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Old Hollywood: Movies, Actresses, and Actors

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Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marion, The Adventures of Robin Hood (Beautifully ICONIC!)

July 26, 2023 By Joi

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

One of my favorite actresses (since I began watching old movies) has always been the delightful, talented, and beautiful Olivia de Havilland. In fact, one of her most iconic films – The Adventures of Robin Hood – is one of the reasons I fell in love with classic movies in the first place.

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) was directed by  the wonderful Micahel Curtiz. The extraordinary cast includes Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale, Una O’Connor, Melville Cooper, and Ian Hunter.

How’s that for a stunningly talented cast?!?!

If you haven’t seen this perfect movie in a hot minute, I absolutely recommend revisiting it soon – it, somehow, gets better with each viewing.

You can buy the iconic The Adventures of Robin Hood on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Filed Under: Olivia de Havilland, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

The Awful Truth: Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Mary Forbes, and Ralph Bellamy

May 4, 2023 By Joi

Mary Forbes, Irene Dunne, and Cary Grant: The Awful Truth

Mary Forbes, Irene Dunne, and Cary Grant

The Awful Truth is, in my opinion, a perfect comedy. Starring two of old Hollywood’s greatest stars, Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, it also boasts a wonderful director (Leo McCary) and very strong cast to support them.

The stellar cast includes Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Mary Forbes, Ralph Bellamy, Alexander D’Arcy, Esther Dale, and Joyce Compton.

(Continued Below…)

Ralph Bellamy, Cary Grant, and Irene Dunne in The Awful Truth

Ralph Bellamy, Cary Grant, and Irene Dunne 

Cary Grant and Irene Dunne play a married couple who have filed for divorce. However, seems the love isn’t so dead after all as they begin to undermine one another’s chances of finding romance. It’s just a lot of fun and I cannot imagine anyone in the lead roles besides these two comedic geniuses.

You can find The Awful Truth on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the fun and mayhem on Prime Video.


Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, The Awful Truth

Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, The Awful Truth

Filed Under: Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Mary Forbes, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day, Ralph Bellamy Tagged With: Cary Grant, Irene Dunne, Mary Forbes, Ralph Bellamy

Josephine Hull and James Stewart in the Wonderfully FUN Harvey (1950)

April 30, 2023 By Joi

Josephine Hull and James Stewart, Harvey

Josephine Hull and James Stewart, Harvey

Josephine Hull and James Stewart were each nominated for an Emmy for their wonderful performances in Harvey (’50). Unfortunately Stewart lost to Jose Ferrer (Cyrano de Bergerac), but Hull deservedly won Best Actress, Supporting Role.

When she won, she even thanked Harvey!

Josephine Hull was always such a complete JOY to watch – Arsenic and Old Lace, Harvey, or The Lady from Texas. Problem is, that’s (literally) nearly all the films she made. She had a long, wonderful career on Broadway before making her first film and I know I’m not the only one who realizes that Broadway’s gain was Hollywood’s loss. The lady was MAGIC and I downright kind of grieve for all the movies she could have made had Hollywood been paying attention.

You can find Harvey on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the very entertaining film on Prime Video.

Harvey Lobby Card

Harvey Lobby Card

Filed Under: James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Harvey 1950, James Stewart, Josephine Hull

Rio Bravo (1959): One of the Best Westerns Ever Made….

April 17, 2023 By Joi

John Russell, John Wayne, Walter Brennan, Angie Dickinson, and Dean Martin on the set of Rio Bravo (1959)
On the Set of Rio Bravo

Pictured Above: John Russell, John Wayne, Walter Brennan, Angie Dickinson, and Dean Martin on the set of Rio Bravo (1959)

Rio Bravo (1959, directed by Howard Hawks) airs on TCM tonight. We have at least one copy of the film on dvd and we’ve seen it twice a year (sometimes more than that) every year for as long as I can remember… but you’d better believe the dvr is set nonetheless!

My love for this Western is legendary. Westerns and Comedies are my favorite film genres and this perfect movie more or less combines the two – a great Western with a great deal of humor.

The director, Howard Hawks is one of my favorite directors of all time and was the PERFECT man for the job with Rio Bravo.

The extraordinary cast includes John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Ricky Nelson, John Russell, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, and Claude Akins. After making The Searchers (1956), John Wayne took a brief hiatus from Westerns – Rio Bravo marked his triumphant return to the genre.

Sigh. I’m feeling dizzy from excitement just thinking about this movie.

You can find Rio Bravo on dvd (Amazon link), watch it on Prime Video, and/or catch it tonight on TCM!


Filed Under: Angie Dickinson, Dean Martin, John Russell, John Wayne, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day, Westerns Tagged With: Angie Dickinson, Dean Martin, John Russell, John Wayne, Walter Brennan, Westerns

City for Conquest: Absolute Movie Magic Packed with Outstanding Performances

April 16, 2023 By Joi

Anthony Quinn, Ann Sheridan, and James Cagney in City for Conquest

Anthony Quinn, Ann Sheridan, and James Cagney in City for Conquest

City for Conquest (1940) doesn’t just have one of my favorite Ann Sheridan performances… it has one of my favorite James Cagney performances AND one of my favorite Anthony Quinn performances. The film is honestly breathtaking in its magic. BRILLIANTLY directed by Anatole Litvak, the cast also includes Arthur Kennedy, George Tobias, Elia Kazan, Joyce Compton (love her to the moon and back), Donald Crisp, and Frank McHugh.

It’s safe to say that the film is just loaded with talent!

If you’re a James Cagney fan and have yet to see this film, you now know the next film you desperately need to see.

If you think you aren’t a James Cagney fan, you now know the next film you desperately need to see.

You can find the excellent City for Conquest (Amazon link) on dvd or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Filed Under: Anthony Quinn, James Cagney, Movie Reviews, Perfect Movies Tagged With: Ann Sheridan, Anthony Quinn, James Cagney

Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden: Promotional Pictures for Sabrina (1954)

February 21, 2023 By Joi

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn

One of my all-time favorite movies is the wonderful 1954 romantic comedy/drama Sabrina, directed by Billy Wilder. The work of perfection stars Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, William Holden, John Williams, Walter Hampden, and Martha Hyer.

Anyone who knows me knows how persnickety I am about movie endings – not only do I insist on happy endings, I very, very, very much insist that they end the way I personally want them to! We only children have too many quirks to get into right now, so we’ll save that for another day. Anyway, this fixation on endings popped up about halfway through my first viewing of this extraordinary movie – I told my cats, “If this doesn’t end the way I want it to… and if she doesn’t end up with who I want her to, it will he catastrophic!”

I can be pretty dramatic… harkens back to those quirks we just spoke of.

Thankfully, the movie ended PRECISELY as I wanted… catastrophic drama averted!

Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden - promotional picture for Sabrina (1954)

You can order the 1954 film Sabrina on dvd (Amazon link) or enjoy it on Prime Video.


Filed Under: Audrey Hepburn, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Sabrina 1954, William Holden

Gorgeous Olivia de Havilland Promotional Pictures for The Adventures of Robin Hood

February 6, 2023 By Joi

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marion

I recently raved about the wonderful film The Adventures of Robin Hood, so I’ll keep it short and sweet today… with the focus entirely on the radiantly beautiful, sublime, and otherworldly talented Olivia de Havilland. When we think of actresses in iconic roles (roles in which they make the character larger than life with their performance), we often think of..

  • Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz
  • Joan Crawford, Mildred Pierce
  • Bette Davis, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane
  • Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady
  • Maureen O’Hara, The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • Faye Dunaway, Bonnie and Clyde
  • Dorothy Dandridge, Carmen Jones (she should have won the Emmy)
  • Barbara Stanwyck, Double Indemnity
  • Vivien Leigh, Gone with the Wind

… and (deservedly) Olivia de Havilland is often mentioned by film lovers for her performance in Gone with the Wind. I have zero problem with that – I simply think she deserves to ALSO be mentioned for her lovely performance in The Adventures of Robin Hood as well. Frankly, I don’t think the movie would work nearly as well with a different actress in the role – she was, in all ways, perfect for the role of Maid Marion and I don’t think another actress has even come close.

Okay, the Disney version’s Maid Marion rivaled her.. but other than that animated fox, no one else can touch her!

You can buy the iconic The Adventures of Robin Hood on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.


Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

Filed Under: Olivia de Havilland, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Olivia de Havilland, The Adventures of Robin Hood

Perfect Cast, Perfect Script, Perfect Director, Perfect Movie… The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

January 23, 2023 By Joi

The Adventures of Robin Hood Cast

Melville Cooper, Basil Rathbone, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, and Errol Flynn

Can we talk about one of the best movies ever made for a minute? The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) wasn’t just directed by one of the best directors to ever wear the title – the wonderful Micahel Curtiz – it also features the type of stellar cast that most films would envy – a cast that includes Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale, Una O’Connor, Melville Cooper, and Ian Hunter.

(Continued Below…)

Errol Flynn and Eugene Pallette in The Adventures of Robin Hood

Errol Flynn and Eugene Pallette

This is one of those films that, somehow, seems to be even more enjoyable each time you watch it. I always notice a new expression on one of the star’s faces or a great line that had never quite registered, a piece of background furniture or something delicious that had escaped me the MANY times I’d visited the film before.

In fact, if I’m not mistaken… and in this case I am absolutely not mistaken… I’ll be revisiting this extraordinary film again this week.

You can buy the iconic The Adventures of Robin Hood on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.


Errol Flynn, Patric Knowles, Herbert Mundin

Patric Knowles, Herbert Mundin, and Errol Flynn

Filed Under: Basil Rathbone, Errol Flynn, Eugene Pallette, Herbert Mundin, Patric Knowles, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Errol Flynn, Eugene Pallette, Herbert Mundin, Melville Cooper, Olivia de Havilland, Patric Knowles

Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, and Ronald Reagan: Publicity Photo for King’s Row

December 27, 2022 By Joi

Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, and Ronald Reagan: Publicity Photo for King's Row
Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, and Ronald Reagan

King’s Row is a film I don’t talk nearly enough about and, given how much I love Ann Sheridan, it’s shocking that I don’t! I’m also a huge fan of Ronald Reagan’s – I find his presence in films to be very agreeable and downright comforting. He always draws me in and makes me care very much about the character he portrays.

I love the chemistry he and Ann shared as well – as evidenced in both this one and Juke Girl (1942).

The wonderful cast of King’s Row also includes Robert Cummings, Claude Rains,  Charles Coburn,  Nancy Coleman, Betty Field, Judith Anderson, and Maria Ouspenskaya.

Maria Ouspenskaya is another star who is always welcome in my den. Love her!

You can find King’s Row on dvd or Blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video.


Filed Under: Ann Sheridan, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day, Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan Tagged With: Ann Sheridan, King's Row, Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan

It’s a Wonderful Life: James Stewart and Donna Reed Publicity Still

December 8, 2022 By Joi

James Stewart and Donna Reed, It's a Wonderful LifeJames Stewart and Donna Reed, It’s a Wonderful Life

Am I posting an absolute storm of It’s a Wonderful Life posts on Hollywood Yesterday?

I am absolutely posting an absolute storm of It’s a Wonderful Life posts on Hollywood Yesterday!

Will I be slowing down anytime soon?

Highly doubtful! Not until December 26th anyway and I can’t promise not to have a Christmas 2022 sendoff with a photo or two then.

What can I say, I am absolutely infatuated with everything about this movie… I have been for over half my life. Truth be told, I believe I fall more and more in love with it each year.

You can buy It’s a Wonderful Life on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the magic on Prime Video.


Filed Under: Donna Reed, It's a Wonderful Life, James Stewart, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day Tagged With: Donna Reed, It's a Wonderful Life, James Stewart

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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

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Recent Posts

  • Ann Sheridan and George Raft, They Drive by Night
  • Stunning Ann Sheridan Canvas Poster on Amazon… Perfect Gift Idea (for Them or YOU!)
  • The Wonderful Ethel Barrymore was BOTD in 1879
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  • Arlene Dahl and Red Skelton, A Southern Yankee (1948)
  • Lena Horne, Redd Foxx, and Demond Wilson: One of Sanford and Son’s Best Episodes…
  • Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, The Misfits (1961)
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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”)

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