Westerns | Hollywood Yesterday

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, Rio Grande

November 27, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, Rio Grande

I’m feeling kind of lazy today – as I usually do the day after a big holiday. Not only is fixing all the food exhausting, eating that much zaps your energy too, doesn’t it?!

I do have the gumption to post a couple of pictures of the day, however and… you know me… odds are it’s going to be pictures from a western and most likely one with Maureen O’Hara or John Wayne… or, better yet, both!

Rio Grande is a wonderful Western and one of my favorite these two favorite stars made together. If you’ve never seen Rio Grande, I highly recommend it. You can watch Rio Grande on Prime Video or buy the dvd on Amazon (Rio Grande, links to the dvd, but blu-ray is also available)

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, Rio Grande

Maureen O’Hara, Comanche Territory (1950)

October 18, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Comanche Territory Lobby Card

Given that I am, undoubtedly, the biggest Maureen O’Hara fan in the world, it will come as no surprise to you that I’ve even seen her less-known films, including Comanche Territory (1950, directed by George Sherman).

The funny thing is, some of her lesser-known films are some of my favorites! Don’t get me wrong, nothing beats The Quiet Man, McLintock!, Rio Grande, The Parent Trap, Spencer’s Mountain, Sinbad the Sailor or the legendary Miracle on 34th Street, but the beautiful actress had a LOT more wonderful films than most realize.

In addition to these well-known outstanding films, a few of my other favorites are:

A Woman’s Face
Kangaroo
The Red Head from Wyoming (trust me on this one, it’s good!)
The Spanish Main (possibly my favorite of her swashbucklers)
Buffalo Bill
The Fallen Sparrow
Dance, Girl, Dance
The Black Swan

Comanche Territory is simply a great, old-fashioned, fun, and deliciously entertaining Western. She didn’t have the same kind of chemistry with her leading man in this one (Macdonald Carey) as she had with other actors (Melvyn Douglas, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Brian Keith… and an actor you may have heard of before… John Wayne!). The movie is more than worth watching.

You can find Comanche Territory (affiliate link to the dvd) on Amazon. I don’t think it’s available on Prime Video yet.

Maureen O’Hara, Comanche Territory

Pictures of the Day: James Caan, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and Olaf Wieghorst in El Dorado

September 18, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

James Caan, John Wayne, and Olaf Wieghorst

One of my favorite Westerns of all time is El Dorado (1967). Directed by the wonderful Howard Hawks, it often gets overshadowed by Rio Bravo but… make absolutely no mistake about it… El Dorado belongs in no film’s shadow. It’s more than capable of standing on its own.. casting its own huge shadow!

The western stars John Wayne, James Caan, Robert Mitchum, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey, Olaf Wieghorst, and (last but by no means least – he makes the movie what it is), Arthur Hunnicutt as Bull. In the same way there could be no Rio Bravo without Stumpy, there could be no El Dorado without Bull.

You can watch El Dorado on Prime Video or buy the dvd on Amazon.

John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Arthur Hunnicutt

Maureen O’Hara, John Wayne, and Yvonne De Carlo: McLintock!

August 31, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Maureen O’Hara, John Wayne, and Yvonne De Carlo in McLintock!

One of my favorite Westerns is McLintock! (1963). Talk about an outstanding cast: John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Yvonne De Carlo, Stefanie Powers, Patrick Wayne, Chill Wills, Jerry Van Dyke, Jack Kruschen, Strother Martin, Edgar Buchanan, Bruce Cabot… The director, Andrew V. McLaglen, was an all star, himself!

Like most Westerns (and films, for that matter), McLintock! doesn’t need to be taken overly seriously – unfortunately may people choose to do so anyway.

I’ll let you in on a little secret – it doesn’t make me enjoy it any less!

It’s just a fun, outrageously colorful and light-hearted Western that may possibly get better each time I see it.

Buy McLintock! (link to the dvd on Amazon) on Amazon or watch on Prime.

Maureen O’Hara, John Wayne, and Yvonne De Carlo in McLintock!

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock

August 5, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock

I love A LOT of old movies… so many that I almost laugh when someone asks me what my favorite movie is. FAR too many to name… but there is and will always be a special corner of my heart reserved for Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne movies. The Quiet Man, McLintock!, Rio Grande… love them all and love them dearly.

McLintock! (1963) was sublimely directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starred the Duke, Maureen, Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Jack Kruschen, Chill Wills, Yvonne DeCarlo, Jerry Van Dyke (love him in this role!), and a host of other colorful stars creating colorful characters. Like its stars, the movie is deliciously larger than life and more fun than it has a right to be.

If you’ve never seen it, or haven’t seen it in a while, I hope you’ll watch it soon. It is a romp… a perfect, glorious romp!

You can find McLintock! (Amazon Link) on dvd or watch it on Amazon Prime.

John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, McLintock

Lena Horne and Richard Widmark: Death of a Gunfighter

May 9, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Lena Horne, Death of a Gunfighter

I love Lena Horne for a lot of reasons – she was beautiful, talented, strong, intelligent, stylish, classy, and had the voice of an angel… the star angel in God’s choir.

I also love her because she was one of the musicians and actresses my mom and I agreed on!

She loved Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly the way I loved Maureen O’Hara, Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, and Ann-Margret.

She loved The Waltons… I loved Little House on the Prairie.

She loved Lawrence Welk… I preferred Hee Haw.

She loved Cary Grant best… I preferred John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.

(Continued Below…)

Lena Horne and Richard Widmark, Death of a Gunfighter

We even differed with books – She loved reading romance novels… I loved Agatha Christie and Nancy Drew and would need to be PAID to read a romance novel!

But when it came to Lena Horne, we were both in absolute awe of her. If she were on the television, we froze and hung on her every move. If she were on the radio or we were playing her music in the house… we knew every word of every song. We had one lovely entertainer we could agree on! Because of this, I think of my mom anytime I see a Lena Horne photo or film.

So, as you can see, the wonderful Lena Horne has a special place in my heart.

The photos shown here are from her 1969 film, Death of a Gunfighter. I am absolutely in love with the fact that she was cast as Richard Widmark’s wife… the gorgeous girlfriend of the protagonist who just happens to be a woman of color.

We may not think twice about that now, but back then? It was bold casting that paid off in a big way. She was wonderful in the film and had palpable chemistry with Richard Widmark.

If you’ve never seen it, I hope you’ll check it out.

Richard Widmark and Lena Horne

Merle Oberon and Gary Cooper: The Cowboy and the Lady Lobby Cards

May 3, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Gary Cooper and Merle Oberon

In the 1938 film The Cowboy and the Lady, Merle Oberon plays a lonely, somewhat bored socialite (Mary) who pretends to be a maid to add color and variety to her life. She meets a humble and kind cowboy named Stretch Willoughby (how’s that for a name?!) who has no idea of her true identity.

This is a really cute film that’s heavier on comedy than anything else. It’s a lot of fun, doesn’t take itself too seriously, has two wonderful leads in Merle Oberon and Gary Cooper AND co-stars Walter Brennan (he makes everything even better, doesn’t he??).

You can find The Cowboy and the Lady on dvd on Amazon or watch the movie in Prime.

Picture of the Day: Amanda Blake (Miss Kitty) on Gunsmoke

March 18, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Amanda Blake, Miss Kitty (Gunsmoke)

My parents and I had a weeknight routine that lasted for what seems like my entire childhood (all the way through high school and into college). We would go to our favorite diner or the Dairy Queen near our house and order takeout. Then we’d bring it home and feed our faces while we watched our beloved “friends” in Dodge City. Miss Kitty, Matt Dillon, Festus (0r Chester), Doc Adams, Sam, and Newly were always there for us and… with chili dog in hand… we were always there for them!

Every weeknight from 10:30-11:30 pm like clockwork.

I have no idea, today, how I was ever able to sleep with a chili dog (or hamburger), onion rings, and a Coke on my stomach (I’d be in serious pain now if I tried it!), but it was never anything but bliss.

I am still as in love with the show, today, as I was then and I love to think of my mom and dad gathered around a Heavenly television catching episodes whenever possible.

The Gunsmoke (link to dvds on Amazon) cast was phenomenal – the people in charge of casting were on top of their game… not just the excellent regulars, but the guest stars as well. Every role was always filled to perfection.

Sue Ann Langdon and Henry Fonda, The Cheyenne Social Club

March 12, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Sue Ann Langdon and Henry Fonda, They Cheyenne Social Club

With so much bad news going around, I thought it was a great day for extra-fun pictures of the day. Here are the one and only (and ever so wonderful) Sue Ann Langdon and Henry Fonda.

These photos are from The Cheyenne Social Club (1970 – also starring James Stewart and Shirley Jones). It has been entirely too long since I’ve seen this one!

You can find a “Double Feature” DVD Set on Amazon – The Cheyenne Social Club and Firecreek (James Stewart and Henry Fonda).

Sue Ann Langdon and Henry Fonda, The Cheyenne Social Club

Pictures of the Day: Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and Ruby Dee (Buck and the Preacher)

March 5, 2020 By Joi Leave a Comment

Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte, Buck and the Preacher (1972)

How’s this for a great picture of the day? Two of my favorite actors in one place… BANG! Well, literally bang because this picture of the talented twosome is a scene from the wonderful western Buck and the Preacher (Amazon link).

(Continued Below Ruby Dee…)

This western isn’t shown often on television and it’s a real shame. Ruby Dee and Cameron Mitchell also starred in this one. Ruby Dee is, as always, mesmerizing in her role as Ruth. This talented lady was quite an actress and should be as much of a household name as anyone.

Speaking of household names, I love the way Sidney Poitier (who also directed the film) and Harry Belafonte worked together in Buck and the Preacher and wish they’d made a lot more movies together.

I hope you’ll check this western out as soon as possible. Phenomenal cast and the directing… by Mr. Poitier.. is excellent.

Seriously… is there anything this man can’t do?