Musicals | Hollywood Yesterday

Gene Kelly, Singin’ in the Rain

September 21, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly, along with Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Jean Hagen, and Cyd Charisse (in addition to the rest of the exceptional cast) created one of the most iconic movies of all time with Singin’ in the Rain. It isn’t just an exceptional musical, it’s an exceptional movie and one I can never recommend enough.

While the entire cast is flawless, Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor’s are absolutely in the front seat steering this vehicle. Both stars (in my opinion), along with Jean Hagen, should have won Academy awards. Unfortunately, musicals (as well as comedies) don’t often get the strong consideration other movies do, which kind of makes me nuts – I mean, entertainment is entertainment and excellence should be recognized regardless of the genre.

Besides, I’d like to see any member of the academy act while dancing and singing!

You can buy Singin’ in the Rain on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the iconic musical on Prime Video. Either way, I know you’ll agree with my rant above!

Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse: Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

September 14, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse

Whenever the question is asked on Twitter, “What are your favorite FEEL GOOD movies,” you can always expect to see Singin’ in the Rain (1952, directed by Stanley Donen) mentioned more than any other movie. It’s just THAT darn good and makes you feel THAT darn happy.

Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Jean Hagen, and Cyd Charisse – in addition to the rest of the exceptional cast – work pure movie magic with this musical and it is always the right time to sit down and visit them… whether it’s for the first time or 100th time.

You can buy Singin’ in the Rain on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the iconic musical on Prime Video.

Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse

Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte: Carmen Jones

September 12, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte

One of my favorite movies (with THREE) of my favorite performances is Carmen Jones (1954, directed by Otto Preminger). The excellent performances are by Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, and Olga James (in a small but VERY compelling role). The entire movie is an absolute work of art.

A friend on Twitter once asked me what I thought of this movie and I told them it was as flawless and wonderful as Dorothy Dandridge, herself. The friend said they were going straight home from work and watching it if that was the case!

I have smart friends.

Dandridge and Belafonte (two ridiculously talented and beautiful stars!) give such compelling performances in this film, as does Olga James, who should have been in a LOT more films. If you’ve never seen this incredibly bold and deliciously unique film, I hope you’ll find it and watch it very soon. There truly has never been a movie quite like this one and I’m certain there never will be. I couldn’t love it any more.

You can buy Carmen Jones on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn: My Fair Lady (1964)

September 6, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison

I don’t just love My Fair Lady with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison… I ADORE My Fair Lady with Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison. Every word spoken, every note hit, every thread of every costume, every… oh, you get the idea. I’m completely infatuated with it and with the performance of each star.

The wonderful George Cukor directed this iconic musical. The cast also includes Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Jeremy Brett, and Gladys Cooper.

If it’s been a while since you’ve watched this absolute masterpiece, I hope you’ll revisit it soon. It’s even better than you remember.

You can find My Fair Lady on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video.

Audrey Hepburn, Gorgeous My Fair Lady Promotional Pictures

August 12, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Audrey Hepburn

One of the most delightful movies ever made (musical or otherwise) and two of the finest performances (Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison) involve the same legendary film… My Fair Lady. It’s absolutely remarkable and, in my opinion, seems to get better with each subsequent viewing.

I’ve seen it at least 8 times and love it EVEN more after each revisit.

Audrey Hepburn

You can find My Fair Lady on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video. Either way, it’s a sure fire way to brighten your entire day… possibly even your week!

Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady

Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday, New Orleans (1947)

August 4, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong, New Orleans (1947)

Today is Louis Armstrong day on TCM’s Summer Under the Stars and I am BEYOND excited about the lineup. While New Orleans isn’t on today’s schedule, I just had to post the photo above.

Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong are two of my favorites (I even have a cat named after each of them!).

Louis Armstrong was born on this day in 1901 and the world of music should celebrate this fact every single day.

“I never tried to prove nothing, just wanted to give a good show. My life has always been my music, it’s always come first, but the music ain’t worth nothing if you can’t lay it on the public. The main thing is to live for that audience, ’cause what you’re there for is to please the people.” ~ Louis Armstrong

He continues to do that to this day.

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.