Musicals | Hollywood Yesterday

Ethel Waters and Eddie Anderson, Promotional Picture for Cabin in the Sky (1943)

July 23, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ethel Waters and Eddie Anderson

Cabin in the Sky (1943) is, unquestionably, one of my favorite musicals. It’s a fun, delightful, musically perfect, very entertaining film, directed to perfection by Vincente Minnelli. I used to hate that it wasn’t shown more on television, where new audiences could fall in love with it but (fortunately!) it’s being shown more often on TCM.

Thank goodness, because this one is extra, extra special.

The outstanding cast includes Eddie Anderson, Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, Rex Ingram, Louis Armstrong, Mantan Moreland (love him!), and Oscar Polk. Tragically Oscar Polk was killed six years later (at the age of 49) when he was hit by an automobile, making this his last role.

You can buy Cabin in the Sky on dvd (Amazon link) on watch it on Prime Video.

BOTD in 1938, the Beautiful Natalie Wood

July 20, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Natalie Wood, West Side Story

Remembering the wonderful Natalie Wood on the date of her birth (1938) with two of my favorite photos of her. These colorful and stunning photos are from her 1961 drama musical West Side Story.

She was (as she was in everything) breathtakingly perfect in her role as Maria.

Natalie Wood, West Side Story

Lena Horne and Eddie Anderson: Great Behind the Scenes Photo from Cabin in the Sky

July 19, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lena Horne and Eddie Anderson

Cabin in the Sky is a wonderfully fun 1943 musical, directed by Vincente Minnelli. It’s excellent cast includes Eddie Anderson, Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, Rex Ingram, Louis Armstrong, Mantan Moreland, and Oscar Polk.

That’s what I call one heckuva cast. SO much talent.

This behind the scenes picture is spectacular – look how unbelievably beautiful Lena was! She positively glows and has such a regal posture. Truly one of the most beautiful stars we’ve ever had. She’s wonderful as the beautiful Georgia Brown in Cabin in the Sky and Eddie Anderson gives one of my favorite performances of all time as Little Joe. The man’s gift for humor was immense.

You can buy Cabin in the Sky on dvd (Amazon link) on watch it on Prime Video!

Also See: Effortlessly Cool: Behind the Scenes Picture of Eddie Anderson

Jane Powell, Howard Keel, and Russ Tamblyn: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

June 24, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jane Powell and Howard Keel

There are certain stars from old Hollywood and classic television who I “collect,” as in buy and acquire anything and everything I can that pertains to them. Jane Powell is one of these chosen stars – I just adore her. I have since I first saw her MANY years ago in the film she is probably best known for, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Amazon dvd link).

While I love the entire cast, Jane Powell, Julie Newmar, Ruta Lee, and Russ Tamblyn are my stand out favorites.

Speaking of Russ Tamblyn, how in the world is he not a household name?! He was as talented as anyone – whether it was dancing, acting, charisma… he had every bit as much going on for him as anyone and more than many. Okay, rant over, but it is mystifying how some stars were handpicked for lead roles when others weren’t. Russ could have been a delightful mixture of Danny Kaye and Fred Astaire and audiences would have absolutely loved him as a leading man.

I also wonder how in the world Hollywood ever kept from casting Julie Newmar and Ruta Lee in more leading roles too. Again, they would have been more than capable of carrying a movie.

Russ Tamblyn

You can watch this joyful, entertaining, and in all ways delightful musical on Prime Video. If you haven’t seen it in awhile, you’re going to be amazed at just how good it is – I think, as years pass, we tend to forget how excellent many of our favorites really were. Then, when we’re sitting and reliving the magic, we notice the spectacular costumes, flawless choreography and dancing, and joyful songs and humor.

This truly is a spectacular musical and a celebration of movies in general.

Howard Keel, Russ Tamblyn, and Julie Newmar

Les Girls: Mitzi Gaynor, Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall, and Taina Elg

June 12, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Mitzi Gaynor, Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall, and Taina Elg

The fun and colorful Les Girls (1957) was directed by the wonderful George Cukor and stars Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall, and Taina Elg. What’s more, it’s a musical we don’t talk nearly enough about!

The cast was assembled with nothing but pure beauty, topnotch talent and complete joy in mind. It’s a cast that worked sublimely together and leaves you wishing they had been teamed up for more movie magic.

You can watch Les Girls on Prime Video or buy the dvd on Amazon.

Taina Elg, Mitzi Gaynor, Gene Kelly, and Kay Kendall

BOTD, the Legendary, Beautiful, Talented, and ICONIC Judy Garland

June 10, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

In the Good Old Summertime, Van Johnson and Judy Garland

Frances Ethel Gumm was BOTD in 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The adorable little girl would go on to become “Judy Garland,” one of the brightest and most-loved stars of all time.

While Judy’s angelic voice and charismatic stage performances are legendary, I actually think of her primarily as an actress – and an extraordinary one, at that.

While I love all of her films, my personal favorites are In the Good Old Summertime (1949), The Pirate (1948), The Wizard of Oz (1939), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), and Easter Parade (1948).

Judy Garland and Gene Kelly in The Pirate

Judy exuded warmth, charm, humor, and EVER SO much talent in each of her roles. She also had a natural rapport and chemistry with everyone she came near. I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that everyone was sincerely thrilled to be working with her.

Fred Astaire and Judy Garland, Easter Parade

Effortlessly Cool: Eddie Anderson, Behind the Scenes of Cabin in the Sky

May 19, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Eddie Anderson, Behind the Scenes of Cabin in the Sky

This photo of Eddie Anderson is honestly just too, too cool. I’d love it blown up, framed, and hanging on a wall – it’d make any room instantly cooler!

Cabin in the Sky (1943) is, unquestionably, one of my favorite musicals, and not just because it stars my much-loved Lena Horne! It’s a fun, very entertaining film, directed to perfection by Vincente Minnelli. The movie includes stars Eddie Anderson, Ethel Waters, Lena Horne, Rex Ingram, Louis Armstrong, Mantan Moreland (love him!), and Oscar Polk.

You can buy Cabin in the Sky on dvd (Amazon link) on watch it on Prime Video!

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire: The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

April 26, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire

When I see people naming their favorite Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire movie, I always wonder the same thing, “How could you possibly choose just one – or two or even three.. or four?!” I love them ALL so completely that I don’t think I’d ever stand a chance of narrowing my favorites down to 4, let alone one.

Apart, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were effortlessly charming, charismatic, and talented. Together? They were movie MAGIC.

While I love all of their films, including the one depicted in this post (The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, 1939), this particular movie is often cited as fan’s least-liked Rogers and Astaire film. However, not surprisingly, even fans who don’t rate it particularly high still say the same thing, that it’s still very good and most certainly worth watching.

Personally I think the problem some may have with this one is that it’s pretty different from the rest in their filmography. It is different but, in my opinion, this is a good thing. When you watch and re-watch as many of their movies as I do, you kind of appreciate the change of pace.

People can be funny sometimes, can’t they? They’ll say so and so made movies that were “all the same” but when one ventures away from a particular formula, they scream, “Not as good! Go back to what made you popular!”

In The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle, Astaire and Rogers portray Vernon & Irene Castle, renowned ballroom dancers in the years preceding World War I.

This is one of the few I haven’t added to my Ginger Rogers movie collection yet. Looks like I need to skedaddle over to Amazon and take care of that pronto.

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (Amazon link) is available on dvd but doesn’t, unfortunately, appear to be on Prime Video yet. I’ll let you know if that changes.

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire

Jean Hagen: Behind the Scenes Singin’ in the Rain

April 11, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jean Hagen

Jean Hagen is one of those actresses with a lack of popularity I can’t quite figure out. She was so talented, beautiful, and colorful… how can she not be better-known. It can’t be her, personally, because she has no flaw and never comes up short in any performance.

The only thing I can think of as a possible reason is perhaps her roles weren’t “front and center” often enough. She gave strong performances and had some wonderful films – but she was more often than not a supporting player. You know, the type of player a team can’t possibly function without but often falls under the heading of, “I know that face…. what’s the name again???”

I’m working my way through her filmography and I grow to love her more with each and every scene.

The photo here is a behind the scenes picture from Singin’ in the Rain.

You can find Singin’ in the Rain (Amazon link) on dvd – a classic every old Hollywood lover must have in their collection!

Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds: Singin’ in the Rain Promo Pic

March 30, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds

One of the best-loved movies in the history of movies is represented by the pictures here… Singin’ in the Rain. While I love the cast, I used to have a problem with the chemistry between Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. I’ve always loved both stars to distraction (and back) but the lack of chemistry or spark between them always caused me to enjoy the movie a bit less than most people are able to.

While I still don’t think they had much of a spark, I revisited the iconic movie recently and loved it more than I ever have. There’s absolutely enough spark there to make things work!

I think my problem may have been three-fold:

I watch a lot (make that A LOT) of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire movies… as in over and over… and their chemistry was off the charts.
One of my favorite musicals is An American in Paris and Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron had TONS of chemistry.
I frequently watch other Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly films where they have so much rapport with their co-stars – for example, Debbie Reynolds and James Garner sparked so much you could FEEL it (see How Sweet It Is for proof!).

I finally managed to get out of my own way and appreciate this wonderful movie for what it is – a truly iconic, feel-great musical that deserves the fame it enjoys. Sometimes we have to do just that… get out of our own way and allow the magic to come shining through.

When it comes to old Hollywood, it almost always does.

You can find Singin’ in the Rain (Amazon link) on dvd or watch it on Prime Video (link to Amazon’s Prime Video).