Quotes from the Stars of Old Hollywood

Rita Hayworth: Beautiful Picture and a Fun Quote

May 17, 2022 By Joi

Rita Hayworth

“After all, a girl is . . . well, a girl. It’s nice to be told you’re successful at it.” ~ Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth has been one of my favorite actresses since I saw her in You Were Never Lovelier on tv as a teenager. She’s one of the first stars (along with other top tier favorites Maureen O’Hara, Lucille Ball, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, and John Wayne) that caused me to fall so completely under old Hollywood’s spell.

Over the years since my teens (I’m in my fabulous 50s, so it’s been a hot minute!), Maureen, Lucille, James, the Duke, Henry, and Rita have remained at the top of my favorites. None of them have, in any way, fallen off. Other favorites have joined them, mind you, as I’ve seen more films – but, whereas many people refer to stars who “used to be” favorites but no longer are, these first favorites are still among my dearest favorites.

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

May 17, 2022 By Joi

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

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

Arabian Nights

Cyd Charisse Publicity Pictures for Sombrero (1953)

May 3, 2022 By Joi

Cyd Charisse

Beautiful Cyd Charisse was an absolute artist when it came to dancing and watching her is a great joy. She loved dancing more than she did acting, which is understandable. Great artists love what they do!

“If I had to give up either acting or dancing, I’d choose to keep dancing.” ~ Cyd Charisse

(Continued Below….)

Cyd Charisse

The stunning photographs in this post are publicity photos for her 1953 film Sombrero. The Musical Romance was directed by Norman Foster and also stars Ricardo Montalban, Pier Angeli, Vittorio Gassman, Yvonne De Carlo, Rick Jason, and Nina Foch.

You can find Sombrero on dvd (Amazon link).

Cyd Charisse

Johnny Cash, Born on this Day in 1932: A Few of My Favorite Johnny Cash Quotes

February 26, 2022 By Joi

Johnny Cash and Karen Black

Johnny Cash was BOTD in 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas. His 1st single for Sun Records was Hey Porter in 1955. After that… it was one hit after another, movies, a television show, sold out shows, unforgettable performances, and one of the world’s greatest real life love stories.

“How well I have learned that there is no fence to sit on between heaven and hell. There is a deep, wide gulf, a chasm, and in that chasm is no place for any man.” ~ Johnny Cash

The lobby cards in this post are from the 1971 western Johnny Cash made with Kirk Douglas and Karen Black, A Gunfight (directed by Lamont Jackson). The movie is VERY rarely shown on television and can be a nightmare to find anywhere. I haven’t added it to our home Westerns dvd collection yet, but plan to soon.

Johnny Cash and Kirk Douglas

“I am not a Christian artist, I am an artist who is a Christian.” ~ Johnny Cash

You can buy A Gunfight on DVD (Amazon link). It doesn’t appear to be on Prime Video yet.

Johnny Cash

Wonderful Ethel Barrymore Quote…

February 12, 2022 By Joi

Ethel Barrymore

“You must learn day by day, year by year, to broaden your horizons. The more things you love, the more you are interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant about… the more you have left when anything happens.” ~ Ethel Barrymore

What an amazing quote… great quote from a great lady!

Ethel Barrymore Print (Amazon link)

Beautiful Quote by Claudette Colbert (Plus a Few Beautiful Publicity Photos from Tonight is Ours)

November 15, 2021 By Joi

Claudette Colbert, Tonight is Ours (1933)

I love everything about the wonderful Claudette Colbert – from her films to her wonderful quotes. The one below is one of my favorites. The more you read about this amazing actress, the more you find to love about her!

“To be celebrated is nothing. To be loved is everything.” ~ Claudette Colbert

This publicity photo of Claudette Colbert is from Tonight is Ours (1933, directed by Stuart Walker). The movie co-stars Fredric March, Alison Skipworth, and Arthur Byron. Unfortunately it’s as impossible to catch on television as it is to find on dvd!

Wonderful Ethel Waters Quote… Love Her So Much!

October 27, 2021 By Joi

Ethel Waters, Cabin in the Sky

“I can get angry and curse a little. I don’t take the Lord’s name in vain, don’t get that idea. But I have a vocabulary without the Lord’s name that could raise the roof. You understand what I’m saying, sugar?” ~ Ethel Waters

I was already a huge fan of the wonderful Ethel Waters but, after reading this quote a while back, I became probably her biggest fan in all the world. What a colorful, amazing woman she was!

Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck in Arabesque (1966)

October 25, 2021 By Joi

Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck

Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck co-starred in the wonderful 1966 action-adventure Arabesque, directed by Stanley Donen.

Sophia Loren said of Gregory Peck, “One of the most charming men I’ve ever met.” As a Gregory Peck fan, I always love reading positive things his co-stars said about him.. fortunately they only had wonderful things to say about him.

Sophia Loren and Gregory Peck

It would appear he was a wonderful person and treated everyone with great respect!

You can find Arabesque on dvd (Amazon link).

Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren in Arabesque (1966)

Susan and God: I LOVE This Fredric March Quote About Joan Crawford!

September 2, 2021 By Joi

Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth, John Carroll

Not only do I absolutely ADORE Joan Crawford movies (the movies are almost always extraordinary and she always is), I’m also infatuated with the star quality this lady had. She didn’t just accept being a star, she embraced it. She, for me, defines being a star, so I really love when I read things (like the quote below) that reaffirm my suspicions:

“She was a nice person, but a real movie star. She even brought her own music to the set [of Susan and God (1940)]–a whole entourage, a violinist and a pianist to play her favorite songs, to get her into the proper mood for the scenes.” ~ Fredric March

Some people read things like this and decide they like an actor or actress a “little less” because of it. Not me! I read that Joan Crawford brought in live musicians to set her mood and I fall even further under her spell.

Fredric March co-starred with Joan Crawford in the 1940 comedy-drama Susan and God. The movie also starred Rita Hayworth, Ruth Hussey, Nigel Bruce, John Carroll, Bruce Cabot, Rita Quigley, and Rose Hobart. After reading Fredric March’s quote, I’m eager to watch the movie all over again!

You can find Susan and God on dvd (Amazon link).

BOTD in 1903, The Larger than Life Errol Flynn

June 20, 2021 By Joi

Errol Flynn, San Antonio (1945)

One of the greatest, most colorful, and certainly most popular actors of all time, Errol Flynn was BORD in 1909 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. He often reminds me of another wonderful actor (who also died far too soon), Heath Ledger. The fact that they were both born in Australia is pretty ironic.

One of the things that fascinates me most about Flynn was his ability to (very believably) transition from role to role – oftentimes very different roles! He was just as believable as a swashbuckler as he was a cowboy and just as believable as Don Juan as he was Robin Hood.

“If I have any genius it is a genius for living.” ~ Errol Flynn

Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn, Dodge City

Errol Flynn is oftentimes a bit of a controversial figure among old Hollywood enthusiasts and film historians. I always hate when anyone devotes time and effort to trying to “knock down” a star who is no longer with us. They contributed to the old Hollywood that we know and love so much – why is it so hard for some people to focus on the positives and leave the negatives in the background… where, of course, they’d prefer their own faults and shortcomings to remain.

I literally encountered a woman once who (after every positive word I said about Errol Flynn), countered with a negative word. I finally just dropped the subject and asked who her favorite was. She said his name, and while I won’t mention it here out of respect to the actor, he had done everything she had just accused Errol Flynn of! When I gently pointed this out, she laughed and said, “Oh I try not to think about any of that!”

Ummm… okay? I am perfectly fine with that. Just extend the same courtesy to everyone else!

Errol Flynn lived life on his own terms, was spoken highly of by his co-stars, and was seemingly adored by his leading ladies. He left us with larger than life performances – none greater than the one of Errol Flynn, himself.

Concluded Below…