Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors
Macdonald Carey, Marilyn Monroe, Zachary Scott, and Claudette Colbert
Let’s Make it Legal is an underrated and rarely shown romantic comedy from 1951. The cast, alone, warrants more attention than this fun movie receives! The movie was directed by Richard Sale and the cast includes Claudette Colbert, Macdonald Carey, Marilyn Monroe, Zachary Scott, Barbara Bates, Robert Wagner, and Frank Cady.
You can find Let’s Make it Legal on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the film on Prime Video.
Marilyn Monroe, Niagara
Niagara is a wonderful 1953 film-noir, beautifully directed by Henry Hathaway. The thriller stars Marilyn Monroe, Joseph Cotten, Jean Peters, and Max Showalter. While (for obvious reasons) Marilyn Monroe gets the most attention, the entire cast (and movie) are extraordinary.
The photos you see here are from wardrobe tests with Marilyn Monroe and the gorgeous clothes she wears in this film.
Marilyn must have been a dream for a wardrobe department. They knew she’d look like an absolute doll in anything!
Marilyn Monroe
You can find Niagara on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the drama on Prime Video.
Marilyn Monroe, How to Marry a Millionaire
I love Marilyn Monroe to distraction… not just for her beauty, brains, style, and lasting legacy to my beloved old Hollywood. Heck, none of these are even the main reason I such a huge fan of hers. I love her for her film performances first and foremost. She has a truly wonderful filmography and gave one excellent performance after the other.
People often (bizarrely) try to compare her to Barbara Stanwyck, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, and other actresses. This is such a shame because it’d be like comparing Jerry Lewis to James Cagney… different roles call for different types of actors/actresses. She (same for Jerry Lewis) gave exactly what was needed from her for each and every role.
In the same way you may not be able to see her in, say, a Bette Davis role… you could also flip it and say you couldn’t really see Bette Davis in a Marilyn Monroe role. There’s room enough in old Hollywood for all types of stars and movies would be incredibly boring if they were all the same.
Marilyn Monroe’s performance in How to Marry a Millionaire is one of my favorite performances – of hers or anyone’s for that matter. She brings the perfect amount of vulnerability, humor, and genuine lovableness (I know, spellcheck, it isn’t a word… but I’m making it one) to the role of Pola. Truth be told, I think she’s the best thing about the movie – though all of the performances are wonderful.
How to Marry a Millionaire Movie Poster (Amazon link)
The popular and fun comedy also includes Lauren Bacall, 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
The 1961 romantic western The Misfits was directed by the wonderful John Huston and features an equally wonderful cast that included Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter, and Eli Wallach.
While the movie is memorable as one of Clark Gable’s greatest performances, as well as one of Marilyn Monroe’s, it is probably best remembered as the last completed film for either star.
Clark Gable died of a heart attack shortly after filming for the movie ended, and Monroe died a year and a half later.
The movie is outstanding and their performances are PERFECT gifts to leave the world before leaving us.
These stars shined so brightly while they were alive that they will shine forever more!
If you’ve never seen this great movie, you can buy The Misfits on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link). Surprisingly it isn’t on Prime Video, given the historical importance of the film (and how good it is), you’d think it would be.
In the den, alone, are framed photos of Marilyn, Claire Trevor, John Wayne, James Dean, and Audrey Hepburn!
I have my eye on this gorgeous Marilyn Monroe 3-Piece Canvas (Amazon link) as well. I mean… just look at it. GORGEOUS.
I love that it’s in black in white, except for her lips. It makes the entire photo really pop – plus it’s a stunning image of Marilyn… I just love everything about it.
The three piece set is framed and ready to hang, meaning your room of choice can get the makeover it deserves the minute you welcome Marilyn to your home!
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller
There’s something about these pictures of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller behind the scenes of The Misfits (1961) that’s just impossibly sweet. Miller (who was married to Marilyn from 1956 to 1961) was the screenwriter for the western.
You can buy The Misfits on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link). Surprisingly it isn’t on Prime Video, given the historical importance of the film (and how good it is), you’d think it would be.
Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe
Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe
Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe lead an outstanding cast in the WONDERFUL 1961 film The Misfits, directed by John Huston. Tragically, it would be the last completed film legends Gable or Monroe made. He died of a heart attack shortly after filming ended and she died a year and a half later.
Obviously, that’s the SAD side of the historical film. The great side is that the film happened to begin with. Marilyn Monroe had grown up idolizing Clark Gable, so the fact that she got to make a film with him really warms my heart. It’s also, in my opinion, one of her very best performances.
Add these to the fact that the movie is truly outstanding and you can see why it’s such a bittersweet film. It might just be the very definition of bittersweet.
The western also stars Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter, Eli Wallach, James Barton, and Kevin McCarthy.
Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable
You can buy The Misfits on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link). Surprisingly it isn’t on Prime Video, given the historical importance of the film (and how good it is), you’d think it would be.
Marilyn Monroe
While these pictures of Marilyn Monroe wearing a bathing suit are considered publicity photos for Clash by Night (1952), they seem more like Clash by Night publicity photos for MARILYN MONROE!
Either way, they’re just what a nice crisp November day calls for.
She was so stunningly beautiful and she didn’t need any of the makeup, glamour, or glitz. The natural beauty was prominently there – as was the natural radiant glow that followed her everywhere she went.
Mind you, she was far more than just a beautiful star or famous icon, she was a very talented actress who was far more talented than even she knew.
Clash by Night was one of Marilyn’s earlier films and she was wonderful in the role. The film-noir, directed by Fritz Lang, also stars Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, and Robert Ryan.
You can find the wonderful Clash By Night on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Amazon Prime.
David Wayne and Marilyn Monroe
We’re Not Married is one of those fun, lightweight comedies from the fifties that my grandmother would have called a “a real hoot.” Directed beautifully by Edmund Goulding, the movie features a GREAT cast portraying five wedded couples who find out they aren’t legally married… as you’d imagine, that’s when the fun begins.
Fred Allen and Ginger Rogers
The Couples are…
Mitzi Gaynor and Eddie Bracken
You can buy We’re Not Married on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the film on Prime Video.
Paul Douglas and Eve Arden
Marilyn Monroe
These wonderful pictures of Marilyn Monroe on the set of Clash by Night show something I have always said… she was at her most beautiful without all the glam and glitz. She didn’t need anything to give her more beauty – she came fully equipped with all she’d ever need!
Clash by Night (1952, directed by Fritz Lang) was Marilyn’s big break and, in my opinion, she did a wonderful job. If you can share the screen with one of the greatest actresses/actors of all time (Barbara Stanwyck) and not get swallowed alive, you have done something!
You can find the wonderful Clash By Night on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Amazon Prime.
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…
