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You are here: Home / Archives for Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake, Behind the Scenes of This Gun for Hire (1942)

July 14, 2022 By Joi

Veronica Lake on the Set of This Gun for Hire

Veronica Lake on the Set of This Gun for Hire

This Gun for Hire (1942) was directed by Frank Tuttle and features an outstanding cast which includes Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd, Laird Cregar, and Robert Preston. The film-noir was the first to pair Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd and we can suffice to say, they struck gold with the casting!

You can find the classic film-noir This Gun for Hire on dvd and blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Filed Under: Behind the Scenes Pictures, Film Noir, Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: Behind the Scenes pictures, Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire (1942)

July 12, 2022 By Joi

Veronica Lake Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire

Veronica Lake Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire

Every now and then I get SO frustrated with myself for not talking more about certain stars from old Hollywood – stars I actually adore, but somehow simply don’t spend nearly enough time doing my part to keep their name and films shining bright and making noise.

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd are two such stars. I love their films to distraction and am a very big fan of both of them. If we’re being completely and totally honest, however, I think I actually know why I don’t talk about them more and, while, I SEE the reason…. I don’t APPROVE of the reason.

Simply put… they break my heart. Each star had so much going for them – they were beautiful and had a world of talent. Each was versatile and could do any genre thrown their way. However, neither had what could remotely be called a happy life and both stars turned to alcohol for their therapist.

Obviously, drinking is a complete failure when it comes to therapy and both stars died at the age of 50.

Devastatingly sad. To make matters worse, Veronica battled a mental illness that couldn’t possibly be understood or treated at the time. She was considered by some to be “difficult,” when in reality, she was battling demons the others wouldn’t recognize.

I’ve spent a great deal of time looking into both of their lives, looking for rays of sunshine – time or times when they were happy. A friendship/relationship Alan Ladd shared with June Allyson seems to have given him happiness while it lasted and both stars seemed to enjoy working together. I also love the fact that they were successful in their careers (especially during the 40s) and knew how many fans adored them.

I also feel like these two wonderful (and so very likable) stars would be talked more about and would become better-known if their films were televised more often. It seems that they simply aren’t shown as often as other stars and that’s a real shame.
The pictures shown here are from the 1942 film-noir This Gun for Hire (directed by Frank Tuttle). It was the first film Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd made together and turns up on a lot of “favorite film-noir” lists. Their chemistry was palpable and they would go on to make more movie magic together.

Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake made seven movies together, all in the Forties:

This Gun for Hire (1942)

The Glass Key (1942)

The Blue Dahlia (1946)

Saigon (1947)

Star-Spangled Rhythm (1942)

Duffy’s Tavern (1945)

Variety Girl (1947)

You can find the classic film-noir This Gun for Hire on dvd and blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd, This Gun for Hire

Filed Under: Alan Ladd, Film Noir, Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: Alan Ladd, Film-Noir, Veronica Lake

Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake, On the Set of This Gun for Hire

April 12, 2022 By Joi

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd on the Set of This Gun for Hire

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd on the Set of This Gun for Hire

Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd are pictured, here, while filming their 1942 film-noir This Gun for Hire (directed by Frank Tuttle). This was the first film the stars made together and is considered by many to be their best.

In addition to thier natural chemistry, something else that made their pairing so ideal was their heights. At 5′ 1¾” Veronica Lake was towered over by other leading men. Alan Ladd, on the other hand, at 5′ 6¼” would look eye to eye (or even UP to) many actresses. But… together, they were perfection.

You can find the classic film-noir This Gun for Hire on dvd and blu-ray (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Filed Under: Alan Ladd, Behind the Scenes Pictures, Film Noir, Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: Alan Ladd, Behind the Scenes pictures, Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake, I Married a Witch Promotional Pictures (Love These!)

September 10, 2021 By Joi

Veronica Lake, I Married a Witch Promotional Picture

Veronica Lake, I Married a Witch

I Married a Witch (1942) was superbly directed by René Clair and boasts a wonderful cast including Veronica Lake, Fredric March, Robert Benchley, Susan Hayward, and Cecil Kellaway. I watch this adorable movie twice a year – once in September and once in October. It helps get me in the mood for the mischief and fun of Halloween!

You can find I Married a Witch on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Veronica Lake, I Married a Witch Promotional Picture

Veronica Lake, I Married a Witch

Filed Under: Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: Halloween movies, I Married a Witch, Veronica Lake, Veronica Lake pictures

Veronica Lake and the Start of Halloween Season in My World!

September 1, 2021 By Joi

Veronica Lake, I Married a Witch Promotional Picture

Veronica Lake: I Married a Witch Promotional Photo

In my home, Halloween season starts September 1 each and every year. It’s such a colorful, full on FUN time of year, why settle for just one month when you can start at the beginning of September and make it a two month celebration?!  So, yes, you can expect to see a lot of ghosts, goblins, monsters, and witches on the old Hollywood blog in the coming weeks.

The beautiful Veronica Lake stars in one of my favorite Halloween-time movies… I Married a Witch. It’s one of the cutest movies you could ever hope to see and she and Frederic March are perfect in their roles.

You can find I Married a Witch on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this movie – it’s like Halloween…  just so much FUN!

Filed Under: Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: Veronica Lake, Veronica Lake Picture

Fredric March: BOTD in 1897

August 31, 2021 By Joi

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Promo Shot

Fredric March: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)

Fredric March was born in Wisconsin on August 31, 1897. He’d go on to one day be one of the finest actors to come out of Hollywood. The actor has a wonderful filmography and give an excellent performance with every role he ever stepped into. If my arm were twisted and I had to give my personal favorite of his films it would be I Married a Witch and it ties (with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) for my favorite Frederic March performance.

Having said that, he has a great number of wonderful performances and films.

Fredric March and Veronica Lake

Fredric March and Veronica Lake

For whatever sinister reasons, I always find it so funny when I read that certain stars didn’t get along during filming. I guess part of the reason is it points out how they were human just like the rest of us! During the filming of I Married a Witch, Frederic March and Veronica Lake did not get along AT ALL. You’d never be able to tell from their performances or the film, though. They have so much chemistry you’d think they got along quite well!

Miriam Hopkins and Fredric March, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Miriam Hopkins and Fredric March, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

His performance in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) stands as one of the all-time great performances on film. He pretty much set the bar so high I’m not certain an actor will ever even come close.

You can find I Married a Witch on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video. It is SO DARN CUTE, you’ll love it!

You can find Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on dvd (Amazon link).

Frederic March: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Frederic March: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Filed Under: BOTD, Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, Veronica Lake Tagged With: BOTD, Fredric March, I Married a Witch, Miriam Hopkins, Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake: So Proudly We Hail

April 19, 2021 By Joi

Veronica Lake, So Proudly We Hail

Veronica Lake
If being uncommonly pretty, coupled with being impossibly adorable and talented all at the same time were illegal… Veronica Lake owes a huge debt to society – even to this day! She is best-remembered for her looks (which is understandable, if we’re being honest, she was a little beauty), but those of us who have watched and loved many of her films also remember her as a wonderful actress with a talent for both drama AND comedy.

Whereas some stars, in my opinion were better suited for one of the two, Veronica Lake was exceptional in BOTH. Her comedic timing really doesn’t get enough credit. I, personally, think she stood toe to toe with other great comedic actresses such as Lucille Ball and Rosalind Russell when it came to comedies.  As for dramas (including film noirs), she was (again) as talented as anyone.

In addition to Veronica Lake, How Proudly We Hail (1943) starred several actresses who could do anything asked of a role – Claudette Colbert and Paulette Goodard. What. A. Cast!

How Proudly We Hail’s Plot: Nurses returning from the war in the Philippines recall their experiences, both in combat and love.

You can find the wonderful How Proudly We Hail on dvd (link to the dvd on Amazon). Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be on Prime Video yet.

Veronica Lake, So Proudly We Hail

Veronica Lake

Filed Under: Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: So Proudly We Hail, Veronica Lake, Veronica Lake pictures

The Sainted Sisters: Hilarious 1948 Comedy Starring Veronica Lake, Joan Caulfield, and Barry Fitzgerald

April 13, 2021 By Joi

Veronica Lake, Joan Caulfield, and Barry Fitzgerald

Veronica Lake, Joan Caulfield, and Barry Fitzgerald

The Sainted Sisters (1948) stars Veronica Lake & Joan Caulfield as cons from New York who are hiding from the law in a small town in Maine. They’re forced to form good deeds, which goes very much against the grain for them!

The outstanding cast also includes Barry Fitzgerald, Beulah Bondi, William Demarest, and George Reeves.

A while back I was bellyaching about Veronica Lake’s films not being shown on television NEARLY enough. Here’s yet another film that is wonderful, yet never televised. I’m also having a next-to-impossible time finding this one on dvd.

UGH!! Come on tv programmers and dvd companies, help a Veronica Lake fan out here.

If you’re ever able to find this one, watch it right away. It’s hilarious and the cast is absolutely perfect.


Veronica Lake The Sainted Sisters
Veronica Lake

Filed Under: Barry Fitzgerald, Joan Caulfield, Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: Barry Fitzgerald, Joan Caulfield, Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake and Eddie Bracken: Bring on the Girls

April 7, 2021 By Joi

Veronica Lake and Eddie Bracken, Bring on the Girls

Veronica Lake and Eddie Bracken, Bring on the Girls (1945)

 I wish (SO BADLY) that Veronica Lake’s films were shown on television more often. Sure, those of us who collect our favorite star’s movies can find them on dvd (usually… the movie this photo promotes, Bring on the Girls is one I can’t find anywhere) , but when they’re shown on television, more people are exposed to them and can become fans of the star(s) and film(s).

It seems that only a few of Veronica’s movies are ever shown – I Married a Witch is shown around Halloween each year and a few of her film noirs with Alan Ladd can occasionally be found. Occasionally.

If you are able to find her films on tv or Prime Video, I hope you’ll watch as many as you find. She was extremely talented, undeniably beautiful, and had a very special screen presence… a unique one, all her own.


Filed Under: Eddie Bracken, Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake

Pictures of the Day: Birthday Beauty, Veronica Lake

November 14, 2020 By Joi

Veronica Lake, This Gun for Hire

Veronica Lake

Today’s Picture of the Day happens to also be Birthday Beauty Veronica Lake (born on this date in 1922). To show just how anal I am about things like this, I flipped a coin to see whether to give picture of the day to Louise Brooks (who was also born on this date in 1906) or Veronica Lake.

Ironically, each beautiful and talented actress is known almost as much as their films.

Veronica Lake, This Gun for Hire


Filed Under: BOTD, Film Noir, Picture of the Day, Veronica Lake Tagged With: Film-Noir, This Gun for Hire, Veronica Lake, Veronica Lake pictures

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Ann Sheridan, It All Came True

Ann Sheridan
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Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)

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Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein (What is it With Me and These Movies??)

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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)

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Maureen O'Hara's Autobiography 'Tis Herself

‘Tis Herself by Maureen O’Hara
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I Know Where I’m Going: Katharine Hepburn

 

Debbie Reynolds Unsinkable
Unsinkable: A Memoir by Debbie Reynolds

 

Ginger Rogers Autobiography - Ginger: My Story

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