Perfect Movies | Hollywood Yesterday

Agnes Moorehead and Joseph Cotten behind the scenes of Citizen Kane

October 24, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Agnes Moorehead, Joseph Cotten, and Eddie Donahoe

I love the picture of Agnes Moorehead, Joseph Cotten, and Eddie Donahoe above. The photo was taken behind the scenes of the wonderful and iconic 1941 film Citizen Kane (directed by Orson Welles). I love the happy, radiant beauty of Agnes Moorehead the mischievous expression of the always entertaining Joseph Cotten.

Kind of looks like he’s up to something!

You can find the Citizen Kane: 75th Anniversary dvd (Amazon link) online. I’m honestly surprised it isn’t available on Prime Video. If it ever becomes available, I’ll come add the link to the post!

Bela Lugosi and Helen Chandler, Dracula (1931)

October 12, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Bela Lugosi and Helen Chandler, Dracula (1931)

One of my favorite old horror movies is undoubtedly Dracula (1931). Everything about this movie is just deliciously old horror school greatness. Many today wouldn’t even categorize this one as horror compared to the ones they’ve grown up on but can you imagine how scary this was when it was released?! There’s no doubt in my mind Bela’s Dracula starred in a LOT of nightmares. Of all the old Hollywood monsters, Dracula is easily the scariest in my opinion.

You simply CANNOT trust him OR his dentally magnificent smile!

This was actually the first film I ever saw Helen Chandler in (when watching this in the 70s as a child) and I have loved her since. Beautiful face and loads of talent and onscreen charm.

You can buy the iconic 1931 film Dracula on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Bela Lugosi and Helen Chandler, Dracula

Helen Chandler and Bela Lugosi, Dracula (Girl.. RUN!)

October 10, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Bela Lugosi and Helen Chandler, Dracula

I remember the first time I saw Dracula (1931)… even as a child I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how anyone didn’t know Bela Lugosi was bad news the minute they saw him! Seriously… how could they not run as far and as fast as they could in the opposite direction the minute they laid eyes on him.

I’m pretty sure I would have outrun a cheetah to get away from his creepy vibes.

Then again, it wouldn’t have made much of a movie, would it?

I read something unusual a little while back. Apparently Bette Davis was considered for the role of Mina but someone “up the line” didn’t think she had enough sex appeal. Really? When the role dictated, she oozed it! Think “In This Our Life,” “Jezebel,” and “The Star” just to name a few.

I mean, her career did okay without this role but I thought the reasoning was preposterous.

You can buy the iconic 1931 film Dracula on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Sorry but the Bette Davis fan in me feels compelled to add a particular photo to the post… It’s like she’s telling Mr. Up the Line, “Boy, please.”

Bette Davis, Jezebel

Bela Lugosi, Behind the Scenes of Dracula (1931)

October 7, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Bela Lugosi

I apologize that the photo of the great Bela Lugosi behind the scenes of Dracula isn’t a better quality. It’s something we run into a lot when dealing with old Hollywood, though, isn’t it?! You can certainly still appreciate the picture and actor.

The thing that comes across most (for me) about this picture is how you can tell that Bela truly embraced this role and opportunity. Sadly, it would later serve to limit the roles he got, but I honestly believe he was very excited about the role before and during filming. There was just something in his approach and photos of him (promotional and behind the scenes).

Bela Lugosi, Dracula 1931

You can buy the iconic 1931 film Dracula on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Dracula (1931) Promotional Picture: LOVE THIS!

October 3, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Cast of Dracula (1931)

Love this Dracula (1931) Promo Shot! The stars are Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye, David Manners, and Edward Van Sloan (five of the reasons this iconic movie is as wonderful as it is).

You can buy the iconic 1931 film Dracula on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Edward Van Sloan, David Manners, Helen Chandler, and Bela Lugosi

Jean Harlow, Mary Astor, and Clark Gable, Red Dust (1932)

September 26, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Jean Harlow and Clark Gable

One of my favorite films is the 1932 drama Red Dust, directed by Victor Fleming. Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, and Mary Astor are absolutely wonderful in this movie and the charisma between the three of them is what you could only call magic.

The story was retold in the 1953 film and I’ll just say this… personally, they should have never tried to retell it. Even though Clark Gable, Grace Kelly, and especially Ava Gardner are wonderful in it, the magic simply wasn’t there – through absolutely no fault of the stars or the legendary director John Ford. Magic either exists or it doesn’t – you can’t make it and you certainly can’t fake it.

You can find the magic of Red Dust on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Jean Harlow and Mary Astor

James Stewart and Claude Rains: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

September 24, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Claude Rains and James Stewart

If you know anything at all about me, you know James Stewart is one of my absolute favorite actors. As far as I’m concerned, the actor could do no wrong when he stepped in front of the camera.

One of my favorite James Stewart films (and, trust me, I love them all… even The Rare Breed) is Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The magical thing about this film is that he was surrounded by a cast that was as outstanding as he was! When you take an excellent script, cast stars like James Stewart, Claude Rains, Thomas Mitchell, and Jean Arthur AND put a director like Frank Capra at the helms, something special is sure to happen and… holy cats… did it ever?!

James Stewart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

James Stewart doesn’t just give one of his best performances in this film, he gives one of the all-time best performances in ANY film. If you’ve never seen this one before, I hope you’ll find it right away and enjoy every drop of magic this one holds.

You can find Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on DVD (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

James Stewart, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

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

Claire Trevor in Key Largo… One of the All-Time GREAT Performances

September 20, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Claire Trevor, Key Largo

I love it when a perfect movie meets a perfect performance, don’t you?! One such movie and performance is Key Largo with the wonderful Claire Trevor. Her portrayal of Gaye Dawn is absolutely breathtaking. In the scene where she’s forced to sing…. I mean, it’s nothing short of movie magic.

Claire Trevor VERY deservedly won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar for her portrayal.

The movie is filled with outstanding performances – how could it not be with a cast that also included Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson, and Lionel Barrymore? And yet, as far as I’m concerned, Claire Trevor managed to stand out.

That tends to happen when you give a completely mesmerizing performance!

I also want to mention the generosity of her co-stars. Each time I watch this film (well over 20 times by now), I’m struck by the “room” given to Trevor by her co-stars. You can tell they knew something truly special was happening and not one tried to take the spotlight from her. So much professionalism!

Humphrey Bogart, Claire Trevor, and Lauren Bacall

You can find the brilliance that is Key Largo on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Angie Dickinson and John Wayne (Love this Rio Bravo Publicity Photo!)

September 14, 2021 By Joi Leave a Comment

Angie Dickinson and John Wayne, Rio Bravo

John Wayne deliberately stepped away from westerns after The Searchers (1956) and made The Wings of Eagles, Jet Pilot, Legend of the Lost, I Married a Woman, and The Barbarian and the Geisha (a movie we John Wayne fans pretend doesn’t exist!). None of these films were as successful as his westerns – although several were quite good. Rio Bravo marked his triumphant return to westerns.

You can find Rio Bravo on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.