tell you, I love this colorful actress to complete distraction. One of my favorite Maria Montez quotes was one she made about seeing herself on the screen in Arabian Nights (1942): “When I look at myself, I am so beautiful I scream with joy!” It didn’t make her smile… didn’t make her giddy… didn’t make her proud. It made her SCREAM with joy, y’all!

Another favorite Maria Montez quote came after she met Orson Welles, “He is as spectacular as I am!”

Have I mentioned how much I love this lady??

Maria Montez was married to actor/writer Jean-Pierre Aumont from 1943 to her tragic death from drowning in 1951.  She was only 39 when she died and, indeed, very, very spectacular.

Maria and Jean-Pierre had one child.

You can find the 1942 film Arabian Nights on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Maria Montez, Arabian Nights

Maria Montez, Arabian Nights

I would LOVE to see Maria Montez become better known – she deserves the notoriety… as she would have told you so, herself!


Arabian Nights

Filed Under: Maria Montez, Picture of the Day, Quotes from Old Hollywood's Stars Tagged With: Maria Montez, Maria Montez pictures

Beautiful Maria Montez: Publicity Photo for the Fun Cobra Woman (1944)

February 18, 2022 By Joi

Maria Montez, Cobra Woman Maria Montez, Cobra Woman

I have an affinity (STRONG affinity) for films that would fall under the description “escapist entertainment” – movies that didn’t take themselves too seriously and hope you follow their lead.

Cobra Woman is a 1944 adventure (directed by Robert Siodmak) that is a delicious example of this type of film. Its star is the ridiculously beautiful and charismatic Maria Montez and she pretty much dares you to look away anytime she’s on the screen.

The cast also includes John Hall, Mary Nash, Edgar Barrier, and Sabu.

You can find Cobra Woman on dvd or blu-ray (amazon link).

Filed Under: Maria Montez, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Maria Montez, Maria Montez pictures

Maria Montez, Gypsy Wildcat (Picture of the Day)

April 21, 2020 By Joi

Maria Montez, Gypsy Wildcat

Maria Montez, Gypsy Wildcat (1944)

Beautiful Maria Montez was born on June 6, 1912 in Barahona, Dominican Republic. Sadly, she was only 39 when she died. She was found drowned in her bathtub (it’s speculated that she had a heart attack).

The beautiful actress has a very colorful and entertaining filmography and  would be a really fun one to “work your way through.” I’m doing that, myself, although many of her films are very difficult to find.

Two of my all-time favorite quotes from stars are from Maria:

  • (About seeing herself in a film) “When I look at myself, I am so beautiful I scream with joy!”
  • (About meeting Orson Welles) “He is as spectacular as I am!”

Is there any wonder I love her so??

Filed Under: Maria Montez Tagged With: Maria Montez, Maria Montez picture

Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

Ann Sheridan, It All Came True

Ann Sheridan
My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I created Hollywood Yesterday as my personal tribute to Old Hollywood. It’s my effort to help keep the stars from Old Hollywood, Classic Television, and Old Radio Shows alive and shining forever. Old Hollywood was positively magical and I see no reason for the magic to ever die.

Be warned, I am (by nature) overtly positive, I never take anything too seriously, I say extraordinary so often you’d think I invented the word, and I overuse exclamation points to distraction. I’m perpetually over-caffeinated.. we’ll blame that.

Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my personal favorites) here!

Old Hollywood Actresses

Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas

See the Old Hollywood Actresses page for the index of Classic Hollywood Actresses and Classic TV Actresses.

Old Hollywood Actors

Henry Fonda, Behind the Scenes The Grapes of Wrath

See the Old Hollywood Actors page for the index of Old Hollywood and Classic TV actors.

Old Hollywood Book Reviews

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel by Christina Rice

I love reading old Hollywood biographies and memoirs as much as I love watching classic movies, and that’s truly saying something!

To see my Old Hollywood book reviews, please see the index listed here: Book Reviews.

Pictures of the Day

Maureen O'Hara, The Parent Trap

Maureen O’Hara

The Old Hollywood & Classic TV Pictures of the Day are published as regularly as possible. If I miss a few days, please just know that the husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandbabies, and/or my cats were demanding my attention. I’ll be honest, nothing comes before any of them! Not even Maureen O’Hara or Henry Fonda.

Priorities, y’all.

Movie Collections on Amazon

  • Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • A Great Katharine Hepburn Quote That (Like Her) Doesn’t Hold Back!
  • Happy Katharine Hepburn Day! The Iconic and Legendary Actress was BOTD in 1907
  • Dame Margaret Rutherford, BOTD in England in 1892
  • Gary Cooper and Joan Leslie, Sergeant York (1941)
  • Joan Fontaine in One of Her Finest Roles, Born to Be Bad (1950)
  • Juliet Mills, Maureen O’Hara, and James Stewart Behind the Scenes of The Rare Breed
  • The Awful Truth: Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Mary Forbes, and Ralph Bellamy
  • Positivity, Fertilizer, Dolphins, and Katharine Hepburn… and it’s Just Monday!

Movie Night, ANY Night…

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Arthur Hunnicutt in El Dorado
Have movie night ANY night with Prime Video on Amazon:  Prime Video (Amazon link)

Thank You for Visiting!

Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin, Modern Times
Thank you so much for visiting Hollywood Yesterday! You truly HONOR me with your presence. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Olivia de Havilland

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

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?? 

Barbara Stanwyck Quotes

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!

Old Hollywood Movies

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Top Hat Cheek to Cheek

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

Classic Hollywood Books & Biographies (Reviews)

Maureen O'Hara's Autobiography 'Tis Herself

‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
I Know Where I'm Going (Katharine Hepburn Biography) and Princess

I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn

 

Debbie Reynolds Unsinkable
Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds

 

Ginger Rogers Autobiography - Ginger: My Story

Ginger by Ginger Rogers
Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball

Love, Lucy by Lucille Ball
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
Vitagraph by Andrew A. Erish
More Old Hollywood Book Reviews!

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge Carmen Jones Poster

Getting to Know the Gorgeous and Talented Dorothy Dandridge

My Lucy Obsession

Lucille Ball

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…

Legalities…

Aside from pictures of books I review, I do not claim to have taken any of the pictures on this website, nor do I own the pictures – the ones of the stars or the affiliate (product) pictures.  Other, far more talented photographers than me have the credit for the beautiful photos you see. If you would like credit for a photograph or would like one removed, please e-mail me (joitsigers@gmail.com).

Movie posters and promotional photos are used in the belief that they qualify for the Fair Use law. Fair use is a doctrine in the law of the United States that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Fair use is one of the limitations to copyright intended to balance the interests of copyright holders with the public interest in the wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.

When you click through an affiliate (product, book, dvds..) link, I earn a small portion of the money you spend IF you purchase anything. This does not cost you any extra money, of course. This is how I am able to work from home and support my cats! – Joi (“Joy”)

Copyright © 2023 | Audrey Hepburn Posters | Ava Gardner Posters