Picture of the Day | Hollywood Yesterday

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

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.

A Great Katharine Hepburn Quote That (Like Her) Doesn’t Hold Back!

May 15, 2023 By Joi

Katharine Hepburn, The Philadelphia Story

“I’m a personality as well as an actress. Show me an actress who isn’t a personality, and you’ll show me a woman who isn’t a star.” ~ Katharine Hepburn

I know there are almost always exceptions to every rule, but I completely understand what she was saying… what’s more, I completely agree with her! Obviously, she isn’t saying that an actress (or actor, as well, for that matter) can’t be incredibly gifted or talented if they aren’t a “personality,” she’s simply saying they aren’t a STAR, all caps.

In fact, the ones best-remembered and celebrated to this day?? They’re almost always the ones who were personalities.

Gary Cooper and Joan Leslie, Sergeant York (1941)

May 10, 2023 By Joi

Gary Cooper and Joan Leslie, Sergeant York

Gary Cooper and Joan Leslie, Sergeant York (1941, directed by Howard Hawks). Gary Cooper, deservedly, won an Oscar for his performance… one of his best IMO. The movie, itself, along with Howard Hawks and co-stars Walter Brennan, and Margaret Wycherly were also nominated for Oscars.

One of the things that always impresses me most about this film (aside from the excellent acting and directing) is the fact that lovely Joan Leslie was only 16 years old at the time. She plays the role so flawlessly, it’s difficult to believe she was so young!

Joan Leslie

You can find the timelessly wonderful Sergeant York on dvd (Amazon link below) If you’ve never seen this one, I hope you’ll check it out very soon. Gary Cooper gives a beautiful performance.

Gary Cooper and Joan Leslie, Sergeant York

Joan Fontaine in One of Her Finest Roles, Born to Be Bad (1950)

May 8, 2023 By Joi

Joan Fontaine, Born to Be Bad

Joan Fontaine is an actress who never lets me down… I love her in everything. Anytime I revisit one of her films, I’m struck by just how wonderful she was. Never overplays her hand, never phones it in (even in the smaller, seemingly trivial scenes in a film, she’s always completely in the moment).

She’s particularly mesmerizing in the role of Christabel in Born to Be Bad. In fact, I’m uncommonly familiar with most actresses of Joan’s time and can’t think of another who would have done this role as much justice as she did. The way she effortlessly flips a switch from saint to sinner with her eyes, alone, fascinates me. Many stars seemed to think you had to go BIG in moments like this, but Joan Fontaine proved that subtlety often comes across as much more genuine and believable.

I’m rambling, here, but it’s sometimes difficult to describe a star’s magic – you simply have to experience it for yourself.

Born to Be Bad (1950) was directed by the wonderful Nicholas Ray. Joan’s co-stars include Robert Ryan, Zachary Scott, Joan Leslie, and Mel Ferrer.

Joan Fontaine’s character Christabel is a conniving wolf in sheep’s clothing. She uses everyone around her for her own selfish gain and it is deliciously entertaining to watch. It’s honestly almost (almost) impossible to hate her because she’s so good at being so bad. The facial expressions, body movements, things she does with her voice… it’s all, as I said earlier, mesmerizing.

You can find Born to Be Bad on dvd (Amazon link) or watch Joan’s magic on Prime Video!

Juliet Mills, Maureen O’Hara, and James Stewart Behind the Scenes of The Rare Breed

May 6, 2023 By Joi

Juliet Mills, Maureen O’Hara, and James Stewart

The Rare Breed is one of those films that delightfully caught me off guard. Not because I enjoyed it (I fully expected to) but more by WHY I thoroughly enjoyed it. You see, Maureen O’Hara and James Stewart have been in my Top 4 favorite stars since I was a little girl. They’re two of the reasons I fell in love with old movies in the first place. So, naturally, when the film began, I expected to be caught up in their magic and that the movie would be a joy to watch.

Imagine my surprise when the TRUE magic in the movie came from Juliet Mills and Brian Keith! Not that my much loved Maureen O’Hara and James Stewart weren’t wonderful – I mean, come on, of course they were! However, make no mistake about it, Juliet Mills and Brian Keith are the reason this movie works – they’re lovable, entertaining and in all ways brilliant in this one.

Brian Keith is nearly unrecognizable in the role but he absolutely steals every scene he’s in… and some he ISN’T in!

You can find The Rare Breed on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Maureen O’Hara, Brian Keith, and James Stewart.. Yes, Brian Keith!

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 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

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

Rita Hayworth and Carol Burnett, The Carol Burnett Show (1971)

April 30, 2023 By Joi

Rita Hayworth and Carol Burnett, The Carol Burnett Show

Two of my favorite redheads are shown here and they couldn’t be more adorable if they had to. Rita Hayworth was a guest star on the wonderful The Carol Burnett Show in 1971 and I’m not sure I’ll ever recover from seeing one of the most glamorous actress the world has ever known, looking so… well… human!

So she really WASN’T an angel sent down from Heaven.. who knew??

You can find the complete series (or buy seasons individually) of The Carol Burnett Show on dvd or watch on Prime Video. (Amazon link)

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 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

Maureen O’Hara and Paul Henreid Make The Spanish Main An Extraordinary Swashbuckler

April 28, 2023 By Joi

Maureen O’Hara and Paul Henreid, The Spanish Main

I absolutely love swashbucklers – they’re pure fun and great escapism from the real world when it tends to act up. I’ve always thought they should have their own category, rather than simply lumped with all fantasy movies or all action movies. I also think more should be made today!

Having said that, I’m certain they could never rival the truly great swashbucklers from old Hollywood. These classics were colorful, deliciously over the top, and in many ways like westerns on the high seas… simply with more pageantry and swords instead of rifles.

One of my absolute favorite swashbucklers is The Spanish Main (1945), Directed by Frank Borzage, the colorful movie stars Paul Henreid, Maureen O’Hara, Binnie Barnes, and Walter Slezak (always so entertaining!). The only knock (and honestly it isn’t even a knock) I have with this film is I truly wish Binnie Barnes had been in it more. She really was extraordinary.

When I first sat down to watch The Spanish Main, I was so excited to see Paul Henreid in the role of a swashbuckling hero. I had, at the time, only known (and love) him from Now, Voyager, Casablanca, and Between Two Worlds. I knew him as a wonderful leading man but, somehow, couldn’t envision him as a pirate! I was very anxious to see how he’d pull it off. I should have known that he would have done it with style and, what’s more, make it seem effortless in the process.

He truly was one of the most gifted actors ever and one of the few who never gave less than a perfect performance.

As for Maureen O’Hara, if you know me at all you know she’s one of my top favorite actresses – I’m basically as associated with her as Popeye is with spinach – so I fully knew what to expect from Maureen. After all, I’d seen all of her other swashbucklers and knew full well she was the best thing to every happen to the genre (in my opinion anyway).

You can find The Spanish Main on dvd (Amazon link) or watch Paul Henreid and Maureen O’Hara work their magic on Prime Video!

Maureen O’Hara and Paul Henreid, The Spanish Main

Happy Birthday to the Extraordinary Carol Burnett!

April 26, 2023 By Joi

Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball

The adorable picture above shows two of my favorites doing what they do/did best… making people smile. Such extraordinary women and very close friends in real life as well.

Carol Burnett’s birthday is today and I can think of no better way to honor her than a photo with a friend that meant so much to her.

She was born on April 26, 1933 in San Antonio, Texas and television and its fans are all the richer for it. It’s amazing to me just how timeless The Carol Burnett Show is, even today. The music, opening monologue, skits, and humor ring as wonderful today as they did then and so much of that is because of the wonderful redhead we’re celebrating today.

Happiest of birthdays, Carol Burnett, and thanks for all of the wonderful fun and laughter!

You can find the complete series (or buy seasons individually) of The Carol Burnett Show on dvd or watch on Prime Video. (Amazon link)